CHEVROLET FB-4

The Chevrolet FB-4 became the car which eventually unseated the Ford Model T from its proud position as the world’s best-selling car. Introduced in 1919 it took only eight years for this four-cylinder Chevrolet to achieve top-selling status as it more suited the needs of the American motorist. After the First World War roads were progressively improved and many well-to-do Americans thought the Ford Model T car, which had earned the nickname `tin lizzie’, a little too crude to be seen driving. With the FB4, Chevrolet set a new standard… Read more

CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY

The Chevrolet Corvette has always embodied the American concept of a classic sports car. It went into production as the world’s first mass-produced plastic car in 1953 and since then has continued to prove that Chevrolets do not have to be boring. The introduction of the Corvette was seen by GM executives as a means of testing new technology. As an example, the body was to be of fibreglass as used during WWII in naval patrol boats – hence the choice of the name Corvette. By confining their testing to… Read more

CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT

In 1957 Detroit’s Big Three agreed to honour a resolution by the US Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) which was in effect a complete ban on manufacturer’s involvement in motor sport. Over the following years both Ford and GM failed to strictly adhere to the ruling and in 1963 Ford abandoned their agreement completely whilst GM continued at least to show a token acceptance of it. However, when news of the Shelby Cobra became common knowledge at least some of the GM people became anxious to give it a run for… Read more

CHEVROLET IMPALA

The Chevrolet Impala was the perfect example of exuberance in the 1960s American car styling. In spite of its fins, chrome and mock elements, or perhaps because of them, the Impala achieved sales of almost half a million cars in 1960. Like other American car manufacturers, the Chevrolet division of General Motors offered buyers a large choice of engines, transmissions and body styles. Engine options ranged from a standard 3.8-litre straight six right up to a 5.7-litre Turbothrust V8. Power outputs of these options ranged from 172 kW at 4800… Read more

CHEVROLET CAMARO Z-28

General Motors often claim to be the first manufacturer of true post-war sports cars in the United States with the Corvette. Certainly, it was the first built in any volume but the newness of the concept to American car buyers took a while to catch on. Even though European sports cars were popular sellers at the time, the Corvette, when first released, was a flop. Despite this Ford followed quickly with its Thunderbird and using superior marketing skills, quickly outsold the Corvette two-to-one. Ford’s action took the industry by surprise… Read more

HYUNDAI VENUE ELITE

Hyundai Venue was launched Downunder in 2019 and late in 2020 it received a modest facelift as well as some added equipment. Three variants are offered: the first simply called Venue (it was previous tagged as Venue Go) Active and Elite. Our test vehicle was the improved Elite, which received a sunroof as part of the recent upgrade. STYLINGVenue’s is just over four metres long, making it one of the shortest of all vehicles on sale here, be they hatchbacks or sedans. Its extra height over the hatches gives it… Read more

CHEVROLET SILVERADO COMING DOWNUNDER

Customers in Australia will be able to access some of the biggest full-size trucks, beginning with the Chevrolet Silverado, through the newly established General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) network. The Silverado 1500, remanufactured to right-hand-drive by Walkinshaw Automotive Group, is the first entry, with the Silverado 2500 and the C8 Corvette to follow in late 2021. Potential customers can use the new ‘Find a Dealer’ tool on www.gmspecialtyvehicles.com to find their nearest GMSV dealer. North American full-size trucks are redefining the Ute market in Australia, and GMSV will offer some of America’s… Read more

CHEVROLET CORVAIR

1960 Chevrolet Corvair

With an influx of low-priced European economy cars into North America in the late 1950s and early 1960s General Motors launched the Chevrolet Corvair in 1959 as a 1960 model in an attempt to regain lost market. In style and engineering it was quite different from the typical conservative American car which lacked technical innovation. Whilst it might have been seen by GM as an adventurous answer to the Volkswagen Beetle, this attractive rear-engined car was a victim of GM cost cutting. By omitting an inexpensive stabilizing bar, the Corvair… Read more

CHEVROLET VEGA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

There appears to be some code amongst US car manufacturers, or it may be a law of US automotive competition, which requires each manufacturer to produce a range of models in direct competition with other manufacturers’ model range. Hence when Ford Motor Company released the Pinto, General Motors shortly after brought out its Vega line. It’s fascinating to recall however, that not only did these two cars share similar features but by some automotive coincidence they also shared the same poor quality control and suffered many engineering design problems. Designed… Read more