What is the oldest Chevy model?
The oldest Chevrolet model is the 1912 Series C Classic Six, Chevrolet's first production car. This early model marks the start of a long history of mass-produced vehicles for a brand that would become a global icon of American motoring.
Historical context
Chevrolet was founded in 1911 by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant. The company quickly set out to produce an affordable, reliable car at a scale that could challenge established automakers. In 1912, Chevrolet released its first production vehicle, the Series C Classic Six, which established the core idea that would guide the brand for decades: practical, value-focused transportation.
What counts as the oldest model
In automotive histories, the "oldest" model typically refers to Chevrolet’s first production car. The 1912 Series C Classic Six is widely cited by historians and Chevrolet enthusiasts as the brand’s inaugural model, predating later volume offerings.
Early milestones in Chevrolet's lineup
To illustrate Chevrolet’s early development, here are two pivotal models from the brand’s formative years.
- 1912 — Series C Classic Six: Chevrolet’s first production car and the start of its model lineage.
- 1915 — Series 490: The first mass-market model designed to bring affordable transportation to a broader audience.
These milestones show how Chevrolet evolved from a niche early carmaker into a manufacturer with broad consumer appeal.
Why the oldest model matters today
The 1912 Classic Six is remembered as the origin story of Chevrolet’s mission to deliver practical, durable, and approachable cars. While modern Chevrolets bear little technical relation to that early car, the emphasis on value and reliability remains a through-line in the brand’s DNA.
Summary
The 1912 Series C Classic Six is widely recognized as Chevrolet’s oldest model and the company’s first production car. The subsequent 1915 introduction of the Series 490 helped establish Chevrolet’s reputation as a maker of affordable, mass‑market vehicles, setting the course for decades of automotive design and mass production.
What is the oldest model of Chevy?
Chevrolet Classic Six
The 1912–14 Chevrolet Type C, also called the Chevrolet Classic Six (Series C), Chevrolet Model C, Classic Six, or, at the time it was new, simply "the Chevrolet" (since there were no other models to confuse it with until 1914 when the models H and L were released), was the first Chevrolet, and was also sold by other ...
Why is the 57 Chevy so iconic?
This was a major turning point in American hot rodding: Chevrolet had claimed the street scene from Ford. The 1957 Chevrolet also won 49 Grand National "cup" NASCAR races (the most of any car in NASCAR history), won the Southern 500 (in 1957, 1958, and 1959); becoming the only car to win the 500 three times.
What is the most rare Chevy?
These five ultra-rare classic Chevys.
- 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6. Production Figures: Only 20 ever made!
- 1969 Corvette ZL-1. Production Figures: Three were made, that's it.
- 1969 Camaro ZL-1. Production Figures: 69 of these were made.
- 1967 Corvette L88. Production Figures: Only 20 were ever made.
- 1969 Yenko SC427 Nova.
What was Chevy's first car?
Chevy Series C Classic Six
With instruction from Louis, the first car was designed, the Chevy Series C Classic Six. The prototype of the C was ready months before it was incorporated with production didn't begin until the 1913 model.
