Facts on Chevy Cars
From their introduction in 1912 to the present, Chevrolet automobiles, affectionately known as "Chevys," have been some of the great constants in the lives of the American motoring public. Chevrolet was formed by the partnership of William Durant and Louis Chevrolet, a famous European race-car driver. Given Chevrolet's expansive production history, it's best to appreciate the cars by their distinct eras.
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1911 to 1930
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The Chevrolet Motor Company was formed in 1911, and the first Chevrolet model, the "Classic Six" rolled off the Detroit assembly line in 1912. In 1914, the iconic "Bow Tie" logo first appeared. According to Durant, he found the design on the wallpaper in a French hotel and decided it would make a good logo for Chevrolet. He even tore off a swatch and took it home. It's been on every Chevrolet ever since. In 1918, Chevrolet became part of General Motors.
1931 to 1950
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With the introduction of the Chevrolet Sport Coupe, GM marked 1933 by building the 9 millionth Chevy. The 1930s witnessed other innovative design changes to Chevrolets, including vacuum spark control, manifold heat control and the first independent front suspension. The public readily embraced these improvements, so much so that, by 1941, Chevrolet had built 17 million cars, almost doubling its total production in eight years. Chevrolet also was awarded a contract by the U.S. War Department in 1940 to manufacture 75 mm artillery shells for the impending war escalation.
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The Chevys of the 1950s
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Considered by many car enthusiasts as Chevrolet's "golden age," this period had its share of innovations, too. In 1953, Chevrolet debuted the first all-fiberglass-body production car, the Corvette. In 1958, Chevrolet introduced the Impala model, with its three distinctive taillights. And, from 1956 to 1963, Dinah Shore closed out her weekly television show by singing "See the USA in your Chevrolet."
The "Muscle Car" 1960s
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The 1960s were known as the era of the "muscle car." Chevrolet got on the horsepower bandwagon with the introduction of the 396-cubic-inch, V-8 engine, which was used to power the Chevelle and El Camino models. If the "SS 396" logo was seen on the fender of a Chevrolet, it mean there was serious power under the hood. And few will forget the brutish "409," another Chevrolet engine that the Beach Boys praised in a pop hit with the same title. In 1963, Chevrolet refreshed the Corvette product line with the introduction of the "split window coupe", the Corvette Stingray. The Corvette received an additional boost in popularity when it was featured on the "Route 66" television show, which ran on CBS from 1960 thru 1964.
1971 to 1990
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With the onset of the first global oil crisis in 1971, Chevrolet introduced the Chevy Vega. Powered by a four-cylinder engine and nicknamed the "Iron Duke," the car was quite popular and got surprisingly good gas mileage. In 1976, Chevrolet refreshed its subcompact line with the debut of the Chevette. In 1980, Chevrolet introduced its first front-wheel-drive model, the Citation. In following years, the Cavalier, the S-10 pickup, the Camaro IROC-Z and the Astro van were also added to the product line.
1991 and Beyond
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In 1991, Chevrolet raised the bar on automotive safety by equipping more of its cars and trucks with standard anti-lock brakes than any other auto maker. In 1995, Chevy introduced the Lumina and the Geo Metro and also refreshed the looks and performance of the Monte Carlo and the Cavalier. Chevy also debuted the fifth-generation prototype of the Camaro in 1995.
One-Hit Wonders
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In 1955, Chevrolet introduced the Chevy Nomad, a two-door station wagon, which became an instant hit with California surfers because the car easily held their long surfboards. Sadly, the Nomad wagon saw a limited production run, 1955 to 1957, but it enjoyed sort of a reincarnation when the 1959 El Camino, a vehicle that blended the passenger compartment of a two-door sedan with the open rear cargo area of a pickup truck, was introduced.
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- Photo Credit Classic American Sportscar image by kenmo from Fotolia.com
