Marque: Chevrolet - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand
Chevrolet
Chevrolet has been America’s top selling and best known marque within General Motors for generations, and as quintessentially Uncle Sam and Stars and Stripes as it’s possible to get.
Paradoxically, Louis Chevrolet was actually Swiss born at La Chaux de Fonds, Neuchatel on Christmas Day 1878, the son of a watch and clockmaker Josef Chevrolet. The family moved to its native…
Chevrolet Bel-Air
Introduced in 1950 the Bel-Air reached its zenith with the models produced in 1955, 1956 and 1957 also colloquially referred to as the Tri-Chevs, which nowadays enjoy a cult following and are the most collectable. Two-tone paintwork was very much in vogue during the period and worked particularly well with the ’55 and ’56 models, the former easily identified by its ‘eggcrate’ styled front grille. 1956 cars received a slightly revised frontal aspect and engine options included the 235cistraight-six, 265ci V8 and the 282ci V8, with either three speed manual or fussier two-speed Power glide automatic transmission. Underpinnings comprised of a brand new tubular chassis, upper and lower A-arm front suspension with coils springs and a live axle to the rear with semi elliptic leaf springs. The 1957 Bel-Air sports fi ns ‘n’ chrome styling and many of the accoutrements seen in much larger cars such as the Cadillac. An anodized metal ribbed panel was neatly moulded into the rear quarter panel and the fuel filler cap was hidden away behind the nearside tail fin. The 283ci V8 was also available with fuel injection but at a hefty $500 extra didn’t find many takers!
Chevrolet 3100 Pick-up Truck
PRICE: £30,000+ for a fully restored mint rodded truck - £4500 for a heavily patinated runner requiring work
The pick-up truck has become something of a national institution in the USA, used for every single transportation job imaginable as well as personal transport. The ubiquitous 3100 model became synonymous for rugged reliability and versatility and was introduced in the summer of 1947 and were GM first redesigned post-war vehicles and sold under the ‘Advanced Design’ banner with new cabs, sheet-metal, and wider beds. Early models had the ‘five bar’ horizontal style grille and a split front screen and the model stayed pretty much the same up until 1955 part from minor face lifts that centered around grille style and cab glazing. The trusty 216ci and 235ci straight-six engines from 1947-54 later gave way to V8 power and automatic transmissions of the 1955-57 3100 Step-side, which retained the basic layout but with an all new design.
The most stylish was the Carrier Cameo of 1955 with its smooth sided cargo bed, full width rear window and two-tone upholstery. Suddenly Chevy’s tried and tested work horse met style and luxury the forerunner of today’s personal SUVs. The 3100 is universally accepted whatever the condition from very patinated, Rat-look to rodded!
