We'll Give You the '50s Car Model, You Give Us the Make!

By: Steven Symes
Estimated Completion Time
2 min
We'll Give You the '50s Car Model, You Give Us the Make!
Image: RacecarTV

About This Quiz

Does your car choice make you Greaser or a Soc? Do you crave rocket-shaped taillights and a vehicle that's excessively long? If so, the 1950s is the decade for you! 

With the horrors of World War II fading into history and economic prosperity in the United States and other countries, people were ready to start buying cars again. All that cash and hard-earned optimism resulted in some pretty wild designs for vehicles back in the day, like large tail fins, plenty of chrome, bright colors and curvaceous body panels. Previously, cars had a more understated and generic look to them, and afterward they morphed into more practical shapes. This makes many 1950s models highly collectible, since they're unlike vehicles from any other decade. 

Some call the 1950s the most dangerous period of time for cars. Horsepower and torque ratings were rising, but safety standards hadn't even begun to catch up. Gas prices weren't a concern, with vehicle weights rising dramatically. What's more, many war veterans had a craving for speed, with drag races on public roads an increasing problem. It was an evolutionary time for the automobile. 

How much do you know about this golden age of the automobile? Take the quiz now and test out your knowledge!

What make was the Corvette?
Chevrolet
Dodge
Chrysler
GMC
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Launched in the latter part of the 1953 model year, the Corvette quickly proved itself as worthy of the title "America's Sports Car." It was first designed as a show car.

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What brand made the Thunderbird?
Lincoln
Dodge
Ford
Plymouth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cited by many as one of the most beautiful cars ever made, the 1955 Ford Thunderbird debuted as a two-seater convertible model.

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What make is the Bel Air?
GMC
Chevrolet
Buick
Oldsmobile
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is considered one of the most classic and iconic vehicles of the 1950s. It was produced through 1981.

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The iconic Continental Mark II was from what brand?
Lincoln
Hummer
Ford
Chevrolet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Debuting in 1956, the Lincoln Continental Mark II set new benchmarks in the luxury car market, including sumptuous leather upholstery and air conditioning standard. Production ceased in 1957.

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What brand made the Imperial?
Dodge
Ram
Chrysler
Jeep
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Chrysler Imperial was highly luxurious. However, it was considered an excessively expensive car at the time.

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The Roadmaster Skylark was produced by what car brand?
Buick
GMC
Rolls-Royce
Toyota
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1953 Buick Roadmaster Skylark was launched to mark the 50th anniversary of the brand, and today it's considered one of the most collectible vehicles made by Buick.

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The XK120 was from what brand?
BMW
Jaguar
Mercedes-Benz
Cadillac
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The XK120 debuted in 1948. Jaguar was going to originally make this iconic model for a limited time, but thanks to unanticipated demand that changed in a hurry.

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The Hornet was made by what brand?
Jeep
Kaiser
Hudson
International Harvester
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hudson Motor Car Company made the Hornet from 1951 to 1954, using the car for many decisive victories in NASCAR during that period.

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What British brand made the R-Type Continental?
Mini
Bentley
Triumph
Jaguar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Debuting for the 1952 model year, the Bentley R-Type Continental is one of the most iconic luxury cars of the decade, helped by the potent V-6 and lightweight design.

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The Mini Mk1 was from what mark?
Jaguar
Austin
Kia
Daewoo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Debuting at the tail end of the decade, the 1959 Austin Mini showed that an ultra-small car could be practical and fun. This Mini was also sold under the Morris label.

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What make was the Firedome?
DeSoto
Chevrolet
GMC
Chrysler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Offered from 1952 to 1959, the DeSoto Firedome exemplified many of the designs that were typical for the decade. It is now considered a true classic.

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Called simply DS, this car was made by what brand?
GMC
Citroen
Toyota
Datsun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This French front-engine, front-wheel-drive car was made starting in 1955, featuring bodywork that was quite aerodynamic and futuristic for the time. It was named the most beautiful car of all time by "Classic & Sports Car" magazine.

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What brand was responsible for making the 550 Spyder?
Porsche
Opel
Aston Martin
Land Rover
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1953 Porsche 550 Spyder had a humongous impact on motorsports at the time. Competitors tried to emulate designs from it for some time afterward.

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Big and brash, what mark was the Eldorado from?
Cadillac
Pontiac
Mopar
SRT
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many say the second-gen Cadillac Eldorado, which stormed onto the market in 1954, pretty much defines 1950s cars, making the car quite a collector's item today.

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What brand did the 503 Cabriolet come from?
BMW
Porsche
Hyundai
Toyota
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 503 hit the market in 1956, being the first official sports car from BMW after the close of WWII, and it cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $17,000.

