Baby Boomers Should Remember These Cars From the ’50s. Do You?

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Baby Boomers Should Remember These Cars From the ’50s. Do You?
Image: Artur Andrzej via WikiCommons

About This Quiz

The 1950s was a pretty unique time in the world of automaking. This was when a lot of manufacturers shook up their approach after World War II and started introducing some unique new design features. The '50s really ushered in the era of sports cars and luxury cars complete with some unheard-of features. Aside from all that chrome and plush carpeting, you could get models decked out with seat warmers, retractable rear-view windshields, tissue holders and even electric shavers in some models if you can believe that. And then there were the fins. So many massive, sharp, wide-sweeping fins.

The '50s were the era of the Corvette, the Thunderbird, the Bel Air and more. These cars have stood the test of time and even 60-plus years later they're some of the hottest-looking cars that ever hit the road. The difference now is that it's going to cost you a lot more to get your hands on one if you can find them since a lot of these cars will cost you six figures or more these days.

So if you're a fan of the cars of the decade, let's see what you know about your 1950s cars! Take the quiz and see!

Ford Thunderbird
Nminow via WikiCommons
This car is credited with developing the personal luxury car market. Do you know what it is?
Ford Thunderbird
Chevy Nova
Dodge Challenger
Edsel Corsair
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Ford Thunderbird, or T-Bird, was introduced as a two-seater convertible in 1955. Ford opted not to compete with the Corvette, however, and instead of positioning it as a sports car it became the first personal luxury car on the market, starting a new trend.

Chevy Bel Air
Frank Schulenburg via WikiCommons
Which of this is arguably the most recognizable car of the entire decade?
Ford Thunderbird
Plymouth Fury
Buick LeSabre
Chevy Bel Air
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Chevy Bel Air was a trendsetter with its chrome molding and even a chrome horn ring. This model's styling was basically a template for all other cars in the '50s, which is why when you think of the '50s odds are you think of a car that looks like a Bel Air.

Bentley R-Type Continental
Thesupermat via WikiCommons
This was the fastest four-seat production car at the time it was built. What was it?
Aston Martin DB7
Bentley R-Type Continental
Chevrolet Delrey
Ford Fairlane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Bentley R-Type Continental is an exceedingly rare and highly coveted vehicle these days. While some rare cars from the '50s might go for low six figures, an R-Type Continental sold for over $1 million in 2017.

Advertisement

Buick Skylark
BuickGuy2 via WikiCommons
Do you know which of these was released to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary?
Buick Skylark
Chevy Cavalier
Ford Mustang
Plymouth Fury
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Released in 1953, the Buick Roadmaster Skylark was a top-of-the-line model that sold for over $5,000, which was a hefty price tag at the time compared to comparable models. Less than 1,700 were made in its first production run.

Continental Mark II
Rex Gray via WikiCommons
Do you know which one of these sold for nearly $10,000 back in 1956?
Continental Mark II
Hudson Hornet
Oldsmobile 76
Dodge Lancer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Continental Mark II was a luxury model from Ford that was a massive financial mistake for Ford. Priced to be on par with a Rolls Royce, Ford still lost upward of $1000 on every one sold.

VW Type 1
Sicnag via WikiCommons
Do you know which of these cars had the engine in the rear?
Porsche 550
Mercedes Benz 300
VW Type 1
Aston Martin DB4
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The original VW Type 1 (the Beetle) had been in production since the '30s but didn't make its way to America until after the war. As you can see when you compare it to other cars of the '50s, it was almost the exact opposite of everything else in production which is likely why it became so popular.

Advertisement

BMW 503
Berthold Werner via WikiCommons
Do you know which of these was a 2+2 grand touring car?
VW Type 1
Mercury Sun Valley
BMW 503
Ford Thunderbird
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

BMW introduced the 503 and the 507 at the same time in 1956. Only 413 503s were built between 1956 and 1959, making it something of a rare model for the discerning classic car collector.

Chrysler Imperial
AlfvanBeem via WikiCommons
Despite the name, this car was actually a distinct marque until 1971 and was not branded by the manufacturer's name at all. What was it?
Buick Commodore
Ford Thunderbird
Chevrolet Bel Air
Chrysler Imperial
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Chrysler Imperial was never called a "Chrysler" for years. Imperial was its own brand, much like Cadillac was made by Ford, but never called a Ford. The Crown Imperial was also the first car to be made available with disc brakes.

