Because there are only so many times you can watch Gone With The Wind or Frozen without losing the will to live, DTW instead offers you an opportunity to test out your knowledge of all things automotive. Good luck and no Googling!
We will publish the solutions in the coming days.
- Find the two British cars (make and model) contained in the anagram:
Basra Disastrous Matrimonial
- Identify the two missing marques in this list by following the numerical model designation trail that connects them:
Tatra – ? – Volkswagen – Ferrari – Volvo – ? – Rover
- Identify this vehicle:
- What word connects Volkswagen, Wartburg and the introduction of the breathalyser in the UK?
- The original Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle had an unusual means of pressurising the windscreen washers. How was this done?
- What derisory term did Bob Lutz use to describe the Renault-derived Medallion and Premier models Chrysler inherited with its takeover of American Motors?
- The name Metro was chosen in a ballot of BL workers for the company’s 1980 supermini. What were the two other proposed names on the ballot paper?
- Which production cars had the following code names while in development?
- Toni
- Tomcat
- Bobcat
- Bounty
- Mosquito
- XX/HX
- To whom or what does ‘Tagora’, the name of Talbot’s short-lived and unsuccessful large saloon refer?
- When MG was bought by the Nanjing Automobile Group in 2005, the Chinese company tried unsuccessfully to redefine the meaning of the MG letters from ‘Morris Garages’ to what?
- There are three garages, marked A, B and C. Your car is parked in one garage only. Only one of the following statements is true:
- The car is Parked in Garage A.
- The car is not parked in Garage B.
- The car is not parked in Garage A.
In which garage is your car parked?
- Identify the automotive designer and the name given to his signature style in this anagram:
Superglue rowdy Argentineans
- Complete the following list of nine model names. The last two letters of each name are the same as the first two letters of the next name in the list. The underscores indicate the number of missing letters in each name.
- T e r c e l
- E l _ _ _
- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
- _ _ _ _ a n
- A n t a r a
- R a _ _ _ _
- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
- _ _ _ _ _ t e
- T e s t a r o s s a
- Identify this vehicle:
- What striking image featured on the cover of Car Magazine in April 1994 in relation to the magazine’s long-term test of the VW Golf Mk3 VR6?
- Which auto maker promoted itself as ‘a different type of car company’?
- What was ResCap and how did it cause the bankruptcy of a major auto manufacturer?
- Why did Mitsubishi sell its cars under the Colt brand name in the UK for a decade from 1974?
- Which was the first mass-production car to have fully-integrated high-gloss body-coloured bumpers front and rear?
- Who described the typical Saab owner in the following unflattering terms: “…leftish intellectuals who admired the failed Swedish experiment in 90% tax rates and womb-to-tomb welfare.”
- What was the inspiration for the unusual front end of the 2009 Bentley Mulsanne with its large circular headlamps positioned inboard either side of the grille?
- What is a Wingle?
- Which auto makers jointly developed an engine nicknamed ‘suitcase’ and why was it so called?
- Why did Nicolette McKenzie become a household name in 1983?
- Identify this abandoned prototype that failed to make production.
Driven To Write 
Not sure if we should be proposing our answers here, so I won’t. I’ve only got 8 (Part of), 14, 19, 23 and 24. Of which I think two are linked. If anyone is finding it hard, in the spirit of the season, I offer you a (Worthless) clue; I think one of the cars has a name which I always believe should be an anagram of Falafel but isn’t. There, contemplate that and Happy Christmas one and all.
Good morning Richard, and a very Happy Christmas to you and yours.
It’s good to hear that the quiz is challenging, even for you! There will be another batch of 25 questions landing on New Year’s Day, but we’ll publish the answers to today’s batch beforehand. It’s all just for fun, so please feel free to comment as you wish below. I would suggest that those who don’t want any hints (or answers) shouldn’t read any further comments!
I’d like to add my very best wishes to DTW’s lovely contributors, commenters and readers, all of whom make the site unique and very worthwhile.
You can´t watch Frozen once without losing the will to live.
Happy Christmas to the editors, to our contributors, to our commentators and lurkers. And also to Simon T. Kearne!
