Can You Name All Of These Iconic Cars From The '70s?

AUTO

By: Bambi Turner

7 Min Quiz

About This Quiz

If the Automotive Hall of Fame inducted cars, these iconic vehicles from the 1970s would be definitely there. True beauty is timeless, and these cars of the '70s are indeed the most beautiful cars we've ever seen. Even though modern cars have more safety features and no issues that cause fires (yes, Ford Pinto, we are talking about you right now), many of us would easily trade our ultra-safe vehicles for cars with vinyl roofs and crazy designs (come on, you could get a car with a cool bird painted on a hood back then!).

The crazy '70s changed the course of history and are remembered not only for disco, Watergate and Vietnam war. The decade of changes influenced all areas of people's lives, and the automotive world was not an exception. In the '70s, the automotive industry had to adapt to the reality of the gas crisis and design smaller, more reliable cars that were also capable of seriously high performance. That's when all those beauties like the glorious Blackhawk (a real hit among the celebrity crowd!), the stylish Pontiac Firebird or the futuristic Lamborghini Countach appeared on the market.

Are you ready to roll? Only a real car enthusiast can recognize all of these classic cars from the '70s. Let's see if you can name them all!

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Weighing in at nearly 5,000 pounds, the Lincoln Continental was a luxury coupe sold between 1968 and 1971. Lee Iacocca, Ford's VP at the time, directed the design team to "put a Rolls-Royce grille on a Thunderbird."

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Officially known as the Volkswagen Type 1, the Beetle was first sold way back in 1938. In 1971, VW introduced two different Beetle models for the first time. The new version was larger than the original and was sold as the Super Beetle in the U.S.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Pontiac introduced its iconic Firebird in 1967 to take on the popular Ford Mustang. In 1970, the company redesigned the vehicle for a second generation release, which eliminated the convertible option, leaving just the coupe model. This second generation was produced until another major redesign in the early '80s. Convertibles were added back to the line in 1991.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Porsche started production of its famous 911 series in 1963 and continues to this day. The 911 RS came out in 1973 and was recognized as lighter and more powerful than previous models. Even though Porsche uses different internal codes for various models of this line (the current model is the Porsche 992), they are all sold as a "911."

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

First produced in 1969, two different generations of Challengers were available in the '70s. Early models offered convertible options, but by 1972, all Challengers were hard-tops. In 2008, the third generation was released to compete in the modern pony car arena.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Ford produced the Granada from 1975 to 1982. The first generation was available as a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan, while the second generation dropped the coupe but added a station wagon. The vehicle replaced the Ford Maverick but shared the same chassis as the earlier vehicle.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The AMC Pacer was a two-door sub-compact produced from 1975 to 1979. It was known for its full-width yet compact body. The American-made car started as a budget option but got more luxurious with every upgrade.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Chrysler first produced the Imperial way back in 1926 but spun the name off into a separate luxury line for a time, dropping "Chrysler" from the name in 1955 to take on Lincoln and Cadillac. The fourth-generation Imperial featured an airplane-like body, known as "The Fuselage," while later models were boxier and more conventional.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Produced from 1973 to 1984, the Ferrari Boxer Berlinetta was created to take on Lamborghini's Miura and Countach. The company previewed the 365 GT4 BB in 1971 (and made it available for sale in 1973) and introduced the BB 512, which was named for its 5-liter, 12-cylinder engine, in 1976.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Jeep was the first company to use the term "sport-utility vehicle" in print during its 1974 ad campaign for the Cherokee SJ. The sporty versatile vehicle was originally based on the Jeep Wagoneer of the '60s and a version of the vehicle is still in production to this day.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Produced from 1971 to 1987, the Stutz Blackhawk was unrelated to the famous Blackhawk cars of the late '20s. The cars featured handmade steel bodies constructed in Italy and used General Motor's engines and platforms. The very first Stutz Blackhawk buyer was none other than Elvis, who paid more than $26,000 for the iconic car in 1970.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Made by the British Motor Corporation (BMC), more than 10,000 Mini Cooper left-hand drive units were shipped to the U.S. throughout the '60s, though the car became more difficult to import as the U.S. tightened safety standards after 1968.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Cadillac introduced the ninth generation of its Eldorado at the start of the '70s. The new design was longer and wider than earlier versions, with fender skirts and, later, a convertible roof option. The Eldorado served as the pace car at the 1973 Indy 500.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