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The Metropolitan was made by what company?
International Harvester
Kaiser
Ford
Nash
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

By today's standards this would be considered a subcompact car, although when the Nash Metropolitan launched in 1953 such a term didn't exist. It was categorized as an economy car.

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The 250GT California Spyder was from what brand?
Ferrari
Lamborghini
Pagani
Fiat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Made in both short and long wheelbase forms, the 250GT California Spyder was designed by Ferrari for the North American market.

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What brand made the Suburban pickup truck?
Dodge
Kaiser
International Harvester
GMC
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1955 GMC changed the name of the Town & Country, which was the brand's version of Chevrolet's Cameo, to Suburban. The truck had more powerful engines than the Chevrolet version, making it superior.

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What brand was the Patrician from?
Packard
Dodge
Maserati
Lamborghini
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Offered from 1951 to 1958, the Patrician was the top-of-the-line sedan for the Packard brand. It offered supreme luxury and a stuffy appearance.

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The Pacer was from what infamous brand?
Kaiser
Fiat
Yugo
Edsel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most people have heard of the catastrophe known as the Edsel, but they aren't aware of the 1958 Pacer. Edsel shared a platform with Ford.

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What brand made the Manhattan?
International Harvester
Buick
Kaiser
Cadillac
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kaiser launched the Manhattan in 1951, then gave it a big facelift in 1954, basing the looks partly off the Buick XP-300 concept.

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What brand was the Starliner?
International Harvester
Studebaker
Plymouth
Oldsmobile
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While technically launched right after WWII, the Studebaker Starliner previewed some of the swooping, optimistic vehicle designs that dominated the 1950s.

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What brand made the beautiful 300 SL?
Audi
Porsche
Mercedes-Benz
Lexus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first SL-Class model, the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL featured a clean and sleek design, plus those iconic gull-wing doors.

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The MGA 1500 was from what brand?
Buick
Jaguar
Nissan
MG
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The MGA line was made by MG from 1955 to 1962, providing a simple and fun roadster. The 1500 model featured a 1489 cc engine.

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What brand was the Coronet from?
Dodge
Chrysler
Chevrolet
Plymouth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Back in the 1950s, the Dodge Coronet was the brand's full-size car, starting out the decade as the top-of-the-line option and ending it at the bottom of the model lineup.

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The Monterey was offered by what brand?
Plymouth
Ford
Mercury
Buick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Launched originally as a 1952 model, the Mercury Monterey was a luxury coupe with either a canvas or vinyl covering for the top.

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The Silver Hawk was sold under what brand name?
Jeep
Studebaker
DeSoto
GMC
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Form 1957 to 1959 the Studebaker Silver Hawk served up large tail fins and other classic 1950s styling. Studebaker was based in South Bend, Indiana.

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The Chieftain Catalina Coupe was from what brand?
Cadillac
Pontiac
Mercury
Datsun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When it hit the market in 1950, the Pontiac Chieftain Catalina Coupe had some innovative equipment, like heaters under the seats, tissue dispensers and a Remington Auto-Home shaver built in.

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The DB4 was from what brand?
Toyota
Cadillac
BMW
Aston Martin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Aston Martin DB4 made a huge splash when it launched in 1958. A DB5 was eventually driven by James Bond.

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When the Silver Cloud launched in the 1950s, what brand sold it?
Bentley
Studebaker
Rolls-Royce
Volvo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Few luxury models from the decade have proven to be as elegant and iconic as the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, a name the automaker used all the way into the middle of the 1960s.

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The Wasp was sold under what brand?
Dodge
Hudson
Plymouth
American Motors
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Launched with the 1952 model, the Hudson Wasp survived the merger with Nash Motors, lasting all the way to the 1956 model year. It was available in a hardtop or convertible.

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What brand was the Capri from?
Ford
Lincoln
Duesenberg
Aston Martin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lincoln launched the full-size Capri in 1952 to compete against offerings from Cadillac, Packard and Chrysler, to name a few. It was produced through 1959.

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What brand did the Aurelia belong to?
Lancia
Audi
Mini
Triumph
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Italian brand Lancia sold the Aurelia as a sedan, coupe and convertible from 1950 to 1958. The Via Aurelia is a road that leads from Rome to Pisa.

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What brand was the Alpine from?
BMW
Peugeot
Fiat
Sunbeam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Offered from the 1953 to 1955 model years, the Sunbeam Alpine was a roadster designed mostly for consumers in North America.

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What brand was the Beetle?
Porsche
Volkswagen
Fiat
Mercury
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the 1950s, the rear window of the Beetle was changed from a split oval to a single. Of course, the first Beetle was produced in the 1930s.

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