Louis Chevrolet - