Chevrolet has a long and rich history, starting in the early 20th century. Along the way, a lot has changed but one thing has remained: Chevy’s commitment to creating high-quality vehicles for drivers. Enjoy this brief history of the bowtie brand!
It all started in late 1911, when Louis Chevrolet, Arthur Chevrolet, and William C. Durant founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The very first Chevy model was the Series C Classic Six, which didn’t go into production until 1913. It wasn’t until 1914, however, that the iconic bowtie emblem graced a Chevy model.
From the 1920s through the 1940s, Chevy was competing head-to-head with Ford. After embracing more Art Deco influences, the bowtie brand created popular models like the Chevrolet Deluxe and the Chevrolet Fleetline.
The Chevy Corvette made its grand appearance in 1953 as a two-seater sports car with a meticulously crafted fiberglass body. It followed the success of the Chevrolet Bel-Air as a sporty looking option that catered to racing enthusiasts rather than families.
In 1962, Chevrolet was the subject of the song “409” by The Beach Boys, referencing the brand’s 409 cubic-inch V8 engine. Not long after, Chevy introduced the world to the Corvette Sting Ray Split-Window Coupe, Chevelle, and Camaro — all within a span of 4 years!
To help compete with other brands and their small cars, Chevrolet imported many Japanese models like the Spectrum and Sprint. Then, the brand created its own Citation compact car alongside the Cavalier and followed by the Celebrity.
During this timeframe, Chevy released a handful of memorable ad campaigns. In 1975, the “Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Apple Pie” commercial debuted with its catchy jingle, capturing the attention of Americans nationwide. In 1991, Bob Seger’s “Like A Rock” song was constantly playing on televisions as Chevy trucks drove across the screens in that classic ad campaign.
The Chevy Impala, which originally debuted in 1958 and had a brief resurgence in the mid-90s, returned yet again in 2000. The much-loved Chevy car remained in the lineup for 20 more years before it was discontinued. Who knows; maybe we’ll see it again in the future!
Joining the existing trucks in the Chevrolet lineup, the Avalanche debuted in 2001 as something of a “Sport Utility Truck.” It was referred to as a hybrid of the Suburban and Silverado, offering enough room for up to six. Additional Chevy models that debuted during this time include the Uplander, HHR, Cobalt, Cruze, and Volt.
In 2016, Chevrolet made its first brand-specific electric vehicle: the Chevy Bolt. While the General Motors EV1 was introduced in 1996, it met an untimely fate by 1999. However, the new all-electric Bolt was a promising new model to give drivers an efficient, eco-friendly Chevy option. Just 5 years later, in 2021, a larger version of the vehicle was introduced: the Bolt EUV subcompact crossover.
As time has gone by, Chevrolet has recognized the need for more electric vehicles. In January 2022, the brand debuted a collection of electrified versions of existing models at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The current Chevy lineup includes the Silverado EV, Blazer EV, and Equinox EV.
If you would like to know more about any Chevrolet model, new or old, feel free to contact our team or come visit us at Steve Austin’s Auto Group in Bellefontaine, Ohio. We’d love to chat about iconic Chevy vehicles and how far the brand has come over the years, as well as what you can expect for the future!