Jaguar XK120
Morio via WikiCommons
This car had an impressive history as a race car. What was it?
Chrysler New Yorker
Fiat 500
Jaguar XK120
Edsel Pacer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Jaguar XK120 was introduced in 1948 and was Jaguar's first sports car since 1940. By 1950, it was a favorite of race car drivers and managed to take place in races at Pebble Beach and Palm Beach Shores, among others.

Advertisement

1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
The 1959 model of this car is known for its massive, sharp tailfins. What is it?
Chrysler Imperial
Cadillac Coupe de Ville
Studebaker Goldenhawk
BMW 450
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cadillac Coupe de Ville was a huge hit in its first generation back in 1959. Over 53,000 of them were sold, cementing it as one of the most popular Cadillac models ever made and it's still loved by collectors today.

1953 Cadillac Eldorado
Hugh Llewelyn via WikiCommons
In 1953, only 532 of these cars were produced. What was it?
Buick LeSabre
Mercury Cougar
Dodge Charger
Cadillac Eldorado
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cadillac Eldorado was one of the most iconic cars of the '50s and really went all out with the chrome and luxury perks to help justify its $7,750 price tag, which was pretty steep at the time compared to most vehicles.

Austin Mini Mk1
Mark Brown via WikiCommons
Do you know which of these was the first car to be produced with front-wheel drive?
Austin Mini Mk1
Citroen DS
BMW Cabriolet
Kaiser Darrin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Austin Mini showed up in 1959 and made a splash with its remarkably compact look. It quickly became an icon of British automaking and was a shining example of how you could design a car to handle an oil crisis.

Advertisement

Edsel Pacer Convertible
Alf van Beem via WikiCommons
This car was considered an epic flop. Do you know what it was?
Cadillac Eldorado
Edsel Pacer Convertible
Jaguar XK120
Ford Fairlane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Edsel still stands as one of the greatest failures in automotive history. These cars went over by a lead balloon and are considered some of the ugliest vehicles ever produced, and overpriced for the market, despite the fact the '58 Edsel Pacer convertible was actually a pretty decent car.

Ford Fairlane
Steve Morgan via WikiCommons
Andrew Dice Clay starred as a character named after this car in a movie. Do you know it?
Chevy Corvette
Mercury Cougar
Buick Regal
Ford Fairlane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ford produced the Fairlane starting in 1955. Aside from contributing to the name of the Andrew Dice Clay movie "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" the car got its name from Henry Ford's estate which was called "Fair Lane."

Chevrolet Del Ray
dave_7 via WikiCommons
Do you know which of these is named after a beach in Florida?
Porsche 300
Citroen DS
Chevrolet Delray
Bentley R-Type
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chevrolet's Delray was produced with the awesomely named Blue Flame engine, a 115 horsepower straight-six or a 125 horsepower version. That's what made the Delray the hot rod that it was, and it was a favorite of racers.

Advertisement

1955 Dodge Coronet Lancer
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
Which vehicles were outfitted with Hemi V8 engines in 1955?
Dodge Coronet Lancer
Aston Martin DB4
Studebaker Champion
Ford F100
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dodge Coronet Lancer was a hardtop coupe that really leaned heavily into the tailfin craze of the era. You could get this model decked out beyond belief with premium whitewalls, a Scope-Sight speedometer and even deep pile carpeting.

Pontiac Chieftain Catalina Coupe
Sicnag via WikiCommons
Which of these cars had a Remington shaver as an option?
Chevy Corvair
Ford Fairlane
Buick Century
Pontiac Chieftain Catalina Coupe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Pontiac Chieftain came out as the Catalina Coupe in 1950 and had some stellar option packages available. Not only was the Remington Auto-Home shaver an option but also a tissue dispenser, under-seat heaters and even an illuminated hood ornament.

Jaguar XK150
AlfvanBeem via WikiCommons
You could go from 0-60 in just 7.8 seconds in this car. Do you know it?
BMW S-Type
Jaguar XK150
Porsche 311
Citroen DS
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Jaguar XK150 was initially available in two variants, the fixed head coupe and the drophead coupe. It was notable at the time for being available in a wide and eclectic range of colors including Cotswold Blue, Imperial Maroon, Carmen Red, British Racing Green and Cornish Grey.

