Most Iconic Cars of the 1950s

Last updated · 10 min play time

In the first part of this two-part series, we've picked 30 of the most iconic, beautiful and revolutionary cars from the 1950s. America's passion for the automobile exploded into an all-out love affair during the 1950s, with automobile culture entering the mainstream. The Interstate Highway Act increased appetites for cars that not only looked good, but drove fast. How well do you know the defining cars of this era?


Dan has a Master's Degree in Geosciences with a concentration in Applied Meteorology and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics.

He is a huge trivia fanatic and spends a lot of free time browsing the internet, researching on a variety of topics, and winning money at trivia night.

Iconic Cars of the 1950s Quiz Questions

30 Questions · 284.1K Plays · 1 Comment

Question 1

This model was redesigned for 1955 and sported a Ferrari-inspired grille, optional PowerGlide automatic transmission, and a V8 engine cranking up to 180 horsepower.

  • A
    Hudson Commodore
  • B
    Pontiac Bonneville
  • C
    Chevrolet Bel Air
  • D
    Cadillac Coupe de Ville

Question 2

Carburetors were a necessary engine component on cars of this era - except on this model, which was the first mass-produced engine to introduce now-standard electronic fuel injection on a few models in 1957.

  • A
    Cadillac Coupe de Ville
  • B
    Studebaker Commander
  • C
    AMC Rambler Rebel
  • D
    Lincoln Capri

Question 3

This sporty offering was produced in response to Chevy's introduction of the Corvette two years earlier. This model spawned the "personal luxury car" niche upon introduction in 1955.

  • A
    Ford Thunderbird
  • B
    Oldsmobile 98
  • C
    Buick Wildcat
  • D
    Pontiac Grand Prix

Question 4

No list of 1950s cars is complete without this classic. It may seem surprising, but this car was initially unpopular, with less than 1,000 sold in 1953 and 1955. The introduction of a 4.3 L small-block V8 engine in 1955 significantly boosted sales.

  • A
    Ford Mustang
  • B
    Pontiac GTO
  • C
    Chevrolet Corvette
  • D
    Buick Riviera

Question 5

This luxury model was spun off to become a separate marque in 1955. The defining "Forward Look" styling included gunsight tail-lights.

  • A
    Tucker
  • B
    Packard
  • C
    Imperial
  • D
    Edsel

Question 6

Giant tailfins. Bullet tail lights. Beauty panels. The styling of this iconic 1959 model screams '50s, but the amenities inside this luxury model were impressive even by modern standards.

  • A
    Cadillac Coupe de Ville
  • B
    Buick Electra
  • C
    Pontiac Bonneville
  • D
    Chrysler 300

Question 7

This elegant 1954 model is still the widest ever American production car. Boasting one of the only automotive air conditioning units of its day, good luck parking one - it's nearly 83" wide.

  • A
    Lincoln Continental Mark II
  • B
    Chrysler Crown Imperial
  • C
    Buick Regal
  • D
    Pontiac Bonneville

Question 8

What was this car's name in a series of Disney movies?

  • A
    Herbie
  • B
    Fred
  • C
    Jimmy
  • D
    Harold

Question 9

Let's show some foreign cars some love. This iconic roadster redefined luxury and performance on introduction as a street-legal model in 1954. With "gullwing" doors allowing a stylish entrance, this 2-seater could reach up to a whopping 150 mph.

  • A
    Aston Martin DB4GT
  • B
    Iso Grifo GL
  • C
    Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
  • D
    Jaguar E-Type

Question 10

What is there to say that hasn't been said about this revolutionary car? Introduced in 1955, it was the first vehicle with disc brakes and its suspension was self-leveling. It was named the most beautiful car of all time by 'Classic & Sports Car' magazine.

  • A
    Citroรซn DS
  • B
    BMW Isetta
  • C
    Renault 4CV
  • D
    VW Thing

Question 11

This 1953 model defined luxury and sat for years at the top of GM's luxury lineup. Iconic styling cues include the front Dagmar bumpers, borrowed from the 1951 Le Sabre concept car. It cost a whopping $7,750 brand new.

  • A
    Cadillac Eldorado
  • B
    Buick Roadmaster
  • C
    Chrysler Imperial
  • D
    Oldsmobile 98

Question 12

While some buyers could afford the other luxurious options on this list, others on a budget would have to spring for "bubble cars" like this. This European mite sold over 160,000 units despite its one-cylinder engine, and record-narrowest "rear" of the car - at a ridiculous 20.5" wide.

  • A
    Bond Bug
  • B
    Isetta
  • C
    Iso Grifo
  • D
    Peel P50

Question 13

Possibly the most costly automaker mistake of all time, this 1957 - 1960 blunder cost the manufacturer over $250 million due to the model's unpopularity.

  • A
    Buick Electra
  • B
    Dodge Nova
  • C
    Chevrolet Corvair
  • D
    Ford Edsel

Question 14

In 1957, this car turned heads with the first-ever retractable hardtop in a production automobile. The impressive system featured seven motors and 510 feet of wiring just for the hardtop.

