The History of Chevrolet
1909
William Durant, a successful buggy manufacture from Flint, Michigan,
asked Louis Chevrolet, a well known race car driver, to help
design a car for introduction to the public. He had not yet
formed a company to manufacture it.
1911
The Chevrolet Motor Car Company enters the turbulent automobile
market on November 3. Durant envisions his new company as
an inexpensive competitor to the Ford Model T. He chose to
name the company after its designer, Louis Chevrolet, because
he liked the sound of the name and because Chevrolet was a
prominent name in motor sports.
1912
Chevrolet hits the streets of Detroit with the "Classic
Six"--a large, 5-passenger touring sedan with a long
list of standard features, including four doors, electric
lights and folding top, plus a windshield and its own tool
box. Its 299-cubic-inch, 6-cylinder engine could reach a top
speed of 65 miles per hour.
1914
The Chevy "bow tie" logo appears for the first time.
Legend maintains that the bow tie shape was inspired by a
pattern of wallpaper in a Paris hotel room. In 1908, William
Durant reportedly detached a small piece and kept it in his
wallet, waiting for the day he'd put it to use.
The Bow tie became an advertising icon,
and is still the marquee of today's Chevrolet.
1915
Chevy's first challenge to the Ford Model T, the "490'
is introduced ($490).
1917
Success of 490 pushes Chevy until sales to the 100,000 mark.
1918
First Chevy truck sold. Chevy joins GM Corporation.
1924
Chevy offers first radio option
1927
Chevrolet outsells Ford by topping 1 million units for the
first time. In all but four of the next 55 years, Chevrolet
is the top-selling American nameplate.
1929
Chevy introduces its first 6-cylinder engine (at the price
of a 4-cylinder).
|
