Chevrolet is still one of America’s great car manufacturers. Their legacy goes all the way back to the first Type Cs, continuing on through the robust histories of the peppy

Corvette

and the muscly

Camaro

. But Chevy produced even more classics than just these.

In fact, Chevrolet’s lineup is full of some of the most iconic cars of all time. That’s why we've created a definitive guide to the greatest and oldest Chevrolet models of history!

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What makes an old car great?

Unfortunately, an old car is certainly not always a great car. So what exactly is it that makes the most classic old Chevrolet cars so great, and what separates them from the duds of the ‘90s?

Well, naturally, enthusiasts are looking to hit a few different checkboxes in order for a vehicle to make this sort of list. Historical significance may often be enough, while dependability, reliability, and marketability also come into consideration. And then there are the weirdos, muscle cars, and sports cars.

The key criteria is that every car on this list must deserve to be mentioned among established greats like the Corvette or

Monte Carlo

. Bear in mind that some of these will not be a good choice for a reliable used commuter car.

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12. Chevrolet Silverado (1975*-present): poster child pickup

If you’ve seen a Chevy truck in the current era, you’ve probably seen a

Silverado

. The name first started showing up on 1975 C/K trucks, designating the highest trim available at the time. In 1998, General Motors released their GMT800 trucks, which included the Silverado and the

GMC Sierra

in both 1500 and 2500 versions.

Today, the Silverado maintains its place in the race against

Ford

and

Ram

to produce the best American trucks, but at the current pace,

GMC

seems to be comfortable with middling reviews at best.

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11. Chevrolet Volt (2011-2019): a shame she was a sedan

When it first arrived at the end of 2010, The Volt was a pretty clever machine, and it would go on to be the top-selling plug-in hybrid of all time in the U.S. It’s unique because it was a genuine battery electric vehicle (BEV), but it featured an internal combustion engine which functioned as a generator to charge the battery. That meant the range could be extended by filling up the gas tank rather than having to find a charging station (not an easy feat in 2011).

Unfortunately, the Volt was discontinued simply because it was a sedan. Chevrolet will likely run with the platform for a long time still, but the Volt name—for now—is lost to history as one of the first casualties in the Great Sedan Exodus.

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10. Chevy SS (1961-present): Super Sport

While not technically its own model designation, it seems right to mention Chevy’s Super Sport cars as part of this list. This designation typically meant significant improvements on many of the models that will appear throughout the list. The “SS” first appeared with the 1961

Impala

, but you’ll find it on Chevy cars from all throughout the last 60 years, from the Monte Carlo to the modern Camaro.

9. Chevrolet El Camino (1959-1987): technically a pickup truck

The El Camino is one of the most unique looking vehicles ever made. It was based on the design of a two-door station wagon with an open cargo bed, but it’s still classified in the U.S. as a pickup truck—if a rather funny looking, small truck. You’ll often see it referred to now as a utility coupe.

But the style and performance of the El Camino has outlasted the significance of its indefinable genre. The most classic El Camino models were made from ‘68-’73. Car enthusiasts generally agree that these are the most stylish iterations, and collectors are always looking for the SS versions which featured the top luxury these little weirdos had to offer.

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8. Chevrolet Task Force Cameo (1955-1958): the father of luxury pickups

Before Chevrolet was known for its market-leading modern pickups, Chevy introduced the Cameo package to their Task Force trucks in 1955. This luxury option came with a stylized bed that was only available in white and red in the first year.

The Cameo would define the luxury of the “boss-man truck” for decades to come, influencing the big, bad workhorses of the current era—especially the ones still conscious of style.

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7. Chevrolet Chevelle (1964-1977)

The platform that would define the later iterations of the El Camino and Monte Carlo was the Chevelle, the

Chevrolet Malibu

’s predecessor. The third generation Chevelle appeared consistently at NASCAR events in the mid-70s. Cale Yarborough won 34 races, including two consecutive Grand National championships, with the legendary Chevelle Laguna.