  • A
    Mercury Montclair
  • B
    Studebaker Commander
  • C
    Plymouth Valiant
  • D
    Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner

Question 15

This V12 monster was among the most opulent and expensive cars of the 1950s, at an incredible $16,800 new. It helped to cement the reputation of a brand which has only appreciated with time.

  • A
    Lamborghini Miura
  • B
    Ferrari 410 Superamerica
  • C
    BMW 503
  • D
    Maserati A6

Question 16

This first production car from its iconic manufacturer set a high standard upon introduction in 1948. Shown here is the "A" model, produced from 1955-1959.

  • A
    Porsche 356
  • B
    Ferrari America
  • C
    BMW 501
  • D
    Lamborghini Miura

Question 17

Notable for its unique two-tone paint pattern, this model was a stand-alone marque for 1956 as its parent automaker's fortunes dwindled. Before that, it was the luxury marque's lowest-priced offering from 1953-1956.

  • A
    Nash Metropolitan
  • B
    Hudson Commodore
  • C
    Packard Clipper
  • D
    Studebaker 400

Question 18

This legendary truck line has been the best-selling vehicle in America since 1981 and is still in production today. Shown here is a second generation model, introduced in 1953 and bearing the same model-numbering conventions still in place today.

  • A
    Dodge Ram
  • B
    Ford F-Series
  • C
    GMC C/K
  • D
    Chevrolet Silverado

Question 19

Among the first four-door hardtop vehicles ever produced, the second-generation model shown here had a tough act to follow - the model's first generation was among the first production cars capable reaching 100 mph.

  • A
    Buick Century Riviera
  • B
    Jaguar E-Type
  • C
    Oldsmobile 98 Holiday
  • D
    Studebaker Avanti

Question 20

This model became among the first post-war cars to sell one million units. Its no-nonsense interior paved the way for the booming "economy car" segment, which exploded in the late 1950s.

  • A
    Renault 4CV
  • B
    Peugeot 203
  • C
    Volkswagen Type 2
  • D
    Nash Metropolitan

Question 21

1957 examples of this full-sized offering boasted new "Forward Look" styling, as well as a new 325 horsepower engine mated to an automatic three-speed transmission.

  • A
    Chrysler New Yorker
  • B
    Pontiac Bonneville
  • C
    Plymouth Fury
  • D
    Buick Regal

Question 22

The German public nicknamed this elegant model the "Baroque Angel" upon its introduction in 1952. It had a luxurious interior, but the archaic V6 engine took 27 seconds to power the car to 60 mph.

  • A
    BMW 501
  • B
    Bugatti Type 101
  • C
    Mercedes-Benz 220
  • D
    Audi 100

Question 23

Iconic styling elements on this 1949-1953 model included VentiPorts and Sweepspear chrome, which were paired with the pre-war straight-eight engine under the hood.

  • A
    Pontiac Bonneville
  • B
    Dodge Custom Royal
  • C
    Buick Roadmaster
  • D
    Chrysler New Yorker

Question 24

This top-of-the-line convertible debuted as a special trimline in 1954. Due to the model's popularity, the nameplate was extended to all of this manufacturer's top-end models in 1957.

  • A
    Oldsmobile Starfire
  • B
    Plymouth Valiant
  • C
    Mercury Grand Marquis
  • D
    Ford Fairlane

Question 25

This oddball Communist car was the first large-scale model ever made completely of recycled plastic material. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, this slow, cramped car became a symbol of Communist East Germany. It sold over 3,000,000 units before ending production in 1991.

  • A
    Isetta
  • B
    Skoda
  • C
    Yugo
  • D
    Trabant

Question 26

Introduced in 1956, this model defined American luxury and was the most expensive American car for sale at the time. The "Mark II" kept its notable spare tire hump in the trunk, a holdover from pre-war styling cues.

  • A
    Buick Riviera
  • B
    Hudson Commodore
  • C
    Cadillac Sixty Special
  • D
    Lincoln Continental

Question 27

Introduced in 1951, this model found equal success on road and track, winning a majority of all NASCAR races from 1952-1954. Perhaps most impressive about this feat was the car's luxurious credentials.

  • A
    Chevrolet Impala
  • B
    Hudson Hornet
  • C
    Ford Mustang
  • D
    Cadillac Sixty Special

Question 28

Another iconic speedster, this two-seater was the first production car capable of cracking 200 km/h (124 mph). It remained in production from 1948-1954.

  • A
    Shelby Cobra
  • B
    Mercedes SS 100
  • C
    Fiat Leon
  • D
    Jaguar XK120

Question 29

Admiration for this "Rocket" V8-powered full-size car spawned arguably the first-ever rock and roll song in 1951. The nameplate enjoyed a long run, with the last production model of the tenth generation rolling off the line in 1999.

  • A
    Chrysler Imperial
  • B
    Oldsmobile 88
  • C
    Pontiac Bonneville
  • D
    Buick Century

Question 30

For many years, this model was the most powerful American car. This series of high-performing personal luxury cars were the predecessors of muscle cars. Production began in 1955, and by 1958 produced up to 390 horsepower in a fuel-injected version.

  • A
    Pontiac Bonneville
  • B
    Chevy Impala
  • C
    Cadillac Sixty Special
  • D
    Chrysler 300

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loved it - My Dad was a mechanic for the Chysler Corporation -

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