Image: Wiki Commons via The Car Spy
About This Quiz
Over the past 130 years, there have been many automakers around the world.Â
Some, like Ford, Chevrolet or Chrysler, for example, are incredibly successful and continue to produce many models that are sold around the globe.Â
Others, both now and in the past, have started with the best of intentions and the hope to build into a major car brand only to fall by the wayside.
Some have failed quickly, while others have had a long history, only to come to grief due to various factors, taking well-loved models off the market... for good. Normally, this is due to economic factors. Stock market crashes like the Great Depression in the early 1930s and the financial fallout of the crash of 2008 claimed many brands, including long-standing marques. Which, if we are honest, is a little sad.
So onto the task at hand for this quiz. We have lined up several car logos from automakers that have gone bankrupt, been closed by their parent division or just disappeared from the face of the earth. Will you be able to identify them from their logos?
This is not as easy as it may seem. Take your time and good luck!
Pontiac
One of America's great motoring brands, Pontiac formed part of the General Motors group form 1926 until 2010.
Oldsmobile
Saturn
Studebaker
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Pontiac
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was the oldest American marque by the time its parent company, General Motors, closed the brand in 2004. It was formed in 1897.
Saturn
Studebaker
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Pontiac
Oldsmobile
Saturn
A General Motors brand, Saturn was introduced in 1985 as an attempt by the company to compete with the range of Japanese vehicles flooding the U.S. market. After a massive drop in sales, General Motors closed the brand in 2010.
Studebaker
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Pontiac
Oldsmobile
Saturn
Studebaker
Studebaker was founded in 1852, initially making wagons. Eventually, the company moved onto making motor cars and did so until 1966 when failing sales saw the end of the Studebaker brand.
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Packard
This luxury American motoring brand was established in 1899 in Detroit. It ended in 1958 after sales had significantly dropped during the '50s.
Oldsmobile
Pontiac
Saturn
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Packard
Studebaker
Ford
Hummer
It was fun while it lasted. Hummer burst onto the scene in 1992, providing civilian versions of the Humvee military vehicle. The brand was purchased by General Motors in 1998 and eventually closed in 2010 following the global economic crisis of 2008.
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Hummer
Plymouth
Part of the Chrysler Corporation, Plymouth was established in 1928 and built vehicles until 2001. Marketed as entry-level vehicles, Plymouth saw sales drop below 200,000 vehicles per annum in the '90s which eventually led to its closure.
Packard
Saturn
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Plymouth
Pontiac
Mercury
A division of Ford, Mercury was established in 1938. Ford established the brand to produce premium entry-level cars. Ford Motor Corporation ended the Mercury brand in 2011 to focus on its other two brands, Lincoln and its namesake, Ford.
Oldsmobile
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Chevrolet
Saturn
Mercury
AMC
The American Motor Corporation was formed with the merger of Nash and Hudson in 1954. A period of success followed with Renault and then Chrysler buying the company. Sales slowed over time and by 1988, AMC was no more.
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Suzuki
Although Suzuki still manufactures vehicles for markets around the rest of the world, its North American automobile operation closed in 2012 following a massive drop in sales from their peak in 2007.
AMC
Oldsmobile
Mercury
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Dodge
Hudson
Based in Detroit, Hudson Motor Car Company was founded in 1909 by Joseph L. Hudson. It produced vehicles until 1954 when it merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form the American Motors Corporation (AMC), although Hudson models were made until 1957.
Suzuki
Hummer
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Hudson
Studebaker
Pontiac
Edsel
The Edsel brand, a division of Ford, was short lived. Established in 1957, it lasted until 1960 and failed, primarily on the fact that the Edsel model, named after Henry Ford's son, failed miserably and just didn't sell.
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Edsel
DeLorean
Established in 1975 by John DeLorean, the DeLorean Motor Company is best known for the failure of the DMC-12, a "supercar" that wasn't super at all. The company went bankrupt in 1982 while the DMC-12, also known as the DMC DeLorean, gained a cult following a few years later thanks to it appearing in the Back to the Future trilogy.
AMC
Plymouth
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Suzuki
Hummer
Nash
Formed in 1916, Nash ran until 1954 where it merged with Hudson to form the American Motor Corporation. Nash was responsible for a few important firsts in U.S. motoring, including the first seatbelts, first compact car and first muscle car.
DeLorean
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DeSoto
Established in 1928 as part of Chrysler, DeSoto manufactured vehicles in the mid-price range. It was closed by Chrysler in 1961 after selling more than 2 million vehicles worldwide.
Nash
DeLorean
Saturn
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Dodge
DeSoto
Auburn
Auburn vehicles were produced from 1900 to 1937 and were formed by Charles Eckhart. Unfortunately, the depression saw sales of Auburn model dip and the company folded in 1937.
Pontiac
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Auburn
Ford
Eagle
Eagle was an American car brand established in 1988. A division of Chrysler, following its purchase of the American Motor Corporation, Eagle folded in 1999.
