A Guide to the History of Chevrolet Cars

In November 1911, Swiss race car driver and automotive engineer Louis Chevrolet and former Buick Motor Company head William C. Durant established the iconic American automaker Chevrolet. Chevrolet had gained fame and renown on the racing circuit, driving Buicks in promotional events. Impressed by Chevrolet’s reputation and talent behind the wheel, Durant believed that launching a new car company with Chevrolet’s name attached would prove successful. The rest is history, as Chevrolet became one of the most recognizable and best-selling car brands worldwide over the next century.

Under Louis Chevrolet’s direction, the first Chevrolet automobile design was the Chevy Series C Classic Six prototype, completed months before the company’s incorporation. However, production did not start until the 1913 model year. Chevrolet first used the now iconic bow-tie emblem in 1914 on the H series and L series models. It was long believed that this logo was inspired by decorative wallpaper that Durant saw in a French hotel room, though more recent research suggests that it was inspired by the logo of the Coalettes coal brand. Other theories speculate that the design represents a Swiss cross, nodding to the homeland of Louis Chevrolet’s parents. Whatever its origins, the bow-tie is now synonymous worldwide with Chevrolet automobiles after more than a century as the brand’s defining visual identity.

By 1915, Chevrolet and Durant had diverging visions for the company’s designs, leading Chevrolet to sell his stake to Durant. Bolstered by the successful Chevrolet Series 490’s profits, Durant then purchased a controlling interest in General Motors and became GM’s president while still operating Chevrolet as a separate division. With factories in California, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Canada, Chevrolet was well-positioned for growth.

The 1918 model year saw the launch of the Chevrolet Series D, featuring an innovative V8 engine available in both four- and five-passenger models. This powerful and stylish vehicle cemented Chevrolet’s reputation for performance and helped further expand its market share against rivals Ford and Dodge in the booming postwar car market. Chevrolet’s merger into the GM fold gave it financial resources while still allowing creative freedom as an individual brand.

As Chevrolet entered the 1920s and beyond, it joined Ford and Chrysler to form the “Big Three” affordable auto brands. Despite the Depression, Chevrolet expanded by debuting the 1933 Standard Six, America’s least expensive six-cylinder car. This competitively priced model targeted budget-conscious customers. Although Ford vied for the same market, Chevrolet maintained its reputation for reliable, stylish cars, and for years, the thrifty yet quality Standard Six kept Chevrolet a top low-cost contender among major automakers.

Chevrolet’s momentum in the American car market surged further in the 1950s and 1960s. The company unveiled the sporty Corvette in 1953, followed by a fuel-injected engine in 1957 and the innovative Corvair in 1960. By 1963, an impressive 10% of all cars purchased in the United States were Chevrolets. Since its 1955 introduction, the Chevrolet small-block V8 engine has remained in continuous production, making it the world’s longest mass-produced engine to date. This versatile, powerful V8 design has also appeared in other General Motors brands like Hummer, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Buick over the years.

With its willingness to take risks on bold new designs paired with proven performers like the V8, Chevrolet cemented its name as an automotive powerhouse during this era. The brand’s focus on innovation, performance, and affordability kept customers returning year after year. In recent decades, Chevrolet has continued innovating with new models to stay competitive. The plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt, introduced in 2012, was named both North American Car of the Year and World Green Car of the Year. Chevrolet maintains a diverse lineup today that includes options for every driver, from sporty and sleek to rugged and functional.

Further Reading

• A Brief Illustrated History of Chevrolet 1911-1970
• The Secret History of Chevrolet
• Chevrolet: The Story of a Global Brand
• History With a Mystery: Chevrolet’s Logo
• This Day in History: GM Buys Chevrolet
• The Tragic Story of Chevrolet
• Louis Chevrolet
• Historical Timeline of the Chevrolet Brand
• Cost of Shipping a Car
• Chevrolet’s 100-Year History
• How to Transport a Classic Chevy
• Complete History of the Chevrolet Corvette

This page was last updated by Marc Gregory