I was on a little road trip last weekend to visit in-laws a few hours away, so it gave me a chance to do some “carspotting” and drive my husband insane by quizzing him on different models of cars that share names with other things! I’ve grown to enjoy cars, whether it’s checking out vintage cars at “cruise nights,” or just eyeballing different cars on the freeway.  My dad helps enable this a bit by bringing out his 1991 Corvette to cruise nights in the summer. I have joked that he needs a 1991 soundtrack for the car’s cassette player, but sadly I no longer possess the technological means to make a “mix tape.” But it WOULD include Winger, Van Halen, Extreme, Warrant…it would be AWFUL. I’m sure Dad would prefer a mix tape with the Righteous Brothers, Four Seasons, Doors, or the Beach boys!

Dad might not mind ogling the girl from the “Cherry Pie” video by Warrant, but he might not enjoy the music so much!

About a year ago or so I went through a brief obsession with pick-up trucks after flunking this final question about trucks on a trivia night: Since 1990, five different Chevrolet models have won the Motor Trend Truck of the Year. Name four of those five models.

After that epic failure (though I did manage to name one), I made it my mission to find obscure pick-up trucks on the road, in driveways, in parking lots, etc. A recent truck spotting was Sunday morning in Big Rapids, when I saw a Mazda pick-up truck. Unsure what model it was, I didn’t walk up close enough to it to check it out. I haven’t always liked cars, though, as evidenced by this photo of me from 1982 or 1983…

Me posing very, very unwittingly for a photo at a car show at Flint’s Sloan Museum sometime in the early 1980s. I had not yet grown to appreciate the majesty of this car, which I (think) might be a Bentley, Hudson, or Rolls Royce, based on the hood ornament (and the comments from people on Facebook who have viewed this photo).

Like or dislike, cars are definitely in my blood. Starting with my great-great grandfather Charles, who worked for GM in Flint in the early 20th century and continuing with numerous uncles, great-uncles (at least a couple of great uncles were involved in the historic “Sit Down Strike” in 1937), and last but not least my dad and brother. My dad worked for multiple automakers before retiring nearly 10 years ago, including GM, Ford, Visteon and Roush – in multiple capacities – assembly, quality control, employee training, etc. My brother worked several years for Ford at the Ypsilanti plant, before moving to the Upper Peninsula where he enjoys a slower-paced life (when he isn’t out battling bushels of snow with his snowblower – or keeping up with his teen-age daughter’s multiple athletic activities). A female cousin of mine was even involved in the auto industry for probably about 20 years or so – working as an advertising executive overseeing the GM account for a high-end advertising firm in metro Detroit. She is semi-retired now and is a free-lance baker/pastry maker.

All of that said…now it’s time to put your brains to the test about cars!

Car Models Sharing Names With Geographic Regions

GMC model/national Park in Maine

Kia model/region in Arizona

Toyota model/national forest in California

GMC model/recently renamed mountain in Alaska

Subaru model/geographic region including northwestern Mexico/California

Toyota model/third largest city in Washington

Ford model/name of Henry Ford’s estate in Dearborn, MI

Movie character named for car mentioned in previous question. This guy made the blood boil of countless feminists in the ’80s/early ’90s.

Mercury Model/name of “fashion week” site

Mercury model/name of city in Jamaica

Buick Model/Street where Waldorf-Astoria is located in New York

Chrysler model manufactured 1983-1993/Street in NYC known for high-ticket real estate

Chevy model/name for West Coast region known for its beaches/also 2017 Miley Cyrus song (third clue added just to avoid confusion with region named in next question)

Chevy model manufactured 1950-1981/name of California city used as setting for comedy series running from 1990-1996

Chevy model/name of U.S. state in which Pike’s Peak is located

Dodge model/Mexico city located in north/central Mexico

GMC model/Spanish name for “mountain” (series of mountains)

Potpourri – Car Models Sharing Names With Persons or Things

Mercury model/name of person whose occupation or hobby primarily includes climbing difficult peaks

Mercury model/nobleman ranking above a count and below a duke

GMC model/first name of L.A. law actor

Mercury model/name of Kevin Costner’s character in Waterworld

Plymouth model manufactured in U.S. until 2000/Star Trek spin-off

Nissan model/role-playing game designed to modify third edition  rules of Dungeons & Dragons

Lincoln model/Internet browser marketed by Netscape

AMC model/mascot for pro “Big Four” sports team in Indiana

Ford model/name for elevation feature commonly found on a topographic map

Jeep model/name for popular brand of utilitarian jeans

Dodge model produced until 1976/name meaning “little crown”

Car in previous question is pictured above in this 1974 photo. I am in the doorway, the girl my mom is holding was a neighbor.

