Share ThisPhoto
Pierre Stievenart, third generation owner of a Chevrolet Master, drove his 73-year-old vintage car (pictured) to the Louis Chevrolet Centennial event in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland - some 2,200km from his home in France
-
Choose country
- Vintage Chevrolets are at the heart of the family for three generations
Zurich. Family cars evoke memories from holidays to job interviews or bringing a new-born home from hospital imprinted in our minds forever, invoking all the emotions we associate with freedom of the open road.
For Pierre Stievenart's family, freedom of the road began in September 1944 when U.S. Army soldiers rolled into the small city of Frameries, near Mons, where his family lived in southern Belgium, liberating the area from occupation.
Recalling his family welcoming American G.I.s, Pierre sat in one of the U.S. army vehicles and saw hundreds of Chevrolet trucks heading east, starting a 67-year love affair with the iconic American carmaker.
Long distance relationship
Pierre is the owner of a cherished 1938 Chevrolet Master, which not only has a place in his heart, but also in his family's of which he is the third generation to drive a Master.
Pierre not only frequently uses the 73-year-old vintage car at his home in France, but covers thousands of kilometers every year travelling to vintage Chevrolet events across Europe. The Master is one of a small group of vintage 'high-mile club' Chevrolets still on the road today, which Chevrolet is locating in its centennial year.
At the recent Chevrolet centennial celebrations in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, where the great man, Louis Chevrolet, was born, visitors saw Pierre's Master which he had driven to the event from his home in Brittany, France – a round trip of more than 2,200 km.
More than 30,000 passionate car enthusiasts and Chevy fans gathered in the Swiss city for the very unique 100 Years of Chevrolet event on 19 June, which brought together 1,057 Chevrolets from all over the world, dating from 1911 to the present – many of which are in use every day.
Americana influence
"When Frameries was liberated by U.S. soldiers I was about nine months old and it obviously had a big impact on me as my mother said 'Chevrolet' was one of the first words I learned to say," comments Pierre, "and is possibly what started my life-long love of Chevrolets."
Pierre's grandfather Alphonse Stievenart ran a successful shoe-making business and, with fighting over, was travelling hundreds of kilometers across Belgium. Therefore, he needed a car that could withstand the country's notorious pavé roads so he turned to the tough road-bearing qualities of Chevrolet.
"Alphonse bought a second-hand 1937 Chevrolet Master in Brussels. He saw this huge black car with chrome stripes and seats that were as big as sofas in a showroom and decided, on the spot, to buy it. There was literally nothing else like it on the road back then as so few people owned cars," adds Pierre. "People went to the cinema and watched actors like Cary Grant driving big American cars. They made a huge impression as it was an austere time. Wherever we travelled to, it was as if film stars had arrived, because it was a Chevrolet delivering us."
Alphonse kept the Master until 1950 when he reached an age where he could no longer drive. He gave the car to Pierre's father, Fernand, until 1956 when he sold it. "I never thought we would let our Master go, but spare parts were difficult to buy and fuel and car taxes were based on the power and size of the engine. So it went, but we always regretted selling it."
Friends re-united
Over the years, when he was able, Pierre tried to find the car in Belgium and France, but it was always in vain. It wasn't until he retired to France that he spent all his time tracking the car down. Upon reading a magazine at home, he spotted an advertisement for a Chevrolet Master which looked exactly like his old car.
"I called the number and discovered that the car was in the center of France, so I set off as soon as I put the phone down. As I drove from my home in Brittany, I decided that whatever happened, I would buy it. My wife thought I was crazy!"
"Although it turned out not to be our car, it was almost exactly the same in every detail. It had been built at Chevrolet's factory in Canada and imported to France after spending 70 years being driven in Quebec. After completing the sale, a few days later I drove it home. I use it on the road - rain or shine – almost every day and the wait has absolutely been worth it. It drives exactly as I remember and is also so simple to maintain."
On the road again
Pierre's trip to Switzerland is an example of vintage high milers, seeing him head through the French wine regions of Burgundy and Loire Valley, followed a week later by a run to Roscoff in Northern Brittany for a American car owners meeting. Later this year, Pierre and the Master will head to Paris for the Automedon show – clocking up 4,000 km.
The Master has been joined by a slightly newer Chevrolet – a 1960 Corvair which is now in restoration and, not to be outdone, Pierre also has his eye on the 2011 model range.
"To me, owning a Master again is like being re-united with an old friend, enjoying catching up and doing all the things we planned to do. But now, the journey is more pleasurable as we have the time to enjoy the ride."
"Although my children love the Master and will keep it as it has been part of grand family weddings and holidays, I am sure that when they are my age, they will see the Volt as an iconic Chevy which also helped change the world in the same way I see the Master," concludes Pierre.
About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is General Motors' largest global brand with annual sales of about 4 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. It is the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Chevrolet cars combine passion, bold design and practicality. They provide outstanding value for money. After re-launching the brand in Europe in 2005, Chevrolet more than doubled its sales to over 500,000 in 2008. In 2010, Chevrolet grew its market share in Europe to 2.5 percent, selling 477,194 cars. Chevrolet has a network of more than 2,700 dealers and service points in Europe. The Chevrolet line-up includes the Spark city car, the small Aveo, the compact four-door Cruze, the Captiva SUV and the legendary Corvette sports car. In 2011, Chevrolet is launching seven new cars: the all-new Orlando family van, the new Captiva SUV, the Corvette Grand Sport Coupé, the all-new five-door and four-door Aveo, the five-door Cruze, the Camaro coupé and convertible and the award-winning extended-range Volt electric car. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and Turkey. Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is celebrating its centenary in 2011. More information on Chevrolet can be found at www.chevroleteurope.com or media.chevroleteurope.com.