6. Chevrolet Camaro (1966-present): Chevy’s answer to the Mustang

The Camaro debuted in the wake of a disappointing market performance by the defamed Chevy Monza. Chevrolet knew that significant changes would be needed in order to match the success of the

Ford Mustangs

of the 60s, and this new pony car, the Camaro, was going to blow it out of the water.

Well, that’s not actually entirely what happened. Instead, the two iconic ponies entered into a decades-long anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better feud. You know, the kind that can only occur when two companies who make essentially the same thing with subtle differences are pitted against one another on the world stage (we’re looking at you, cola brands).

Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that the Camaro has played a significant role in setting performance standards for sports cars over the decades. That said, a Camaro will never match the practicality of an SUV or family car—and we’re not sure they can quite live up to the fun of the Corvette.

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5. Chevrolet Impala SS (1961-2009): drag-strip favorite

The 1961

Impala Super Sport

was the definition of speed and performance on America’s drag strips in the 60s. The top V8 available on these bad boys could hit 360 horsepower. That might not sound like much by today’s standards, but it was Ferrari-level power in the 1960s.

The Impala itself persisted into 2020, before being finally discontinued to make way for newer SUV and crossover models.

The Chevy Monte Carlo deserves a mention here as well—it was essentially the two-door version of the Impala for much of both models’ histories.

4. Chevrolet Suburban (1935-present): the oldest continually made vehicle in history

When we talk about the

Suburban

in the context of Chevrolet’s best old vehicles, we’re not talking about your mom’s SUV. We’re talking about 1935’s iconic “Suburban Carryall,” one of the first station wagons ever made with an all-metal body.

It’s hard to deny that Chevrolet was heading toward what would become the future of SUVs with the invention of the Suburban. They would even go on to be used for Allied military transport during WWII. Throughout the rest of its 85 years of production, the Suburban has sported numerous iconic looks, like the more car-like first generation, some generations that practically looked like trucks, and eventually, some of the most influential SUV designs in history.

3. Chevrolet Series C Classic Six (1911-1913): the first Chevy

With only two known surviving models in existence, the Series C Classic Six is the ultimate old Chevy. First debuting in 1911, it was the first car that the company ever made, although not many were ever sold due to their high price tag. Louis Chevrolet used to test drive these bad boys on Detroit’s back roads so he could continue improving and refining them. That’s dedication!

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2. ‘55 Chevy Bel Air: revenge of the V8

The year of 1955 brought significant changes for Chevrolet, with drastic design updates to match Ford’s popular “shoe box” bodies—and car buyers in America went crazy for the result.

The most iconic ‘55 Chevy is of course the Bel Air, filled with all the chrome you could dream of. It was well-equipped for performance with its Super Power Pack V8 engine, the first successful V8 produced by Chevrolet. It definitely made an impact, as it was far more powerful than the V4 engine found in similar Fords of that era. (We can just forget about Chevy’s failed V8 engine in the 1918 Series D.)

Nowadays, ‘55 Chevys are the envy of any car collector who doesn’t have one of their own. For history nerds, the ‘55 Chevy is pretty much the 1950s aesthetic on wheels. Its design would go on to inspire some of the most classic

Cadillac

models, and is generally considered to have marked the birth of the muscle car. Once you’ve learned to recognize a ‘55 Chevy, you’ll get excited every time you get the rare chance to see one.

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1. Chevrolet Corvette (1953-present): definitely not overrated

You really thought we weren’t going to give the number one spot to America’s favorite sports car? Well, we did, and we don’t even feel bad about the fact that it meant we had to put the Series C and ‘55 Chevy in the 2nd and 3rd positions.

While the previous two models listed match or outrank the Corvette in terms of historical significance, they’re nowhere close when you consider the sheer amount of technological advancement that’s gone into the ‘Vette over the last 70 years.

From the very first models of 1953 to the high performance, sexier-than-ever-before ZR-1s of the ‘90s and ‘00s—not to mention all the gorgeous little

Stingrays

that have been produced over the years—Chevrolet has delivered brilliance over and over again with the Corvette.

Not only do they hold a place as one of the most instantly recognizable cars on America’s roads, the Chevrolet Corvette might just be the best American sports car ever made.

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How to find affordable car insurance for your Chevy

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