After its successful Type 1, better known as the Beetle, VW released its Type 2 — an iconic little bus. The second generation of the bus was sold from 1967 to 1979, and was slightly larger and much heavier than the original.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Produced from 1964 to 1974, the first generation of the Barracuda was based on the A-platform, which also served as the base of the Valiant. The third generation limited designs to coupes and convertibles.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Introduced in 1971, the Ford Pinto became Ford's first subcompact in North America — the perfect choice for a time when gas prices were beginning to rise as supplies dwindled. By 1978, the company issued a recall for more than a million Pintos and its sister, the Mercury Bobcat, due to safety concerns related to the fuel system.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The Chevrolet Corvette is an iconic car for multiple generations of car drivers. In the '70s, the third generation of Corvettes was available. This generation was the first to feature removable T-top panels, and a 25th-anniversary edition released in 1978 introduced a fastback glass rear window.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The Chevrolet Chevelle ranks among the most popular mid-size cars of the '70s. Produced from 1964 to 1977, the Chevelle got a major overhaul starting in 1973, as the company worked to comply with increased safety standards in the U.S.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Made by Fiat from 1972 to 1982, the X1/9 was a two-seater with a removable hardtop. Three generations of the vehicle were introduced in the U.S. in the '70s, with later generations designed to meet increasingly tight emissions standards.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The uniquely styled Plymouth Superbird was essentially a modified Road Runner. It's immediately identifiable thanks to its super-high rear wing. There were three engine options; the top-of-the-line was a 7.0 L Hemi engine, designed to go from 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

From 1970 to 1981, Pontiac offered the second generation Trans Am specialty package — probably its most famous iteration — on its standard Firebird. This Trans Am model was featured in the movie "Smokey and the Bandit" in 1977 and was the official pace car at the Indy 500 in 1980.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The Buick Riviera was GM's first venture into the luxury car market. In 1971, the company introduced its third generation line, which had a "boat-tail" back end. The 1974 fourth generation redesign saw a return to a more conventional "Colonnade" back end.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Released in 1975, the Seville was on the smaller end for Cadillac but was still one of the company's most expensive sedans at the time. The Cadillac STS replaced this line in 2005.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

It's hard to find a more iconic '70s car than the Camaro. Chevy sold second-generation models from 1970 to 1981, which were larger and wider than the original, but kept the standard F-body platform.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Released in 1975, the Cordoba was the first Chrysler to that point that was smaller than full-size. The company wanted the Cordoba to compete with Buick and Oldsmobile and made the Cordoba even smaller as part of a second-generation redesign at the beginning of the '80s.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Introduced in 1966, the Ford Bronco was one of the first sports utility vehicles, intended to compete against vehicles such as the Jeep CJ-5. It was produced throughout the mid-'90s and replaced by the Ford Excursion.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The stylish three-door hatchback coupe French Citroën SM was produced between 1970 and 1975. Just 2,400 were sold in North America out of the nearly 13,000 produced, making it a relatively rare vintage for modern car collectors.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The BMW 02 series was produced from 1966 to 1977 and was simply a shorter version of the New Class Sedan. Designed as an "entry-class" vehicle, the first model, the 1600-2, was cheaper, smaller and offered fewer luxuries than the New Class Sedan. Later series models were more powerful and also more costly.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Produced from 1972 to 1983, the Merak used a Bora body but included a smaller engine — a 3.0 L V6 instead of the Bora's 4.7 L V8. This allowed Maserati to add a narrow second row of seating and lowered the cost, helping the car appeal to a wider audience.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Based on the Buick GS455, which was based on the Buick Skylark, the GSX is a classic '70s muscle car. Designed to take on the Pontiac GTO Judge, the Chevrolet Chevelle SS and the Oldsmobile 442 W-30, it was originally available only in white or yellow, with a jet black interior, when it was released in 1970.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

