The 10 Most Iconic Chevrolet Models Ever Built (Did Your Car Make The List?)

Chevrolet Motor Division has been building cars for well over a century as a division of the General Motors Corporation. As the affordably priced division of the company, Chevrolet, also commonly called Chevy, has also been a leading manufacturer in terms of total units sold. Furthermore, that has also put it in a position to be a leader in innovation and design, with many Chevrolet models being extremely popular and becoming beloved classics as they age.

In addition to being a leading manufacturer of affordable automobiles, Chevrolet has also been at the forefront of performance, especially in the post-war period. Throughout this time, most Americans have had a Chevrolet in their family and almost certainly have been transported in one of its many offerings. Also, Chevrolet's business has long been bolstered by its light truck business, providing rugged trucks to people from all walks of life from farmers and ranchers to plumbers and carpenters. 

With such a long and storied history, it should come as no surprise that many of its beloved vehicles have become iconic. While there are many to choose from, here is a look at 10 of the most iconic examples. Do you have one of these yourself tucked away in a garage or shed?

After WWII, scores of Americans returning fresh from the fight who were also flush with cash sought to buy things not because they needed them but because they wanted them. For many young GIs, the most popular purchase was a sports car, particularly after experiencing them while overseas, and came home to buy British roadsters from the likes of MG, Jaguar, and Triumph. Seeing a deficit in their offerings and an opportunity to exploit demand, Chevrolet planners began developing an American car to fill the void. This is how they birthed the Chevrolet Corvette.

The first Corvette arrived to a warm reception at the auto shows and went on sale sporting the Chevrolet Blue Flame inline-6 engine with only a 2-speed automatic transmission offered. It also differed from other cars of the day by having a body made completely out of fiberglass, helping to make it incredibly light and nimble. The car that entered production ended up being a handsome machine with two seats and no roof, a true roadster. Frustratingly for management at Chevrolet, sales did not match the enthusiasm of the press, and only 183 of 300 units built in its first year were sold. 

Regardless, Chevrolet kept it in production, with it finally hitting its stride when a 265 cu. In. V8 was offered in 1955. The Corvette would eventually become a true icon of the American auto industry, with a long and illustrious history of being the premier performance-oriented sports car — all of which is even more impressive considering it comes from GM's low-price leader.

Few American automobiles of the 1950s measure up to the Chevrolet Bel Air, and that's not because the Bel Air was necessarily a better car or more luxurious. It was neither faster nor more capable than some of its competition, but it still stands out as an icon of the era.

Chevrolet first used the Bel Air name for a top trim level in 1950 and again in 1953. However, in the 1955 model year Chevrolet introduced a new Bel Air with the now familiar body style that ran until 1957. These could be had in coupe, convertible, sedan, wagon, and shooting brake. In their day, these were robust and reliable cars that sold reasonably well. Coinciding with the Bel Air line was Chevy's new small block V8 engine, which went on to be possibly the most successful and longest-running engine production for an American V8.

The combination of good looks, a powerful engine, and simple reliability made these cars very attractive purchases back then. However, the build quality led them to outlast many competitors and avoid the crusher. 1958 brought many styling changes that were not so popular, leaving the 1957 models somehow more desirable, and it was through the aftermarket, hot rod, and custom car business that kept them alive until today. Further boosting the image of the Bel Air is its many film appearances, most notably the 1955 model seen in the classic George Lucas film "American Graffiti."

The Corvette has been an American institution since its inception. Many of its models have been icons, including the first 1953 model, the 1963 split window Stingray, the ultra-high-performance ZR1, and finally, the 2020 model. What makes each of these iconic differs, but in 2020, the change from more than 60 years of being a traditional front-engined rear-wheel-drive sports car to a mid-engine car like Italian supercars was Earth-shattering.

Although the idea of a Corvette with an engine in the middle had been bandied about for decades and even teased in some pretty incredible concept cars, nobody thought it would ever amount to more than a dream of some of the more fanatical Corvette enthusiasts. However, the design team for Corvette had done so much to improve that car in the modern era that they found that the only way to continue pushing the envelope was to make the switch. 

When it was finally unveiled and then actually put on sale to the public, it sent shockwaves through the motoring press and the section of car buyers that would buy one of these cars. It has since been a rousing success, garnering accolades from the press and owners alike. Ultimately, it's iconic because it finally gave American sports car buyers the chance to have a car with the handling and performance of an Italian beauty for a fraction of the price.

The Chevrolet lineup throughout the 1950s consisted of large cars. However, as the '60s got rolling, there was a trend toward more compact offerings. With sales of cars like the VW Bug taking off, management back in Detroit wanted some of the action. Furthermore, Ford had released its compact Falcon, so Chevy had to counter that as well. The automaker ended up bringing a couple of smaller cars to the market including the Corvair and the Chevy II. It was the latter that would become a favorite of drivers of the time and hot rodders of all time.

The Chevy II was rushed to the market in an attempt to get a small and affordable car to dealers as quickly as possible. The base models were exceptionally basic, but they were affordable and came with the same expected reliability as other Chevys of the day. It was also very conventional using the most basic parts available -– its entire development time lasted only 18 months. Despite its thrifty nature, the original Chevy II was an attractive car and buyers liked it. They also got a choice of body styles including coupe, sedan, wagon, and convertible, and they could receive a higher spec trim called Nova 400.

The Nova name would eventually replace the Chevy II name and continue as a successful model for many years. However, what makes the car so iconic today is its prevalence on drag strips. With such a lightweight chassis and stunningly good looks, Novas are favorites among racers who keep them going today as icons of the early compact car legacy.

With the 1990s came leaps in engine technology that brought about the return of horsepower to cars that had been choked and restricted by emissions regulations for nearly two decades. This also led to some special editions bringing back the spirit of the muscle car era, such as the Corvette ZR1. However, not everyone could afford a fancy Corvette nor would a two-seater fulfill their needs. These buyers needed something with a bit more practicality for a lesser price. That ended up being the Impala SS, which ran from 1994 to 1996.

The formula with this car was simple and proven. Take a full-size car from the regular lineup –- the popular full-size Caprice -– add bold paint and a few appearance upgrades, then load it with power. It then received unique 17-inch wheels and a small deck lid spoiler, but not much else, keeping it more of a sleeper. Under the hood was an LT1 5.7-liter V8 tuned down a bit from the Corvette version to give it 260 horsepower, and the suspension and brakes came from police package Caprices. Rounding out the package were large bucket seats clad in leather and separated by a center console, something not found in other Caprice models.

The resulting car was something of a return of the muscle car. It was attractive, powerful, and comfortable. A total of 41,941 cars were produced, making them plentiful enough that they are still around but rare enough to make them exclusive. For a large '90s sedan, it doesn't get any cooler, making an icon for a generation of Gen X gearheads.