Can You Identify These '50s Cars from a Black and White Photo?

By: Robin Tyler
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Identify These '50s Cars from a Black and White Photo?
Image: Neyya/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The '50s were an exciting time in the world of motoring and definitely saw a styling shift as cars moved from the rounded looks of the 1930s and 1940s into the long, sleek cars of the 1950s, especially when it came to American models.

Chrome became the order of the day, lots of chrome, and together with pointy tail fins and convertibles, many Chevrolet and Ford models quickly became extremely popular.

On the other side of the Atlantic, European styling still maintained those sleek lines that one associated with the likes of Porsche and Ferrari and towards the end of the decade, cars were generally smaller than their American counterparts.

But would you be able to name an American classic from just one image? Or would you be able to pick out the sleek lines of a 1950s model European sports car? What about a classic American truck, would you be able to identify the make and model? Make no mistake; this quiz will test your auto knowledge like no other. And that's why only 7% of people who undertake it pass it with 100% of the answers correct

But you can do this, your knowledge of cars will see you through!  

1954 Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Charles01 via Wiki Commons
With its distinctive gullwing doors, this vehicle was a stunner in the 1950's and still is a stunner today. Can you name it, please?
Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Mini Mk 1
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
1959 Mini
DeFacto via Wiki Commons
Small and cute, what's not to like about this car, first introduced in Britain in 1959. What is it?
Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Mini Mk 1
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
1957 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Christian Jansky (User:Tschaensky) via Wiki Commons
Identify this vehicle, please - a bastion of sophistication and luxury!
Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Mini Mk 1
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider

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Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
socalspeedzone via youtube
A true beauty and still in demand, one of these recently sold for over $5 million at auction. Do you know the make and model?
Mercedes 300 SL
Mini Mk 1
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
1959 Porsche 787
AlfvanBeem via Wiki Commons
Name this 1950's race car, please.
Porsche 787
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
Mini Mk 1
Mercedes 300 SL
1950 Willys Overland Jeepster
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA via Wiki Commons
The vehicle in this image is a __________________
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Porsche 787
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
Willys Overland Jeepster

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1955 Chev Task Force
John Phelan via Wiki Commons
Any idea as to the make and model of this pickup from the 1950's?
Porsche 787
Chevrolet Task Force
Willys Overland Jeepster
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
1955 Dodge La Femme
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA via Wiki Commons
Ultimately a failure, with the correct marketing, this car could have been a hit. Name it, please.
Chevrolet Task Force
Willys Overland Jeepster
Dodge La Femme
Mini Mk 1
1952 BMW 501
nakhon100 via Wiki Commons
Name this beautiful mid-sized luxury car from the 1950's, please.
Dodge La Femme
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
Porsche 787
BMW 501

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1953 Dodge B Series
AutoBarn Classic Cars via youtube
Another classic 1950s pickup. What is it called?
Dodge B Series
BMW 501
Willys Overland Jeepster
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
1959 Cadillac Eldorado
Sicnag via Wiki Commons
Look at this classic pointy tail fins... a sure sign of the 1950's. Many cars had them so can you identify this make and model?
Dodge B Series
Volkswagen Beetle
Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Cadillac Eldorado
1951 Holden 48-215
sv1ambo via Wiki Commons
Popular in the Land Down Under, do you know the name of the vehicle in this image?
Holden 48-215
Mini Mk 1
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Mercedes Benz 300 SL

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1955 Chevy Impala
Vanguard Motor Sales via youtube
Those beautiful lines, typical of the 1950's. Name the maker and model, please.
Cadillac Eldorado
Chevrolet Impala
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
Porsche 787
1952 Lincoln Capri
Sicnag via Wiki Commons
Can you identify this full-sized luxury sedan first introduced in 1952?
Holden 48-215
Chevrolet Impala
Dodge B Series
Lincoln Capri
1950 Chrysler Royal
sv1ambo via Wiki Commons
An entry-level for a big U.S. car producer, can you name this vehicle?
Lincoln Capri
Chrysler Royal
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Porsche 787

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1958 Chevy Brookwood
AutoBarn Classic Cars via youtube
Name this full-sized station wagon that first appeared in 1957, please.
Willys Overland Jeepster
Chrysler Royal
BMW 501
Chevrolet Brookwood
1953 Ford F-100
Wiki Commons
Name this classic pickup, please.
Dodge D-Series
Chevrolet Brookwood
Ford F-100
Lincoln Capri
1958 MG MGA Twin Cam
Sicnag via Wiki Commons
The vehicle in this image is a _________?
Ford F-100
Mercedes Benz 300 SL
MG MGA Twin Cam
Holden 48-215

