Chevrolet Trucks 100 Years of Building the Future

by Edsall, Larry; Batey, Alan

• ISBN13: 9780785837473
• ISBN10: 0785837477
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2019-10-29
• Publisher: Crestline Books

Summary

Chevy has been setting industry standards for over 100 years. Chevy Trucks recounts this incredible history, from the classic Series 490 to the more recent Silverado and Colorado.

In 1917, Chevrolet introduced its first truck, the Series 490, marking the company’s official entry into the dedicated truck business. During the century that has passed since that first Chevy truck, Chevy (and later GMC-brand trucks) have become some of the most ubiquitous and recognizable brands around the world. Every year the company sells over 1 million trucks worldwide.

From the very beginning of the story to today's modern global brand, Chevrolet Trucks: 100 Years of Building the Future covers the entire Chevrolet truck saga, from the early Series 490, to the medium and heavy-duty models, to the light-duty C-series pickups, right up to the contemporary Silverado and Colorado.

Officially licensed by Chevrolet and created with their full cooperation, this detailed book includes hundreds of photos from Chevrolet’s historic and design archives. Automotive journalist Larry Edsall combed GM’s archives and interviewed key personnel to weave the story of Chevrolet’s truck evolution from working vehicle to lifestyle companion.

This thorough history covers the full array of Chevy models since 1917 and is a must have for any truck fan whose heart beats with a V-8 rhythm.

Author Biography

Larry Edsall was snatched away from a career as the sports editor of a daily newspaper in Michigan to become the motorsports editor at AutoWeek magazine, where he spent most of a dozen years as the managing editor. He left Detroit for Phoenix in 1999 to help modernize one automotive website and then launched another, iZoom.com. He contributes to automotive and lifestyle publications, writes regularly for the Detroit News "Drive" section and the New York Times "Wheels," and is part of the adjunct faculty at the journalism school at Arizona State University. Edsall's Motorbooks titles include Camaro 2016, Corvette Stingray, and Chevrolet Volt.

Alan S. Batey is Executive Vice President and President, General Motors North America. He also serves as Global Chevrolet Brand chief and is a member of the boards of both GM China’s joint venture Shanghai General Motors Co., Ltd., and the GM Foundation. Batey, a native of the United Kingdom, began his career with General Motors in 1979 as a mechanical engineering apprentice for the company’s Vauxhall operations.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1 Chevrolet's First Trucks
Chapter 2 A Six Sets Chevrolet Trucks Apart
Chapter 3 Volume for Victory
Chapter 4 Trucks for the Postwar Building Boom
Chapter 5 Task-Force Style
Chapter 6 Return of the Car-Based Pickup
Chapter 7 Recreational Opportunities
Chapter 8 Trucks Can Be Glamorous
Chapter 9 Pickups Sized for the Times
Chapter 10 Suburban Living
Chapter 11 Fair and Square
Chapter 12 Muscular Trucks
Chapter 13 Silverado Emerges
Chapter 14 Building on Silverado's Heritage
Chapter 15 The Centennial Truck and Beyond
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Index