R
15 and 16: a Lemon and Saturn.
The difficulty of a quiz is an indication of the intelligence behind it.
I can´t wait for the answers and I can´t offer many answers.
The painted bumpers were probably Porsche on the 928?
Number 14 is something mid-70s to mid 80s. The welded leaf catcher is something that disappeared when wipers got buried. Fiat saloon of some type?
The suitcase engine was a co-op with Renault and Peugeot; the aim was a small engine about the size of said container.
Ms McKenzie was voice of the Austin Montego/Maestro on-board computer.
The abandonded prototype is a Bentley Continental?
CONTENT WARNING: ANSWERS BELOW
Hi Richard,
14: incorect (right country, but wrong marque)
15: correct
16: correct
19: incorrect (surprisingly)
23: correct (but there’s a more specific reason for the nickname)
24: correct
25: incorrect (despite appearances)
I can’t the credit for all the questions: Robertas and I supplied almost eighty to DTW’s esteemed editor and Eóin chose his favourite fifty (which happened to be the most difficult!)
No. 5 .. The Beetle washer bottle was pressurised by air from the spare tyre. Pure genius!
Happy Christmas to all !
CONTENT WARNING: ANSWERS BELOW
Hi vwmeister
5: Correct!
And thank you for your kind wishes!
I didn´t read the answers so I will guess the Italian car is an Alfetta saloon?
Yes, but more specifically?
Still not having read the answer: more specifically as in engine and year? There was an Alfetta saloon and coupé (I mean the GTV variant). Was there something else I´ve missed? Would it be an Alfetta 1.6 by any chance? The 1.6s had two fewer slats in the leaf-catcher than the 1.8 on the 1972 model, they say).
CONTENT WARNING: ANSWERS BELOW
I think you’ve just about got it, Richard. It’s an Alfetta saloon Mk1. The union of the front wing, A-pillar and scuttle was completely redesigned on the Mk2 to facilitate bolt-on front wings, so the A-pillar flowed into the scuttle, not the wing.
That difference had eluded me. And it becomes awfully obvious that if your series 1 Alfetta gets a prang it´s harder to fix than the Series 2. May I inquire as to the source of the photo?
Oh, that’s the best best bit…it’s one of yours!
https://driventowrite.com/2018/08/13/ashtrays-alfa-romeo-alfetta-1-6/
I must confess that after the Fiat bid got the thumbs down, I realised the image quietly rang some bells.
Sitting in that car very much strengthened my understanding of the very real kinæsthetic difference between current vehicles and older ones and also between Alfas from then and other cars from then. The body-feeling of where you are in the car and where are in relation to the road is markedly more appealing than the present up-in-the-air disconnected sense of positioning. The same goes for the excellently comfy rear seats. A tour in a car like this would be really much more enjoyable than the ostensibly roomier interiors of bigger new cars but which are qualitatively inferior in terms of how one is held in place. Luckily the household barge has great rear seats; I´d hate to have to find a more recent design that met that standard. My first port of call might be something large from Ford or Opel and then Volvo. Would I be satisfied? Or less than?
I think you’re on the right track with Volvo, Richard. An S60 or S90 would my choice for a continent-crossing express. Of course, we currently have an S90 on the DTW long-term test fleet, courtesy of Mr Miles. Failing that, an BMW E3 3.0Si.
In February I espied an S60 in the airport – I haven´t seen more than about two of them since then. And it´s been weeks since I saw a parked 508. Where are they? I might have thought to mention the 508 in my hit list of comfy rear seat possibilities. As it happens, the Giulia is very fancily trimmed (in some versions with the rear centre arm-rest) so it is upholding Alfa tradition on that front.
19.
?
Hmmm. Is this the car Delorean whacked with a sledge hammer? Is that actually a bumper? Why do so many ideas that seem simple evaporate into uncertainty upon closer examination?
No Richard, that was a 1968 Pontiac GTO, but the rear bumper was chromed.
20. IDK but I can’t imagine anyone else but Bob Lutz (see question 6).
Does anyone remember a snarky cartoon appearing in Car’s news section just after the Sierra was released showing a giant cigar being hoisted through an open office window captioned: “Bob Lutz takes delivery of his latest cigar”?
