Classic Cars Online US

Search
Skip to content
  • Home
    • Blog
      • About
        • FAQ
  • Classifieds
  • Antique Cars
  • Classic Cars
  • Custom Cars
  • Muscle Cars
    • Chrysler Muscle Cars
    • Ford Muscle Cars
    • GM Muscle Cars
  • Old Trucks
  • Rat Rods
  • Sports Cars
  • Street Rods
  • Auto & Truck Interiors
  • Chrysler Muscle Cars
  • Our Services
Classic Cars

The History of Chevrolet: American Classic

April 17, 2016 Laure

The History of Chevrolet: American Classic

By Art Gib
The History of Chevrolet: American Classic
Image of 1912 Chevrolet Classic Six by Trainguy1 [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
It’s a bit ironic, perhaps, that an iconic American car like Chevrolet should have a French name, but it’s true! In 1909, a buggy manufacturer from Flint named William Durant asked the famous French race car driver Louis Chevrolet to help design a new kind of automobile designed specifically for American drivers. The first car began to be manufactured in 1911; it was meant to be Durant’s less expensive alternative to Ford’s successful Model T. This model was called the “Classic Six.” It was a relatively large auto that could seat five comfortably, had four doors, electric lights, and could reach a top speed of 65 mph.

In 1914, Chevrolet adopted its famous “bowtie” logo that is still in use today. No one’s exactly sure how that particular design came to be, but the legend has it that Durant himself saw it on a French wallpaper pattern, liked it, stole a piece of the wallpaper, and duplicated the design later! By 1917, Chevrolet was seeing success in the marketplace and sales hit 100,000. Over the next ten years, Chevy was the first to sell a car with a radio, joined forces with the GM Corporation, introduced a truck, and outsold the Ford Company for the first time. In all but just a few of the next 55 years, Chevrolet would be the number one name in American car companies.It’s hard to remember what roads were like in 1934, but it’s safe to assume that they were nothing like the smooth freeways we enjoy today. So imagine the public’s delight when Chevrolet was the first to introduce independent front suspension. It made the automobile cruising experience much more comfortable for everyone! The following year, the Suburban Carryall became the first station wagon-type vehicle and was a big hit with families.

Because of the demands of World War II, Chevrolet halted civilian production of its automobiles in 1942 and actually did not produce any new models for another four years. Its plants were converted into buildings for the manufacture of war products instead. The post-war years saw an absolute explosion in automobile technology and a modernization of chassis design. Among the innovations brought to the marketplace by Chevrolet were automatic transmission, power brakes, fuel injection, and bucket seats. The introduction of the sexy and sporty Corvette in 1953 created a sensation, and a design was put into place for its mass production. It was the first automobile to have a fiberglass body.

In the 1960’s, Chevrolet produced more models that became classics in American car manufacturing: Corvair, Impala, Nova, Stingray, and Camaro. In 1964, Chevy was the first to produce over 3 million cars and trucks in a single year.

In more recent times, Chevy has been an innovator in modern SUV design and tough utility trucks. “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet” is a slogan that aptly describes the effect this truly all-American auto company has had on our history and love affair with driving!

About the Author
Find your all-American Chevrolet in Provo Utah at Brent Brown (http://www.brentbrowndodgechryslerjeep.com). Their experts will help you find the right model at the right price for you and your family.
1912 chevrolet classic sixbowtir logochevrolet historychevy suburban carryall

Post navigation

Previous Post1968 Chevy TrucksNext PostHistory of the Mercedes Benz

RSS Recent Blog Posts

  • A Tribute to the Fossmobile – 1897
  • Solving Engine Blow-By Problems
  • Decorating Your Classic Car for Halloween
  • The 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside
  • Info on the 1965 Cadillac DeVille
  • What You Need to Know About Classic Cars and Safety Issues
  • Eye-Catching Lime Gold 1967 Ford Mustang Coupe
  • Healthy Meals to Keep Employee’s Energy High in a Car Shop
  • Checklist for Setting Up a Classic Car Show
  • 4 Simple Classic Car Show Etiquette Tips

Latest News

  • A Tribute to the Fossmobile – 1897
  • Solving Engine Blow-By Problems
  • Decorating Your Classic Car for Halloween
  • The 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside
  • Info on the 1965 Cadillac DeVille

Classic car info, discussion, and classified ads

RSS Classic Cars on eBay

Cookie Use Policy and Affiliate Link Info

For our European visitors: this site uses cookies, and continued use of the site acknowledges your acceptance of this policy. For details, visit the Classic Cars Online US About Page.

As an FYI: Affiliate links are used in several places around the site as part of the site’s advertising efforts, and while ads are what keeps our ‘doors open’, clicking the links does not in any way impact the cost of items you might purchase from advertisers.

Contact Us

  • LaureJ@consultant.com
  • (419) 777-1539
  • Classic Cars Online US is an online-only venue for classic car enthusiasts to find information, have discussions, and to list classic cars, parts, and services related to classic cars online.

Stumble This!

Proudly powered by WordPress
Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close