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Chevrolet – A hundred years of iconic cars

2010-09-29

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In the course of almost a hundred years, Chevrolet has become a household name. Today, someone somewhere in the world buys a Chevrolet every 8 seconds. Every year, about 3.5 million vehicles are sold in more than 130 countries, making Chevrolet the fourth largest car brand in the world.

Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet and GM founder, Billy Durant, in 1911, the brand quickly became the backbone of General Motors with car plants all over the world. Today's Chevrolets are designed, engineered and manufactured by globally linked teams in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Throughout its history, Chevrolet has produced cars with bold, distinctive design, many of which have become legends in their own right.

At an exclusive event on the eve of the 2010 Paris Auto Show, Chevrolet and French star fashion designer, Frank Sorbier, presented the "Chevrolet Fashion Catwalk", featuring a hundred years of car design and fashion. The four Chevrolet models chosen for the fashion catwalk represent key milestones in the brand's 100 year history.

1928 Chevrolet National Model AB Tourer

In the age of optimism, Louis Chevrolet was a pioneering engineer and former race car driver known for integrating new features into each of his new vehicles. The 1928 Chevrolet National Model AB Tourer with a brown and cream exterior exemplifies this year's larger model body style. It also had new elements such as an indirectly lit instrument panel, four wheel brakes and a thermostat. For individuals who were lucky enough to own a vehicle, this Chevrolet had standard features that included such conveniences as a vacuum operated windshield wiper, inside rear view mirror and parking lights.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

The Chevrolet Bel Air was the perfect choice for American families during the 1950s as it was a stylish but respectable vehicle for them to own. This Chevrolet was designed to have a modern, bright look as displayed by the mint "sea mist" and white Bel Air convertible. Tall taillights, rich silver anodized insert panels, and gold front fender Chevron symbols provided just the right amount of style needed for a family's Sunday afternoon drive. For vintage car enthusiasts the Bel Air convertible has become a much sought-after collectors' item.  

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (Split Window)

Americans had to look no further than the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray to feel the thrill of the road. This red, split window Corvette Sting Ray represents an all new body style and was the perfect blend of world-class handling with unmistakable all-American style and performance.  Besides great horsepower (250 hp) and handling customers had the option of AM-FM radio, air conditioning and leather upholstery. Corvette was a perfect choice for individuals who were looking for a great ride while questioning the convention of the decade, enjoying new ideas and music in a booming. The Corvette Sting Ray with a split window is a rare find and remains one of the top collected cars of today.

1976 Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevrolet Camaro in the 1970s was the answer for America's working class looking for a cool, sporty ride in a tough economy. This generation of Camaros, like the yellow and black "Bumblebee" on display is considered one of the best domestic muscle cars ever produced. So much so, that "Bumblebee" was a key character in the 2007 Transformers movie where the classic 1976 classic becomes today's modern Camaro. This unique Camaro was on display at red carpet events of the Transformer movie premieres.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is General Motors' largest global brand with annual sales of about 3.5 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 Europe delivers attractive, distinctive design, practical, economical cars and 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 2009, Chevrolet held its market share in Europe at 2.3 percent, selling 426,000 cars. Chevrolet has a network of 2,900 dealers and service points in Europe. The Chevrolet line-up includes the all-new Spark city car, the small Aveo, compact Cruze sedan, Captiva SUV, mid-size Epica and the legendary Corvette sports car. In 2011, Chevrolet will launch the Orlando, an all-new family van, the Camaro coupe and convertible, the new Aveo and the Cruze hatchback as well as re-launching the Captiva SUV with four new engines. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Italy, Germany, France, Spain and the U.K. Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is preparing to celebrate its centenary with the launch of the ground-breaking Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. More information on Chevrolet can be found at http://www.chevroleteurope.com or http://media.chevroleteurope.com.