THE 10 MOST ICONIC CHEVY CARS IN COMPANY HISTORY

Chevrolet is an American automotive pioneer brand that has been around since 1911. It was born in Detroit through the combined efforts of General Motors founder William Durant and Swiss racer Louis Chevrolet. Since Chevrolet sold its first unit of the Series C Classic Six in 1912, it has manufactured millions of vehicles that have satisfied consumers in the United States and the rest of the world.

Chevrolet pioneered the mass production of small-block V-8 powerplants in 1955. Yes, one of the most beloved engines of car enthusiasts for its simplicity, power potential, and mechanical grunt. Some of these powerful engines ended up under the hood of the best Chevrolet Camaros of all time or some of the most desirable Chevy Corvettes anyone gearhead drools for.

Aside from performance, Chevrolet has been known for the most functional and practical rides families all over love. They build some of the best trucks and SUVs with the best towing capacities. Through the years, the automotive pioneer has also been a trailblazer in terms of developing designs and technologies in the form of radical concepts. Primarily known for reliability and affordability, let us look at some of the most iconic cars that the bow-tie brand has produced.

RELATED: 10 Chevy Muscle Cars That Featured The Iconic Small Block V-8

1957 "Black Widow" 150 Two-Door Sedan

When you think of the fastest Chevrolet cars, Camaros and Corvettes would come to mind. But did you know that the first performance vehicle of Chevy was rolled out in 1957? With the goal of winning the NASCAR, the carmaker pulled out a bare-bones unit of the 150 two-door sedan from the line and equipped it with its top-of-the-line 4.6-liter V-8 powerplant with mechanical fuel injection that outputs 283 horsepower. The Black Widow, capable of hitting 130 MPH, rocked NASCAR and ruled the season.

Engine Specs

The Black Widow race cars, which got their name from their black and white color scheme, were built by The Southern Engineering Development Company (SEDCO), a company set up with the green light from GM as a workaround for a ban on factory-backed race cars. It is not certain how many Black Widows were made.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe

If there’s a classic Chevrolet that is as stylish as what stylish cars could get, it’s the 1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe. Its design has stood the test of time, and it still has that got-to-have-that-in-my-garage appeal to this day. If you’re dreaming of getting hold of one of these beauties, look for the following:

• Blade-like tail fins
• Rounded taillights on top of the end of the rear bumper
• Chromed wind-split ornaments on its hood
• Rear quarter wedge-shaped silver inserts

Beyond the style, Chevrolet also introduced the Ramjet fuel injection and Turboglide automatic transmission with the 1957 Bel Air. There were several engine options for the range, including a 4.6-liter V-8 that comes with a two- or four-barrel carburetor, a 4.3-liter V-8, and a 3.9-liter inline-six.

1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409

Chevrolet quietly introduced the Super Sport Impala with a V-8 engine during the winter of 1961. The powerplant came with a four-barrel carburetor and outputs 360 horsepower and 409 pound-feet of torque. The new engine package also featured forge aluminum pistons, improved camshaft design, and compression of 11.25:1.

Engine Specs

The Impala SS was a legit muscle car that instantly became a drag-strip hero. It happened before even the term muscle car was coined. The term for souped-up vehicles was first used by Pontiac in 1964 to describe their GTO.

The 1961 Chevy Impala SS belonged to the third generation of its line and was built on the B platform of GM. The car came with a bubble-top roofline and had that distinct two-door pillared design. To complement the engine's larger displacement, the Impala SS included a bigger tachometer and a grab bar on the passenger side.

RELATED: 10 Things That Make The Chevrolet Corvette America’s Most Iconic Sports Car

1963 Corvette Sting Ray

Although the first generation Corvette dates back to 1953, it was the 1963 Corvette StingRay was a bold statement for Chevrolet. While the Corvette has gained traction in the market, the 1963 model year introduced outlandish styling changes that boosted its appeal and aerodynamics. Under the new guise, the car’s chassis received a re-engineered suspension system that significantly improved ride quality.

Engine Specs

The second-generation Corvette veered away from its older sibling’s modified sedan platform and used a new architecture. The latter paved the way for a lower center of gravity, sportier driving position, and ensuring the car is planted to the ground.

Of course, no one can miss the rear split window of the iconic coupe that followed the body's spine. The Corvette StingRay changed automotive history. It was an American car that dared challenge the quickest and fastest cars from Europe.

1967 Chevrolet C10 Fleetside

The 1967 C10 is a truly iconic pickup, a popular specimen for Chevy truck fanatics. This pickup truck belongs to the brand's second generation of Action Line trucks. While they sound ready to get rough and dirty, these pickups are quite stylish. Back in the day, they considered these rides “less trucky.” The 1967 C10 got some significant updates. Aside from its modern and fresh design, Chevy also installed an updated suspension system.

