The Chevrolet name comes from retired racecar driver Louis Chevrolet, whom GM founder William Durant had hired to drive Buick cars in promotional races years prior. It was incorporated on November 3, 1911 in Michigan.

No actual production cars were manufactured by the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911, but Louis Chevrolet and his team managed to complete two prototypes. One was the Little four-cylinder car, and the other was the future Chevrolet big six touring car. Production of the “Little Four” and the first Chevrolet “Classic Six” six-cylinder car began in 1912. When the Chevrolet car was first sold to the public in 1912, it was expensive, very heavy, and slow. The car was re-tooled into a new “Little Six,” while retaining the durability of Chevrolet’s original design. The Chevy version was dubbed the “Light Six.”

Two other Chevy vehicles, the Royal Mail roadster and the Baby Grand touring car, were released in 1914. The infamous Chevy “bowtie emblem” logo was used for the first time on these vehicles, as well on the “Light Six.” By 1915, Chevrolet sold his share in the company and went back to driving cars for a few years, including a couple of appearances in the Indianapolis 500. He passed away in 1941.

Between 1915 and 1920, a number of events occurred that shaped the future of both Chevy and GM. First, the Chevrolet Motor Company of Canada Limited was started, which produced cars that featured Chevy motors and McLaughlin bodies. Soon after, Chevrolet was also merged into GM, becoming a separate division. The newly formed entity got off to a quick start in terms of production, launching the Chevrolet Series D in 1918.

Chevy continued to produce affordable and successful cars in the coming decades, launching the Standard Six, for example, in 1933, as the cheapest six-cylinder car on the market. Chevy, Ford, and Plymouth became known as the low-priced three. In the early 1950s, revolutionary models like the Bel Air were released. The style of the car, a convertible with a non-detachable solid roof, would spark a trend that lasted for decades. Production of the vehicle ended in the 1970s, having undergone numerous styling changes since the original. The 1955 model is a particular standout, which is a great example of a car featuring the infamous tailfin styling that was popular during that time. It was a move towards performance, though, that set Chevy on track to becoming the icon it is today.


A few years after the introduction of the Corvette, Chevy released the Impala. The Impala was longer and wider than its predecessors. It was also lower. The bigger car called for a bigger engine—the Chevy big-block. The same big-block would come to power Chevy stock cars which set record times at the 1963 Daytona 500. Four years earlier, the Impala itself had been raced at the first Daytona 500. In 1961, the Impala became available with the “Super Sport” package, which included stronger springs and shocks, narrow band tires and either a 348 or a 409 cubic inch displacement big-block engine.

Chevy then developed the Camaro. Through the 1970s, the Impala was still Chevy’s top-selling model, but over time power and the size of the car decreased. The downsized Impala did win Motor Trend’s car of the year award in 1977. More recent Impala models have been popularly used as taxi and police cars. Classic Impalas remain a collector’s item however, and the 1964 model is particularly prized in low-rider culture, having been name-dropped by numerous rappers, including Eazy-E in his song “Boyz-N-The-Hood.” 




The 1990s, 2000s, and Today


In 2009, GM went through a Chapter 11 reorganization as a result of massive financial problems, bailed out by the U.S. Government. When it emerged, Chevrolet was still standing  as one of GM's core brands. Today, the global automaker currently sells a wide range of vehicles.

Need Chevy Parts?

“Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet” were the all-American values extolled by a 1970’s Chevy Ad campaign. Fans loved the ad campaign so much that Chevy brought it back in 2012. They also stamped the image of a baseball bat, a hot dog, and an apple pie into the floor of every 1990 through 1996 Corvette Convertible. It’s behind the passenger seat, and all you have to do is pull up the carpet to find it. Go ahead and give it a try if you own one! But scavenger hunts aside, Chevrolet has positioned itself as an all-American automobile company. Iconic Chevy models like the Impala, Corvette, and Camaro are as much a piece of Americana as much as, well, baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie! Chevy might even do well to add motorsport and rock 'n' roll to its list of American values when you consider the influence it has had on both. Today, Chevy produces and sells a wide range of vehicles, from subcompact cars and powerful trucks to vans and SUVs, and are sold all over the world.

For over 100 years Chevrolet has been known for its well performing and powerful cars and trucks, whether it be for sport or work. But like all things, nothing lasts forever and parts fail for one reason or another. At 1A Auto, it is our mission to supply you with the right parts you need to keep your Chevy car, truck, van or SUV working in tip top shape, at a great discount. Simply put, if you are in need of a replacement part for your Chevy vehicle, you've come to the right place. You'll find a large selection of new, high quality aftermarket Chevy auto parts, including headlightstail lightsweatherstrippingmirrorsdoor handlesexhaust manifoldsradiators, and more, as well as genuine OEM replacement parts—the very same ones you would receive if purchased from your local dealer, but without the inflated cost. However, we don't only just sell replacement Chevy parts online here at 1A Auto; we also carry a selection of new and performance parts such as high flow air filters for your Chevy truck or car as well.




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