Take the Automotive Quiz If You Dare (40 hard questions!)

C13

Wow! I aced it!

Yea rite. Knew a few. Some surprises.

bcathcart

Jeezzeee Mr S this is to much...

Mr_Shiftright

Nothing hard is ever easy....

markw

mr. Shiftright can you give us some interesting tidbit on some unusual vehicles please. How bout something on the mazda rotor engined pickup of 70s vintage, 50's gull wing mercedes or or say 70s AMC gremlin v8 cars.

bcathcart

Here's an interesting titbit about rotary engines.The guy who invented it was married to a woman whose grandfather had a dog with only one hind leg.When it went for a wee it fell on its [non-permissible content removed] just like the dog of a rotary engine did.Ain't life grand.

Mr_Shiftright

Shame on you for spreading such calumny.

I thought Mazda ultimate perfection of the rotary was a great engineering achievement. Were it not for the new fuel and emissions needs of the 21st Century, we'd still have the engine around.

bcathcart

Nice to see that someone takes my post with a pinch of salt.Idrove one of these at the MIRA many years ago,and the smoothness was most impressive,the rotor tip seals seemed a problem,and oil consumption was high at continual high speed.It's possible that ceramic components and a modern electronic fuel injection system may have helped.Another factor is the public perception,it is somtimes difficult to sell on technical merit,(eg,vhs and betamax),Joe public could hardly care less,he would rather have shiny chrome wheels.There is a rotary engined Norton still about so the idea is not dead yet.It is unfortunate also that the engine's german name (wankel)has unfortunate slang connotations,a point which I think has had more adverse affect than is generally admitted.

Mr_Shiftright

I think Suzuki made a rotary engine motorcycle as well....the rotary died for the same reason as steam cars and electrics...no improvement over the piston engine, which still reigns supreme.

rea98d

1. Approximately how many cars can General Motors
make on a good day?

Does GM ever have a good day?

2. How long does it take to build one Rolls-Royce
automobile?

If the charge by the hour, a long long time.

3. Which US city leads the nation in the number of
car thefts?

Whichever one my car happens to be in!

4. In the last 100 years, how many different makes
of automobile have been manufactured in the U.S. in numbers of one or more?

Bout that many

5. How many parts are there in a modern automobile?

I dunno, but they all seem to break at once!

6. What is the real name of the chubby Michelin
Man?

The Stay-Puft Marshmellow Man

7. How many cars are there in the world today?

I dunno, but they all seem to be trying to hit mine.

8. How did the diesel engine get its name?

Someone decided that's what he would call it.

9. The first woman to receive her driver’s license
in the U.S. did so in what year?

They way my mom drives, it was way too soon.

10. How many cars and trucks are junked each year
in the U.S.?

D@#& people filling up ladfills with perfectly good cars!

11. Henry Ford paid the highest daily wage in the
auto industry in 1914. How much was that?

Bout twice what I make.

12. How much profit did Rosette Cousins eventually
make on her 1903 investment of $100 in the new Ford Motor Company?

More cash than I'll ever see!

13. Before he built cars, how did David Dunbar Buick make his money?

Bank robber.

14. Why do the British drive on he left side of
the road and the French on the right?

Cause the Brits were drunk when they decided to do that.

15. How long did it take to put together a Model T
Ford on the 1914 assembly line?

Not as long as I've spent trying to finish this dang scale model of one!

16. What was unusual about he French automobile
that set a new world’s speed record of 65 mph in 1899?

The driver was a sober frenchman.

17. A bailing press can crush a car in two
minutes. What size is the car after the press has
finished its work?

Bout twice the size of a Geo.

18.What percentage of new cars are purchased by
women?

100%. Guys tend to go for classic cars!

19. Which company sold the first production diesel
car?

Don't know, but I wish I had their $$$

20. How many 1999 cars would it take to pollute as
much as one 1927 car?

D@#& emissions control crap!!