Engine Specs

The C10 trucks received an improved rust-resistant body and double-walled pickup box. It also features an independent coil spring trailing arm in front. The exterior highlighted sleek lines further enhanced by the metallic paint that was introduced during the period. The 1967 C10 Fleetside had several engine options, including the 327 V-8, 292 six, 283 V-8, and 250 six cylinder.

1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6

If there was an alpha during the peak years of the muscle car era, it was the 1970 Chevelle SS. Equipped with the optional LS-6 454 V-8 engine block, this American classic could hit 100 MPH in a little over 13 seconds.

Engine Specs

The engine installed on the 1970 Chevelle was the brand’s behemoth, making this ride the king of the streets. The SS454 produces 450 horsepower and cranks out 500 pound-feet of torque. Because of these numbers on the Chevelle SS spec sheet, it was on top of the food chain.

The only challenger of the 1970 LS6 Chevelle is the Mopar Hemi, but it was a blink slower in the quarter-mile standards. The brand was caught flat-footed when the muscle cars took off in the mid-1960s, but the 1970 Chevelle was a good demo of how Chevrolet could achieve what it wanted to achieve.

RELATED: 10 Fastest Classic GM Muscle Cars

1988 Callaway Corvette Sledgehammer

One of the most desirable Corvettes in existence, the Callaway Corvette Sledgehammer was built to surpass top speed records of its time. Built by Connecticut-based Reeves Callaway and his team, the speed shop can proudly say the Sledgehammer accomplished its mission. This ‘Vette hit 254.76 MPH at a test center in Ohio in 1988. It was an achievement that was then unheard of for street-legal and production-based cars. It was a record it had held for 25 years.

Engine Specs

For those who are not familiar, the Sledgehammer is a modified 1988 Corvette fitted with an aero body design to reduce drag significantly. It was also equipped with a hand-built twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that produces 880 horsepower and 772 pound-feet of torque mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

Despite cars capable of doing more than 250 MPH today, the Callaway Sledgehammer has inked its mark in automotive history. The Corvette Sledgehammer crossed the auction block in 2021 and now belongs to a private collector.

1990 Corvette ZR-1

The engineers at Corvette were given a mission, something that wasn’t impossible. They stepped up to the plate and gave us the (C4)1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1. One of the fastest-performance cars of the 90s, the high-performance Corvette ZR-1 is fondly known as the King of the Hill. Think of it as an early version of the same story on how Corvettes can put pricier supercars in check.

Engine Specs

The performance of the ZR1 was not accidental. The powerplant under the hood is the product of collaboration with Lotus, a brand acquired by GM in 1985. With the help of different divisions in the GM umbrella, an aluminum block V-8 capable of producing 375 horsepower and 370 feet-pound of torque came to life.

Some publications dubbed the Corvette ZR-1 as the Corvette from Hell because of its performance potential. And because of that potential, too, a standard horsepower limiter was installed.

2010 Camaro SS

After a seven-year hibernation, Chevrolet brought back to showrooms the Camaro SS in 2010. The carmaker has awoken the Camaro to go on a head-on collision course with the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger, and other vehicles galloping to claim the pony car crown. Inspired by the first-gen Camaros, the 2010 SS was gorgeous inside out and could have easily commanded a higher price tag.

Engine Specs

Under the hood of the 2010 Camaro SS is a V-8. Consumers were given two 6.2-liter aluminum block options. One of the engines produces 400 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque and is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. A slightly more potent option gives out 426 horsepower and is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox.

There’s also the 3.6-liter V-6 option that churns out 304 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Ah, yes, the Camaro is also sort of a movie star and defender of humankind, having been used as the goodie Autobot Bumblebee, a character that somehow helped sell yellow Camaros 10 percent more than usual.

RELATED: The Best GM Classic Cars Ever Made

2023 Corvette C8 Z06

If you have around $100,000 to spare and want an American-built supercar that will put European-engineered stallions to shame, don't think twice – just get a 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06. As the first Corvette generation to go mid-engined, the C8, in Z06 guise delivers unbelievable performance with its naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V-8 engine, which produces 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.

Engine Specs

It is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It can blast from 0 to 60 MPH in just 2.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 195 MPH. It is a mid-engined performance beast that is more powerful than a Ford GT and quicker than a Ferrari F8 Tributo.

The 2023 Corvette C8 Z06 spec sheet clearly shows it’s the fastest Corvette ever made. But more than the numbers, the driver can be one with the machine because it is so balanced. It is planted on the ground, you get the much-needed feedback, and you can make the most out of its raw potential on the track. This well-equipped machine defines what Chevrolet is today and is a good compass that points the brand in the right direction.

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