13 Legendary Chevy Models That Changed the Auto Industry

Founded in 1911, Chevrolet has been around for a long time. At one point, the Detroit-based company even promoted itself as “The Heartbeat of America.”

Chevrolet is one of the world’s leading car manufacturers, and it wouldn’t be possible to maneuver itself into that position without constant innovation.

We’ve compiled a list of 13 Chevy vehicles that had a huge impact and changed the auto industry.

1932 Confederate Deluxe Sport Roadster

During the Great Depression, the Deluxe Sport Roadster was one of the vehicles that kept Chevrolet in the number-one spot of American carmakers. They sold it for just $445 and promoted it as “The Great American Value.” 

It really offered plenty of value for the money, as it had a stylish body with a fold-down windscreen, a pair of spare wheels, a rear rumble-seat, and chrome-plated hood vents. Underneath said vents, there was a cast-iron, six-cylinder overhead-valve engine connected to a synchromesh gearbox. No wonder it was America’s best-selling car in 1932.

1935 Suburban

The Suburban is Chevrolet’s longest-running nameplate — in fact, it is one of the longest-running names in automotive history. When it was first launched in 1935, the Carryall Suburban was a truck-based wagon with three seating rows.

Back then, most long-distance travel was done by train, and travelers would have to figure out how to get themselves and their luggage to and from the train stations. Well, the Suburban solved that issue, as it would transport the American people and their suitcases from door to door. 

1953 Chevrolet Corvette

After WWII, the American economy soared, and men who had pockets lined with cash wanted a sports car similar to the British models they’d experienced overseas.

Chevrolet noticed a market for a sporty American car, and in 1953, they introduced the first Corvette. Granted, its Blue Flame inline-6 engine and 2-speed automatic transmission were pretty bad, and the project was nearly scrapped, but by 1955, it was offered with a V8 engine, and an icon was born.

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

Few American cars from the 1950s are as iconic as the Chevrolet Bel Air. The Bel Air name was initially used as a trim level, but in 1955, Chevrolet introduced it as the standalone model gearheads know and love.

Available as a coupe, convertible, sedan, wagon, and shooting brake, it soon became a massive hit. Under the hood, it had Chevy’s new small block V8, which remained in production in some form until 2003, making it one of the most successful American engines ever. The Bel Air’s excellent build quality and styling ensured that many of them were kept alive until today.

1962 Chevy II

In the 1960s, the American car market saw the introduction of smaller, more economical cars, such as the VW Beetle and Ford Falcon. Chevrolet’s response came in the form of the Corvair, which eventually flopped, and the Chevy II.

It only took 18 months from the time Chevy decided to build an entry-level car until the Chevy II was available in dealerships. It was basic but also highly reliable and cheap. Since it was so light and easily modified, the Chevy II became a favorite among hot rodders and drag racers.

1962 Chevrolet Impala

Chevrolet first used the Impala moniker for the 1958 Bel Air’s premium trim level, but it later became a separate model. In 1961, the Impala was a large, sporty coupe available with Chevy’s SS performance package. It wasn’t particularly popular in its first year, but sales took off in 1962.

With heavy-duty suspension and upgraded brakes to help keep the powerful 3,700-pound car in control, the Impala cemented its status among performance-hungry car enthusiasts. Today, the Impala is one of the most popular cars among low-rider enthusiasts and is commonly spotted in hip-hop videos.

1967 Chevrolet Camaro

Ford struck gold when it introduced the Mustang in 1964, and it took the Bow Tie brand a couple of years to catch up. However, when the Camaro was finally ready, it was good as the Mustang in every way.

It soon became one of the most popular Chevys among gearheads, and it kept getting better as new trim levels and more powerful engines were introduced. Today, the classic Camaro is one of the most valuable vintage Chevys.

1969 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396

In 1959, Chevrolet’s designers thought combining one of the brand’s popular passenger cars with a pickup truck may be a good idea. They were right, and the creation known as the El Camino remained in production until the late 1980s.

Towards the end of the 1960s, the El Camino was a truck version of the Chevelle muscle car, and it could be offered with the SS 396 trim package that featured a 375-hp V8 engine. 

1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer

After WWII, the Jeep became a favorite vehicle among off-road enthusiasts. Then, the International Harvester Scout brought more creature comforts and refinement to the segment, and the Ford Bronco also had its own spin on it.

Chevrolet shortened the wheelbase on its C/K pickup truck and added a full-length removable roof. It was marketed as the Blazer and was an immediate hit. The Blazer was just as good off-road as the competitors, but it was a much better on-road vehicle and was even capable of hauling and towing. 

1983 Chevrolet S10

In the 1970s, Detroit’s Big Three preferred to import and badge engineer small Japanese trucks and sell them on the American market. The formula worked well enough, so there wasn’t really a huge incentive to change it.

That’s until production costs and tariffs increased to the point where it took a large chunk of the profits. At that point, Chevrolet decided to build its small trucks in-house, and the S10 pickup truck was born. It replaced the Isuzu-built Chevy LUV, and with time, Chevrolet introduced more powerful engines and nicer interiors, making the S10 a massive success.

1994 Chevrolet Impala SS

The Malaise Era killed the American muscle car in the 1970s, and save for a handful of models, there weren’t many proper American performance cars other than the Corvette available until the 1990s. 

Buying a Corvette wasn’t an option for most people, as it was both impractical and expensive. However, in 1994, almost exactly two decades after the muscle cars disappeared, Chevrolet introduced the Impala SS. It was based on the Caprice, given a Corvette-derived 5.7-liter LT1 V8 with 260 hp, bucket seats, upgraded suspension and brakes, and some exterior updates. Chevy built 41,941 cars, and there aren’t any cooler American sedans from the 1990s.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette

Ever since its introduction, the Chevy Corvette has been referred to as America’s sports car. Several models have achieved legendary status and are highly sought-after today.

However, while all the ‘Vettes are great cars, the most important models are the first and last generations. With the latest model, the Corvette went from being an excellent sports car to a full-blown mid-engined supercar that costs a fraction of what its European competitors sell for. With the new Z06, the Corvette even boasts the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine available right now.