21. How many miles does the average new York taxi
rack up before it is retired?

Has oe ever made retirement without getting stolen or turned into a murder investigation?

22. Of these three safety devices--air bags, seat
belts and ABS brakes--which has had
little effect in saving lives?

Air bags-Bill and Hillary!

23. In what year was the first speeding ticket
issued in the US?

Speeding tickets? They give those? (I better quit doing 90!)

24. What kind of car did the disheveled detective
drive on the TV series Columbo?

I hope it looks better than he does!

25. What was the price of a barrel of crude oil in
1901?

Way too much!

26. When and where was the world’s first racetrack
built?

I think it was in some redneck's backyard.

27. Which car was noted by automotive journalists
to be the most innovative production
automobile manufactured since 1945?

Innovative? Whats innovative about today's fiberglass egg-shaped import immitators? The only way to tell two cars apart is look for a name brand!

28. When and where was the worst racing crash?

Bout two weeks ago out behind my house. Dang drag racing kids!

29. How man vehicles did the Ford Motor Company
make from 1903 to 1959?

Too many.

30. What was the first production road car to
exceed 200 miles per hour?

My Grandma's!

31. In how many states do female driver outnumber
male drivers?

In how many states do most of the men get drunk and kill themselves?

32. When was the first airbag offered by a major
manufacturer?

1992-Bill and Hillary!

33. What was the fist production rotary engine
car?

That one that flipped last week was doing some engine rotating.

34. Who is the only American mentioned in Adolph
Hitler’s political manifesto Mein Kampf?

Hope it wasn't me!

35. Who invented the T-Top?

Same guy that invented the tank top?

36.. From 1947 to 1964, how many times did
Offenhauser engines win the Indy 500?

Probably not as many as Aryie Luyendike!

37. When Oldsmobile introduced the 4-4-2 option on
certain models of its 1964 cars, what did the numbers stand for?

4 doors, 4 tires, and 2 hours till it needed a major repair.

38.. When was the first car driven under its own
power from England to France?

Kinduva wet trip, isn't it. I dunno, I guess the General Lee could do it!

39. . Ray Harroun was paid $14,250 for winning the
first Indy 500 race in 1911. How much did the 1992 winning driver earn?

I wish I had his winings, and he had 10 more just like em!

40. In what year did the Italian government ban
the famous Mille Miglia race?

They banned it? dang, that was hte most fun to watch!

drivesalot

I was always told that the 1st production road car to break the 200mph barrier was the 1970's era Plymouth Superbird/Dodge Daytona winged cars. Maybe this is a myth? Tanks for the education

Mr_Shiftright

Hmmm...I do know that the NASCAR versions of the Daytona could hit 200 mph, but a stock (showroom) Superbird would be maxed out at about 140 mph.

And rea, we'll have your test results back as soon as they are graded!

rea98d

Gee... I hope I made an A. I didn't even cheat on this test ;-)

Mr_Shiftright

Your FIRST mistake! Cheating is allowed, since I do it all the time, it's only fair.

rea98d

Cheating is allowed?
Why can't you be one of my professors?!?!?!

Mr_Shiftright

because the open road calls me.......?

prophet2

Shouldn't the question be "How many GOOD cars can GM build in a day?" Or should we substitute "Chrysler" for GM? :>)

jbrother

I think the '63 avanti was the first production car to hit 200 mph?

Mr_Shiftright

No. Andy Granatelli drove a production R3 Avanti (bored out 289 to 304 CID with Paxton supercharger) to a speed of 168.24 mph, which was still a record for an American production car for the flying kilometer.

He tried to hit 200 mph (that was his goal) in a highly modified, highly radical, definitely non-production (it employed a drag chute, fender skirts and ram air scoop!), twin supercharged, Novi fuel-injected R5 producing (it was claimed) 575 HP, but he only got to 196 mph. This car was called the Due Cento.

