AUTOMOBILE TRIVIA

    Test Your Automotive Knowledge.

Q-206
In 1954 , Ford produced a two-door pillarless hardtop with a transparent front roof section. What was that model called on the Ford and its Mercury cousin?
A-206
Ford’s was the Crestline Skyliner.  The Mercury was the Monterey Sun Valley.  Canadian versions were the Meteor Rideau Skyliner

and Monarch Lucerne Sun Valley.

Q-205
What was the first  American front-wheel drive car to be offered to the public?
A-205
The Cord L-29, which came out in 1929 to the line by several months.  Just 4,400 were sold before being discontinued in 1932.
Q-204
Between 1975 and 1976 Traditional Coach works built a couple bun-dred Cadillac “pick-ups” based on a customized Coupe de Ville.  What were they called?
A-204
Known as the Cadillac mirage, they were not endorsed by Cadillac but sold through Cadillac dealerships.  Evel Knievel bought the firs one.
Q-203
What was the best selling American car in 1974? 
A-203
The Ford Pinto was tops that year, selling over 360,000.  The Plymouth Valiant was second, with more than 337,000.  Chevy’s Vega, Impala and Nova fill out the top six.
Q-202
In 1962, Chevrolet debuted the Chevy II models.  The line consisted of three series – what were they called.
Q-202
The lowest priced series was the Chevy II 100,
next up was the Chevy II 300,
and the top was filled with the Chevy II 400.
Q-201
The first car with a modern speed control system was the 1958 Imperial, called “auto-pilot”.  Which company renamed and marketed it as “cruise-control”?
Q-201
Cadillac.  In 1965, AMC called it “cruise command”
Q-200
What models were the first 4-cylinder and the first 6-cylinder Ford?
Q-200
The Model K (1906 – 1908) was Ford’s first 6-cylinder auto.  The Model N (1906 – 1908) was Ford’s first 4-cylinder auto.  The Model T debuted in 1908.
Q-199
What automaker offered a “Go Package (or “Go Pack”) on a variety of their cars between 1968-1974?
A-199
AMC’s ‘Go ack” varied from year to year on the AMX (1968 – 1970). Javelin (1968 – 1974), Hornet SCI360 (1971) and Matador Machine (1971).
Q-198
The MoPar brand was not introduced into Canada until the late 1970’s.  What were the equivalent brands used there before then?
A-198
Chrysler  parts were sold under the brands “Chryco” and “AutoPar” in Canada
Q-197
Hugh Chalmers was a wealthy businessman who formed his own car company in 1908 by buying out E.R. Thomas’s stake in Thomas-Detroit.  Where did he make his fortune?
A-197
Chalmers was Vice-President of National Cash Register, making $72,000 a year in 1907.  Chalmers produced cars until 1924.
Q-196
In 1977, Oldsmobile offered a standard four cylinder engine for the first time since 1922.  What subcompact model featured that engine?
A-196
The Starfire, in its third go around with Olds.  It emerged again in 1975 with a Buick V6 before the switch to a four two years later 
Q-195
What were the model names of the three cars Continental Motors offered when it tried to expand beyond engine building in 1933?
A-195
Ace, Flyer and Beacon.  Reportedly, just 3,310 cars of all three models were sold that year.

