What is the oldest car name?

The oldest continuously used car name is Chevrolet Suburban, introduced in 1935 and still in production today; it is recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-running automobile nameplate. If you mean the oldest automaker name still in use, that distinction typically goes to Peugeot, which has built cars under the Peugeot name since the 1890s.

Why “oldest car name” needs a definition

Automotive historians and fans often distinguish between a model name (a specific vehicle line, such as Suburban) and a marque or brand name (such as Peugeot). Another key factor is continuity: some early names appeared on pioneering vehicles but were not carried on, while others have persisted across generations. With that in mind, the Suburban leads for model name longevity, while Peugeot stands out among the world’s oldest surviving car brands.

Chevrolet Suburban: the longest-running model name

First sold in 1935 as the “Carryall Suburban,” Chevrolet’s full-size, body-on-frame utility wagon evolved into the modern three-row SUV without ever abandoning the name. Suburban has adapted to changing customer needs—from fleet and commercial use to family transport—across 12 generations, and it remains in production in the 2025 model year after a recent mid-cycle refresh.

Key milestones in the Suburban’s evolution

The following highlights show how the Suburban name has endured by evolving with technology, regulations, and customer demand.

• 1935: Debut as the steel-bodied “Carryall Suburban,” prioritizing durability and capacity.
• 1941–1947: Pre- and immediate post-war iterations; civilian car production paused during WWII but the nameplate resumed afterward.
• 1967–1972: Greater comfort and family-oriented features broaden the Suburban’s appeal.
• 1973–1991: The “square-body” era cements the vehicle’s reputation for rugged versatility.
• 1992: Eighth generation ushers in the modern SUV age with improved refinement and safety.
• 2021: Twelfth generation launches on GM’s T1 platform with independent rear suspension.
• 2025: Mid-cycle update brings revised styling, tech upgrades, and feature enhancements.

Taken together, these developments explain the Suburban’s staying power: functional packaging, incremental innovation, and strong brand equity have kept the name relevant for nine decades.

The oldest surviving carmaker names

As a brand, Peugeot predates the automobile itself: founded in 1810 and building cars by 1890, it is widely cited as the oldest automaker name still in use on passenger cars. Several other historic marques emerged in the 1890s and early 1900s and continue today, though some underwent mergers, renamings, or product-line shifts.

Heritage marques with deep roots

These brands illustrate the industry’s longest-running names, many of which began with non-automotive products before moving into cars.

• Peugeot: Company founded 1810; automobiles since 1890; the Peugeot name has remained on cars ever since.
• Renault: Founded 1899; continuous car production under the Renault name.
• Opel: Founded in 1862 (sewing machines/bicycles); automobiles since 1899; Opel name still active in Europe.
• Fiat: Founded 1899 (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino); uninterrupted use of the Fiat brand on cars.
• Mercedes/Mercedes‑Benz: “Mercedes” name dates to 1901; the combined Mercedes‑Benz marque has existed since 1926.
• Tatra: Vehicle roots in the late 19th century; “Tatra” name adopted in 1919; today focused on trucks rather than passenger cars.

While their corporate structures have evolved, these marques demonstrate how early industrial firms transitioned into automotive pioneers and kept their names alive across eras.

Other long-running model nameplates

Beyond Suburban, several model names have endured for decades. Definitions of “continuous” can vary by market and naming conventions, but the entries below are among the longest-lived.

• Ford F‑Series (1948–present): America’s perennial best-seller spanning light-duty to heavy-duty pickups.
• Toyota Land Cruiser (1951–present): Continuous global lineage as Toyota’s flagship off-roader, with brief market pauses in some regions.
• Toyota Crown (1955–present): One of Japan’s longest-running nameplates, recently expanded globally with new body styles.
• Chevrolet Corvette (1953–present): America’s sports-car icon across eight generations.
• Porsche 911 (1964–present): The definitive rear-engined sports car with incremental evolution.
• Honda Civic (1972–present): A compact mainstay known for efficiency and reliability.
• Volkswagen Golf (1974–present): VW’s global hatchback benchmark across eight generations.

These nameplates have persisted by balancing heritage with modernization, often becoming brand pillars in their own right.

Alternative interpretations: earliest car names in history

If the question is interpreted as the earliest name ever applied to an automobile, rather than a continuous name, candidates would include the Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1885–1886) and early named one-offs like De Dion-Bouton’s steam vehicles in the 1880s. These designations established automotive naming conventions, but they did not persist as ongoing model lines.

Bottom line

For a model name still in use, Chevrolet Suburban (since 1935) is the oldest and longest-running. For a manufacturer’s name, Peugeot is typically regarded as the oldest marque still building cars under its original name. The distinction matters—but either way, these names trace living threads back to the dawn of motoring.

Summary

Chevrolet Suburban holds the record for the oldest continuously used car nameplate, in production since 1935 and recognized by Guinness World Records. Among automakers, Peugeot is the oldest brand name still affixed to passenger cars, with automotive production dating to the 1890s. Understanding whether “oldest car name” refers to a model or a marque clarifies the answer and highlights how a few enduring names have shaped automotive history.

What was the oldest car called?

On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his “vehicle powered by a gas engine.” The patent – number 37435 – may be regarded as the birth certificate of the automobile. In July 1886 the newspapers reported on the first public outing of the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motor Car, model no. 1.

What was the first car’s name?

The first automobile was named the Benz Patent-Motorwagen by German engineer Karl Benz in 1885. This three-wheeled, gasoline-powered vehicle is widely considered the world’s first practical automobile.
 
Key Details: 

• Inventor: Karl Benz.
• Name: Benz Patent-Motorwagen.
• Year: Built in 1885 and patented in 1886.
• Key Feature: It was the first vehicle designed around an internal combustion engine.
• Significance: The Benz Patent-Motorwagen marked the beginning of the automotive era.

What is the oldest car brand name?

Peugeot companies
The family business that preceded the current Peugeot companies was established in 1810, making it the oldest car company in the world. On 20 November 1858, Émile Peugeot applied for the lion trademark. Armand Peugeot (1849–1915) built the company’s first vehicle, a steam-powered tricycle.

What is the rarest car name?

Top 10 Rarest Cars in the World

1. Ferrari 250 GTO. It is said that this car was cared for by Enzo Ferrari himself, and it became the most expensive car in June 2018.
2. Ferrari 290 MM.
3. Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe.
4. Aston Martin DBR1.
5. Porsche 917.
6. Lamborghini Veneno.
7. Jaguar XK120-C.
8. Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita.