HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Chevrolet was founded on November 3, 1911. It was founded by an American entrepreneur, William Durant, who at that time was a co-owner of General Motors Corporation, and Louis Chevrolet, a racer, mechanic and automaker of Swiss origin.

The Chevrolet brand philosophy is practicality, affordability and durability

As you might guess, Louis Chevrolet's main passion was cars. One day, the racer attracted the attention of major players in the American automobile market, including William Durant. The businessman was a marketing visionary and decided that the Chevrolet racer's name would help boost sales, so it was decided to name the company after him.

The company was well on its way to success, but Durant and Chevrolet disagreed about the brand's values. As a result, in 1915, Durant decided to buy out his partner's share. Car sales continued to rise. Such success prompted William Durant to acquire a controlling stake in General Motors in 1916 and take the helm of a huge corporation, making Chevrolet one of its divisions.

William Durant

In 1920, Durant left General Motors. The entrepreneur created another automobile company, and also became one of the most famous investors on Wall Street. However, in 1929, the stock market crashed, which had a detrimental effect on business. After 7 years, William Durant became completely bankrupt. The entrepreneur died in 1947 and was buried in New York at Woodlawn Cemetery.

During the Great Depression, Louis Chevrolet also lost his entire fortune. To have something to live on, he got a job as a mechanic at the Chevrolet plant in Detroit.

THE FIRST AUTO AND INNOVATIONS INTRODUCED

The first car developed by Chevrolet was the C Classic Six passenger car. The big car, powered by a 4.9-liter six-cylinder engine producing 40 horsepower, could reach speeds of up to 65 mph (approximately 104.6 km/h).

Chevrolet Series C Classic Six

The Series C Classic Six was equipped with electric headlights and a starter. Technologies that were once a privilege only for expensive cars have become available in Chevrolet from the very beginning.

Electronic security system, ABS, fuel injection, impact-resistant glass - in the future, Chevrolet continued to introduce innovations into its cars. Vehicles produced by this brand have enjoyed enormous popularity, not only in the United States, but also abroad.

small-block V-8

The car's performance has also become more accessible. Four- and six-cylinder engines were famous for their high performance and durability. However, in 1955, a new era of performance began with Chevrolet's small-block V-8.

Over the next 50 years, this particular engine will be used in the production of millions of cars. And its “successor”, the new generation small-block V-8, is still used in sports models Corvette, Camaro SS, as well as in some SUVs and trucks.

The performance of the small-block V-8 has made Chevrolet a leader in all forms of motorsports. At races, Chevrolet cars became the main competitors of famous car brands.