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1955 Jeep DJ
Government Liquidation via youtube
This off-roader was first marketed in 1955 and produced for a period of almost 30 years. Can you identify it?
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
MG MGA Twin Cam
Jeep DJ
Lincoln Capri
1959 Rolls Royce Phantom V
AutoMotoCha9L via youtube
Can you identify this luxury limousine?
Jeep DJ
Cadillac Eldorado
Chrysler Royal
Rolls Royce Phantom V
1952 MG ZB Varitone
Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England via Wiki Commons
About 36,000 units of this beautiful car were produced from 1953 to 1958. What is it?
Rolls Royce Phantom V
MG ZB Varitone
Chevrolet Impala
BMW 501

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Volvo P1900
Herranderssvensson via Wiki Commons
A stylish '50s roadster, but can you name it from the options below?
MG ZB Varitone
Willys Overland Jeepster
Mini Mk 1
Volvo P1900
1955 Toyota Crown
Taisyo via Wiki Commons
This is the longest running model in this manufacturer's fleet and was launched in 1955. Can you name the make and model?
Porsche 787
Volvo P1900
Toyota Crown
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
1957 Porsche 718
Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa via Wiki Commons
This race car is a _________.
Toyota Crown
Dodge B Series
Porsche 718
Cadillac Eldorado

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1956 Ford Parklane
JOHN LLOYD from Concrete, Washington, United States via Wiki Commons
Can you please tell us the name of this '50s station wagon?
Ford Parklane
Porsche 718
MG MGA Twin Cam
Mercedes Benz 300 SL
1953 Buick Skylark
Rex Gray via Wiki Commons
Perhaps better known as a muscle car in the 1970s, this vehicle actually made its debut in 1953. What is it?
Ford Parklane
Buick Skylark
Volvo P1900
BMW 501
1950 Ford Country Squire
JOHN LLOYD from Concrete, Washington, United States via Wiki Commons
This vehicle, first introduce in 1950 was produces for 41 years! What is it?
Ford Country Squire
Dodge D Series
Buick Skylark
Chevrolet Task Force

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1953 Dodge Mayfair
Barbariandeagle via Wiki Commons
Which car from the list below is shown in this image?
Ford Country Squire
Dodge Mayfair
Mini Mk 1
Chevrolet Brookwood
1950 MG Y-Type
Sicnag via Wiki Commons
Powered by just a 1.2-liter engine, can you tell us the make and model of this vehicle?
Toyota Crown
MG Y-Type
BMW 501
Dodge Mayfair
1956 Volvo Amazon
FaceMePLS from The Hague, The Netherlands via Wiki Commons
First introduced in 1956, over 600,000 units of this car were sold worldwide. What is it?
MG Y-Type
Volvo Amazon
Cadillac Eldorado
Dodge B Series

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1957 BMW 507
René via Wiki Commons
Elvis Presley owned not one but two of the car shown below. Do you know what it is?
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Buick Skylark
Volvo Amazon
BMW 507
1956 Jeep Forward Control
samspace81 via youtube
Name this off-road truck, please.
BMW 507
Jeep Forward Control
Ford Parklane
Holden 48-215
1955 Chrysler 300
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA via Wiki Commons
Many of those in the know consider this the first muscle car. Do you know the make and model?
Mini Mk1
Chrysler 300
Jeep Forward Control
Porsche 718

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1951 Dodge Crusader
retroolschool via youtube
Name this vehicle, only sold in Canada.
Dodge Crusader
Chrysler 300
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
1955 Toyota Crown
1958 Ford Galaxie
Sicnag via Wiki Commons
The vehicle in this image is a ________________.
Dodge Crusader
Ford Galaxie
Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Lincoln Capri
1959 Dodge Matador
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA via Wiki Commons
This vehicle was available in four body options. Are you able to identify it?
Dodge Matador
MG ZB Varitone
Ford Galaxie
Rolls Royce Phantom V

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1958 Ford Edsel
GPS 56 from New Zealand via Wiki Commons
One of history's biggest motoring flops, which car is shown in this image?
Volvo Amazon
Dodge Matador
Ford Edsel
Willys Overland Jeepster
Willys BC Bobcat
WorldAutoMotors Via YouTube
Intended for paratroopers in the United States Army, what vehicle is shown here?
Ford Edsel
Dodge Mayfair
Chevrolet Task Force
Willys BC Bobcat
Jaguar E2A
Auto reviews via youtube
Rare and in demand, an example of this vehicle sold for $5.6 million in 2008. Can you name it?
Willys BC Bobcat
Porsche 787
BMW 501
Jaguar E2A

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1950 Volvo PV60
nemor2 via Wiki Commons
The car in this image is a __________
Volvo PV60
Jaguar E2A
Mini Mk 1
Dodge La Femme