Chevy History

Chevrolet History - Learn More In Pleasanton, TX

As one of the most famous automobile brands in America and all over the world, Chevrolet has a long history behind it that originated in the early 1900s. It was founded by two men named William C. Durant and Louis Chevrolet. Durant had founded General Motors, but had been ousted due to financial issues; Chevrolet was a racecar driver seeking to break into the industry. The two originally collaborated through Buick Motor Company, but following Durant being expelled from the company, Chevrolet followed him to new opportunities.

To design their first vehicle, Louis Chevrolet relayed their plans for the Series C Classic Six to designer and engineer Etienne Planche. The vehicle was ready to launch months before the Chevrolet brand name was incorporated. The men who served as Chevrolet's roots fine-tuned the vehicle for years until its 1913 debut at New York International Auto Show.

In 1914, the iconic Chevy bowtie made its first appearance on the H series models and L Series Model. There is a bit of mystery as to where this symbol originated. Some say Durant saw it on some French wallpaper while others say he sketched it on a dinner napkin or saw it in a newspaper ad. However, it came into being it has served the Chevrolet brand very well.

Over the next few years, Louis Chevrolet and Durant had big differences in opinion on where the company should focus, so Chevrolet ended up leaving. Durant then directed the company toward producing more affordable models like the Series 490.

In 1917, Durant was able to purchase a controlling interest in General Motors and brought Chevrolet along with him. Chevrolet continued to be one of the most common choices for American drivers and produced numerous iconic models over the next few decades including the 1936 Suburban, 1948 Chevrolet Pickup, 1953 Corvette, 1963 Impala, and many others.

Chevrolet has always honored its racing roots and has had a steady presence in motorsports since its founding, and with a car as unbeatable as the Corvette, that's no surprise. Chevrolet has survived many different eras and expanded its lineup to include a variety of vehicles: everything from stylish performance cars like the Camaro, to a broad range of capable pickups in the Silverado family, to even a ground-breaking EV like the Chevy Bolt. No matter what, Chevrolet seems to be successful enough to make its vision a reality.

The past 100 years have been a long ride of ups and downs and we can't wait to see what the next 100 years will do for Chevrolet.

Our dealership is proud to be a part of the Chevrolet family. If you would like to learn more about past and present Chevy models, be sure to stop by! We're located in Pleasanton just a short drive from Kenedy, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio.