Chevy celebrating half-century of Silverado

While Chevrolet made pickup trucks before the Silverado, yesterday General Motors celebrated the half-century anniversary of the nameplate.

The first Chevrolet Silverado was the top of the line pickup for Chevrolet, whose other models simply used letter/number codes (like F150, but starting with a C for rear wheel drive or a K for four wheel drive). The Silverado, quickly copied by Dodge and Ford, itself copied the Jeep Gladiator’s car-like interior appointments such as plastic-woodgrain trim and vinyl floor coverings. It remained the top end pickup for 25 years, until in 1999, following Dodge’s use of the Ram model name, it was used for the entire pickup line.  (For GM’s full coverage, see their well-written if obviously biased media page.)

While FCA US did celebrate Dodge Brothers’ first century back in 2014 with press releases and television ads, it has become clear that Chrysler’s hundredth anniversary is being pushed back to 2025 or 2026, if it is acknowledged at all. The first Chrysler cars were sold in January 1924, and tens of thousands had found new homes by the end of the year. There is a history book covering the fully history of Chrysler, in a somewhat more objective manner than the Dodge or Silverado press release, in both hardcover color (suitable for gifts) and inexpensive text formats.

David Zatz

David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most comprehensive Mopar site in 1994 as he pursued a career in organizational research and change. After a chemo-induced break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales.

David Zatz has around 30 years of experience in covering Chrysler/Mopar news and history, and most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the Chrysler marque.