Q-194
The name of the cheapest Chevrolet available in 1958 was actually the name of a premium version of the Two-Ten in 1954.  What was the name?
A-194
Delray.
While the name never appears on the car, magazine ads used the name in promoting it.  Delray is a neighborhood in Detroit.
Q-193
What was the first American production car to reach 170 mph.
A-193
A 1962 Studebaker Avanti, courtesy of a supercharged 289 and a series of speed runs at Bonneville with Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert at the wheel.
Q-192
Hanns Trippel designed an auto called the Trippel SG6  “Schwimmwagen” before World War II.  He then designed a similar vehicle that was released in 1961?
A-192
The Amphicar.  The amphibious vehicle was marketed from 1961 through 1968, but production ended i1965.
Q-191
What two pony cars were introduced within 16 days of each other in 1964?
A-191
The Plymouth Barracuda (April 1) and the Ford Mustang (April 17).  Ford sold 126,538 Mustangs that year versus 23,443 Plymouth Barracudas.
Q-190
Just as Cadillac introduced its companion LaSalle brand, so did Marmon in 1929.  What was it called?
A-190
The Roosevelt, named after named after President Teddy Roosevelt.  Available in four body styles – sedan, coupe, Victoria Coupe and Collegiate Coupe – it was rebadged as the Marmon Model R after 1930
Q-189
In 1954, Chrysler offered 20 body styles across five different models.  Can you name the five models?
A-189
1) The Windsor Deluxe            (6 body styles)
2) The New Yorker                   (5 body styles)
3) The New Yorker Deluxe       (4 body styles)
4) The Costume Imperial          (3 body styles)
5) The Crown Imperial              (2 body styles)
Q-188
What two automobile brands offered the first wind-up windows in 1919?
A-188
Both Packard and Pierce-Arrow offered wind-up windows that year.  Until then, leather strap window lift were used.
Q-187
Chrysler stopped offering convertibles following the 1970 year, and didn’t reintroduce one until 1982.  Name the last two from ’70 and first from ’82
A-187
1970 convertibles from Chrysler were the “300” or the Newport.  1982 saw the LeBaron convertible join the K-Car ranks.
Q-186
What American auto executive once said, “A car should make people’s eyes light up when they step into the showroom. Rebates are merely a way of convincing customers to by bland cars they’re not interested in.”?
A-185
John DeLorean, who began his career at Chrysler and Packard before long stints at Pontiac and GM.
Q-185
Wilhelm Karman GmbH in Germany, will-known for building the VW Karmann Ghia and other VW convertibles, also built  what 3-door hatchback in the 1980’s?
A-185
Karmann hand-built the Merkur SR4Ti, a U.S. version of the European Ford Sierra, from 1985-89.
Q-184
What 3 cars make up a new car brand called: N O V A?
A-184
OMEGA,
VENTURA,
APOLLO.
Q-183
Who invented invented the electric barber clippers, supplied engines for the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, and then went on to found both Cadillac and Lincoln
A-183
    Henry Leland.  In 1902 he was hired by The Henry Ford Company to appraise it for liquidation.  He instead suggested they reorganize, thus  forming Cadillac.
Q-182
What tire company, founded in 1898, was named after the American inventor of vulcanized rubber,even though he died 38 years earlier
A-182
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. was founded by Frank Seiberling, but named after Charles Goodyear, a self-taught chemist who patented vulcanized rubber in 1844
Q-181
  What was the name of Oldsmobile’s version of the 1973 Chevrolet Nova?.
Q-181
     The Olds Omega was introduced that year, along with its sister, the Buick Apollo.  The Omega ended up being a version of the Chevy Citation later on.
Q-180
   1955-57 Thunderbirds are called Baby Birds, and 1958-60 Thunderbirds are called Square Bird.  What is the nickname for the 1961-63 Thunderbirds?
A-180
   The styling of the 61-63 Thunderbirds have led them to be known as Bullet Birds.
 

Q-179
   What is the name of the Dodge emblem used from 1962-1976, which was composed of three arrowhead shapes forming a three-pointed star?
A-179
It’s known as a Fratzog, a made up name by the emblem  designers.  It’s believed that Dodge will use again on a future electric muscle car.

 

Q-178
   What car company marketed pun-filled colors like “Thanks Vermillion”, “Hulla Blue’, “Anti-Establish Mint”, and “Freudian Gilts”?
A-178
   The color names were used on 1970 Ford products, the same year the Maverick made its debut.    Others include “Last Stand Custard” and “Big ‘Em Back Olive”.
Q-177
   Only 35 buyers chose what option available on the 1958 Chrysler 300D, DeSoto Adventurer, Dodge D-500 and Plymouth Fury?
A-177
This rare option was Chrysler’s “Electrojector” fuel injection set-up. It featured two dual-point distributors (one for ignition and another for the injectors).
Q-176
   When was the checkered flag first used to signify the end of a race?
A-176
 The checkered flag was first used in the 1906 Glidden Tour, indentifying time check points at the end of each section.  A checkered frag was also used to end the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup race.
Q-175
   What historical automotive executive was responsible for choosing the name “Plymouth” for Chrysler’s low-priced entry in 1928?
A-175
  Joseph Frazer, eventually of Kaiser-Frazer fame.  While working at Chrysler, He suggested “Plymouth” as a good American name, leveraging the popularity of Plymouth Binder Twine among farmers.
Q-174
   Chrysler debuted their Letter Car in 1955 with the C-300, and the 300B followed in 1956.  How many letters were used in all through 1965?
A-174
   The letters in all were used, B through L, minus the letter I.
Q-173
   The German automaker Opel, owned by GM from 1921 through 2017 and now owned by Stellantis, manufactures what English sister marque auto?

1922 Opel.
A-173
   Vauxhall.  Like most other pioneering automaker that began making something else.  Vauxhall  was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine builder.

1922 Vauxhall
Q-172
   Like Peerless, Pierce also had humble beginnings before turning to bicycles and automobiles.  What were they best known for from 1865 – 1900?
A-172
   Under a company named Heinz, Pierce and Munschauer, they were best known for delicate guilded birdcages.
Q-171
   What automobile designer, who was a student of Harley Earl, is credited with the origin of Pontiac’s silver streak design theme as well as the ’55 T-Bird?
A-171
Franklin “Frank” Hershey,who was also responsible for the 1948 Cadillac tailfin.
Q-170
  When the Graham brothers left Dodge, they acquired Paige in 1927.
After WWII, they sold their car business to Kaiser-Frazer.  What did Graham-Page eventually become?
A-170
The Graham-Page Corp was renamed Madison Square Garden Corp. in 1962 as they were then operating MSG and some NY sports teams.
Q-169
What popular model name at Oldsmobile firs appeared on an experimental sports coupe in 1954 before appearing on a production car in 1961?
A-169
Cutlass, introduced as the top trim level on the F-85 line before evolving into its own series, and branching out into such models as 442, Supreme, Calais, and Ciera.
442
Supreme

 

Calais
Ciera.

