Auto Trivia

The history of of the automobile actually goes back further than the car itself―way back. Though the automobile was first offered for sale in 1887 (it was a Benz), this was a long time coming since the first engine crank was built by James Watt more than a century earlier, in 1782.

Since then, the automobile and the auto industry have fascinated everyone from children to collectors. If you're a motorist, you probably have some curiosity about cars―and you probably know a lot more about them than you think. Test your knowledge with these 10 trivia questions, and then explore the links we provide to a world of auto trivia.

Take Our Quiz

How much did the first American car produced in quantity cost?

The Curved Dash Oldsmobile, which debuted in 1901, was sold for $650. Oldsmobile manufactured 425 of them that year.

In the TV series Dukes of Hazzard, what kind of car was the General Lee?

A 1969 Dodge Charger. You might have noticed the producers sometimes substituted a model year 1968 or 1970 Charger in some shots.

In what year was the first-ever Grand Prix race held?

While there were organized racing events before the turn of the 20th century, the first race called the Grand Prix occurred in France in 1906.

What was the first production car in the United States?

Many remember the Model T as the first car to be mass-produced. However, the Duryea was actually the first production auto, meaning more than one at a time were made. Thirteen practically identical cars rolled off the factory floor in 1896.

What notable device was installed in Cleveland in 1914?

The first traffic signal. The red and green signal lights were operated by a traffic officer sitting in a nearby booth.

Oil shortages prompted the enactment of a national speed limit in 1974. What was the limit?

Cars had to crawl along freeways and interstates across the country at a maximum speed of 55 mph.

What was the first Japanese car to be produced in the United States?

The Honda Accord holds that distinction, being manufactured in Ohio in 1982 rather than being shipped to the States from overseas.

Seat belts were added to cars as standard equipment in what year?

Some automakers installed lap belts as standard equipment decades earlier, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made them mandatory in all new cars on Jan. 1, 1968.

What Ford model did TV cops Starsky and Hutch drive?

Surely you remember the stylish Gran Torino.

Between 1972 and 1982, the average speed of cars on the freeways in what city dropped from 60 mph to 17 mph?

A notoriously congested Los Angeles.

More Car Trivia

Car buffs everywhere have posted literally hundreds of auto trivia quizzes and fact sheets online. Follow these links to find trivia Web sites that will keep you entertained (and guessing) for hours:

• AnythingAboutCars.com lists facts, history, and trivia about cars, including movies about cars, a macabre inventory of famous people killed in cars, and cars that were named for real people.

• UsefulTrivia.com administers a car trivia quiz with detailed explanations of the answers so you can learn while you play.

• FunTrivia.com offers literally hundreds of trivia quizzes submitted by enthusiasts in every category. Scroll down for a list of topics, choosing from quizzes ranked from average to very hard.

• Kid's Turn Central has a short trivia quiz kids can enjoy.