I do!
Hello gooddog and Happy Christmas!
Correct for no. 20 but incorrect for no.19 because, although body-coloured, they are not fully integrated, but just standard metal bumpers that could otherwise have been chromed. When the answer is revealed you’ll see what I mean.
19. OK, how about…
?
Correct!
1. Morris Minor and…? can’t find my way out of that cul-de-sac.
You’re one quarter right!
Right, it’s my bedtime, so any more questions or suggested answers will have to wait until morning.
Goodnight all!
Number 3 appears to be a Scorpio estate.
And for 11 I believe one would be parked in garage B.
The rest need far more thought. Just what is needed on a slightly hungover boxing day.
Merry Christmas from Malaysia
Is this DTW´s most easterly reader? Have a lovely St Stephen´s day, Duncan!
Not sure if I’m.the most easterly – I would have thought there would be readers in Hong Kong, Australia and NZ. But perhaps I may be the only SE Asian reader?
Makes me think that perhaps the new year may be a time for me update you all on what has happened to Proton. I think it is no longer in the UK market (not sure if it was ever available elsewhere in the EU).
Hello Duncan and Merry Christmas to you too.
You are correct on both questions. Well done!
Tasmania is east of Malaysia …
Impressive for me but all our readers on Chatham Island won´t be so easily trumped.
With regards to the MG question (10) I believe it was something along the lines of motoring gentleman or some such interpretation of Ye Olde Worlde motoring connotations.
You’re on the right lines, but not quite there yet!
Modern Gentleman, innit?
And here’s my shot at a couple of the other ones:
21. The Blower Bentleys?
22. A Great Wall pickup truck (which looked like it had the doors of an Isuzu D-Max but they were probably copied, not shared)
This is the first time I post anything here, so many thanks and congratulations for all the great content on this site – and best holiday wishes to everyone!
Hi Megasigma, welcome to DTW and thanks for your kind words. All three of your answers are correct.
No 1. Morris Marina and a Lotus or Talbot special.
No 2. You got me there!
No 3. I cannot identify. Almost looks like a van.
No 4. Castle. Wolfsburg Castle, Wartburg Castle and Cardiff Castle in whose shadow the brains behind the first decent breathalyser set up a shed to make them.
No 5. And if you forgot, neither the washer or spare worked all that well.
No 6. Salesproof.
No 8. Cannot shake my head loose from thinking about the production Mercury Bobcat, a Pinto in disguise.
N0 9. Tagora is a made up name meaning nothing, just like Stellantis.
No 10. Modern Gentleman
No 11. C
No 12. Haven’t a clue, but he was obviously a fine gentleman!
No 13. You got me there!
No 14. Reminds me of the Capri without a power bulge
No 15. Lemon. I have the issue.
No.16. Saturn. Beyond Jupiter but near Uranus.
No 17. Res Cap was the home mortgage part of General Motors Acceptance Corporation which was well-known to finance new car purchases, much like Ford Motor Credit. Then GM flogged GMAC to Cerberus in 2006 for some much needed cash, and Cerberus then bought Chrysler for peanuts in 2007. Cerberus/Chrysler then went bust the next year. GM went broke anyway.
No 18. Mitsubishi had the Colt name as a trademark for years. Used it in the US and probably the UK, because nobody could peonounce their real name properly – I’ve heard some corkers!
No 19. 1974 Stingray. They still squeaked like the devil, what a bag o’bolts.
No 20. Jeremy Clarkson.
No 21. Read that somewhere sometime, cannot refind.
No 22. A Wingle is a chinese pickup truck.
No 23. Peugeot and Renault. The 1.0 Ecoboost from Ford is pretty close.
No 24. Never heard of her myself, but a search leads to the voice for Austin “the door is ajar” type of precorded announcements for early ’80s cars.
No 25. What an ugger of a RR/Bentley. Perhaps when VW and BMW were fighting over the remains?
That quiz is a toughie! Most answers are in past DTW articles and comments. But it’s time for Boxing Day brekkie in the Dominion. So hope I passed!
