Chevrolet Baby Grand
Encyclopedia
The Chevrolet Baby Grand was an American
car built beginning in 1914, up until the 1922. Built by Chevrolet
to compete with the Ford Model T
, this rear-wheel drive automobile was designed by Louis Chevrolet
.
was introduced to compete with the Model T. In 1917, the wheelbase was extended to 108 inches (2,743 mm).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
car built beginning in 1914, up until the 1922. Built by Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
to compete with the Ford Model T
Ford Model T
The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Henry Ford's Ford Motor Company from September 1908 to May 1927...
, this rear-wheel drive automobile was designed by Louis Chevrolet
Louis Chevrolet
Louis-Joseph Chevrolet was a Swiss-born American race car driver of French descent, co-founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911 and later, the Frontenac Motor Corporation in 1916 which made racing parts for Ford's Model T.-Early life:Born in 1878 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a center of...
.
Beginning
The Baby Grand was one of the first automobiles made by Chevrolet under Billy Durant. It was part of his idea to build a car to compete with the very popular and cheap Model T Ford. When it first came out, it was priced at $875 as a four door, 5-passenger touring car ( a 1914 Model T touring was $500). A speedometer was standard. One advantage over a Model T Ford was that a Baby Grand could get a electric starter (Model T's did not get them until 1919).| Year | Engine | HP | Transmission | Wheelbase | Weight | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | 4-cylinder | 20 | 3-speed manual | 104 in (2,642 mm) | 2200 lb (997.9 kg) | 5 |
The Teens
In 1915, the Baby Grand got a longer wheelbase and larger brakes. The big news was that the electric starter was now standard. In 1916, the Baby Grand became the more "upscale" Chevrolet car as the $490 Chevrolet Series 490Chevrolet Series 490
The Chevrolet Series 490 is a Brass Era American automobile, made from 1915 to 1922. The 1915 introduction of the $490, Chevrolet 490 was an immediate success and established the brand as a big player. The name would not denote the price for long, but it would stay low enough to take a chunk out of...
was introduced to compete with the Model T. In 1917, the wheelbase was extended to 108 inches (2,743 mm).