1911
Chevrolet Motor Car Company Founded
Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant incorporate the company in Detroit, Michigan on November 3rd.
Founding
1912
The Classic Six Debuts
Chevy's first production car — a luxury touring car with a 299 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine producing 40 horsepower. Price: $2,150.
First Model
1913
The Bowtie Is Born
The iconic Chevrolet bowtie logo first appears. Its origin remains debated — Durant claimed he was inspired by a wallpaper pattern in a Paris hotel; his wife said it came from a newspaper ad.
Branding
1914
Baby Grand & Royal Mail
Chevrolet introduces the affordable Baby Grand touring car and Royal Mail roadster, priced under $1,000. Durant's strategy to compete with Ford's Model T begins to take shape.
Model Launch
1917
Chevrolet Joins General Motors
Durant uses Chevrolet stock to regain control of GM. Chevrolet becomes a division of General Motors, beginning a partnership that would last over a century.
Milestone
1923
Copper-Cooled Engine Experiment
Chevrolet briefly experiments with an air-cooled "copper-cooled" engine. The project fails commercially but demonstrates Chevy's willingness to push engineering boundaries early on.
Innovation
1927
Chevy Outsells Ford for the First Time
The Capitol and National series help Chevrolet surpass Ford in annual sales for the first time, producing over one million vehicles. The rivalry that would define American auto history begins.
Sales Milestone
1929
The "Stovebolt Six" Arrives
Chevrolet introduces its overhead-valve inline-six engine, nicknamed the "Stovebolt" for its slotted-head bolts. Affordable, reliable, and smooth — it kept Chevy competitive through the Depression.
Innovation
1935
Chevrolet Suburban Introduced
The Suburban Carryall debuts as one of the first production all-steel station wagons — and the longest-running nameplate in automotive history, still in production 90+ years later.
Iconic Model
1937
Chevy Becomes America's #1
Chevrolet solidifies its position as the best-selling car brand in America with refined styling, knee-action independent front suspension, and prices everyday families could afford.
Sales Milestone
1942
Civilian Production Halted for WWII
Chevrolet ceases all civilian car production and converts its factories to build military trucks, aircraft engines, shells, and gun parts. Over the next three years, Chevy plants produce more war materiel than any other GM division.
WWII
1945
Post-War Production Resumes
With the war over, Chevrolet restarts civilian production. Pent-up demand creates massive waitlists. The '46 Fleetmaster and Stylemaster sedans fly off lots as America returns to peacetime.
Milestone
1948
Advance Design Trucks
Chevy introduces the Advance Design truck line — the first major post-war truck redesign. With rounded fenders and improved cabs, they become the best-selling trucks in America and remain popular restoration builds today.
Trucks
1950
Bel Air Nameplate Debuts
The Bel Air arrives as a premium hardtop, soon to become the quintessential symbol of 1950s American car culture. The '55, '56, and '57 Tri-Five models are now among the most collected classics ever.
Iconic Model
1953
Corvette — America's Sports Car Is Born
The first Corvette rolls off the line in Flint, Michigan — a two-seat roadster with a fiberglass body and Blue Flame six-cylinder engine. Only 300 are built in the first year, all in Polo White.
Legendary Model
1955
The Small-Block V8 Revolution
Chevy introduces the 265 cubic-inch small-block V8 — arguably the most important engine in automotive history. Lightweight, powerful, and endlessly modifiable, it transformed Chevy's image overnight from "stodgy" to performance leader and became the most produced engine architecture in history.
Innovation
1957
The '57 Chevy — An Icon Is Made
The 1957 Bel Air becomes one of the most recognizable cars ever built. With fuel injection available for the first time on a production Chevy, the '57 is fast, beautiful, and destined for eternal cool.
Iconic Model
1958
Impala Takes the Stage
The Impala debuts as a top-of-the-line Bel Air trim, becoming its own model in 1959. It would become the best-selling car in America and a pillar of lowrider culture for generations.
Iconic Model
1959
El Camino — Car or Truck?
Chevy answers Ford's Ranchero with the El Camino, a car-truck hybrid built on the full-size platform. Discontinued in 1960, it returned in 1964 on the Chevelle platform and became a cult classic.
Iconic Model
1963
Corvette Sting Ray Split-Window
The C2 Corvette Sting Ray arrives with independent rear suspension and the legendary split-window coupe design. Produced for one year only, the '63 split-window is now one of the most valuable Corvettes ever made.
Legendary Model
1964
Chevelle & the Muscle Car Era
The Chevelle SS launches as Chevy's entry into the muscle car wars. The 1970 Chevelle SS 454 with its LS6 engine (450 hp) is considered one of the greatest muscle cars ever built.
