Can You Identify These Cool Cars From the '50s?

By: Robin Tyler
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Identify These Cool Cars From the '50s?
Image: Pixabay / werner22brigitte

About This Quiz

If there is one thing that stands out about cars in the 1950s, particularly those designed in North America, it is the chrome, lots of chrome. And pointy tailfins, sometimes to the extreme.

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. Across the pond, however, designs kept their distinctive European styling. Here, sports cars were the order of the day and many of them were in demand all over the world, particularly in the United States. Smaller than their American counterparts, these cars are sold for astronomical amounts today.

The question is, how much do you really know about cars from the 1950s? 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. That's why getting close to 80% right is certainly a major achievement.

But you can do this! Your knowledge of cars will see you through.

Jeep M422 Mighty Mite
Wiki Commons by Jessica L. Martinez
Produced as a vehicle for the military, what make and model is shown in this image?
1959 Citroën DS
1955 Triumph TR3
1956 Pontiac Safari
1959 Jeep M422 Mighty Mite
1957 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Christian Jansky (User:Tschaensky) via Wiki Commons
Ultimate luxury, that's what we have in this image. Fit enough for kings, queens and statesmen. Can you name the car?
1957 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
1955 Alba Regia
1956 Ford Squire
1958 Pegaso Z-103
1956 Ford Parklane
JOHN LLOYD from Concrete, Washington, United States via Wiki Commons
A classic '50s family car, which make and model is featured in this image?
1956 Ford Parklane
1954 Austin A40 Somerset
1952 Fiat 8V
1955 Siata 208s

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1950 Studebaker Commander
Wiki Commons by Sfoskett~commonswiki
This make and model had been made since the 1920s. The '50s convertible, however, is pictured here. Do you know what it is?
1958 Bristol 406
1954 Moskvich 404 Sport
1950 Studebaker Commander convertible
1955 TVR Grantura
1959 Cadillac Eldorado
Sicnag via Wiki Commons
Tail fins don't get much pointier than that! What vehicle is shown here?
1955 Alvis TC 108G
1959 Cadillac Eldorado
1957 Bentley S1
1955 Lloyd 600
1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
Ermell via Wiki Commons
Can you name this vehicle, first introduced in the 1950s and still marketed today?
1955 Meteor Rideau
1959 Chevrolet Impala
1954 Vauxhall Cresta
1956 Packard Pacific

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1959 Dodge Polara
Youtube via Lloyd Hammond
Built to compete with full-sized offerings from Chevrolet and Ford, what vehicle is featured here?
1952 Allard Palm Beach
1959 Dodge Polara
1953 Hudson Wasp
1955 Panhard Dyna Junior
1955 Porsche Spyder
Thesupermat via Wiki Commons
In this image, we have the sports car James Dean lost his life in. Do you know what it is?
1959 Peugeot 403
1958 Sunbeam Rapier
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
1957 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner
1958 Cadillac DeVille
Wiki Commons via GPS 56
Classic '50s tailfins are found on the vehicle pictured here. But what is it?
1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale
1951 Ford Zephyr
1959 Bugatti Type 101
1958 Cadillac Deville

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1953 Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet via Wiki Commons
A true beaut from the 1950s, can you identify this first generation car that is still produced today?
1954 Dodge Custom Royal
1956 Fiat 600
1953 Chevrolet Corvette
1957 Saab 93
1956 Volvo Amazon
FaceMePLS from The Hague, The Netherlands via Wiki Commons
Can you name this vehicle, a mid-sized offering produced in Europe?
1954 Simca Vedette
1959 Auto Union 1000
1958 Alvis TD 21
1956 Volvo Amazon
Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia
Wiki Commons By Kure
Name this German sports car, please. It was available as both a 2+2 coupe and a convertible.
1957 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
1959 Toyota Crown
1956 Fuji Cabin
1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

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1956 BMW 507
Wiki Commons by David Merrett
What is the name of this European convertible? Elvis once owned two!
1959 AC Greyhound
1956 BMW 507
1952 Goliath GV800
1951 Allard M2
1958 Ford Edsel
GPS 56 from New Zealand via Wiki Commons
A major flop that cost an American auto manufacturer millions. Can you identify this vehicle?
1955 Bandini GT
1958 Ford Edsel
1957 Chrysler 300
1954 Chevrolet Corvette
Willys DJ-3A Dispatcher 2x4 Jeep
Government Liquidation via Youtube
With a military background, are you able to identify this vehicle, often used as a delivery van?
1951 Hudson Hornet
1955 Jeep DJ-3A Dispatcher
1959 Austin Healy 3000
1958 Ford Anglia

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1953 Dodge B Series
AutoBarn Classic Cars via youtube
Produced in America, what is the name of this 1/2-ton pickup?
1957 Plymouth Belvedere
1955 Meteor Rideau
1954 Austin Westminster
1953 Dodge B Series
1954 Jaguar D-type
Wiki Commons by Christian Kath
One of these sports cars recently sold for over $20 million. Can you identify it?
1954 Jaguar D-type
1959 Henney Kilowatt
1951 Henney Kilowatt
1953 Ford Consul
Ford Fairlane
JOHN LLOYD from Concrete, Washington, United States via Wiki Commons
Do you know the make and model of this famous 1950s car?
1952 Rometsch Beeskow
1955 Ford Fairlane
1951 Jaguar C-type
1959 Wolseley 6/99