Nash
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Eagle
Stutz
A producer of luxury cars, Stutz began in 1911 and lasted to just before World War II, closing its doors in 1939 — a real shame for a company that gave us the first real American sports car.
Pontiac
Mercury
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Maybach
Maybach, based in Germany, was formed in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach. The brand lasted until 2012 before it was closed by its parent company, Daimler. It was revived as a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz in 2014.
Saturn
Chrysler
Stutz
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Dodge
Maybach
Suzuki
Saab
Established in 1945, Swedish automakers Saab went bankrupt in 2012. Part of the General Motors brand from 1990 to 2010, the company was sold to Spyker, a Dutch company that ended the brand after sales dropped significantly.
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Saab
Vector
This American company was formed in 1978 and built supercars to compete with the likes of Ferrari. Production of these vehicles took place for only four years, between 1989 and 1993, before the company closed. It was later revived as Vector Motors Corporation.
Studebaker
Stutz
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Maybach
Saab
Vector
Isuzu
Although Isuzu still manufactures vehicles for markets around the rest of the world, its North American operation closed in 2008. The brand had initial success with a range of pickups but sales slowed significantly in the 2000s and General Motors eventually dropped the brand.
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Isuzu
Tucker
Started by Preston Tucker, only 50 of these cars were ever built before Tucker went out of business after having been accused of stock fraud, something of which he was acquitted. The company lasted from 1947 to 1948.
Hummer
Hudson
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Stutz
Cord
Cord vehicles were manufactured between 1929 and 1932 and then from 1936 to 1937. The company was founded by E.L. Cord and formed part of the Auburn group.
Tucker
Packer
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Cord
Duesenberg
Founded in 1913 as a maker of engines and race cars, Duesenberg produced passenger vehicles in the United States between 1921 and 1937. Most were luxury models and, following the Depression, a massive drop in sales saw the brand go bankrupt.
Vector
Suzuki
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Oldsmobile
Duesenberg
Pontiac
Checker
The iconic Checker taxi cabs are this company's claim to fame. Checker Motors first started out in 1922 and made taxis until 1982. Other than taxicabs, Checker also made a few commercial vehicles.
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Maybach
Checker
Oldsmobile
Sunbeam
British auto manufacturer Sunbeam began making cars in 1901. During World War I, the company made airplane engines but afterward returned to making cars and motorcycles. The last official Sunbeam vehicle was built in 1936 but the marque itself has appeared on other vehicles.
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Citroen
Sunbeam
Rambler
The Rambler brand was associated with the Thomas B. Jefferson company from 1900 until 1914, with Nash from 1950 to 1954, and with AMC from 1954 to 1969. Vehicles with this marque were also produced outside of the United States, for instance, in Australia and New Zealand.
Nash
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Singer
The Singer company was originally founded by George Singer in 1874 in England and produced bicycles. From 1901, it entered the automobile business and was the first company to make a smaller version of an already existing car model. The last Singer rolled off the production line in 1970.
Rambler
Pontiac
Cord
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Saab
Corbin
Established in 1904, Corbin was one of America's earliest car makers. The brand didn't last long, folding in 1912.
Mercury
Singer
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AMC
Tucker
Hillman
Established in England in 1907, the Hillman Motor Company existed until 1931. As with many automakers, the company first started out producing bicycles.
Corbin
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Hillman
Simca
French manufacturer Simca produced vehicles between 1934 and 1970, becoming part of Chrysler Europe.
Eagle
Nash
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Dodge
Simca
Willys-Knight
After John North Willys purchased the Edwards Motor Company in 1913, he moved the operation to Ohio and changed the name to Wilys-Knight. The company produced cars for the American market between 1914 and 1933.
Pontiac
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Talbot
Clément-Talbot produced cars in London from 1903 onward. The brand folded in 1958 only to be revived by Peugeot in 1979 before again disappearing in 1994.
Singer
Hummer
Willys Knight
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Talbot
AMC
Rover
Rover started making cars from the early 1900s. The marque lived on independently until 1967, although the Rover name has been used since, for example, as part of Leyland Motors. The name is not currently in use on any vehicles but remains a registered trademark in the hands of Jaguar Land Rover.
Studebaker
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Rover
Kaiser-Frazer
A short-lived brand, Kaiser-Frazer was formed by Henry Kaiser and Joseph Frazer. Their company produced vehicles between 1947 and 1951 before Frazer left the company after disagreements.
Hudson
Stutz
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Kaiser-Frazer
Packard
Pierce-Arrow
Based in Buffalo, New York, Pierce-Arrow was an American motor car company that produced models between 1901 and 1938. Most were luxury vehicles, although the company also made motorcycles, fire trucks and bicycles.
Auburn
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Auto Union
Founded in 1932, the Auto Union brand fell away in 1969 after a merger with NSU and Audi.
Pierce-Arrow
Edsel
DeLorean
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Hillman
Autoette
Geo
Marketed by General Motors, Geo made a number of SUV models as well as smaller cars. These were built between 1989 and 1997, when the models were eventually merged with the Chevrolet line.
Sunbeam
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