Chevrolet used to have an ad campaign promoting “Baseball, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet.” Allegedly, General Motor’s largest division tried to indoctrinate consumers into believing that a Chevrolet was as ordinary as Main Street, US In many ways this campaign worked. For generations, the Chevrolet division has been offering cars that have been bought by Americans, particularly those looking for their first car. Let’s take a look at three Chevy classics that have shaped the respected American automaker.
Corvette – In 1953, the Chevy Corvette was released and the auto market has not been the same since. This two-seat roof paved the way for larger and smaller cars to enter the American market, including Chevy’s own Camaro and Chevelle; Pontiac Firebird and GTO; Ford Thunderbird and Mustang; the Dodge Charger; Plymouth ‘Cuda; AMC Javelin; Datsun 240Z; and many other cars. For more than 50 years, the limited-production Corvette has been Chevrolet’s “halo” car and is now a favorite among the baby boomers.
Camaro – One of the original “pony cars” was the Camaro which, along with the similarly designed Pontiac Firebird, was GM’s 1967 answer to the Ford Mustang. After the introduction of the Mustang in 1964½, GM needed an answer … a lot! Pony cars were famous for their compact size, speed, and 2 + 2 seats. Throw in a convertible and you have a true California cruiser. After 35 years of production, Chevy discontinued the Camaro while the Mustang was still in production. Good news for Camaro fans: a new Camaro is reportedly making its debut for the 2009 model year.
The way – Is it a car or is it a truck? How about: car / truck? Half car and half truck, El Camino is essentially a car with the rear section turned into a truck bed. Introduced in 1959, the original El Camino was based on the Impala platform, then the Chevelle, and later the Malibu chassis. El Camino was Chevy’s response to the 1957 introduction of the Ford Ranchero, the first production car / truck. Although not designed for heavy truck use, the El Camino, when equipped with adjustable shocks, was able to support its share of the weight in its box.
Other Chevy cars that have been memorable include: Venture, Nova, Caprice and Chevelle; while some truly forgettable models include the Chevette, Monza, and Vega.
Chevrolet’s current lineup is a far cry from the fleet of yesteryear, but with more than 25 car, truck, truck, and SUV models in the market today, the Chevrolet name continues to impact and shape the American auto industry.
