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Chevrolet Canopy Express
During the decades since the first Chevy trucks rolled out in 1918, some once-common uses for Chevrolet trucks, and the special models that served these needs, have fallen by the wayside. Open-sided panel trucks called Canopy Express trucks were once common and used for many types of delivery services. Before supermarkets came along, “hucksters” commonly vended fresh fruits and vegetables curbside in neighborhoods from such trucks. The GM Heritage Center collection has one of the last 1949 Canop -
McCarthyism
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Wikipedia -
Corvette
In 1952, GM styling head Harley Earl and a small team of designers set out to create an American sports car using innovative fiberglass body construction. Crowds thronged the resulting roadster — the Chevrolet Corvette — at the 1953 GM Motorama. A production version, powered by a warmed-up Chevy 6, followed. A few years later, GM engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, a Russian-born émigré who knew his way around European sports car racing, gave Corvette its high-performance heart. Duntov massaged Ed Cole’ -
Dodge Firearrow IV Convertible
In 1953 and 1954, Dodge created a handful of very special concept cars bearing the Firearrow name. To this day, experts count the Firearrows among the most beautiful and distinctive Dodge vehicles ever built. -
Dearborn Assembly
Dearborn Assembly Plant in 1954. -
Civil Rights
Movements for civil rights were a worldwide series of political movements for equality before the law that peaked in the 1960s. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change through nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was accompanied, or followed, by civil unrest and armed rebellion. The process was long and tenuous in many countries, and many of these movements did not fully achieve their goals, although the efforts of these mov -
Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe
Occasionally, a new car arrives at just the right moment — and history is made. One such standout in the 100 years of Chevrolet is the 1955 Bel Air. Chevrolet had a “durable but dull” image in the early 1950s that cried out to be reenergized. The 1955 Chevy, especially in top-level Bel Air guise, did just that. Debuting just as rock ‘n' roll was about to shake America to its cultural roots, the longer, lower and often two-toned 1955 Chevy exuded American optimism. A sizzling new “Turbo-Fire” V8 -
Emmet Till
Emmett Louis Till was an African-American boy who was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 after reportedly flirting with a white woman -
Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
The strikingly sleek Chevy Nomad of 1955–1957 brought mid-century modern design to the utilitarian station wagon. The Nomad got its name, along with its unique roofline and rear body treatment, from a 1954 GM Motorama Corvette concept wagon conjured up by GM design chief Harley Earl — father, as well, of the 1953 Corvette roadster. Encouraged by the show car’s reception, and mindful that America’s burgeoning suburbs were absorbing ever more station wagons, Chevrolet developed the Nomad into a pr -
DATSUN 1200 SEDAN
First Datsun introduced into the US market in 1958 as the 1000 Sedan. Utilized same platform as the Datsun pickup truck. The 1000 sedan sold 146 units in the US from 1959-1961until replaced by the 1200 sedan which sold 1318 units. A part of the Heritage Collection since 1983. -
BUILDING A REPUTATION IN AMERICA
The first Datsun compact pickup is sold in America. Originally imported with a 37-hp 1000-cc engine, it was soon given a boost with a 48-hp 1200-cc engine. This quarter-ton pickup firmly established Datsun in the American market.
220 American servicemen purchased this truck and imported them back to the U.S. from Japan. -
Vietnam War
he Vietnam War (Vietnamese: Chiến tranh Việt Nam), also known as the Second Indochina War,[31] and known by the Vietnamese as the Resistance War Against America or simply the American War, was a Cold War-era proxy war that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from December 1956[A 1] to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam—supported by the Soviet Union, China and other communist allies—and the government of South Vi -
DATSUN ENTERS THE SPORTS CAR MARKET
Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. (NMC) is established in Gardena, California. That same year, the SPL 201—Datsun’s very first sports car—was introduced. The sleek 4-seat roadster featured a fold-down soft-top, a "4 on the floor" transmission, and a 48-hp engine (that would soon be replaced by a powerful 85-hp version) -
JFK
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy, commonly known by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until he was assassinated in November 1963. -
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American former professional basketball player, entrepreneur, and current majority owner and chairman of the Charlotte Bobcats. -
Chevrolet Impala
The Beach Boys sang harmonies to Chevy’s 409-cid big-block V8, rated at a thumping 425 horsepower for 1963. The hardtop ’63 Impala Sport Coupe, with its convertible-look roofline, crisply tailored flanks and pointed fenders, beautifully showcased the big brute of an engine. The sleek 1963 Impala could also be had with a Chevy 283 or 327 small-block V8 engine, and was even available as a 6-cylinder model. The popular Super Sport Package included special SS exterior details and front bucket seats -
Chevrolet Pickup
The 1967 Chevy trucks led truck design into a new era. Leaner and cleaner in every line, the new models appeared lower and longer — somehow managing to look both car-like and rugged at the same time. Their large, rounded wheelhouses added a design touch evocative of several popular GM cars of the era. The ’67s were more durable than ever, and were to their core tough machines designed first of all to get the job done. Many features of the new pickup — and the Suburban that shared its styling — w -
Chevrolet Camaro
Providing a spectacular grand finale to the first-generation (1967–69) Camaro, the freshly restyled ’69s raced through a year of unprecedented exhilaration. Chevy's hot four-seat sportster was turning up at the head of the pack everywhere, it seemed. The Z28 was headed for a Trans-Am racing championship, several dozen specially produced ZL-1 aluminum-engined Camaro coupes were providing thunderous thrills at drag strips, and a specially detailed RS/SS 396 Convertible popped up just in time to pa -
