Which Auto Manufacturer Would You Have Worked for in the 1950s?

By: Steven Miller
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Which Auto Manufacturer Would You Have Worked for in the 1950s?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

The '50s were truly the golden age of car manufacturing. The auto industry was an economic powerhouse on the world stage, and Detroit was at the center of this boom time. "The Big Three" of Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler led the way, but there were countless other smaller companies, each vying for a piece of the automotive pie.

Some companies attempted to fill specialized niches in the market, offering bizarre concept cars and unique body designs that they hoped would entice buyers to their brand. Other companies tried to cut costs and produce cars at more affordable prices. However, most of these smaller companies were beginning to merge with each other by the time the '50s arrived. They needed to diversify and expand to have any chance of competing with the big boys.

There was a massive amount of opportunity in the auto industry at this time, and those who were drawn to a career in this field had some definite choices to contemplate. For example, Ford and GM were places where it might take longer to move up the corporate ladder, but you were offered a very stable and reliable income with great benefits from day one. On the other side, getting in at the ground floor of a smaller company could lead to a massive fortune in a short amount of time, or you could find yourself back at square one if the company folded.

Fire up your engine and let's burn some rubber. There's a company with your name all over it at the finish line of this quiz.

Would you rather live in the big city or out in the country?
I want to be in the heart of the big city.
I suppose the suburbs would fit me the best.
I'd much rather be out in the country.
I want to live in the city, but not downtown.

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Are you more drawn to the favorite or the underdog in a competition?
I appreciate a good underdog story, but I am loyal to my hometown team.
I always cheer for the underdog.
I appreciate a winner, which is why I normally find myself cheering for the favorite.
My team is usually the favorite, but not always.

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Which type of vehicle would you rather drive?
A sports car.
A luxury sedan.
A truck.
A fuel-efficient vehicle.

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How willing are you to take risks?
I'm okay taking calculated risks once in a while.
I'm totally willing to roll the dice and take my chances.
I like taking risks because it motivates me to rise to the occasion.
I don't like taking risks at all.

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Which city would you rather live in?
South Bend, Indiana.
Dearborn, Michigan.
Southfield, Michigan.
Detroit, Michigan.

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What speed do you generally like to move at?
I'm always in a hurry and on the move. Get out of the way.
I like to move at an up-tempo pace most of the time, but occasionally I like to chill out.
I prefer a more mellow and laid-back pace.
I prefer to have a balance of quick and slow. It just depends on my mood.

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Which automotive career path is most appealing to you?
Advertising.
Factory worker.
Sales.
Design.

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What part of the day are you at your best?
At night.
Early morning.
Afternoon.
Midday.

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What kind of music would most likely be coming from the speakers in your car?
Popular.
Country.
Motown.
Big band.

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Which '50s movie are you most likely to go see at the drive-in?
"On the Waterfront"
"Singin' in the Rain"
"North by Northwest"
"Vertigo"

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Which celebrity from the '50s would you most like to have promoting your vehicles?
Marilyn Monroe.
John Wayne.
James Dean.
Frank Sinatra.

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Which road trip destination sounds most appealing to you?
Las Vegas.
Daytona Beach.
Disneyland.
The Grand Canyon.

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Which leisure activity is most appealing to you?
Golf.
Baseball.
Bowling.
Gambling.

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How appealing would it be to have your company's stocks as part of your compensation?
That might be nice, but not at the cost of any monetary compensation.
I wouldn't be interested in that at all.
That would be a vital part of my compensation package.
Let's put it this way, I would much rather have the stocks than not.

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Which fad of the '50s is most interesting to you?
Hula hoop.
Telephone booth stuffing.
Sock hops.
Panty raids.

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Do you play golf?
I play golf once in a while, but it's usually just for business purposes.
Nah, it never was appealing to me.
I've played before, but I'm pretty terrible.
I play golf a lot. I'm kind of addicted to it.

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Which description best matches your fashion sense?
Casual attire.
Formal business attire.
Comfortable clothes.
Casual business attire.

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Which '50s TV show is most appealing to you?
"The Twilight Zone"
"Leave It to Beaver"
"The Honeymooners"
"I Love Lucy"

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Do you tend to follow the trends in society or do you like to go your own way?
I stay current with trends, but I do tend to add my own twist.
I pretty much follow what is popular.
I'll adopt the trends I like and go my own way in other areas.
I'm a rebel without a cause.

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Which '50s musical group do you like the most?
"The Platters"
"Bill Haley & His Comets"
"The Everly Brothers"
"The Beatles"

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What stage of your career are you currently at?
Management.
Entry-level.
Middle-management.
Self-employed.

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Which factor is most important to you when choosing who to work for?
Quality product.
Laid-back style.
Opportunity for growth.
Financial compensation.

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What meal would you be most likely to order if you were at a '50s diner?
Meatloaf.
Steak and potatoes.
The daily special.
Burger and fries.

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Which '50s high school clique would you best fit into?
Nerds.
Greasers.
Rebels.
Squares.

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Which '50s dance move is most your style?
"The Hand Jive".
"The Swing".
"The Cha Cha".
"The Stroll".

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How clean is your driving record?
I have gotten a lot of tickets.
I got pulled over often in my youth, but it happens rarely to me as an adult.
I have a totally squeaky-clean record.
I have a few points, but it's been a while since I got pulled over.

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Which game from the '50s do you like the most?
Hula hoop contest.
"Name that Tune."
Limbo contest.
"Battleship."

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Do you smoke?
I smoke, but only a few cigarettes a day.
I've never smoked.
I quit.
I smoke heavily.

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What is your drink of choice?
Beer.
Coke.
Whiskey.
Wine.

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Which Detroit sports team do you like the most?
Detroit Red Wings.
Detroit Tigers.
Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Lions.

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You Got: