HISTORY OF CHEVROLET

CHEVROLET HISTORY

History

One co-founder, Louis Chevrolet, was a racing driver, born on December 25, 1878 in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland. The other co-founder, William C. Durant, had been forced out of GM in 1910 and wanted to use Louis Chevrolet's designs to rebuild his own reputation as a force in the automobile industry. 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 in³ (4.9 L), 6 cylinder engine capable of taking the car to a top speed of 15 miles per hour (25 km/h).

Chevrolet first used its 'bowtie' logo in 1913.

In 1916, Chevrolet was profitable enough to allow Durant to buy a majority of shares in GM. After the deal was complete in 1917, Durant was president of General Motors, and Chevrolet was merged into GM, becoming a separate division.

Master, A model name of Chevrolet used in the 1930's. It was the deluxe version Chevy with knee action front suspension. In 1936 the master series was longer than the standard series Chevrolet.

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

Chevrolet had a great influence on the American automobile market during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1963, one out of every ten cars sold in the United States was a Chevrolet.

One of the most recognized of classic cars is the 1957 model Bel Air (commonly referred to as a "57 Chevy").

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. 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

Historically, many Latin American-market vehicles from GM were modified derivatives of older models from GM's North American and European operations. The current S10 and Blazer exemplify this strategy. However, more modern vehicles are now being marketed as market conditions change and competition increases.

In Brazil, the Chevrolet Opala was based on the German Opel Rekord 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 some exclusive designs like the Corsa "B" based Celta sold in Argentina under the Suzuki brand, the Astra, and a brand new, Brazilian designed Vectra based on the current Opel Astra, while the current Corsa is built and the Omega name is now used on the Holden Commodore. Utility and four wheel drive vehicles line-up includes the S10, the Blazer, and the Montana. The Montana is a compact pick-up truck that is also sold in other Latin American markets. From the 1960s to the mid 1980s, there was also a large station wagon, derived from the C10 pick-up (somewhat similar to the Suburban) called the Veraneio.

In Argentina (whose factory was opened in Rosario in 1995), the models are the same Opels made in Brazil, along with the S-10, Blazer, and Avalanche. Chevrolet had a presence in Argentina since the 1960's where it locally produced the Chevy II (sold in Argentina as the Chevrolet 400 or Chevy), but it stopped its operations in 1981, due to high inflation.

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. Originally, Chevrolets were CKD kits of American Chevys assembled in their plant in Port Elizabeth. However, since South Africa was RHD and the US was LHD, plus encouragement by the South African government to use local content, Chevrolets such as the Biscayne were eventually made entirely in South Africa. 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. The Chevrolet Nomad sold in South Africa was entirely different from the Nomad sold in America - whereas the American Nomad was originally conceived as a wagon version of the Corvette and eventually became the wagon version of the Bel Air, the South African Nomad was an SUV of truck proportions before SUVs were popular.

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. Because of the political climate at the time, GM decided to disinvest from South Africa, and a local group eventually bought out GM's South African operations (including the Port Elizabeth plant) and renamed the company as the Delta Motors Corporation. They concentrated heavily on Opels, Isuzus, and Suzukis. However, thanks to an improved political climate in the 1990s, GM decided to reenter South Africa, eventually buying out the whole of Delta Motors Corporation. Even more news arrived for Chevrolet. 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. Current Chevrolets include the Spark (a rebadged Daewoo Matiz), Aveo, Optra, the Lumina (including a pickup version), and the Vivant, an MPV that is really a renamed version of the Daewoo Tacuma.

Europe and Asia

One of the songs by The Fine Young Cannibals is used in all UK Chevrolet TV Commercials.

The Tahoe and TrailBlazer are also officially imported and marketed in very limited numbers in Western Europe.

Since 2005, Corvette is its own premium brand in Western Europe, sold alongside Cadillacs.

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

Chevrolet is among the newest brands in India launched by GM's Indian operations. Until 06 June 2003 (the official birthday of Chevrolet), GM India (which was originally a joint venture with Hindustan Motors) sold the Opel Corsa, Opel Astra, and the Opel Vectra. The Corsa and Astra were built at a plant in Halol, Gujarat. Since 06 June 2003, Chevrolet currently sells the Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Tavera, and the Chevrolet Forester. The Forester is imported directly from Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan, where it is sold as a Subaru. The Optra and Tavera are built at the Halol plant.