Advertisement

Porsche 550 Spyder
Sicnag via WikiCommons
James Dean died driving one of these cars. What is it?
Aston Martin DB5
Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
Porsche 550 Spyder
Packard Caribbean
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Porsche 550 Spyder became infamous after the death of Hollywood star James Dean. The actor had one of the first 550s ever built and was driving it when he suffered his fatal crash. George Barris started something of an urban legend that the car was cursed.

Buick Roadmaster
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
This car was built from 1935 to 1958. Do you know what it is?
Buick Roadmaster
Plymouth Fury
Ford Fairlane
Ford Mustang
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Buick's Roadmaster was restyled after the war to be more appealing to consumers but didn't necessarily hit its mark. The grille on the 1950 model was mocked for looking like teeth so much so that "Consumer Reports" joked about a toothbrush being sold separately.

Studebaker Champion
Jeremy from Sydney, Australia via WikiCommons
Production of this car in ended 1958. Do you know what it is?
Mercury Sun Valley
Studebaker Champion
Ford Fairlane
Pontiac Catalina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1953, two versions of the Studebaker Champion were made available. The two-door coupe was called the Starlight while the hardtop coupe was called the Starline. In 1954, the company added a station wagon called the Conestoga to the line.

Advertisement

DeSoto Custom
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
Do you know which of these vehicles had a special model designed for cabs and limousines?
Studebaker Champion
Ford Thunderbird
DeSoto Custom
BMW Cabriolet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The DeSoto Custom was produced from 1939 until 1952. 1950 saw the first-ever station wagon and the first hardtop coupe as well. The coupe was rimmed to convertible standards and even had a trunk light. That's fancy stuff.

Nash Rambler
Sicnag via WikiCommons
Which of these is considered the first successful American compact car?
Nash Rambler
Chevy Bel Air
Studebaker Lark
Pontiac Chieftain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Nash Rambler was a convertible that sold based on a few key components. First, it was exceptionally affordable at only $1,800. Second, it was marketed as being incredibly safe owing to the fact it used overhead steel rails for stablity. It was like driving in a cage.

Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
Szilas via WikiCommons
Do you know which of these had a retracting rear windshield?
Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
Buick Skylark
Ford Thunderbird
Porsche Spyder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Mercury Turnpike Cruiser was introduced in 1957 and featured what the maker called "breezeway ventilation" by way of a retractable rear windshield. It also had what they called a "Seat-O-Matic" that allowed you to have a programmable seat position.

Advertisement

Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Motard_64 via WikiCommons
Variants of which car were called Spider, Sprint and Berlina?
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Austin Mini Mk 1
Aston Martin DB5
VW Type 2
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alfa Romeo introduced its Giulietta in 1954 and, depending on the model, could hit speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. Thanks to its performance and handling, it was a favorite to compete in numerous races.

Chrysler New Yorker
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
These vehicles were some of the first ever to include Hemi engines. What is it?
Jaguar XK120
Chevy Corvette
Chrysler New Yorker
Buick Skylark
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chrysler's New Yorker was produced for over half a century starting in 1940. In 1951, Chrysler introduced the Firepower Hemi engine though by 1959 the company opted to swap it out in favor of the 350 hp Golden Lion V8.

Fiat 500
böhringer friedrich via WikiCommons
In 1957, this was called the Nuova. What is it?
Citroen DS
Fiat 500
Austin Mini Mk1
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Fiat 500 was small, reliable and affordable, and that made it extremely popular. Fiat even brought this model back in 2007 for the car's 50th anniversary to celebrate just how popular it was.

Advertisement

Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Thesupermat via WikiCommons
Which car had gullwing doors?
Porsche Macan
Buick Skylark
Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Plymouth Valiant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Mercedes Benz 300 SL was a "sport light" version with a 3.0-liter engine meant to be a Grand Prix car for everyday drivers. To that end, it was actually the fastest production car available at the time.

Mercury Monterey Sun Valley
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
Turquoise Blue and Cortaro Red were the two color options besides black for which car?
Cadillac Eldorado
Mercury Monterey Sun Valley
Chrysler Imperial
Plymouth Fury
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Mercury Monterey Sun Valley was the evolution of Mercury's Eight Series and was not a super popular model. The Sun Valley didn't sell well despite the fact you could get a leather interior upgrade for only $10!

