Can You Recognize These 8 Classics?
May 8, 2026
Source: Auto NXT
I love old cars that make people stop and squint. Forgotten Old Cars are especially fascinating to me, as each one has its own story and mysterious history.
Not the famous ones everyone knows. I mean the oddballs. The cars that once filled driveways, grocery store lots, and school pickup lanes, then slowly disappeared. Some were loved. Some were laughed at. A few were both.
That’s why this forgotten old cars quiz works so well. Add a photo above each section, let readers guess, then reveal the answer below. Simple. Fun. A little nostalgic.
Let’s see how many you know.
Can You Name This Small 1970s Ford?
Answer: Ford Pinto
The Ford Pinto is one of those cars people remember for the wrong reasons first. Yes, it had a troubled safety reputation. But before all that, it was just a small, cheap Ford built for everyday life.
It showed up in the 1970s when buyers wanted smaller cars and better fuel economy. Nothing fancy. Just basic transportation with a very “parked outside Kmart” kind of look.
For a forgotten old cars quiz, the Pinto is perfect. Many people know the name, but not everyone can spot one in a photo.
Is This a Car or a Rolling Fishbowl?
Answer: AMC Pacer
The AMC Pacer looked like someone designed a car around the windows.
It was short, wide, rounded, and impossible to ignore. Some people loved it. Others made jokes. Honestly, both reactions make sense.
The Pacer had personality, and I miss that. It didn’t blend in. It rolled down the street like it knew people were staring.
Show a photo of this one and readers will pause. Even if they don’t know the name, they’ll know they’re looking at something strange.
Do You Recognize This Unusual Chevrolet?
Answer: Chevrolet Corvair
The Chevrolet Corvair can fool people because it doesn’t look like a typical old Chevy.
It had a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine, which made it very different from most American cars of its time. Some versions looked almost European, especially the coupes and convertibles.
The Corvair also became tied to safety criticism after Ralph Nader’s book Unsafe at Any Speed. Still, car fans admire it for its clean design and unusual engineering.
This one is a great quiz pick. A lot of readers may guess Porsche or Volkswagen before they guess Chevrolet.
Is This Pretty Coupe Really a Volkswagen?
Answer: Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia looked much fancier than it really was.
That’s not an insult. I love that about it. It had sleek styling and a classy shape, but underneath, it shared a lot with the humble Volkswagen Beetle.
It wasn’t fast, it didn’t need to be and it looked good cruising slowly, and sometimes that’s enough.
In this forgotten old cars quiz, the Karmann Ghia gives readers a nice surprise. Many may guess a small Italian sports car before they see the answer.
Photo #5: Can You Spot Ford’s Famous Flop?
Answer: Edsel
The Edsel became famous because it failed so loudly.
Ford launched it with big plans in the late 1950s, but buyers didn’t respond the way the company hoped. The styling, especially that front grille, became an easy target for jokes.
Still, time has made the Edsel more interesting. It’s bold, strange, and very hard to forget. I’d rather look at an odd car with character than another boring sedan any day.
This is a fun quiz car because older readers may know it right away, while younger readers may wonder what on earth they’re seeing.
What Is This Tiny American Classic?
Answer: Nash Metropolitan
The Nash Metropolitan looks like a toy car that somehow got license plates.
It was tiny compared with most American cars of the 1950s. While other cars grew longer and flashier, the Metropolitan stayed small, cheerful, and cute.
With its rounded shape and two-tone paint, it had a friendly face. Not fast. Not tough. Just charming.
This one adds a sweet moment to the quiz. Some cars impress you with power. The Metropolitan wins you over by looking like it might politely beep instead of honk.
Can You Guess This Futuristic Studebaker?
Answer: Studebaker Avanti
The Studebaker Avanti still looks ahead of its time.
It came from the early 1960s, but its sleek body, sharp profile, and grille-free front end made it feel futuristic. Studebaker needed attention, and the Avanti definitely got it.
This car works well in a forgotten old cars quiz because many people can tell it’s special, but they may not know what it is.
And that’s the fun part. You reveal the name, and suddenly readers remember that Studebaker did more than build old-fashioned cars.
Is This a Car, a Truck, or Both?
Answer: Subaru BRAT
The Subaru BRAT was part car, part pickup, and part “why not?”
It had four-wheel drive, a small truck bed, and those famous rear-facing jump seats in the back. Practical? Maybe not always. Memorable? Absolutely.
The BRAT felt playful. It didn’t try to be a big truck. It had its own thing going on, and I respect that.
For quiz vibes, it’s a great final pick. Readers may not know whether to call it a car or a truck. The answer is basically yes.