Muscle Era
1966
See the USA in Your Chevrolet
Dinah Shore's iconic TV jingle becomes one of the most recognized advertising slogans in American history, cementing Chevrolet's place in pop culture and the American road trip dream.
Cultural
1967
Camaro — Ford Has a Problem
Chevrolet's answer to the Ford Mustang arrives: the Camaro. With options from inline-six economy to the legendary Z/28 and SS 396, it instantly becomes a pony car icon. First-gen Camaros are among the most valuable muscle cars today.
Legendary Model
1969
COPO Camaro — The Underground Legend
Chevy dealers use the Central Office Production Order system to install the 427 V8 in Camaros — creating the COPO 9560, one of the rarest and most sought-after muscle cars in history. Only 1,015 were built.
Rare & Collectible
1970
Monte Carlo & the Personal Luxury Era
The Monte Carlo arrives as Chevy's personal luxury coupe. Through six generations (1970-2007), it becomes a NASCAR icon and a staple of American driveways.
Iconic Model
1973
C/K Trucks Dominate
Chevy's "Square Body" C/K trucks (1973-1987) begin production. Rugged, reliable, and now highly collectible, they defined the American truck for a generation and remain some of the most popular restoration projects.
Trucks
1976
Chevette — Chevy Goes Small
In the wake of the oil crisis, Chevrolet introduces the Chevette — a small, fuel-efficient hatchback. It sells over 2.8 million units and proves Chevy can adapt to changing times.
Model Launch
1982
Third-Gen Camaro Arrives
The sleek, aerodynamic third-generation Camaro launches with a dramatic wedge shape. The Z28 returns as the performance flagship, and the car is selected as the Indianapolis 500 pace car in its debut year.
Iconic Model
1985
IROC-Z — Peak '80s Muscle
The Camaro IROC-Z debuts with tuned suspension, 305 V8 power, and aggressive styling that defines a decade. Named after the International Race of Champions series, the IROC-Z becomes the muscle car of the 1980s.
Muscle Era
1983
Monte Carlo SS Returns
After a brief hiatus, the Monte Carlo SS comes back with a 180-hp 305 V8 and aero body kit. It dominates NASCAR with 23 wins in its first season and becomes a street icon with its black-and-silver styling.
Muscle Era
1988
C/K 1500 — The GMT400 Era
Chevy launches the GMT400 full-size truck platform with improved aerodynamics, fuel injection, and a more refined interior. It modernizes the American pickup and sets the stage for the Silverado nameplate.
Trucks
1990
454 SS — The Hot Rod Pickup
Chevy drops the 454 big-block V8 into the C1500 short-bed, creating the 454 SS — a factory hot rod truck. Low production numbers and raw muscle make it a collector favorite today.
Trucks
1997
C5 Corvette — World-Class at Last
The C5 Corvette arrives with an all-new hydroformed frame, rear-mounted transaxle, and the LS1 V8. It delivers genuine supercar handling at an American price and launches the LS engine dynasty.
Legendary Model
1999
Silverado Nameplate Launches
The Silverado name — previously a trim level — becomes its own model. It quickly rises to become one of the best-selling vehicles in America, rivaling the Ford F-150 for truck supremacy.
Trucks
2006
Corvette Z06 — Track Weapon
The C6 Z06 arrives with a 505-hp LS7 7.0L V8, aluminum frame, and carbon fiber fenders. It demolishes European exotics costing three times as much and proves the Corvette belongs on the world stage.
Performance
2010
Chevrolet Volt — Electric Pioneer
The Volt plug-in hybrid launches as one of the first mass-market electric vehicles from a major automaker, signaling Chevy's commitment to electrification years before the EV boom.
Innovation
2014
Colorado Returns
After a four-year absence, the Chevy Colorado returns as a right-sized midsize truck. It wins Motor Trend Truck of the Year and proves there's still a massive market for trucks that aren't full-size.
Trucks
2017
Chevrolet Bolt EV
The all-electric Bolt EV arrives with 238 miles of range at under $37,500 — making affordable long-range EVs a reality for everyday drivers, years before many competitors.
Electric
2020
C8 Corvette — Mid-Engine Revolution
After nearly 70 years, the Corvette goes mid-engine. The C8 Stingray delivers supercar performance starting under $60K, shattering the price-to-performance barrier and earning universal acclaim.
Legendary Model
2024
Silverado EV & Equinox EV
Chevy goes all-in on electric with the Silverado EV (up to 400+ miles of range) and the affordable Equinox EV starting around $33,000. The Ultium platform powers a new generation.
Electric Future