Chevrolet, or Chevy, is a brand of automobile, now part of the General Motors group. Its founder, Louis Chevrolet, was a racing driver, born on December 25, 1878 in La Chaux de Fonds , Switzerland.

1951 Chevrolet Pickup

On November 3, 1911, Chevrolet entered the automobile market to compete with the Ford Model T. A year later (1912), the 'Classic Six' was introduced. The 'Classic Six' was a 5-passenger touring sedan equipped with a 299 cubic inch (4.9 L), 6 cylinder engine capable of taking the car to a top speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h).

Chevrolet first used its 'bowtie' logo in 1913.

Models include the large and luxurious Impala (1958) and the short-lived mid/rear-engined Corvair (1960).

Chevrolet dominated the American automobile market during the 1950s and the 1960s. In 1963, three out of every ten cars sold in the United States was a Chevrolet. ¹

The Corvette, which was introduced in 1953, remains the longest running production car from Chevrolet and is still produced today.

The Suburban also known as the Suburban Carryall, was introduced in 1936 and remains in production today, making it the longest running production truck from Chevrolet.

The Chevrolet Camaro ceased production in 2002 after 35 years of production (1967). The last one to be rolled off the lot was a red Z28.

Chevrolet outside North America

In markets outside North America, the Chevrolet brand name has been used on other GM models.

Latin America

In Brazil, the Chevrolet Opala was based on the German Opel Commodore from the late 1960s, continuing in production until the early 1990s, when it was replaced by a version of the Opel Omega. Other smaller Chevrolets in Brazil, such as the Kadett and Monza, were based on the Opel Kadett and Ascona respectively. Chevrolet's product line-up in Brazil now comprises Opel designs like the Corsa, Astra, and Vectra, while the Omega name is now used on the Holden Commodore. Utility and four wheel drive vehicles from Isuzu and Suzuki in Japan are also badged as Chevrolets.

In Mexico, these Opel-sourced Chevrolet models are sold alongside US models.

South Africa

In South Africa, Chevrolet was GM's main brand name until 1982. In the 1960s, the advertising jingle braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet came to epitomise the ideal lifestyle of white male South Africans. By the 1970s, South African Chevrolets like the Kommando and Constantia were based on Australian Holden models like the Kingswood, while the Firenza was based on the Vauxhall Viva.

However, these were replaced by Opel models like the Rekord, Commodore, and Senator, and in 1982, the Chevrolet brand name was dropped in favour of Opel. In 2001, the Chevrolet name made a comeback, used on the Lumina, a rebadged Holden Commodore, and later on, on the Daewoo range of cars.

Europe and Asia

In 2005 models from Daewoo will be rebranded [1] as Chevrolet in Europe, although the Daewoo name will be retained in South Korea, Vietnam and some other world markets.. In the rest of the world, most Daewoo models wore Chevrolet badge since 2003, except the US where the Suzuki badge was used.

The Holden Commodore is badged as the Chevrolet Lumina in Thailand and the Middle East, as well as South Africa.

Models

• 150
• 210
• Astro
• Avalanche
• Aveo
• Bel Air (1950 - 1976)
• Beretta (1987 - 1996)
• Biscayne (1958 - 1972)
• Blazer
• Brookwood
• Camaro (1967 - 2002)
• Caprice (1965-1996)
• Cavalier (1982-2004)
• Celebrity
• Chevelle (1963 - 1977)
• Chevette (1976 - 1987)
• Citation
• Cobalt (new for 2005 model year)
• Colorado (2004 - Current)
• Corsica (1987-1996)
• Corvair (1960 - 1969)
• Corvette (1953 - Current)
• Del Ray (1958 only)
• El Camino
• Epica
• Equinox (new for 2005 model year)
• Express
• Fleetline
• Fleetmaster
• Impala (1958-1985, 1994-1996, 2000 - Current)
• Kalos (Ex-Daewoo model, from 2005) (Same as Aveo)
• Lacetti (Ex-Daewoo model, from 2005
• Laguna
• Lumina
• Lumina APV
• Malibu
• Matiz (Ex-Daewoo model, from 2005)
• Monte Carlo
• Monza (1975 - 1980)
• Niva (2002 - Current)
• Nova
• Optra
• Silverado
• Sprint
• SSR (2004 - Current)
• Styleline
• Suburban (1936 - Current)
• S-10
• Tacuma (Ex-Daewoo model, from 2005)
• Tahoe
• TrailBlazer
• Tracker
• Uplander (new for 2005 model year)
• Vega (1971 - 1977)
• Viva (2004)

See also

• Chevrolet SS
• Mason Truck

Notes

Note 1: pp. 134-183.

External links

• Chevrolet Homepage
• Category at ODP
• 1912-1914 Vintage Chevrolet Index Page