Can You Identify More Than 11 of These Classic Cars?

AUTO

By: Jonnathan Chadwick

7 Min Quiz

Image: Dennis Gerbeckx / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

There's nothing like a classic car to help us appreciate the combination of art and science. Sleek angles and soft lines can make a car look beautiful, but they can also make a car faster, lighter, safer and more efficient. In the earliest days of car manufacturing, experimentation was a top priority. Auto pioneers like Karl Benz, Henry Royce and Ettore Bugatti all built cars to improve on existing cars, and because mass production wasn't the goal, these guys created some of the rarest cars on the planet.

In attempting to make engines quieter, bodies lighter, speeds faster and outputs more efficient, the earliest car designers created one-of-a-kind designs and styles. Today's popular cars are popular because they are best suited for assembly production. Yesterday's most popular cars were popular because they were cutting edge. They were unique. They were experimental. And they became the cars that defined the automotive industry. 

How well do you know classic cars? Some of them were produced in mass. Some of them were never officially produced. Some of them are electric. Some of them guzzle more gas than a modern SUV. All of them are classics, and many of them are worth a fortune. Take this quiz and see if you can name more than 11 of these classic cars.

What's this car that's so slow it can travel back in time?

The DeLorean is an iconic car known for being featured in the "Back to the Future" trilogy, but in real life, production of the car ceased before the movie came out. The car looked cool, but it was too expensive and far too slow for a sports car, barely able to break 100 mph. Today, it's a classic.

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Do you know this Japanese sports car that became an affordable alternative to the Jaguar E-Type?

The Datsun 240Z features a beautiful design and unparalleled performance for a sports car of its price. Its elongated hood is similar in style to the Jaguar E-Type, but it cost a fraction of the price. Today, Nissan is on its sixth generation of models from its Z-line.

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Do you know this recognizable car?

The VW Beetle is commonly known as a bug or buggy and is one of the best-selling cars in the world. It was designed specifically for mass, mass, mass production and can be found all over the world. It wasn't designed for A1 performance or comfort but is a beloved car nonetheless.

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What's the name of this iconic sports cars with a split rear window?

The second generation of Corvette (aka C2) was a game-changer for Chevy. It debuted in 1963 and featured the iconic flip-up Corvette headlights, as well as a split rear window and improved performance specifications.

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This car named after a supernatural Native American creature is one of the world's most recognizable. Do you know it?

The Ford Thunderbird is the quintessential classic car. It debuted in 1955, and production ran for more than two decades. It was revived in the 21st century, but production ceased after just a few years.

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What's the name of this Italian car with silk-smooth handling?

Alfa Romeo's Spider was first built in the mid-'60s and was manufactured for close to 30 years. More than 100,000 of the cars were produced over the decades, and it was a huge hit in the U.K., rivaling Jaguar's E-Type.

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Do you know this car that introduced gull-wing doors to the world?

Mercedes gets credit as being the world's first car, and the 300 SL is one of the finest supercars of the century. More than 3,000 of these were produced between 1954 and 1963, and they are highly sought-after collectibles today. You'd be lucky to find one for less than $1 million.

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Can you name this classic that is today's best-selling pickup truck in America?

The Ford F-Series is one of the best-selling lines of vehicles in the world. It's been the best selling pickup truck in America for more than four decades, and the first generations of these trucks hit the streets in the late 1940s.

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Do you know this cutting-edge car with a prehistoric name?

The Ferrari Dino was only produced for a handful of years, but it was the first time Ferrari manufactured a car in really high numbers. The Dino's soft lines and stylish curves set it apart from the harsh angles and sharp lines seen on most Ferraris.

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Can you name this car considered the first mass-produced American car?

The Ford Model T wasn't the first car in the world or even the first gas automobile in America, but it was the first to become widely successful across the country. Millions of Ford Model Ts hit the road within the first decade of the 20th century.

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Can you name this car that's also known as the "James Bond" car?

James Bond first drove the Aston Martin DB5 in the 1964 film "Goldfinger." He has gone on to drive dozens of luxury cars, but this is the one most associated with him. The car from the movie sold for close to $5 million in 2010.