Aston Martin DB Mark III
Sicnag via WikiCommons
In the book version of "Goldfinger," James Bond drives this car. What is it?
Aston Martin DBIII
Chevy Bel Air
Jaguar XK 120
Nash Rambler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

British super-spy James Bond has always been an Aston Martin fan and he drove the Mark III, complete with gadgets, in the book "Goldfinger." Because the movie wasn't made until the 1960s, producers updated it to a DB5 for the film.

Advertisement

Citroen DS
Ralf Roletschek via WikiCommons
Which of these cars was named the most beautiful car of all time by "Classic and Sports Car" magazine?
Packard Carribean
DeSoto Custom
Pontiac Bonneville
Citroen DS
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Citroen DS was notable for looking sleek and futuristic when it was released back in 1955. That was quite on purpose, as it was designed in part by an Italian sculptor and engineer as well as a French aeronautical engineer.

Kaiser Darrin
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
This was the first American car to use fiberglass. What was it?
Kaiser Darrin
Buick Roadmaster
Ford Crestliner
Pontiac Sunfire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Only 435 Kaiser Darrins were produced after a number of issues plagued the company. Aside from the predictable financial issues you might expect a company to suffer, Kaiser also suffered massive losses from a freak snowstorm that destroyed 50 of the cars.

Buick Lesabre
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
Do you know this vehicle that first appeared in 1959?
Citroen DS
Buick LeSabre
Chevy Bel Air
Cadillac Eldorado
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The LeSabre was Buick's replacement for its earlier model called the Special. Its affordable price made it popular but so did the fact you could get it with a four-barrel V8 that produced 300 horsepower.

Advertisement

Studebaker Golden Hawk
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
Which of these cars had a reputation for poor handling?
Hudson Hornet
Ford Thunderbird
Studebaker Golden Hawk
Chrysler Imperial
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1956 Studebaker Golde Hhawk was an absolute beast with a 352 cu in, 375hp V8 engine that could cover a quarter-mile in only 7.8 seconds. That actually made it faster than the Corvette or the Thunderbird.

Pontiac Bonneville
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
Do you know which of these was sold as the Parisienne in Canada?
Buick Skylark
Chevrolet Corvair
Pontiac Bonneville
Continental Mark II
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Pontiac Bonneville started production in 1957 and came as either a two-door hardtop or a convertible. In its first year of production, the Bonneville served as a pace car for the Indy 500.

Packard Caribbean
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
You could pay more than $100,000 for one of these today. What is it?
Studebaker Champion
Edsel Corsair
Citroen DS
Packard Caribbean
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Packard Caribbean was a luxury car made by the Packard Motor Car Company from 1953 to 1956. Only 750 1953 models were produced making them some of the most desirable and hard-to-find cars of the decade.

Advertisement

Oldsmobile 76
dave_7 via WikiCommons
They called this car the Futuramic in 1950. What was it?
Oldsmobile 76
Porsche Spyder
Chevy Bel Air
Kaiser Darrin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Parts of Oldmobile's 70 series, the Oldsmobile 76 was a monster with an overhead valve Rocket V8 engine. They called it the Futuramic 76 for only one year and then it was simply the 76 thereafter.

Hudson Hornet
Ermell via WikiCommons
This car had the largest 6-cylinder engine in the world at the time it was built. What was it?
Hudson Hornet
Buick Roadmaster
Cadillac Coupe de Ville
Lincoln Continental
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Hudson Hornet was actually made by two different companies. For three years between 1951 and 1954 it was made by the Hudson Motor Car Company and then it was taken over by AMC, which kept the Hudson name for it.

Plymouth Fury
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
Which of these cars was first produced in 1955?
Ford Fairlane
Chevrolet Bel Air
Studebaker Goldenhawk
Plymouth Fury
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Plymouth Fury was one of the manufacturer's most popular models and was actually used by a number of police forces thanks to the fact it was both reliable and had a powerhouse 240 hp engine that let it hit speeds of over 140 mph.

Advertisement

1953 Chevrolet Corvette
GM Chevrolet via WikiCommons
Which iconic car was first introduced in 1953?
Ford Fairlane
BMW 503
Chevrolet Corvette
Plymouth Fury
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Few cars have achieved the fame and notoriety of Chevy's iconic Corvette. No one could have had any idea how popular it was going to be back in 1953, which is likely why Chevrolet only produced 300 of them.

You Got:
/40
Artur Andrzej via WikiCommons