QUIZ: How Does Your Knowledge Of American Cars Really Stack Up?
The history of American cars is as much as if not more beautiful than the history of this amazing country. A large part of the whole concept of 'freedom,' which is the base of American society, came from the freedom of movement offered by a personal car. The car industry helped shape the way Americans lived, worked, and got around.
Today, let's cherish the legacy of American cars and see how well you know about them. From famous models to brands and race car drivers to automotive executives, this quiz will assess all dimensions of your car knowledge.
Which was the first car to have a Chevy SS badge?
A. Impala
B. Corvette
C. Camaro
D. Chevelle
Answer: Impala
The SS (Super Sport) is an optional high-performance package offered by Chevy that includes increased power output and other performance enhancements. It was first introduced with the 1961 Impala.
Read More: The Fastest American Muscle Cars From The '60s and ’70s
The love child of a hotrod and a pickup truck, what is this car known as?
A. Chevy La Cruze
B. Chevy Silverado
C. Chevy El Camino
D. Chevy Saber
Answer: Chevy El Camino
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, American car buyers were obsessed with two things; muscle cars and pickup trucks. Chevy combined the two to make the El Camino.
What is the most popular color for new cars in the US?
A. White
B. Red
C. Black
D. Blue
Answer: White
Even though people like to go with more exotic colors when buying crazy sports cars and hypercars, the most popular car color by sales numbers in the US, and in fact the whole world, is white.
Which of the following is a pony car that has been in continuous production since it came out?
A. Ford Pinto
B. Ford Thunderbird
C. Chevy Camaro
D. Ford Mustang
Answer: Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang, released in 1964, has been in continuous production since then and is currently in its 7th generation. The Chevy Camaro is also still sold new, but its production has been paused many times since it first came out.
When did the Chevy Camaro first come out?
A. 1967
B. 1965
C. 1969
D. 1966
Answer: 1967
The first-gen Camaro was introduced in 1967 as a pony car to rival Ford's Mustang in the newly formed market segment of small and powerful sports cars. The car became a huge success, but not as much as the Mustang.
Mercury, a now-defunct luxury car brand, was owned by which car company?
A. GM
B. Ford
C. Buick
D. Dodge
Answer: Ford
Mercury was a luxury and performance car branch of the Ford Motor Company. It could not survive after the 2008 financial crisis and went bankrupt at the start of 2010.
In which year was the Dodge Challenger first released?
A. 1969
B. 1970
C. 1971
D. 1968
Answer: 1969
The Dodge Challenger first hit the market in 1969 as a muscle car meant for the masses. Though not a cheap car, it was far more affordable than the similar offerings of other brands.
The following car was named after the son of Henry Ford. Can you name it?
A. Ford Fairlane
B. Ford Torino
C. Ford Romeo
D. Ford Edsel
Answer: Ford Edsel
The Ford Edsel was named after Edsel Ford, the only child of Henry Ford I. Being overpriced, overhyped, and poorly made, the Edsel ended up as one of the biggest failures in automobile history.
Which of the following is regarded as the first muscle car in the history?
A. Oldsmobile Super 88
B. Dodge Challenger
C. Dodge Charger
D. Chevy Impala
Answer: Oldsmobile Super 88
Even though the term 'Muscle Car' was invented in 1960 with the Pontiac GTO, the Oldsmobile Super 88 was posthumously given the title due to it being the first car having the qualities that came to define muscle cars.
What is the best-selling car in the US?
A. Ford F-150
B. Ford F-Series
C. Chevy Silverado
D. GMC Sierra
Answer: Ford F-Series
Americans love their trucks, and what truck can be more American than the Ford F-Series. These trucks have been around since 1948 and have been the best-selling vehicle in the states for many years in a row.
This car was Ford's answer to Chevy Impala. What was it called?
A. Galaxie
B. Mustang
C. GT40
D. Bronco
Answer: Galaxie
The Impala became a successful model in the US in the 1960s, and to answer that, Ford released the Galaxie - naming it after the space race going on between the US and USSR.
The flagship of Lincoln's sedan lineup, what was the following car called?
A. Corsair
B. Aviator
C. Navigator
D. Continental
Answer: Continental
The Continental, first released in 1939, is one of the longest-running nameplates of any automaker. It is still being sold as the flagship sedan of this luxury brand.
What is the name of this famous American SUV that made a comeback after 23 years in 2021?
A. Ford Bronco
B. Jeep Cherokee
C. Jeep Gladiator
D. Hummer H1
Answer: Ford Bronco
One of Ford's most successful off-road vehicles, the Bronco, was introduced in 1966 and discontinued in 1996. Ford brought the model back in 2021 to a hugely positive reception from buyers.
Which famous car debuted at the 50th anniversary of GM?
A. Chevy El Camino SS
B. Chevy Impala SS
C. Chevy Camaro SS
D. Chevy Colorado SS
Answer: Chevy Impala SS
The Impala SS was launched in 1961 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Chevy as a leading car brand in the US. The SS got a bigger engine and other enhancements to make it more sporty.
What was this modified version of the Plymouth Road Runner called?
A. Superbird
B. Dragster
C. Thunderbird
D. Ultimate
Answer: Superbird
Introduced in 1970, the Superbird was a highly modified version of the Plymouth Road Runner. It was characterized by its distinctive rear wing and graphical designs over the body.
Can you name the first car to be made in the US?
A. Ford F-Series
B. Ford Model T
C. Ford Model A
D. Duryea Motor Wagon
Answer: Duryea Motor Wagon
Duryea Motor Wagon Company from Springfield, Massachusetts, was the first automaker in the US. They built 13 production models starting in 1895, way before the Model T or the assembly line was a thing.
Sold as a convertible, hardtop, coupe, sedan and station wagon between 1949 and 1975, what was this Chevy called?
A. Bel Air
B. Camaro
C. Corvette
D. Impala
Answer: Bel Air
The Bel-Air was a full-size car made between 1950 and 1975. Initially, it was only offered as a two-door hardtop, but later convertible, coupe, sedan, and station wagon versions were also introduced.
Mr. Shelby is driving (and designed) the following car. Do you know his first name?
A. Carroll
B. John
C. Edsel
D. Christopher
Answer: Carroll
Carroll Shelby was a US race car driver who became a designer and opened Shelby American to develop fast cars after doctors prevented him from racing due to a health condition.
Shown below is the car that won Le Mans against Ferrari, can you name its maker?
A. GM
B. Ford
C. Chevy
D. Chrysler
Answer: Ford
The GT40 was commissioned on the personal orders of Mr. Henry Ford II, with the only requirement for the engineering team being to beat Ferrari in Le Mans, which they did.
When did Ralph Nader write the book "Unsafe at Any Speed," highlighting safety issues in US cars?
A. 1985
B. 1966
C. 1965
D. 1990
Answer: 1965
The book came out in 1965 and was a critique of how unsafe the cars of that time were... when everyone was chasing power and speed, and safety was not even an afterthought in the US auto market.
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