Chevrolet: 1911-1960

Author Michael W.R. Davis journeys through the more-than 100 year history of Chevrolet automobiles, from its earliest days to the present.

The Chevrolet car and truck business traces its roots back to Michigan's lumber industry in the middle of the 19th century. Lumber mills gave way to carriage and wagon manufacturing and the claim, before motorcars burst on the scene, that Flint was the vehicle capital of the world.

This is the story of how those wagon makers quickly converted to producing automobiles, overtaking automotive pioneer and archrival Ford in sales, and building the Chevrolet brand into the global powerhouse entity it is today. This volume traces the first half (1911-1960) of Chevrolet's 100-year history in photographic detail and provides an unparalleled spotter guide for long-forgotten (or never-known) Chevrolet cars and trucks. From its beginnings under entrepreneur Billy Durant, through the Knudson years, Unionization, and World War II, Chevrolet weathered many highs and lows, successes and challenges.

Author Michael W.R. Davis is a veteran automotive journalist and historian and served as the executive director of the Detroit Historical Society for five years. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians and a trustee of the National Automotive History Collection at the Detroit Public Library.