Our Favorite Chevys of All-Time

Do you believe that vehicles can make an impact on society? While you might question the impact that cars, trucks, and SUVs have on Americans today, ask yourself what we would do without them. What would it mean not to have the luxury of searching for used Chevrolet dealers in Atlanta and finding the perfect vehicle for your needs? What would that world look like?

This wasn’t something that race car driver Louis Chevrolet or William C. Durant had to imagine in the early 1900s when they set out to build reliable and affordable vehicles. Henry Ford was already revolutionizing the country with his efforts to give Americans the freedom of travel, which Chevrolet and Durant improved upon by making automobiles more accessible to the masses. This, in turn, ignited a fierce rivalry between two of America’s leading automakers and set the stage for the most groundbreaking and beautiful Chevrolets of all time.

1911 Series C Classic Six

There’s no better place to start than at the beginning with the 1911 Series C Classic Six. Chevrolet and Durant were determined to make a big splash with the company’s debut model, and the Classic Six did exactly that by offering luxuries that were rarely seen in the industry. These rarities included an electric starter and electric headlamps, which forced the price of the Classic Six higher than many could afford.

1955 Chevrolet

The 1955 Chevy revolutionized the American automotive landscape because it delivered affordability and reliability along with power, versatility, and comfort. It marked a shift in the industry by proving that trucks were more than just workhorses. We saw this in features like the Nu-Flex or Airmatic seats that delivered a more comfortable ride. The truck’s hidden safety steps also made it easier to get into and out of the vehicle. As far as power, the ‘55 Chevy delivered in full courtesy of its all-new Taskmaster V8 that churned out 145 horsepower and 238 lb-ft of torque, both of which were remarkable for the time.

1961 Impala SS

Initially a spinoff of the popular Bel Air, the Impala earned a place of its own in the Chevy lineup in the late 1950s and distinguished itself with its sleek design. In 1961, Chevy took the Impala one step further with the Impala SS or Super Short. The SS embodied Louis Chevrolet’s and William C. Durant’s vision for building affordable, high-performance cars with its large 409 cubic inch engine churning out 360 horses and 409 lb-ft of torque. It was fast, powerful, and sophisticated; it would also leave you breathless with a launch from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds.

1963 Corvette Sting Ray

Introduced in 1953, the Corvette got off to a surprisingly slow start in the industry. It lacked the finesse of a luxury cruiser, and it failed to impress in the pony car segment. It wasn’t luxurious or powerful enough for either niche. Fortunately, it didn’t take Chevy long to work out the kinks with the Corvette, and that paved the way to the iconic 1963 Corvette Sting Ray with its bold design extending from its front hood to its rear split window. Under the hood, the 1963 Sting Ray finally delivered the power it deserved with a beefy V8 engine churning out 360 horses and 360 lb-ft of torque for real muscle car power.

1967 Chevy Camaro

The rivalry between Ford and Chevy continued throughout the 1960s, especially when Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964, much to everyone’s surprise. Chevy rushed to deliver a rival car and, by 1967, debuted the Camaro. The ‘67 Chevy Camaro was truly astonishing because it offered a laundry list of options, including six V8 engines that delivered up to 290 horsepower. To further prove its power and capability, Chevy debuted the 1967 Camaro Z/28 that earned numerous wins in the SCCA Trans-Am series under the skillful hands of race car driver Mark Donohue.

1968 Nova SS

The 1968 Nova SS is a true Chevy classic because it delivered jaw-dropping power straight from the factory and rightly earned its place in the muscle car segment. Although Chevy gave drivers several powertrain options, the Nova SS roared to life and delivered 295 horsepower with the 5.7-liter V8 engine under its hood. Sales skyrocketed as drivers discovered a few modifications that made the Nova SS even faster, which was perfect timing considering the 1970s brought further emissions regulations, and that meant less power from Chevy’s legendary V8 engines.

1970 Chevy Chevelle

Chevy’s marketing campaign for the 1970 Chevelle was perfect for the classic road warrior determined to distinguish itself in the segment. The campaign was simple: “In ten seconds, your resistance will self-destruct.” The 1970 Chevelle was hard to resist and enticed drivers with a need for speed. This need was met with the SS 454 package that outfitted the Chevelle with a Turbo-Jet V8 engine that delivered 360 horsepower, the highest horsepower rating to come from a factory-made engine. Beyond this, Chevy gave drivers plenty of options with 15 exterior color choices, a variety of interiors, and conveniences like power door locks and a push-button radio.

1990 Corvette ZR-1

Nicknamed the “King of the Hill” and “The Corvette from Hell,” the 1990 Corvette ZR-1 redefined Chevy’s iconic sports car and ushered in a new era defined by outstanding performance and jaw-dropping power. Car and Driver said it best in their review, “Nothing this good can come out of a large American corporation without causing some shock waves.” Those waves caused a ripple effect throughout the entire country thanks to the Corvette’s newly designed aluminum block 5.7-liter V8 Lotus engine. The 32-valve engine churned out 380 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of 175 mph and a launch from 0 to 60 mph in just over four seconds. Blink, and you’ll miss it.

What’s Your Favorite Chevy?

As one of the most popular used Chevrolet dealers in Atlanta, we are extremely proud to carry the Chevy nameplate and continue the legacy that Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant started over a century ago. What’s truly phenomenal about the Chevy brand is that the legacy is alive and well. It has evolved over time to match the demands of drivers and to forever impact how we live and work.

We see this evolution in models like the 1911 Series C Classic Six that offered rare luxuries like electric headlamps and an electric starter that forced its price higher than what many could afford. Chevy learned its lesson and adapted to make its models more affordable, reliable, and versatile. This evolution continued with the 1955 Chevy that proved a truck could be more than a utilitarian workhorse with its improved ride quality and many conveniences. The 1990 Corvette ZR-1 proved that even icons could get better with age.

We’ll see this evolution continue for years to come as Chevy builds upon its legacy, expands its horizons, and looks to the future. In turn, the Chevy sitting in your garage today might one day make a list like ours. That begs the question, “Is it your favorite Chevy of all time, or does another Chevy vehicle take that coveted spot for now?”