Does trivia titillate you? Are you a car connoisseur? Is your mind an archive of arcane automotive insights?
The automotive industry has a long and storied past, filled to the brim with ingenious inventions, colourful people and innovative designs. There are too many interesting facts to recall, but we know you're up to the challenge. So unpack your mental mettle and put on your thinking cap -- it's quiz time!
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1This F1 driver is the only one to record wins for three different automakers, one of which was the only victory for Porsche in Formula One. Can you name the racer?
2 This company made looms, then motorized bicycles before introducing its first car, the Suzulight, in 1955. Can you name it?
3 This manufacturer's name means "three diamonds," which is reflected in its logo. What is it?
4 What do the following GM cars have in common: Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevrolet Lumina, Buick Regal and Oldsmobile Cutlass?
5 Nils Bohlin's automotive invention -- the three-point seat belt -- is credited with saving millions of lives worldwide. It first appeared in 1959 on a vehicle by which automaker?
6 In the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ferris and his friend Cameron "borrow" a vintage sports car from Cameron's dad. Do you remember what it was?
7 In 1977, the first American-made small car with front-wheel drive was introduced. Technical advances in drive technology had reduced the size and cost of front-wheel drive systems. Name the car.
8 This racer has won many titles over his 30-plus year career but the elusive jewel in his crown is the Daytona 500, for which he has a 0 for 44 record. This year he came close yet again at NASCAR's most famous track, but had to settle for a second place finish. Who is he?
9 This North American automaker will revive a nameplate it only just retired last year. Introduced in 1985, it was a milestone design, selling nearly 7.5 million models during its 20 years of production. What is it?
10 With its spectacular looks and high performance, this 2+2 two-door coupe is the most desirable model in its maker's lineup. Ford financed and British built, it runs on Italian tires, relies on a Mercedes-built 5-speed automatic transmission and uses a pair of American superchargers for its V8-powered drivetrain -- the latter first introduced on its 1998 luxury sedan stablemate. What is it?
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TRIVIA ANSWERS
1: Dan Gurney. He won in 1962 driving a Porsche in the French GP; in 1964 with a Brabham in the French GP; and in 1967 driving an American Grand Prix Eagle in the Belgium GP.
2: Suzuki.
3: Mitsubishi.
4: They all raced in the NASCAR racing series.
5: Volvo. Bohlin was a safety engineer with the automaker when he came up with the safety device.
6: A 1958 Ferrari 250 GTS California. Less than 100 were made and at the time of the movie in 1986, it had a market value of $265,000. For filming, a replica was used -- the car is destroyed in the movie.
7: Plymouth Horizon.
8: Mark Martin.
9: The Ford Taurus. Starting in 2008, the Ford Five Hundred and Freestyle will be renamed Taurus and Taurus X.
10: The 2000 Jaguar XKR.