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Dodge Crusader 1956
puh shaw via Youtube
A rebranded Plymouth Cambridge, this vehicle was only marketed in Canada. What is it?
1955 Bandini-Maserati 1500
1954 Jensen 541
1958 Ford Crown Victoria
1956 Dodge Crusader
1953 Willys BC Bobcat
Sonu Monu via YouTube
Known as the "Aero Jeep," what is the make and model pictured here?
1951 Lloyd 300
1957 SEAT 600
1953 Willys BC Bobcat
1959 Opel Rekord P1
1955 Chev Task Force
John Phelan via Wiki Commons
This pickup competed with the Ford F-100 and F-150. Are you able to identify it?
1957 Dodge Royal
1956 Hillman Husky
1955 Chevrolet Task Force
1954 AC Aceca

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1959 Austin Healey 3000
John O'Neill1 via Wiki Commons
90% of these English sports cars were exported to the United States. Do you know the make and model?
1959 Austin Healey 3000
1953 Chevrolet Corvette C1
1959 Nash Healy
1953 Talbot Baby
1952 Studebaker Starlight Coupe
Classic Car Investments LLC via YouTube
With its long trunk and wraparound rear window, this car certainly looks unique. It is a _________.
1955 Swallow Doretti
1959 Plymouth Belvedere
1952 Studebaker Starlight Coupe
1958 Packard Hawk
1952 Lincoln Capri
Sicnag via Wiki Commons
This vehicle won the Pan American Road Race in 1952 and 1953. Not bad for a luxury sedan! What is it?
1958 Daimler Majestic
1952 Lincoln Capri
1959 Ford Galaxie
1954 Subaru 1500

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1958 MG MGA Twin Cam
Sicnag via Wiki Commons
Can you name this classic British sports car, available as a roadster or coupe?
1957 Biscuter Pegasin
1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
1958 MG MGA Twin Cam
1950 Lancia Aurelia
1959 BMW 700
Automobile Classics via YouTube
Over 180,000 examples of this European car were built from 1959 to 1965. Do you have any idea what it is?
1959 BMW 700
1950 Bandini 750 sport siluro
1951 Ferrari 195 Inter
1957 Autobianchi Bianchina
1957 Maserati 3500 GT
Petrolicious via youtube
Powered by a 3.5-liter straight-6 engine, can you name this beautiful Italian sports car?
1957 Maserati 3500 GT
1951 Simca Aronde
1953 Renault Frégate
1959 Studebaker Lark

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1955 Mercedes-Benz W196
Wiki Commons by Thesupermat
Which of these was a Formula 1 racer from the '50s?
1954 Aston Martin DB4
1955 Mercedes-Benz W196
1954 Dodge Royal
1956 Kaiser Darrin
1952 Sears Allstate
Wiki Commons by DougW
Believe it or not, you could order this vehicle in a catalog from a chain store. What is it?
1958 Hindustan Ambassador
1952 Sears Allstate
1959 Hindustan Ambassador
1954 Maserati 250F
1959 Renault Estafette
Wiki Commons by CrazyD
Do you know the make and model of this van? It was produced in Europe.
1958 Austin A40 Farina
1954 Austin Cambridge
1956 DB HBR 5
1959 Renault Estafette

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1952 BMW 501
Wiki Commons via nakhon100
A mid-sized luxury can, can you name this vehicle produced in Germany?
1952 Lloyd LT 500
1953 Riley RME
1952 BMW 501
1954 Ford Taunus P1
1952 MG ZB Varitone
Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England via Wiki Commons
Can you name this classic British sports car, first introduced in 1953?
1953 Fiat 1900
1953 MG ZB Varitone
1953 Siata 208 CS
1953 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
1958 Gaylord Gladiator
Lou Costabile via YouTube
Certainly a very different-looking vehicle, this car never made it into production. Can you name it?
1958 Austin-Healey Sprite
1954 Jaguar XK140
1958 Gaylord Gladiator
1955 Å koda 1201

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Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
socalspeedzone via youtube
Truly beautiful! What make and model is featured in this image?
1958 Pontiac Pathfinder
1954 Kaiser Darrin
1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
1955 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
1955 Saab Sonnet
Wiki Commons by Liftarn
Name this open-top 2-seater made in Europe but sold in the United States as well.
1951 Delahaye 235
1959 Bentley S2
1955 Saab Sonett
1951 Mercedes-Benz W187
1951 Holden 48-215
sv1ambo via Wiki Commons
Produced only in Australia, what is the name of this vehicle?
1955 Jaguar Mark I
1957 Packard Four Hundred
1952 Borgward Hansa 2400
1953 Holden 48-215

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1955 Toyota Crown
Taisyo via Wiki Commons
Today, this vehicle is the longest-running model in the automaker's fleet. It was first introduced in 1955. Do you know what it is?
1955 Toyota Crown
1959 Buick Electra
1959 Ford Comète
1951 Packard Mayfair
1959 Subaru 360
Wiki Commons by ocean yamaha
This small city car was first produced in 1958 and was sold in Asia. Any idea as to what it is?
1959 Rambler American
1958 Rover P5
1959 Subaru 360
1958 Abarth 1000 GT Coupé
1952 Woodill Wildfire
DMAX via YouTube
Pictured here is one of the first vehicles ever to be made from fiberglass. Name it, please.
1954 Siata Daina
1952 Woodill Wildfire
1951 Gutbrod Superior
1950 Alfa Romeo 1900

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