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For 50 years, “The Price is Right” has been a staple of daytime television. Hundreds of contestants have won huge prizes from all-expenses paid getaways, a vacation, an RV, and anything in between. But cars are some of the coolest prizes at this legendary show. Over the years, thousands of cars have been awarded as a prize. Because of this, some contestants have driven away in some cool cars.

When did The Price is Right debut?

On September 4, 1972, the world got the opportunity to experience this legendary show for the first time. Since then, fans have been captivated by the gameplay and the unique strategies it takes to make it far in this game. Over the next 50 years, this show has become one of the most popular shows, with fans setting aside time in their day to watch contestants win life-changing prizes.

One of the best parts about this show is the cars available to win. From the very beginning, contestants got the chance to win a car. Over the years, there have been many different cars available. Typically, two vehicles are awarded as prizes every episode, with special episodes having more cars given away. 

How many cars have contestants won on the show?

drew carey, the current host of the price is right, a classic tv show
Drew Carey; the current host of “The Price Is Right” | CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images

Over the years, more than 8,000 cars have been given away throughout more than 9,000 episodes. Because of this, there are certainly some unique cars that contestants have enjoyed. 

The first car won was a 1972 Chevrolet Vega. This subcompact came in four different body styles, with the Kammback wagon model as the prize. This vehicle came in a bright blue and had some great features for the time. At the time the Chevrolet Vega cost $2,746, or close to $20,000 in 2022. This same episode also saw a 1972 Mazda 808 won by a contestant. 

Those two cars started a long tradition of this show awarding some impressive cars to its contestants.

What are some other cars available to win?

Throughout the history of “The Price is Right,” many other cars have been available for contestants to win. From classic muscle cars like a Chevrolet Camaro in 1983 to sports cars like the Porsche 944 in 1989, this show has helped players get some great cars. 

But the show didn’t just give away sporty cars, as contestants also won trucks like a Toyota 4Runner in 1984, a Jeep CJ-5 in 1974, or a Ford Bronco II in 1986. The list of cool vehicles given away on this show is pretty long, but not all of the vehicles were cool. 

There were some odd models that contestants could bid on. For example, the show gave away a few different Buick Opel models. Furthermore, for efficiency-minded contestants, there were also a few different Geo Metro models available to win. 

Even with a list of unique cars, some cool, some not-so-much, contestants certainly had the chance to have a memorable time on this classic show.

There are sure to be more classics available to win

a red toyota supra as a price of the legendary tv show the price is right
A red Toyota Supra available to win on “The Price is Right” | CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images

The list of vehicles that the show awarded is ever-growing. In recent years, players have had the opportunity to win models from Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Audi, and many other automakers. Looking back at “The Price is Right” in a few years, it could be easy to name a few more classics that the show has given away.

Follow along the journey of these cool cars with tpircars on Instagram.

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