Chevy Truck History

Today, many people elect to drive light duty trucks as their vehicle of choice. Although this is a common practice is present times, this has not always been the case. Though many auto manufacturers produce their own variant of light duty truck, one of the oldest and most respected truck manufacturers is Chevrolet. In total, Chevrolet has been producing their full size truck for one hundred consecutive years. As with other forms of transportation, the style and technology has changed dramatically throughout the century. Despite this, consumers continue to purchase Chevrolet Trucks, making them one of the top selling brands each and every year. The most appropriate method of grouping these vehicles are the vintage, modern era and the future.

As technology continued to advance, Chevrolet paved the way by being the first company to install an overhead valve six cylinder engine in their trucks. Not only did this dramatically increase the power output, but with this engine design increased reliability. As the country and economy continued to rebuild following the great depression, Chevrolet began to grasp the consumer appreciation for vehicles with well designed interiors and exteriors. Not only did this apply to passenger cars, but also trucks. Paired with this improved appearance was an even more powerful and efficient drivetrain. As the United States entered World War II, Chevrolet halted production of all civilian model trucks. Although still producing trucks for military demand, Chevrolet did not feature improvements during this time. Following the conclusion of the war, Chevrolet took little time to unveil an all new, and without a doubt, best design to date. Featuring improved engine technology, synchronized transmissions, a larger cab, and optional features such as a radio and heater, Chevrolet’s 1947-1954 trucks began to include the most advanced technology of the time. As an answer to Ford Motor Company’s

In 1988, Chevrolet introduced the first re-design of their trucks in fifteen years. This new body design helped launch Chevrolet trucks into the modern age. With the inclusion of plastic interior trim panels and composite headlamps, Chevrolet had finally brought the appearance of their trucks to a comparable level with other auto manufacturers worldwide. An additional interior re-design in 1995, which fathered the interior design for the next two decades, included the first addition of the driver’s side air bag, with the passenger air bag closely following in 1997. Between the two years, in 1996, Chevrolet introduced the Vortec family of engines. Using the same engine block and rotating assembly which dated back to the 1960s, the Vortec included improved airflow thanks to superior intake, cylinder head and exhaust design. This, paired with the first usage of Central Sequential Fuel Injection, a particular type of port fuel injection, gave the 1996-1998 Chevrolet C/K trucks levels of power, torque, throttle response and fuel economy that had not been seen in any previous full size Chevrolet truck. Beginning in 1999, Chevrolet began producing another completely re-designed Chevrolet truck. Although taking design cues from the 1996-1998 trucks, such as the horizontal grille bar and interior design, Chevrolet continued to push the limits of styling and technology These turn of the century trucks included more