Louis Chevrolet
1878–1941
Louis-Joseph Chevrolet
Racing driver · Co-founder of Chevrolet · Engineer
Swiss-born racing driver and engineer who co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in Detroit in 1911, then left to build racing parts.
- Born
- 25 December 1878La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
- Died
- 6 June 1941Detroit, Michigan, United States
- Nationality
- Swiss-born American
Biography
Louis-Joseph Chevrolet was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, on 25 December 1878 and made his name in American motor racing. In 1905 he won his first race, driving a Fiat at Morris Park in the first national championship race sanctioned by the AAA. He joined Autocar in Philadelphia in 1907 and was one of the three co-designers of the 1910 Buick 60 Special, the 'Buick Bug'.
On 3 November 1911 he co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in Detroit with William C. Durant. The partnership did not last: in 1915 Chevrolet sold his share to Durant. That same year he became a naturalised US citizen and finished 20th in the Indianapolis 500.
In 1916 he and his brothers founded the Frontenac Motor Corporation, which made racing parts for the Ford Model T. His best Indianapolis result was seventh place in 1919, and he made his last start there in 1920. An aircraft-engine company, Chevrolair, launched in 1927, failed after about three years. Louis Chevrolet died in Detroit on 6 June 1941.
Timeline
- 1905Wins his first race, in a Fiat at Morris Park[1]
- 1910Co-designs the Buick 60 Special 'Buick Bug'[1]
- 1911Co-founds the Chevrolet Motor Car Company with William C. Durant[1]
- 1915Sells his Chevrolet share; becomes a US citizen[1]
- 1916Founds Frontenac Motor Corporation with his brothers[1]
- 1919Best Indianapolis 500 finish: seventh[1]
Louis Chevrolet in 1CARS stories
Related people
Sources
- Louis Chevrolet — Wikipedia · accessed 13 October 2026