In 2018, Chevrolet will mark the 100th anniversary of its first truck rolling off the assembly line. Over that time, Chevrolet has redefined what a true pickup is, leaving many competitors in its wake. From tough and rugged trucks for the construction worker or farmer to fully loaded pickups for the person who wants to travel in style, Chevrolet trucks have been ambitious in their design, yet unpretentious.
While the battle of Ford and Chevrolet truck owners wages on, there's something to be said about a truck that was the first of its kind. If you're looking for a Chevrolet truck, fear not. There's simply nothing this vehicle can't do.
While current Chevrolet trucks have the iconic bow tie symbol emblazoned on their grille, it wasn't part of the first several generations of the vehicle. In 1918, the Chevrolet 490 Light Delivery chassis hit the market, allowing shop owners, logistics companies, and farmers to transport their goods to the masses without a horse and buggy. Not only did this revolutionize the way that businesses ship goods, but it also achieved a task no other automaker had fathomed up until that point in time.
Modern times called for new ways to showcase the Chevrolet truck. Consumers no longer wanted a beastly V8 under the hood due to rising gas prices, and not every buyer needed a full-sized truck to get the job done. At the behest of these consumers, Chevrolet started to release smaller trucks like the Chevrolet LUV and the S10. With these smaller, light-duty vehicles, drivers could still get the versatility they needed, but without a price premium at the dealership or at the pump.
However, 1999 may have been the year that changed everything for Chevrolet with the creation of the Silverado. Now one of the country's most-loved pickups, the Silverado is a workhorse, a luxury vehicle, and everything in between. The Chevrolet Colorado became the light-duty choice in 2004, and today is widely regarded as the best-selling light pickup in America.
Chevrolet trucks have had so many awards, the trophy case in Detroit probably can't handle any more. In its inaugural year, the Silverado won the highly coveted Motor Trend Truck of the Year award. Since then it's been voted the best truck in North America, as well as Car and Driver's top pick in the truck market.
In 2015 and 2016, the Chevrolet Colorado took home the Motor Trend Truck of the Year award, laying further testament to Chevrolet's name in the pickup market.
With more than 100 years on the market, Chevrolet knows a thing or two about building a truck to withstand the tests of drivers and endearing themselves to critics. There's a reason people will always say Chevrolet trucks are built "Like a Rock."
