The Chevrolet Motor Car Company achieved a significant milestone on November 3rd 2011; its first 100 years.
Founded all those years ago by Swiss-born Louis Chevrolet and US entrepreneur Billy Durant, the brand is now looking to the next 100 with the same spirit of creativity, optimism and innovation it had right from the day it was founded. Today, Chevrolet is one of the world’s best-known car makers.
Apart from the successes along the way that you’d expect – a heritage of great cars, exciting technology and superb racing credentials – the Chevrolet brand has etched itself much deeper into the public consciousness and is now an established part of popular culture.
In short, Chevrolet is one of those rare brands that have managed to fire the public imagination.
People write songs about Chevys
Literally hundreds of pop songs over the decades feature Chevrolet words in their lyrics and song titles. Artists like Don Mclean, Elton John, Kings of Leon, ZZ Top, The Ramones, The Beach Boys and Snoop Dogg have all included “Chevy” lyrics of one sort or another. And then there are those songs where Chevrolet’s in the song title itself. Just think of Prince’s “Little Red Corvette”.
Chevys star in the movies
Chevrolet cars have played big in roles in a number of blockbuster movies over the years. Unsurprisingly, it’s the Corvette that wins the starring roles in movies like Austin Powers, Corvette Summer and Demolition Man, but it’s the Camaro plays a central role in the massive movie hit Transformers.
Chevys win races
Corvette is a dominating presence in racing, as shown by seven wins at the famed 24 Heures du Mans in France and the many wins clocked up at The American Le Mans Series based at the Sebring International Raceway.
In 2010, 2011 and again in 2012, Chevrolet dominated WTCC (World Touring Car Championships), winning both driver and manufacturer titles in the award-winning Cruze.