Good morning Bill and Happy Christmas. Here we go:
No 1. Morris Marina and a Lotus or Talbot special.
*Quarter correct. (Think more mainstream for the second car.)
No 2. You got me there!
No 3. I cannot identify. Almost looks like a van.
No 4. Castle. Wolfsburg Castle, Wartburg Castle and Cardiff Castle in whose shadow the brains behind the first decent breathalyser set up a shed to make them.
*Correct word, but the third connection is incorrect
No 5. And if you forgot, neither the washer or spare worked all that well.
*Correct
No 6. Salesproof.
*Correct
No 8. Cannot shake my head loose from thinking about the production Mercury Bobcat, a Pinto in disguise.
*Incorrect
N0 9. Tagora is a made up name meaning nothing, just like Stellantis.
*Correct
No 10. Modern Gentleman
*Correct
No 11. C
*Incorrect
No 12. Haven’t a clue, but he was obviously a fine gentleman!
No 13. You got me there!
No 14. Reminds me of the Capri without a power bulge
*Incorrect
No 15. Lemon. I have the issue.
*Correct
No.16. Saturn. Beyond Jupiter but near Uranus.
*Correct 😁
No 17. Res Cap was the home mortgage part of General Motors Acceptance Corporation which was well-known to finance new car purchases, much like Ford Motor Credit. Then GM flogged GMAC to Cerberus in 2006 for some much needed cash, and Cerberus then bought Chrysler for peanuts in 2007. Cerberus/Chrysler then went bust the next year. GM went broke anyway.
*Correct (although the Res Cap mortgage liabilities remained with GM, according to Bob Lutz).
No 18. Mitsubishi had the Colt name as a trademark for years. Used it in the US and probably the UK, because nobody could peonounce their real name properly – I’ve heard some corkers!
*Correct
No 19. 1974 Stingray. They still squeaked like the devil, what a bag o’bolts.
*Correct
No 20. Jeremy Clarkson.
*Incorrect (although it could have been him!)
No 21. Read that somewhere sometime, cannot refind.
No 22. A Wingle is a chinese pickup truck.
*Correct
No 23. Peugeot and Renault. The 1.0 Ecoboost from Ford is pretty close.
*Correct, but why ‘suitcase?
No 24. Never heard of her myself, but a search leads to the voice for Austin “the door is ajar” type of precorded announcements for early ’80s cars.
*Correct
No 25. What an ugger of a RR/Bentley. Perhaps when VW and BMW were fighting over the remains?
*Incorrect (despite appearances)
That quiz is a toughie! Most answers are in past DTW articles and comments. But it’s time for Boxing Day brekkie in the Dominion. So hope I passed!
* Excellent work, Bill. I make that 12.75/25 = 51% which is the best so far
8. I think that Bobcat is the Mk1 Ford Fiesta, and Toni is Mustang-related – either the Fox-body Mustang or the front-wheel-drive model that finally evolved into the Probe?
Correct and Incorrect, respectively, Megasigma.
The first half of 13:
Tercel – Elise – Seicento – Touran – Antara
Correct!
Good Lord, if this is only part one I shudder to think what part two will involve. Some excellent quizzing, here, chapeau to those setting along with guessing.
Morris Garages to Modern Gentlemen – really? Flabbergasted, I am. As I was with the Beetles windscreen wiper pressure supply.
The only other one I can successfully offer being the HX-XX being the Honda Legend and Rover 800 .
And question 25 is a Bristol but I’ve forgotten the bloomin’ name. It would’ve been for a Middle Eastern client, I believe.
Delightful headline picture, too. A festive Riley Pathfinder.
Right, once I’ve found the garçon, I need to swot up some more. Slàinte!
Hello Andrew. Yes, XX/HX were the codes respectively for the Rover 800 and original Honda Legend joint venture. No. 25 is not a Bristol, but would have been a revival of another defunct British marque, had it made production.
1. Austin Ambassador and Morris Ital.
Actually, while I am here, I will try Q2 as well…
Bristol and BMW.
Bristol had models called 603 and 412, thereby linking Tatra with VW
BMW has/had 440 and 220, so linking Volvo and Rover.