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Can you name this British classic equally known for its speed and grace?

From 1961 to 1975, Jaguar manufactured this car model that has regularly been recognized as one of the most beautiful cars ever made. It features an elegant and elongated hood and is capable of hitting 150 mph.

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What's the name of this American muscle car popularized in the 2000 movie "Gone in 60 Seconds"?

The Ford Mustang is an iconic car, and the Shelby Mustang from 1965 to 1970 is the model that started it all. Carroll Shelby helped spruce up the original Mustang to create the GT350 and 500 models.

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What's the name of the most expensive car ever sold?

The Ferrari 250 GTO is the stuff dreams are made of. Only a few dozen of these beasts were ever produced, and if you were lucky enough to have got one back in the '60s, it would've cost you about $200,000 in 2019 dollars, but today they regularly sell for $50 million. One sold in 2018 for $70 million.

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Can you name this American icon known as the world's best endurance racecar in the 1960s?

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most prestigious and demanding tests in endurance racing, and the Ford GT40 won the event four times in a row at the end of the '60s. Ford revamped the brand in the early 2000s when it unveiled the Ford GT.

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What's the name of this iconic sports car named after a WWII British fighter Jet?

British automaker Triumph enlisted the Italian designer who designed Ferraris and Maseratis to concept this iconic sports car. The Spitfire's stylish design and responsive performance made it a popular car for almost two decades.

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What's the name of this British sports car imported to the U.S. by Carroll Shelby?

Automotive designer Carroll Shelby had a dream of putting a powerful V8 engine into a speedy British sports car, and in the 1960s he did just that. The creation was the legendary AC Shelby Cobra that went on to change the automotive world.

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Can you name this American muscle car that features a bird logo?

The Pontiac Firebird debuted in 1967 to compete with other American muscle of the time. In 1969, it was upgraded to create the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, which went on to gain pop-culture fame in "Smokey and the Bandit," TV's "Knight Rider" and more.

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Do you know the name of this wide-mouth, bug-eyed gentleman's car?

This classic British car flooded the roads in the 1960s and even went on to race tracks around the world. Despite its laid-back look, it's a rather successful racecar and is still raced today. The model went through a few iterations but eventually stopped production in 1967.

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Can you name the most popular steam car of the early 20th century?

The Stanley Motor Carriage Company was one of the most successful manufacturers of steam-powered vehicles in the early 1900s. The automobiles the company manufactured were commonly known as Stanley Steamers.

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Do you know this futuristic car considered Japan's first supercar?

Despite its name, this car was manufactured for a few years in the 1960s. Only a few hundred of them were manufactured, and it was Japan's entry into the European-dominated market of sleek and powerful sports cars.

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What's the name of this American classic that served as JFK's presidential limousine?

The official limo of the president has been made by several car manufacturers, and for most of the '60s and '70s, it was made by Lincoln. The 1961 Lincoln Continental that carried JFK and his wife the day he was assassinated was named SS-100-X.

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Do you know this 1940s American classic shaped like an underwater missile?

The Tucker '48 gets its nickname from its missile shape, and it's a highly sought-after collector's classic. The early 1900s was dominated by the big auto brands, so only about 50 of these were ever produced.

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Can you name this massive luxury car that is one of the longest and heaviest cars ever made?

The Bugatti Royale is officially known as the Bugatti Type 41, and it was produced from 1927 to 1933. Only seven of them were ever built, and the model known as the Bugatti Royale Coupe Napoleon was Ettore Bugatti's personal car.

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One of these rare cars was famously seized by U.S. forces during WWII. Do you know what it's called?

The Mercedes-Benz 540K was the company's upgrade to the 500K. Only about 400 of them were ever produced, and just a fraction of those were imported to the U.S., where they sold for close to $220,000 in 2019 dollars.

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What's the name of this car that translates to "panther" in Italian?

The De Tomaso Pantera has all the flair and style of luxury Italian automobiles and all the durability of a Ford V8 engine. These cars hit the U.S. streets in the early '70s, but relationships with Ford eventually ended, and production of the car ended too.

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Can you name this powerful supercar that features smooth lines and eyelash headlights?