From 1962 to 1969, the Nova was known as the Chevy II. In 1969, the name was changed to Nova, and the vehicle was produced in the U.S. through 1988. A longer wheelbase introduced in the early '70s resulted in the compact Nova measuring almost as big as an average mid-size vehicle.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The Mercury Cougar had a two-year hiatus, sold from 1967 to 1997 and then again from 1999 to 2002. In 1971, Mercury brought out a second generation model which weighed less than the original and had a bigger, more stylish grille.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The AMC Gremlin was classified as a subcompact and was very fuel efficient at a time when gas lines were long and supplies were short. The vehicle featured a two-door design with a nearly vertical hatchback. It also came with a surprisingly large number of options for its price, including power steering, power brakes and remote-controlled driver and passenger side mirrors.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Introduced in 1976, the popular subcompact has seen seven generations and is still in production.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Sold at Lincoln Mercury dealerships, the De Tomaso Panera was the most popular car ever produced by De Tomaso. Introduced in 1971, its name means "Panther" in Italian.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Datsun entered the U.S. market in 1958, but the company's most recognized early '70s car is likely the Datsun 510. Part of the company's Bluebird line, the 510 was available until 1973 in two or four-door sedans, a two-door coupe and a five-door station wagon.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The Lotus Esprit was almost named the Kiwi, but "Esprit" was chosen to keep with the company's tradition of starting all model names with the letter "E." Introduced in 1976 and featuring a sleek wedge design, the vehicle had a throttled engine in the U.S. to comply with emissions standards.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The Chevy Vega was an American-made subcompact introduced at the start of the '70s. By 1977, it had been discontinued after having problems with everything from rust to reliability.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Building on the success of the Miura, Lamborghini released the Countach in 1974 and continued refining the model until it ceased production in 1990 when it was replaced by the Diablo. The Countach is best known for its wedge shape, clean lines and sharp angles, and its name translates to an exclamation of surprise or admiration — literally, "Wow!"

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Mercury produced the Capri intermittently, from 1970 to 1994. The first generation run included the Capri II hatchback in 1976, while the second generation was similar to the Ford Mustang.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The second-generation Mustang, also know as the Mustang II, was actually built on a Pinto body. Produced from 1973 to 1978, the car attracted buyers with its Mustang name but was much smaller and more fuel efficient than the original.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Fans of rally racing surely know the Lancia Startos, an Italian car that ruled rally race tracks in the '70s. The company also sold a small number of street-legal Stratos to the U.S. market, including the 1976 Stradale with its wedge shape and 190 horses.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Introduced in 1975, the Mercury Bobcat was a rebadged version of the Ford Pinto, the company's first domestic subcompact. The Bobcat featured a Pinto body but offered a much fancier grille and upgraded trim. The Bobcat was discontinued in 1980 and replaced by the Lynx.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Designed by Lamborghini and built by BMW, the M1 was a two-door car with a sleek race style. Because the company produced less than 500 units, the M1 is considered rare and very hard to come by today.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The Mazda Cosmo was introduced in 1967 as the space race was heating up, which helps explain its space-inspired name. The company produced the Cosmos Series II until 1972. Then, in 1975, it introduced the CD series, which offered greater luxury but was a relatively poor seller everywhere but Japan.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Introduced in 1977, the British-made Aston Martin V8 Vantage was tough to come by in the U.S. due to emissions restrictions. A decade later, the car shot to fame when it was featured in the 1987 James Bond film, "The Living Daylights."

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Like the DeLorean, the Canadian-built Bricklin had gullwing doors, but its designer was all about safety, including features such as energy-absorbing bumpers and an integrated roll-over structure. In fact, the SV in the model name stood for "Safety Vehicle." Unfortunately, the company ran into massive internal problems and less than 3,000 units of the car sold before it was pulled in 1975.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

Sold in the U.K. as the Morris Marina, it was rebranded for U.S. buyers as the Austin Marina because Morris was a lesser known name in the States. The car was remodeled throughout the '70s in response to increased U.S. safety standards as the decade progressed.

Advertisement

Can you identify this iconic '70s ride?

The Miura is one of the most famous Lamborghini models of all time. Produced from 1966 to 1973 — only 764 were built in total —  the vehicle is named for a famous fighting bull breeder from Spain.

Advertisement

Explore More Quizzes

About Autoversed

Welcome to Autoversed: your online auto destination. If you consider a vehicle more than just means of transportation; if you treat your ride with love and care; if, even after years of driving, the feeling of accelerating hard on the open road still gets you revved up – you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re a daily commuter looking for a reliable ride, a car enthusiast thinking about your next hot rod, or a parent who needs to get the kids from A to Z, Autoversed has something for you. We’ve got the lowdown on hot exotic rides, pricy luxury vehicles, eco-friendly green machines, rugged off-roaders, and more. Come take a look!