Any good?
Good morning Jeremy.
Well done, you’ve unravelled the anagram successfully!
Regarding question 2, Bristol is correct, with the 603 linking to Tatra and the 411 (or 412) linking to Volkswagen. BMW is incorrect, because 440 and 220 are not model designations per se, but merely engine sizes for the 4 Series 2 Series models.
Last try for now…Fiat
Volvo 850 links to Fiat 850.
Fiat 600 links to Rover 600.
Thanks
Fiat is not the answer I had, but works equally well, so I can’t argue with it.
Nice work, Jeremy!
My meagre contribution
#4 part 3 – would that be Barbara Castle? I suspect she would have been Minister of Transport in the ‘60s.
…is the right answer! Wartburg was named after a castle, VW featured Wolfsburg castle in its crest, and Barbara Castle was the Minister of Transport who introduced the breathalyser in the UK. Well done, Andy!
Question 13:
Tercel
Elise
Seicento
Touran
Antara
Rapide
Deauville
Levante
Testarossa
Correct!
Question 2
Bristol (already mentioned)
Alfa Romeo (164 links it to Volvo and 90 to Rover)
Correct!
(75 would also link Alfa Romeo to Rover)
Thanks all for your excellent work. A great collective effort on the part of DTW’s very knowledgeable readership.
There are only four questions unanswered at this stage, nos. 7, 8, 12 and 25. The answers will be published tomorrow, but it would be nice to tick off some more this evening. Here are the outstanding questions:
7. The name Metro was chosen in a ballot of BL workers for the company’s 1980 supermini. What were the two other proposed names on the ballot paper?
8. Which production cars had the following code names while in development?
*Toni
*Tomcat
*Bobcat = Ford Fiesta Mk1
*Bounty
*Mosquito
*XX/HX = Rover 800/Honda Legend
12.Identify the automotive designer and the name given to his signature style in this anagram:
Superglue rowdy Argentineans
25. Identify this abandoned prototype that failed to make production:
I’ll have a go, from memory, so apologies if these are wrong.
7. Were the other names Maestro and Match? It’s funny – I can recall reading Mini Metro’s launch articles.
8. Toni – one of the escorts – mk2?
Tomcat – a Rover?
Bounty – posh Austin / Rolls-Royce collaboration?
Mosquito – Morris Minor
25. Is that Japanese?
4. made me laugh when I got it.
Hi Charles.
Q7: Correct!
Q8:
*Toni: not an Escort
*Tomcat: yes, a Rover, but which one?
*Bounty: not an Austin /Rolls-Royce collaboration (I think you’re thinking of the Bentley Bengal) but you’re in the right ballpark in that it was a joint-venture vehicle.
*Mosquito: Correct! It was the code name for the Minor.
Q24: Not Japanese, but British-Asian
As to Q4, it gives you an insight into the labyrinthine (occasional) workings of my aged brain. 😨
Question 8:
Tomcat: Rover 200 coupe
Question 8:
Toni: Ford Sierra
Ah, yes – I think you’re right on both counts, Freerk.
As Charles said, correct on both counts, Freerk.
‘Toni’ has really got me. I know the answer, but the connection in my brain needs to be re-made. It’ll come to me.
Tomcat is a sporty one, like a 200 coupé – I don’t think I’m going to get closer than that.
Yes, it was Bengal I was thinking of. I know the answer to Bounty, but will have to remake the neural pathway to that one, too.
Is 25. a Riley?
Can’t be, that name is still owned by the Bavarians. And even though it isn’t Japanese, I think Mitsouka should do it.
I’m surprised that ‘Bounty’ is proving so troublesome. You’ll kick yourself when you read the answer!
No. 25 is not A Riley, but you’re in the right ballpark.
And I think the anagram is our friend Gorden (sic) with his Sensual Purity (sick).
Correct! Gorden Wagener – Sensual Purity. Well done, Charles.
Sorry, coming to this one a rather late as haven’t logged on for a while over the festive period. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas break. A great puzzle to get test the old grey matter, so for those answers that have not been attempted or correctly resolved as yet, here are a few more thoughts/guesses.
