The Novi has been called the greatest car never to win the Indianapolis 500, yet it became an Indy icon without ever entering the winner's circle, says auto historian, Bill Vance.

It may come as a surprise that the Plymouth badge has appeared on a variety of trucks over the years, says auto historian Bill Vance but Plymouth’s Chrysler connection allowed it to develop its own versions of Dodge trucks and vans.

After the success of the 1955 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier and 1957 Ford Styleside pickup and Ford Ranchero, Chrysler decided they needed a car-like pickup truck too. The result was the 1957 Dodge Sweptside.

The MacPherson strut was the brainchild of Earle S. MacPherson, a 1915 University of Illinois engineering graduate. His compact front suspension design first became popular in English Fords of the 50s, such as the Consul and Zephyr.

A vehicle that "packed the most usable space into the smallest possible dimensions," the Fiat Multipla could seat six in a vehicle that was only 3,531 mm (139 in.) long, says auto historian, Bill Vance.

Henry Ford's 26-year old grandson, Henry Ford II, took over the Ford Motor Company in 1945 after years of financial problems created by poor management and an outdated product line-up. Under his leadership, the company prospered again.

The four-cylinder Dodge Rampage compact pickup was based on the front-wheel drive Omni/Horizon unit body platform, and though it weighed only 1,116 kilograms (2,460 pounds), it had an amazing carrying capacity of 517 kilograms (1,140 pounds), reports auto historian, Bill Vance.

The success of the Ford Mustang in 1964 motivated Ford to introduce a European 'pony car' called the Capri. It was smaller and less powerful than the Mustang, but proved so successful in Europe that it was imported to North America.