A look at 5 of Chevrolet’s most iconic vehicles from its rich history

From the Camaro to the Corvette, Chevrolet has created many iconic automobile nameplates since its establishment in 1911. With that in mind, did you wonder what other Chevrolet nameplates made a lasting mark in the automotive industry?

Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro made its debut in 1967 to challenge the Ford Mustang that was launched 3 years earlier. It featured a 3.8L inline 6-cylinder engine that generated 140 hp. But the brand upped the ante and soon came up with a 6.5L V8 variant that produced 375 hp. In its first year of production, the Camaro was picked to lead the hotly-contested Indianapolis 500 races as a pace car. 

Now on its 6th generation, you can get in a 2-door 4-seat coupe. A convertible option is also available. A choice between a 3.6L V6 and a 6.2L V8 gasoline engine powers the Camaro. 

Chevrolet Corvette

Introduced in 1953, Chevrolet slated the Corvette as its entry in the 2-seat sports car segment. It initially came with an inline 6-cylinder gasoline engine that generated 155 hp, but from 1955 onwards, a V8 became its staple power plant. Fast-forward to its seventh generation, the Corvette churns out 455 hp. Its design also took inspiration from its 2nd generation model; the 1963 Corvette Stingray. 

Chevrolet Bel Air

The Bel Air first appeared in 1950, and 5 years later, the brand brought out its 2nd generation with a sleeker-looking design and more powerful engine.

General Motors (GM), the owner of the Chevrolet marque, penned the ‘55 Bel Air as the “Hot One” on their ads. And it’s not surprising why because not only was it elegantly-designed, it also sported the brand’s first “Turbo Fire” V8 engine that produced 162 hp and 348 Nm of torque. 

Chevrolet Volt

The Volt is Chevrolet’s answer to today’s calls for environmental conservation in cars. That’s because this compact sedan sports a hybrid power plant. As such, it runs with a 1.5L inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a rechargeable electric motor powered by Lithium-ion batteries. Its 2016 model’s electric motor has been improved with a 2-motor drive unit. This helps it reach about 676 Km of driving range (combining the electric motors and the gasoline engine).

Chevrolet Suburban

Chevrolet first introduced the Suburban in the mid ‘20s. The brand claims it to be the “grandfather of the modern SUV.” Its first generation featured an 8-passenger seating capacity, a 2.8L 4-cylinder engine that produces 26 hp. Its 3-speed manual transmission, semi-floating rear axle, and external contracting rear brakes were all that’s needed at the time to take command of this people carrier.

More than 80 years later, the latest iteration of the Suburban still carries that SUV flair on a much more premium level. It runs with a big 5.3L V8 EcoTec gasoline engine that pushes 355 hp. It still sits 8 people, but it also offers comfort and convenience amenities like 3-zone automatic A/C, 10-speaker Bose audio system, front/rear parking sensors, and cruise control.

For more information about Chevrolet, visit the AutoDeal Car Guide.