Can You Recognize the First Generation of These Famous Cars?

By: Robin Tyler
Image: Alexandre Prévot from Nancy, France via Wiki Commons

About This Quiz

Back in the early days of motoring, cars didn't change that much. In fact, the 'Tin Lizzy', a name affectionately given to the Model T from Ford, changed very little during is production run that spanned from 1908 to 1927.  Sure, during this time a range of body types were offered, but they all bolted to the same chassis. In fact, only from 1920 onward did some models of the Model T offer an electric starter. Otherwise, to start it, you had to hand crank the engine.

Nowadays, you can expect a model that has enjoyed a production run of close to 20 years to have three or four different generations. Not only do these often offer different engines, but the looks change considerably from the first generation to the current one. And that's normally for one reason only - car designs are far more likely to change in the blink of an eye than they ever were. 

So in this quiz, we are doing something a little different. We want you to identify the make and model of a car based on the FIRST generation ever produced. 

Do you think you can do it? It's not as easy as you may think it is. 

Good luck!

The original Rolls Royce Phantom replaced the Silver Ghost in 1925. 3,512 were manufactured in the next six years. The Phantom was powered by a 7.6-liter straight six engine.

The Corvette name is loved around the world. From its inception in 1953, the Corvette brand is the jewel in the Chevrolet crown. Of course, everyone has their favorite Corvette with many citing the C1, the first generation, as their favorite. They are very sought after today.

Released in 1994 and produced for the next decade, this British sport car is the epitome of cool. After all, it is the choice of James Bond. Over 7,000 were produced with two engine options available, including a 5.9-liter V12.

A civilian version of the Humvee military vehicle, the Hummer H1 would then obviously be more than capable as an off-roader. And it is, but with limitations. In fact, some H1 owners went as far as changing out the standard 6.5-liter diesel engine and replacing it with something to provide more speed. Another disadvantage is that the H1 is a massive vehicle. You need a large open off-road track for this behemoth. Two more generations followed.

In 1959, the Mini Mk 1 was introduced to the world. And what a popular car it proved to be. Over the years, it underwent a number of upgrades, but that distinct Mini appeal never left. The last of these cars rolled off the production line in the late 1990s.

As part of the supermini class, the Corsa was first introduced into Europe in 1982. It is marketed under the Vauxhall badge in the United Kingdom.

Mercedes Benz has always produced top quality cars and of course, the C-Class no different. This executive car was introduced into the Mercedes range in 1993 and has been available in a range of body styles including sedan, estate, convertible and coupe.

The Aviator debuted on American roads in 2002 and was made for a three-year period up until 2005. This luxury mid-sized SUV was powered by a 4.6-liter DOHC Modular V8 engine and models included a 2-wheel drive as well as an all-wheel drive version. Over 70,000 were sold by 2005.

Over the years, the Land Rover has become a favorite of many, with the Defender one of the company's most iconic models. The first Defender rolled off the production lines in 1983 and remained in production till 2016. Land Rover is currently owned by Indian company, Tata.

Japanese automaker introduced the Nissan to Japan in 1982. Over the years, this vehicle, found in the compact car class, has been sold in a number of markets around the world, including America.

The Thunderbird was originally devised by Ford to compete with the first generation Corvette. Much debate rages whether this vehicle could be considered as a muscle car, but early models certainly displayed many traits adopted by muscle cars in the 1960s.

This compact crossover SUV was introduced into the Chinese market in 2016. Currently, there are no plans to release it in other markets.

Seven generations of the Toyota Celica were produced between 1971 and 2006. The Celica has an excellent racing pedigree and took wins in both track racing as well as rallying.

The first generation of the A Class from Mercedes was introduced into the sub compact car market in 1997.

This 4-door mid-sized estate was first marketed by Korean manufacturer Kia in 2000. It is currently in its fourth generation and is a popular model in the United States with over 750,000 sold since 2012.

The first Ford in the F-Series was released in 1948 and over the years, this brand has become one of America's favorite pickups.

A two-door coupe or fastback, the Crossfire was marketed by Chrysler between 2004 and 2008. The Crossfire was designed and built during Chrysler's association with Daimler and interestingly features many Mercedes SLK parts.

