Chevrolet Turns 100 Years Old

Founded on Nov 3, 1911 by former General Motors boss William Durant and Swiss racing driver Louis Chevrolet, Chevy’s first car, the 1912 Series C Classic Six, was a grand, five-passenger touring car with a 40 hp six-cylinder engine, top speed of 65 mph, and then high price of $2,150. In 1915 it changed gears and introduced the $490 Four-Ninety pitting itself head to head against Ford as a maker of affordable cars for the masses. (License Agreement - Please read the following important information pertaining to this image. This GM image is protected by copyright and is provided for use under a Creative Commons 3.0 License for the purpose of editorial comment only. The use of this image for advertising, marketing, or any other commercial purposes is prohibited. This image can be cropped, but may not be altered in any other way, and each should bear the credit line Ò© GM Co.Ó General Motors makes no representations with respect to the consent of those persons appearing in these photos, or with regard to the use of names, trademarks, trade dress, copyrighted designs or works of art or architecture that are not the intellectual property of General Motors.)

The 1929 Chevrolet marked the introduction of the company’s all-new inline-six-cylinder engine, which it advertised as “A Six for the Price of a Four.” The “cast iron wonder” produced 50 horsepower and would form the basis of GM six-cylinder motors for over three decades. (© 2007 General Motors)

The 1935 Suburban Carryall was very much like the one on the road today, a truck-based, three-row eight-passenger vehicle that was essentially a modern version of a Conestoga wagon. The name was fitting, as it was just the thing for a nation in the process of filling in the gaps between its cities and farms and 75 years later stands as the longest-running nameplate in the automotive industry. (License Agreement - Please read the following important information pertaining to this image. This GM image is protected by copyright and is provided for use under a Creative Commons 3.0 License for the purpose of editorial comment only. The use of this image for advertising, marketing, or any other commercial purposes is prohibited. This image can be cropped, but may not be altered in any other way, and each should bear the credit line Ò© GM Co.Ó General Motors makes no representations with respect to the consent of those persons appearing in these photos, or with regard to the use of names, trademarks, trade dress, copyrighted designs or works of art or architecture that are not the intellectual property of General Motors. )

After dedicating wartime production to building arms and military vehicles, Chevy’s first all-new postwar vehicle was the 1948 3100 pickup truck. It would go on to play a key role in the rebuilding of America and one of the greatest economic expansions in the history. (License Agreement - Please read the following important information pertaining to this image. This GM image is protected by copyright and is provided for use under a Creative Commons 3.0 License* for the purpose of editorial comment only. The use of this i)

Simply the most iconic American car ever made, the '57 Chevy Bel Air, with its tailfins, chrome and small-block V8 perfectly captured the essence of an automaker and a nation that were both standing on top of the world. (License Agreement - Please read the following important information pertaining to this image. This GM image is protected by copyright and is provided for use under a Creative Commons 3.0 License* for the purpose of editorial comment only. The use of this i)

The Corvette made its debut a decade earlier, but the split-window 1963 Sting Ray model with its 327 cubic inch V8 cemented the ‘Vette’s position as an affordable sports car ready to take on the world’s best. (License Agreement - Please read the following important information pertaining to this image. This GM image is protected by copyright and is provided for use under a Creative Commons 3.0 License* for the purpose of editorial comment only. The use of this i)

If the Corvette was about finesse, the 1970 Chevelle SS was all about getting up in your face. In 1970 the big bruiser could be ordered with a 450 hp 454 cubic inch V8 that was the end all of the muscle car era, which would come to a close just a few years later and spawn a new generation of economical Chevrolets personified by the 1976 Chevette.

Chevrolet kicked off the go-go ‘80’s with the hot-selling 1980 Citation, which would quickly fade from history thanks to a reputation for poor build quality and performance. More fondly remembered from the Regan era are the Camaro IROC-Z and Monte Carlo SS, which won the hearts of denizens of the Jersey Shore and NASCAR fans alike.

Chevy was “Like a Rock” in the 1990’s, churning out millions of pickups and SUVs like the Tahoe to an American public living the bigger is better lifestyle. Unfortunately, as its eye drifted away from its cars so did buyers who began to flock to imports, setting Chevrolet and GM up for a big fall in the coming years.

Reaching deep into its bag of nostalgia, in 2010 Chevy resurrected the Camaro nameplate after an eight-year absence. The retro-modern life-size Hot Wheels leveraged its role as Bumblebee in the blockbuster “Transformers” films to steal the title of best-selling pony car from the Ford Mustang and set the tone for even more stylish cars to come. (© 2009 General Motors)

Chevrolet got a fresh start on its second century with a clean balance sheet courtesy of the American taxpayer and an eye on the future. Despite its economy car looks, the extended-range electric 2011 Volt is the most technologically advanced in the company's history and a far cry from its Classic Six forbear, but its story has yet to be written. (License Agreement - Please read the following important information pertaining to this image. This GM image is protected by copyright and is provided for use under a Creative Commons 3.0 License* for the purpose of editorial comment only. The use of this i)