History of Chevrolet Cars
General Motors-owned Chevrolet manufactures cars ranging from sub-compact autos to light- and medium-duty pickup trucks. The vehicles are marketed to the middle class and often use patriotic print and television advertising to sell cars. Chevrolet produces 18 different types of cars and trucks ranging from the economical Aveo to the Corvette.
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History
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Founded in 1911 by Louis Chevrolet and William Durant, the GM marque thrived with its medium-sized cars offered in the middle price range. But it wasn't until the postwar era and the emergence of stylist Harley Earl that Chevrolet began to produce some beautiful and innovative cars.
Significance
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Ralph Nader's book, "Unsafe at Any Speed," which critically examined the safety of the rear-engine Chevrolet Corvair, revolutionized automobile safety, leading to the implementation of seat belts and design and engineering safety standards.
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Identification
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Chevrolet targets America's "heartland" with a series of television commercials appealing to the consumer's patriotism.
Types
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Among the numerous cars it has produced are the Impala, Bel Air, Corvair, Monte Carlo, Camaro, Nova, Corvette and trucks and sport utility vehicles Silverado, S-10 and Blazer.
Features
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In the 1950s, Harley Earl introduced fins, making the 1957 Bel Air an icon of 1950s pop culture.
Size
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From 1955 through 2002, Chevrolet produced the small block 265-cubic-inch V-8 that has become the staple of virtually every Chevy vehicle at one time or another.
Fun Fact
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Founder Louis Chevrolet sold his Chevrolet stock shortly after the company's founding and never reaped financial benefits of his name that lives today.
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Resources
- Photo Credit General Motors