Chevrolet models

* 150 * 210 * Astra (Current model, Latin America) * Astro (1985 - 2005) * Avalanche (2002 - Current) * Aveo (2004 - Current, rebadged Daewoo Kalos) * Baby Grand (1914 - ?) * Bel Air (1950 - 1976) * Beretta (1987 - 1996) * Biscayne (1958 - 1972) * Blazer (1969 - 2005) ** Chevrolet Blazer (South American market) (Current model) * Brookwood (1969-1972) * Camaro (1967 - 2002) * Caprice (1965 - 1996, North American market) * Caprice (1970s, South African market, rebadged Holden Statesman) * Caprice (1999? - Current, Middle East market, rebadged Holden Statesman) * Captiva (2007 - Current) * Cavalier (1982- 2005) * Celta (2000 - Current) * Celebrity (1982 - 1990) * Chevelle (1964 - 1977) * Chevette (1976 - 1987) * C/K (1962 - 1998) * Citation (1980 - 1985) * Classic Six (1911 - ?) * Cobalt (2005 - Current) * Colorado (2004 - Current) * Constantia - a rebadged LWB version of the Holden Kingswood sold in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s *Corsa, current model in Latin America * Corsica (1987 - 1996) * Corvair (1960 - 1969) * Corvette (1953 - Current) * Cruze (2002 - Current) * Del Ray (1958) * El Camino (1959 - 1987) * Epica (Ex-Daewoo model aka Evanda) * Equinox (2004 - Current) * Express (1997 - Current) * Fleetline * Fleetmaster * G10 * G20 * G30 * HHR (2006 - Current) * Impala (1958 - 1985, 1994 - 1996, 2000 - Current) * Kalos (2005 - Current, rebadged Daewoo Kalos) * Kommando - rebadged Holden Kingswood for the South African market, replaced by Chevrolet Rekord in the early 1980s * Lacetti (2005 - Current, rebadged Daewoo Nubira) * Laguna * Little Four (1911 -1913) * Little Six (1913 -1914) * Lumina (1990 - 2001) * Lumina APV (1990 - 1996) * Lumina (1997 - Current, sold in the Middle East, Thailand, and South Africa; rebadged Holden Commodore) **Lumina Coupe (Current model sold in the Middle East, rebadged Holden Monaro) **Lumina Ute (Current model sold in South Africa, rebadged Holden Ute (pick-up truck) * LUV (1972 - 1982, rebadged Isuzu truck) * Malibu (1964 - 1983, 1997 - Current) * Matiz (2005 - Current, rebadged Daewoo Matiz) * Meriva, current model in Latin America * Metro (1998 - 2001, rebadged Suzuki Swift) * Montana * Monte Carlo (1970 - 1988, 1995 - Current) * Monza (1975 - 1980) * Niva (2002 - Current) * Nova (1962 - 1979, 1985 - 1988) * Chevrolet Omega, (1999 - Current, rebadged Holden Commodore currently sold in Brazil) * Optra (2004 - Current, rebadged Daewoo Nubira) * P-Chassis (1949- 1999) * Prizm (1998 - 2002, rebadged Toyota Corolla) * Royal Mail (1914 - ?) * Senator, rebvadged version for South African market, later sold under Opel name * Series-H (1914 - ?) * Silverado (1999 - Current) * Spectrum (1985 - 1988, rebadged Isuzu Gemini) * Sprint (1985 - 1988, rebadged Suzuki Swift) * SSR (2004 - Current) * Styleline (1949 - 1952) * Suburban (1936 - Current) * S-10 (1982 - 2003) ** Chevrolet S-10 (South American market) (Current model) * Tacuma (Ex-Daewoo model, from 2005, also known in Europe as the Rezzo) * Tahoe (1994 - Current) * Tavera, an MUV sold throughout the ASEAN markets, especially Indonesia and India; based on an Isuzu model * Tigra, old model in Brazil * TrailBlazer (2002 - Current) * Tracker (1998 - 2004, rebadged Suzuki Vitara) * Uplander (2005 - Current) * W-Series * Vectra current model, Brazil * Vega (1970 - 1977) * Venture (1997 - 2005) * Viva (2004 - Current, only sold in Russia, rebadged 1998-2003 Astra B) * Zafira, current model in Southeast Asia and Latin America

Source: Wikipedia

	Model	Year	KM's	Location	Price
	chevrolet corvette	1954	0	New South Wales, Australia	$99,990 AUD
	chevrolet corvette roadster (lhd)	1958	0	Victoria, Australia	$90,000 AUD
	chevrolet corvette stingray	1963	0	Victoria, Australia	POA
	chevrolet corvette sting ray	1964	53,972	Victoria, Australia	$74,950 AUD
	chevrolet corvette 427	1966	0	Victoria, Australia	$89,900 AUD