With the Woodward Dream Cruise canceled due to COVID-19, along with other automotive events like the Detroit Auto Show and the SEMA Show, many car enthusiasts are probably feeling as though they’ve missed out on the opportunity to properly indulge in their hobby in 2020. That’s why General Motors decided to host the week-long ‘Cruisin the USA in Your Chevrolet’ online enthusiast event, which celebrates the automaker’s storied past through videos, photos and other engagements on its various social pages.
The automaker recently put together a video featuring some of its current designers talking about the history of automotive design and their personal favorite Chevy designs as part of its online-only celebration. Not surprisingly, Chevrolet’s current design team has an affinity for many of the same vehicles GM fans do – including the C2 Corvette, 1957 Bel Air, first-generation Camaro, second-generation Chevelle and the Chevrolet C/K line of trucks.
“What’s so iconic and timeless about Chevy design is that there has always been kind of purity to it,” said Chevrolet global design director Rich Scheer.
“Everything’s got a little bit of Corvette to me, in a Chevrolet,” Scheer also added, referencing modern muscle car-inspired designs such as the Chevrolet Blazer crossover and even the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup.
“It’s more of the feeling that you get that’s kind of baked into the design,” added Chevrolet exterior designer Darby Barber. “Chevy’s really got a heart and soul to it.”
As for the future of Chevrolet design, things look promising. Barber says that “everybody’s excited about what (Chevrolet is) doing” at the moment with regard to design and says there is “so much inspiration,” within the brand’s design department. It’s good to hear the Chevy design department is feeling energized, as the automaker has plenty of highly anticipated products in its pipeline including the C8 Corvette Z06 and other Corvette variants as well as the new Chevrolet Bolt EUV, among more.
Hear what else Chevy’s design team has to say about the brand’s styling efforts in the video embedded below.
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Comments
Comparing an American Chevrolet Icon 57 Bel Air to a new korean chevy badged GM trailblazer is a bit of a stretch. Not that I don’t like the trailblazer because I actually do. They don’t however belong in the same video. I don’t think trying to tie in the new trucks front ends to the old trucks really works either. Chevy trucks prior to 2003 were so clean, classy and yet tough. Aside from the 14/15 model, the front ends are a bit bizarre and anything but clean looking. They look very asian origami inspired. Somewhat messy. They don’t have that classic American clean timeless look of the old stuff. Chevrolet needs to get back to those clean, mean yet classy designs of the 50’s/60’s era that they keep referring back to in the video. Obviously they think that was the best stuff too.
You have to remember that almost every part of a car today is regulated. So while I am sure the designer’s can make what we consider a ‘’classic’’ their hands are tied.
It is what occurs when a company is run by bean counters, lawyers and HR folks and design is by focus group.
It doesn’t help that most of Chevy’s vehicle designers are young Asians.
How the mighty have fallen
just another faded memory,
Mr.Goodwrench, Like a Rock etc…
As it said,….”The Heartbeat of America.”
I am a lifelong GM fan with Chevy in particular.My yard currently consists of a 2019 Silverado Trail Boss(LOVE IT!),a 2017 Camaro SS(my most AWESOME car I ever purchased,I ordered it),a 1996 C1500 stepside,a 2005 Impala SS,and a 1984 K5 Blazer.I just sold a restored 1972 Chevelle Malibu.They all run and drive weekly.I have owned 30 vehicles in my lifetime,23 have been Chevrolet and absolutely never regretted buying Chevrolet,they never made we walk instead of driving.My favorites are the 1970 1/2 Camaro Z28,2016 Camaro SS,1972 C10,1972 K5 Blazer w/400 small block,2019 Silverado Trail Boss,1956 Bel Air,and any Corvette and Impala.I also love the new Silverado designs and buyers have said so as well,outselling the junk Fraud products and the Fix It Again Tony(FIAT) Ram products so far this year.If you don’t like them-so what-they are selling and performing well.
No particular order:
– ’57 Chevy
– Impala SS 409
– ’63-’67 Corvette
– ’67 Impala SS
– ’70-’73 Camaro
– ’10-’15 Camaro
– ’14-’19 Corvette
There is a need for an Impala full size 4 door car.
Look back at the 2010 production runs.
Fleet car or family car, it served the needs of
A full size ride with safety and comfort. Finally, a GM car that Consumer Reports liked!
Chevy do offer an interesting 4-doors. Want a All-American 4 door…. Tahoe. Big wagon?….Suburban. A new fwd Impala?, Traverse!.
I know, but if a mainstream sedan remains at Chevy it have to mimic a Camaro. The Impala, Bel Air, 210 etc were sporty, cheap to own and fix, not “I wanna be a Camry, yeah!”.
Chevy! Oh how I love them! 55-57 Chevy, 60’s pickups, camaro’s…. Own a Colorado & Tahoe today!
Why not update a car & truck from the storied passed! 57 Chevy looks with updated chassis & drive train! Same with older pickup!
“My Chevy can beat your car”
I owned a 1990 Chevy silverado stepside ( first year for the stepside pickup in some time) 4×4 with short bed , auto transmission, and standard cab, black in color. Bought it new, passed it on to my son, who in turn passed it back to me as it was my favorite chevy truck. Finally passed it on to an excited friend in 2006. He passed it on to his daughter and it is still on the road running strong in 2020. Now driving a 2018 Colorado ZR2 fully accessorized. Love it as well. Even at the young age of 76 years I still love my Chevy 4x4s for off road fun and traveling to my favorite bow hunting area.
The 65-66 Corvair Corsa was and still is a flawless industrial design from every angle! Jay Leno has indicated that the Corvair was one of the ten all-time GM designs! It was heavily copied by foreign and domestic designers!
I started out with brand new 69 Z28 in my senior year of high school. Since then I’ve owned 6 chevy pick-ups, 1 K5 Blazer, 2 S10 Blazers, 1 Corvette and, 2 Jeeps. Now I’m restoring a 76 Camaro Z28.
I always pass the luxury packages and buy the best performance equipment available.
Is this video a joke? Nothing they have designed in 25 Years will be Iconic. The new RAV4/Blazer is a cookie cutter car of every import out there. GM designers have no creativity, they’re just transportation vehicles.
I’ll keep my 72 Chevy C-30 stepside.
I miss my 62 step side,
LT1 350cid 350hp m22 12 bolt rear end…
not much that I couldn’t do with that,
Mustang was it’s favorite food… lol