The Dodge 440 Magnum Six Pack
Dodge history is rich with memorable and mind-blowing engines. Here’s yet another powerhouse under the hood: the 440 Magnum Six Pack. -
Mustang Assembly
An engine is placed into a Ford Boss 429 Mustang in 1969. -
Chevrolet El Camino SS
The El Camino “passenger-car pickup” first appeared in 1959 and was, along with the ’60 edition, based on the full-size Chevy. Following a three-year hiatus, the El Camino returned for 1964 as a derivative of the new intermediate-size 1964 Chevelle. The restyled ’68 El Camino was as sleek as any vehicle with a pickup bed could be. That same year, the El Camino was finally available with Super Sport equipment, and buyers could fully partake of the additional muscle car options offered for the Che -
Chevrolet Chevelle SS
The muscle car era peaked in 1970, and leading the way to the summit was the SS 454 Chevelle. Chevrolet’s 454-cid big-block, the largest displacement production Chevy V-8 ever, was new for 1970. That same year, GM first permitted engines larger than 400 cid in its intermediate-sized cars. One result was perhaps the most legendary of all Chevy Super Sports, the SS 454 Chevelle. The available 450-horsepower LS-6 big-block could launch the SS 454 to 100 mph in about 13 seconds. Original, unmodified -
Chevrolet C/10 Cheyenne Pickup
The trend had been building for years, and by 1971, it became impossible to ignore: Mainstream America was falling in love with Chevy trucks. The 1971 trucks helped Chevrolet set a new car and truck calendar year sales record of more than 3 million vehicles that year. On a model-year basis, Chevy truck production for 1971 totaled 739,478, also a record at that point. Of all the Chevrolet truck models offered for ’71, by far the most popular was the 2WD C/10 pickup, with more than a quarter milli -
DATSUN 1200 COUPE®
Featured seating for five and "fold-down" rear seats. Available in U.S. from 1970-73, in which 89,541 units were sold. Became Datsun’s best selling car of the time. The vehicle featured was used in the sales brochures for this model and served as the Service Field Technician training vehicle. The 1200 Coupe was responsible for three SCCA National Championships and still seen around the U.S. on racetracks or highways. -
DATSUN 510 BRE #46
Peter Brock and Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) built and raced the number 46 Datsun 510, which won the 1971 and 1972 SCCA Trans-Am championship driven by John Morton. The featured car is the actual winning 510, the only one left in all original colors and is in “as-raced” condition. With its success, this 510 began the rich racing heritage of Datsun’s and Nissan’s in the US and helped to bring brand recognition to a new comer in the emerging Japanese market. -
DATSUN 510® THE FIRST 4 DOOR SPORTS SEDAN
Datsun introduces the 510—a family car with a racing heritage. It was a novel concept at the time: a good-looking, economical, fuel-efficient, five passenger car that was fun to drive. Over its lifetime, the 510 went on to sell more than 300,000 units, and its influence can still be seen in the Nissans of today. -
F-150 Assembly
An F-150 body is placed onto the frame at the Louisville Assembly Plant in 1973. -
Trick Daddy
Maurice Young, better known by his stage name Trick Daddy, is an American rapper actor, and producer from Miami's Liberty City. -
Quality Control
A team performing quality control duties at Dearborn assembly in 1975. -
Chevrolet C/10 Stepside Pickup
Tradition counts in the truck business, and wise truck makers stay mindful of the past while moving ahead. When Chevy launched its smooth-sided, double-walled Fleetside pickup box in mid-1958, it kept the Stepside box in the lineup as well. It would remain available, one way or another, for another 45 years. The classic Stepside design had a small step — really a vestige of the old-time running board — mounted ahead of each rear fender. These were useful for reaching items collected at the front -
DATSUN B210GX®
Renowned as Nissan’s best selling small sedan of the 1970’s. First Nissan car sold in the U.S. to achieve 50 miles per gallon on the highway. The featured car was a one owner vehicle prior to being added into the Nissan Heritage Collection. -
TAKING DESIGN TO A NEW LEVEL
In 1979, Nissan Design International (NDI) was established in La Jolla, California, with a mandate to bring American style and concepts to Nissan vehicles. Over the years, NDI has brought us the original Altima®, the original Pathfinder®, the modular Pulsar NX, today's Xterra®, and the Gobi pickup concept pictured here. -
CHAMPIONSHIP OFF-ROAD RACING
Between 1982 and 1992, we collected an impressive 19 off-roading championship trophies. Our most radical off-roader — a sand-blasting 380-hp King Cab desert racer — competed in the HRDA/SCORE Class 1 Unlimited Vehicle series. -
1982 Dodge 400 Coupe
Introduced in 1982, the Dodge 400 was our entry in a new compact luxury class that emerged in the 1980s. “Owning one is like owning the road,” the Dodge ads boasted. -
Aids
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the final stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system. -
FIRST NISSAN TRUCK BUILT IN AMERICA
The worldwide marketing of vehicles using the Nissan badging begins with the production of the first Nissan truck at the new assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee -
F-Series Inspection
F-Series trucks undergoing inspection at Twin Cities Assembly. -
FIRST SENTRA BUILT IN AMERICA
Hollywood legend Paul Newman raced the Newman/Sharp Trans-Am 300ZX® to consecutive SCCA GT1 championships in 1985 and 1986, capturing Nissan's 50th national SCCA championship in the process. That same year, the first Nissan Sentra rolled off the line in Smyrna, Tennessee -
Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
Chevy thunder rolled across Europe in 1989 when 24 preproduction ZR-1 Corvettes arrived on the continent for a press tour in the south of France. The ZR-1, also known as the “King of the Hill” Corvette, was powered by a technically advanced 32-valve 4-cam 350-cid V8, developed with Group Lotus of England. Although quite tractable at low speeds, the engine — coded LT5 — had breathtaking performance right to the red line. Engine supply delays pushed the official ZR-1 introduction into the 1990 mod
