Guest Column by GeoT
Dateline: 10/10/00
Many probably won't remember singer Dinah Shore promoting America's most popular car with that song title - but it happened. Back in the 50's.
This isn't about Chevrolet so much as it is about geography -- and -- Chevrolet.
Chevrolet was a person's name. Louis Chevrolet, a cigar-smoking, aggressive race car driver from France employed by Billy Durant to promote his newest idea - an 'assembled' automobile - meaning that most of the parts and pieces were purchased from existing vendors and then built into an automobile.
Billy had had control and the Presidency of General Motors - until his wild ideas and spending (especially the spending) sent the Bankers into apoplexy. Billy got booted.
Billy was no quitter and was soon back building cars - the Chevrolet. Incorporated -- not in Detroit or even Michigan - in New Jersey!! And the first Chevrolets were built at Tarrytown, New York after an unexpected bungle precluded building them in New York City!
Sales soared with Louis racing and promoting the auto, while Billy was clandestinely buying GM stock with the profits. Before long, Billy was back as President of General Motors!
It was in 1914, that one of America's advertising icons was 'discovered'.
The Classic emblem of them all -- the Chevy 'Bowtie'.
Information on its origin varies. Chevrolet Division states that it was a design from a Parisian hotel's wallpaper that Billy 'collected' and kept in his wallet! And, Chevrolet has used the Fleur de Lies from time to time too. Remember those tricolor Chevrolet hood and trunk ornaments?
We could go on to Chevrolet models - Deluxes, Coupes, and, including at one time, and now back again - the Monte Carlo. Not quite in France -- but pretty close!
And here is a bit more Chevrolet Geography - while we are out 'Seeing the USA in our Chevrolet' - when we get to certain parts of rural Kansas, the name is pronounced chevro-LET!
GeoT is a long-time high school geography teacher from Illinois. In addition to geography, he enjoys railroads and model railroads, old Oldsmobiles, and gardening.