With smooth lines, elegant curves and eyelash headlights, the Miura might be Lamborghini's sexiest model. Sadly, production ended in the early '70s, and it was succeeded by the Countach, which features the blocky and sharp angles most associated with Lamborghini.

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Do you know this electric car that cost about $1,000 in the early 1900s?

Although electric cars seem to be a 21st-century invention, the first ones began hitting American roads in the 19th century. The Pope-Waverly was one of the most popular models and cost about $1,000 at the time. That price didn't include the 30-50 batteries needed to power the car.

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Do you recognize this British two-seater known for hitting 100 mph?

The SS Jaguar 100 debuted in the 1930s and was considered one of the most stylish sports cars of the times. Only a few hundred were ever produced, and the car hit a top speed of 101 mph in 1937. An authentic SS100 can fetch north of a million dollars today.

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Only a couple of these cars were ever manufactured in the 1950s. Do you know it?

This dream car was a concept from Oldsmobile from the 1950s that was supposed to be destroyed. It 's believed as many as three of them were manufactured, but it's believed only one of them still exists.

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Can you name this 20th-century classic with a narrowing rear?

Cord and Duesenberg automobiles were some of the nicest cars of the early 20th century, and the Auburn Boattail Speedster utilized designers and engineers from both brands. If that wasn't enough, the Speedster sold for the equivalent of $40,000 in 2019 dollars. Cord and Duesenberg cars could reach a quarter of a million dollars, so this Speedster was the steal of a lifetime.

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What's the name of this luxury car known for being driven by Rockefellers and Vanderbilts?

The first Simplex car was built in 1904, but it wasn't until a few years later that Crane-Simplex cars hit the streets. Only about 120 were ever built, and they were some of the most expensive cars of the time, reserved only the wealthiest Americans.

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Do you know the name of this uber-luxurious car considered America's most powerful pre-WWII car?

The Duesenberg Model J debuted in 1928 and was designed for the wealthiest Americans. Less than 500 of these were created in the 1930s. At $15,000 in 1930, one of these would cost the equivalent of more than $200,000 in 2019. It was built with top-of-the-line everything.

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When Charles Rolls and Henry Royce agreed to collaborate, this is the first car they produced. What is it?

This car started it all. Henry Royce wanted to improve on other cars of the day and came up with the Rolls-Royce 10. One main feature of the car was that it was a lot quieter than others. The silent power of Rolls-Royce continues to define the brand today.

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There are only a handful of cars that have been built with a V16 engine. Can you name this one?

Cadillac is known for its classic cars, and it's difficult to pick just one to highlight. One of the brand's rarest models is the V-16 (aka Cadillac Sixteen), which is one of just a few cars to be built with a V16 engine.

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What's the name of this classic Porsche that birthed the iconic 911 model?

Porsche has made a lot of exceptional cars over the years, and its most iconic model might be the 911. The Porsche 356 was introduced in 1948, and it's the car that inspired the 911. Although Porsche was founded 17 years earlier, the 356 was the first Porsche sold to the public.

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The "teardrop" design of this luxury car has been turning heads for almost a century. What is it?

The Talbot Lago debuted in the 1930s, and its futuristic design still drops jaws today. In addition to its stylish design, it's a rather fast car and was known for its exceptional performance abilities.

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Can you name this upscale American model of a popular British sports car?

The Morgan Motor Company began designing automobiles in Britain in the early 1900s. The Morgan Plus 4 is an upscale version of the Morgan 4/4, and it was designed for upper-class Americans. It evolved into the Morgan Plus 8 and was revived in 2005.

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Can you name this popular car with a political name?

The Studebaker brothers are well-known American automobile pioneers that manufactured everything from bicycles and wagons to buses and limousines. By the mid-1920s, the entry-level Studebaker Dictator hit the streets. The Dictator name was dropped in 1937.

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Do you know this American luxury car that was one of the first to feature front-wheel drive?

The Cord L-29 is one of America's most luxurious luxury car, but the car's success was hindered due to the fact it was introduced in 1929 when the stock market crashed. The Indiana-based manufacturer fully ceased operations by 1937.

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