American Chevrolet: Truck Highlights

October 24, 2012 9:08 am CT

The concept of the truck started as a simple idea – a few car chassis with beds attached to help haul heavy materials. It wasn’t long before Chevrolet pickup trucks were woven into the everyday life of a fast-growing country.

Chevy trucks started tackling the toughest jobs; from the farm to the fields, hauling tools and lumber and carrying families cross-country on their well-deserved vacations. The Chevy truck became an American institution and has remained so for almost a century.

Highlights of the past 95 years include:

1916 The first customer chassis was built in Flint, Mich.

1930 Chevrolet purchased the Martin-Parry body company and chassis models were replaced by factory-build pickups featuring closed bodies.

1947 The front grill was introduced, and Chevrolet became the first brand to sell more than two million vehicles in one year.

1955 Chevrolet released the Task Force pickup. Designed for both style and performance, it offered consumers car-like luxury with 4-wheel drive.

1982 Chevy’s first compact pickup was launched, becoming a mainstay of the lineup. The compact pickup appealed to a wide range of consumers, from young business professionals to rugged workers.

2004 Light-duty crew cabs dominated the full-size pickup market, accounting for more than two-thirds of sales and solidifying pickups as true multi-purpose vehicles.

Present Day Just as full-size pickups have become the lifeblood of the American economy, midsize pickups have become important vehicles for businesses and families in many countries. The value of General Motors as a true American company is now recognized globally.

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