To commemorate Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary, Kelley Blue Book has named the Top 10 Chevys of All Time. Formed in November 1911 by pioneering automotive businessman William C. Durant and his then-partner, famed Swiss racing driver and engineer, Louis Chevrolet, the most successful division in General Motors history is celebrating its 100th year in operation. kbb.com took a look back at the 10 most-influential and important vehicles that shaped the enduring legacy of the brand that made the bowtie famous.
1912 Chevrolet Series C Classic Six:
The first step in establishing one of America’s most iconic brands was
introduced in 1911 and went on sale the following year. The first
Chevrolet model was priced at a then-hefty $2,150, which put it well out
of the reach of blue-collar workers who barely earned that much as
their annual wages.
1916 Chevrolet 490:
The 1916 490 was intended to go head-to-head with Ford’s incredibly
popular Model T. It got its name from its base price – $490 – a figure
that not coincidentally was $5 less than that of its prime rival.
1929 Chevrolet with Stovebolt-Six Engine:
Equipped with the legendary “stovebolt” six-cylinder engine, the 1929
Chevrolets offered two more cylinders than Ford’s “four-banger” and
established the brand as Ford’s key competitor.
1936 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall:
Recognized by most automotive historians as the first-ever sport
utility vehicle, the 1936 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall combined a
station-wagon body style with a half-ton truck chassis to create a new
market segment that’s still going strong after more than 75 years.
1948 Chevrolet Series 3100 Pickup:
The 1948 Chevrolet Series 3100 Pickup set the stage for Chevy’s
modern-day pickups by introducing a new level of unexpected interior
creature comforts, like a full three-across adjustable bench seat in
place of the old trio of individual fixed-position perches, inside door
locks, “Four-fold” ventilation and an accessory AM radio.
1955 Chevrolet with Turbo-Fire V8:
The 1955 Chevrolet line ushered in both the now-iconic 1955-1957 “Tri5”
era and the spectacularly successful and incredibly long-lived
small-block V-8 engine. The introduction of the new Turbo-Fire V8 option
helped Chevy sell more than 1.7 million units that pivotal year.
1963 Corvette Sting Ray:
Arguably the greatest and unquestionably one of the most desirable
models of all time, the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray was a rolling
revelation in style and technology that has influenced the look and feel
of every successive generation.
1960-1969 Chevrolet Corvair:
Created in response to the increasing threat posed by imports – notably
the Volkswagen Beetle – the Chevrolet Corvair also was meant to counter
the arrival of new downsized domestics like the Ford Falcon and
Plymouth Valiant. Though many car reviewers liked Chevy’s innovative
approach to small-car design, Ralph Nader’s devastating “Unsafe at Any
Speed” killed the car’s reputation.
1967-69 Chevrolet Camaro:
With the Ford Mustang galloping out of the blocks at a record sales
pace, Chevy responded by introducing its own brand of pony car, the now
legendary Camaro. Although it shared some platform mechanicals with the
upcoming Chevrolet Nova, the Camaro’s aggressively refined exterior
styling set it well apart from its compact kin.
2011 Chevrolet Volt:
Coupling knowledge gained from GM’s pioneering EV1 electric car program
in the 1990s, engineers on the Volt development team managed to bring
this sleek four-passenger liftback sedan from an auto show concept to
full production status in less than four years. 