Q2: Is the connection a European-built V8 engine, making the possible missing marques Audi and/or BMW (or Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Glas or various others)?
Q3: Ford Scorpio Turnier/Estate
Q4: A castle connection, with the VW Wolfsburg logo, Wartburg (Castle) and strident 1960s British politician, Barbara Castle
Q6: Lutz said the adopted ex-Renault/AMC models were unsaleable, calling them ‘Salesproof’
Q7: Leading ballot name alternatives to the Austin Metro were Maestro and Match
Q8: Project names: Toni = Ford Sierra, Tomcat = Rover 200 Coupe, Bobcat = Ford Fiesta, Bounty = Triumph Acclaim, Mosquito= Morris Minor and XX = Rover 800 / HX = Honda Legend
Q16: I think Daewoo in the UK was promoted as ‘a different type of car company’
Q17: General Motors, through its GMAC finance arm via ResCap (the Resource Investment Capital)
Q20: Was the Saab quote by Bob Lutz (I worked for Saab for 15 years in the UK, Sweden, Brussels and Detroit, and recall meeting him a few times when he shared this sort of ‘lefty’ clients view!)?
Q21: Bentley was trying to recall its Le Mans-winning 1920s heritage with a ‘Blower’ inspired headlamp layout
Q22: Great Wall Wingle pick-up
Q25: The alloy wheels look Rover 75-based, so was it a planned Riley revival model (or if not, the stillborn Bristol EV range-extender saloon, which I once saw a small scale model of, but don’t recall it looking like the quiz car?
Hi Djetset. I’ve ‘marked your homework’ below. Well done.
Q2: Is the connection a European-built V8 engine, making the possible missing marques Audi and/or BMW (or Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Glas or various others)?
INCORRECT (it’s a simple model number connection)
Q3: Ford Scorpio Turnier/Estate CORRECT
Q4: A castle connection, with the VW Wolfsburg logo, Wartburg (Castle) and strident 1960s British politician, Barbara Castle CORRECT
Q6: Lutz said the adopted ex-Renault/AMC models were unsaleable, calling them ‘Salesproof’ CORRECT
Q7: Leading ballot name alternatives to the Austin Metro were Maestro and Match CORRECT
Q8: Project names: Toni = Ford Sierra, Tomcat = Rover 200 Coupe, Bobcat = Ford Fiesta, Bounty = Triumph Acclaim, Mosquito= Morris Minor and XX = Rover 800 / HX = Honda Legend CORRECT
Q16: I think Daewoo in the UK was promoted as ‘a different type of car company’ INCORRECT
Q17: General Motors, through its GMAC finance arm via ResCap (the Resource Investment Capital) CORRECT
Q20: Was the Saab quote by Bob Lutz (I worked for Saab for 15 years in the UK, Sweden, Brussels and Detroit, and recall meeting him a few times when he shared this sort of ‘lefty’ clients view!)? CORRECT
Q21: Bentley was trying to recall its Le Mans-winning 1920s heritage with a ‘Blower’ inspired headlamp layout CORRECT
Q22: Great Wall Wingle pick-up CORRECT
Q25: The alloy wheels look Rover 75-based, so was it a planned Riley revival model (or if not, the stillborn Bristol EV range-extender saloon, which I once saw a small scale model of, but don’t recall it looking like the quiz car? INCORRECT
Is Bounty the Triumph Acclaim?
Ah, yes – just seen the answer, above.
That only leaves no.25 unanswered. Here’s another, clearer photo:
Thank you for marking my homework Daniel. Is Q25 a new Lea Francis proposal for yet another planned revival?
Hi Djetset, you’re welcome.
Close, but no cigar on Q25 though!
I hope it’s not an early Goodwood-era Rolls-Royce proposal by BMW?! If it is, thank goodness they opted for the more impactful Phantom and later Ghost (unless it was VW’S take on a Royce, created in the short period it thought it owned the marque!).
Happily, neither. I’m off to bed but a full list of answers will be published overnight.
Thanks all for taking part. Part Two of the quiz, courtesy of my colleague, Robertas, will be published on New Year’s Day.