When Acura was first launched in 1986, this was one of only two models offered. The first generation Legend was powered by a 2.5-liter V6 engine. It produced around 150 brake horsepower.

The first 4x4 Bronco hit the trails in 1966, and between that year and 1977, proved to be a more than capable off-roader. Blessed with a turning circle of just 33.8 feet, thanks to a wheelbase of 92 inches, later models also included a Ford V8 engine with incredible torque.

Built between 1991 and 1996, the Beat was designed by legendary Italian design company, Pininfarina. This two-seat roadster was particularly small and received its power from a 700 cc engine coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Over 21,000 of this two-door convertible roadster were sold between 1987 and 1993. It was built to compete with two-door convertibles of other brands, particularly Mercedes and Jaguar.

The Regal has been a favorite since first introduced in 1973. The first generation was available as a 2-door coupe or 4-door sedan.

Entering production in 2011, the Q3 is another in the Audi SUV range. It is based on the Audi Cross Coupé Quattro of 2007. Although still in its first generation, the Q3 received two facelifts, one in 2014 and one in 2015.

Introduced in 2002, the 1-series offered BMW fans a smaller car than both the 3- and 5-series. The first generation included a hatchback, not a model type often found in the BMW range.

This MG is a rebadged Rover Streetwise built by MG in China The first generation is powered by a 1.3-liter engine capable of 102 brake horsepower. It was only for sale in the Chinese auto market.

Available as both a hatchback and sedan, the Etios competes in the subcompact class for Toyota. It was first introduced in 2010 and is currently still in its first generation although it has received two facelifts over the years.

The mid-'90s saw the launch of the first generation Tiburon. This 2-door sports coupe from Hyundai was popular into the turn of the new century.

This two-door mid-engined sports car was marketed in the US as the Acura NSX. The first generation of the NSX was built between 1990 and 2005.

The first generation of the GT40 won the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour endurance race for four straight years from 1966 to 1969, which included filling out the top three positions in 1966. Only 105 were produced.

Also known as the MX-5, this rear-wheel drive roadster is as fun now as it was in the 1990s. The first generation, produced up until 1997, featured either a 1,500cc or 1,800cc engine.

The two-door Barracuda was a muscle car from auto manufacturer Plymouth and manufactured between 1964 and 1974. Interestingly, the Barracuda was introduced before the Mustang, by a mere two weeks. The first generation was noted for its wraparound back window.

Renault introduced the Clio to the world in 1990 with the first generation model made for most of that decade. It quickly became a popular car in Europe and had ten different power plant options as well as both manual and automatic gearboxes. It was voted European Car of the Year in 1991.

Aimed at the American SUV market, the SLX was introduced in 1996. Essentially, this was an Isuzu Trooper with a few trim changes and a new badge. The first generation was powered by a 3.2-liter DOHC V6 engine which upgraded to a 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine from the second generation onward.

Although it received some fame for appearing in the cult slacker comedy "Wayne's World," the AMC Pacer was not well received at its release. Since then it has become an entry on Forbes' Worst Cars of All Time list, among others.

Produced between 1973 and 1975, the Apollo from Buick was available as a 2-door coupe and hatchback and a 4-door sedan. The most powerful engine option available to the Apollo was a 350 cubic inch 5.7-liter V8.

Fiat was producing cars from the turn of the last century. Their first model was available in 1901, the 4HP. In the ‘80s, the Uno model was a particular favorite, both in Italy and around the world.

Marketed between 1971 and 1994, the Colt was actually built by Mitsubishi Motors and marketed by Dodge in the United States. All-in-all there were seven generations.

This mid-sized luxury car formed part of the Audi fleet from 1968 to 1994. During this time, Audi produced four generations. These incorporated various model types including two- and four-door cars as well as a 5-door wagon.

Designed by Bill Allen, the Corniche from Rolls Royce was produced for a 16-year period from 1971 to 1996. It was an advancement on the Silver Shadow and was available as either a 2-door coupe or 2-door convertible.

The Z4 Roadster first hit the streets in 2002 and still forms part of the BMW fleet. Although the first generation included a convertible with a soft-top roof, this was changed to a retractable hardtop from the second generation onward.

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