Just in case you ask, the R4 was another 304 CID, unblown, with a 12 to 1 compression ratio (!). Apparently, it was installed in only one car, a Studebaker Daytona coupe, so the R4 wasn't production either, or even an Avanti for that matter.

It takes tremendous power and aerodynamics to get a car to 200 mph, and a 400 HP Avanti R3 with that type of body shape wouldn't be up to the job.

Still, a great effort.

moparmad

I thought the 442 stood for four barrel,four speed,2 door, at least I was two thirds right.

Mr_Shiftright

Well, your version of the answer makes as much sense as the factory's, if you think about it!

moparmad

Of all the things I ever lost I miss my mind the most...

automotiveguru

I am fairly sure that the 1969 Boss 429 Mustang was able to go 200 mph. That would be in a straight line, due to the weight of the vehicle would require a new suspension, since the 1969 mustang suspension would not leave the ability to turn under those extreme conditions. It did go into production, but even then they only produced fewer than 1000.

modvptnl

Is it April fools already??? I love Fords and I think the Boss 429 was a very high-tech engine that was extremely choked up in production trim hence it was actually a poor performer on the street. 200 MPH? No way. I know you were joking(I hope)

Mr_Shiftright

The first production car to go 200 mph was Ferrari F40 in 1988 I believe.

The stock Mustang 429 (they made roughly 875 of them) did prove to be a big disappointment in street racing, and top speed is actually recorded in my books at 118 mph.

solid101

How many cars can GM make on a good day or a bad
day? None! What's the last time anybody seen a car
with GM badge or logo on it ? Bonus question:
which state has the most costy insurance policies
? (no wonder my pocket gets thinner and thinner)
If you guess it right, don't vote my governor when
she is ready to run for presdent.

stickguy

Gotta love N.J.

wilcox

years ago an Electric Car set a world's record for speed....Truly Amazing!

Mr_Shiftright

In 1902, the Baker Torpedo, an electric racer, was unofficially timed at 100 mph before flying out of control and slamming into spectators. This was recorded by Scientific American magazine, May 31, Staten Island, New York. Engineers who knew the car estimated that with the power and gearing, it could have gone 132 mph, had anyone been brave enough to drive it. No one dared.

macarthur2

no it is not 55 gallons as you might expect, it is actually 44 gallons. Weird huh?

crossedreality

Ok, so this is an ancient topic that I just found routing around, but...what are the answers? I know some....but my curiousity is killing me!

Oh, and a Mustang 429 could only go 118 mph? My Grand Am can thrash that!

rea98d

I gave you all the answers ;-)

crossedreality

I'm very proud that your ego can carry over a year. That takes talent

rea98d

I work hard. I really do. :-D

bolivar

is 42 gallons.

northstart

What about the Ford GT40’s that thrashed Ferrari in the 60’s

Mr_Shiftright

That was mostly a British car (Lola chassis w/ Ford engine). Later on, the Ford team took over development of the GT40 (so called because it was 40 inches high). In the LeMans record books, the first year victory is listed as a UK victory, not American, even though there was tons of American money and talent involved.

And then, typically, Ford went home and Ferrari has continued racing. They won a battle but I think Ferrari won the war.

northstart

I thinks its because of the involvement of Carroll Shelby that many people like myself tend to think of the GT40 as American rather that British. Also, from what I have read, the GT40 was built to prove a point, and it did. On that note, I would rather own a GT40 than A Ferrari.

Also, Ford were having a great deal of success in other European motoring events, although they had another go in 1970 with the GT70 I don't think they ever made it past the prototype stages.

Mr_Shiftright

Ford was never serious about international racing as a factory effort, nor are any of the American companies. They go in for a few years, and then if they win a lot or lose a lot, they leave. Marketing runs American racing, not love or dedication I don't think (even though individuals participating might have both).

northstart

Ford still have a few works teams here in the UK but like in the USA, I get the impression that its more to do with marketing than the sport. That's probably why companies like Subaru have been able to sneak up and take a bite from their pye.