 

Q-168
Alice Huyler Ramsey was the first woman to drive an automobile across the U. S. from coast to coast in 1909. What kind of car did She make the trip in?
A-168
Alice drove a Maxwell Model DA touring car. She left NYC  on June 9th. and reached San Francisco on August 7th.
Q-167
What name, introduced in 1950 by Ford, referred  to station wagons with woodgrain exterior trim?
A-167
Country Squire.  The name lasted through 1991. Squire versions of the Ranchero and pinto were also built.
Q-166
What was the name of Pontiac’s rebadged version of Chevy Vega?
A-166
The Astre. which debuted in the United States for the 1975 model year.  It and the Vega were cancelled after the 1977 model year.
Q-165
A 2001 Corvette paced this year’s Indy 500.  What was the last year that something other than a Chevrolet did so, and what kind of vehicle was it? 
A-165
In 2001, an Oldsmobile Bravada was the pace “car” for the Indy 500, even though it was an SUV.
Q-164
In 1966, Ford debuted a new performance package for the Galaxie .What was it called?
A-164
It was known as the 7-litre.  It came with a 427 and a mandatory four-speed, or the newer 428 witch could pair with an automatic.  Only 38 out of 11,000 were built with the 427.

 

Q-163
What famous truck company originated out of Fallesen & Berry carriage builders in Brooklyn, NY?
A-163
Mack Truck, started by Jack and Gus Mack, who bought the carriage company in 1893. Their first motor vehicle was a 20-passenger bus built in 1900 that toured Prospect Park.
Q-162
What GM Motorama show car is featured on the Harley J. Earl Trophy, which is presented to the winner of the Daytona 500?
A-162
The Firebird XP-21, now known simply as,
Firebird I.  It was developed in 1953, as the first gas turbine-powered car tested om the U.S.  It’s basically a jet on wheels.

 

Q-161
One man is credited with founding both Cadillac and Lincoln.  Who is He?
A-161
Henry Leland.  In 1902 He was brought in to the failing Henry Ford Company and convinced them to reorganize as Cadillac.  He started the Lincoln Motor Co. in 1917 to build Liberty aircraft engines, retooled  it as an automaker in 1920.
Q-160
What animal did Plymouth executives want to name their new sporty compact before designer John Samsen prevailed with “Barracuda”?
A-160
Panda. (Only slightly better than Sloth, in My opinion). 

 

Q-159
In the early 1960’s GM was developing a new model that was originally called the LaSalle II.  When it was shifted away from Cadillac, what did it become?
A-159
Early mock-ups of a personal luxury coupe first badged as the LaSalle II eventually became the 1963 Buick Riviera.

 

Q-158
Chrysler F-Bodies like the Volare and Aspen gave way to what new platform in 1981?
A-158
The famous “K-cars” debuted in 1981, sporting new names like Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries.
Q-157
Who is the French Bicycle racer who went on to manufacture porcelain spark plugs?  His name endures within the brands of two popular plugs today.
A-157
Albert Champion, Ignition Company and AC Spark Plug Company.  Today, his name is behind those of ACDelco and Champion Spark plugs.
Q-156
Ford’s Fox-body typically is associated with 1980’s Mustangs, but the platform underpinned what other cars coming from, the  Ford corporate family?
A-156
The midsize, unit-body Fox platform was also under the Ford Fairmont, Granada, Thunderbird; Mercury Zephyr, Capri, Monarch, Cougar; and Lincoln Mk VI and VII.

 

Q-155
The 1973 Gremlin offered an optional Levi’s interior package that featured spun nylon upholstery made to look like denim.  Why didn’t they use real denim?
A-155
Real denim is spun from cotton, and fire safety regulations prohibited its use in interiors.
Q-154
The popularity of Mercury’s Cougar led them to choose what name for their version of the Ford Pinto (which was inspired by the Mustang nameplate)?
A-154
Bobcat. Mercury built over 224,000 Bobcats from 1975 to 1980.  It was replaced by another feline, the Mercury Lynx.
Q-153
Which independent auto manufacturer is generally credited as the first to offer four-wheel brakes?
A-153
Duesenberg.  Their innovation began on race cars as early as 1915, and in 1921 they were the first production car to offer four-wheel hydraulic brakes.
Q-152
Along with the  Thunderbird, what other models were available from Ford in 1980?
A-152
Mustang, LTD, Granad