Toyota model/name of 1982 studio album by Roxy Music (yes, I COULD have used an easier clue for this one, but I love any excuse to make mention of this band…and I need to download this album sometime soon)

VW model/animal belonging to the order Lagamorph

AMC model/destructive character from 1984 blockbuster film

Dodge model/alternate name for type of sheep

This Dodge van had blue shag carpeting on the inside. Dad was a huge Wolverines fan and loved driving this thing to U of M games. Sometime he took me with him to the games – I remember him trying to teach me how to properly drink from a glass bottle of Coca-Cola!

 

Chevy model/name of 1985 western film starring Kevin Kline, Danny Glover, John Cleese

Chrysler model/name of magazine known for intellectual writing and cartoons

Geo model/word for transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light

I did not grow more willing to pose for photos by the time high school rolled around. What I was also unwilling to do was allow my socks to not match my shirt lol (seriously that was a silly phase of mine for a while…so OCD) Car asked about in previous question is pictured here, circa 1989

Plymouth model manufactured 1968-1980/name of Looney Tunes character

Pontiac model/name of magazine featuring news about hip-hop performers

Ford model 1989-1997/name of exploratory object typically sent into deep space

Ford model/name for reddish colored bean

Ford model/name for mascot of Denver based professional sports team

Ford model/name of D&D character class to which Aragorn would belong

Honda model/finalist for 2017 truck of the year

Italian car company mentioned by name in Joe Walsh song “Life’s Been Good”

Cadillac model mentioned by name in the songs “Hey Ladies” by the Beastie Boys “Crazy Rap” by Afroman

Cadillac model/last name of band member involved in 1977 “Rumours” album

Mitsubishi model/name for cavalryman using specific type of edged weapon

Mazda model (two-seater)/Old High German word for “reward”

Buick model/name for bird genus also known as Alauda, car seen in below picture.

Car Models Sharing Names with Comic Book Characters

Buick model manufactured 1959-1990/Female Marvel comic/film character

GEO model/Female Marvel character known for controlling weather

Nissan model/Female Marvel/X-Men character

Mercury model/Female Marvel character played by both Jennifer Lawrence and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos on film

Zimmer Motorcars model based on Pontiac Fiero from mid 1980s/X-Men character known for speed

Pontiac model manufactured 1977-1984/alternate name of X-Men character Jean Grey

Volkswagen model/member of Fantastic Four

Car Models Sharing Names with Ethnic Groups/Tribes/Mascots

RV company/Nebraska Native American tribe

Jeep model/name of Plains tribe in U.S.

Chrysler model/14th generation of New Yorker in 1986 (never passed clay model stage but design was reworked and became basis for Lamborghini Portofino after Chrysler purchased Lamborghini)/Also name of predominant Native American tribe in Arizona (I’m giving this extra hint here because this question is kind of obscure and I am not a total sadist…wait, yes I am when it comes to dishing up trivia!)

Ford model/mythic creature that creates lightning among other things

Subsidiary of GM/Ottawa chief

Pontiac model/name for Mesoamerican peoples dominating modern day Mexico in 14th-16th centuries

Pontiac model/mythological creature AKA Phoenix

What’s YOUR sign, baby? Cars With Zodiac/Calendar-Inspired Names

Chevy model/name for dates associated with beginning of spring/fall

Pontiac model/name for dates associated with beginning of summer/winter

Ford model/name for zodiac sign symbolized by a bull

Dodge model/name for God of War in mythology

Ford model exclusive to European markets/zodiac sign of person born on Guy Fawkes Day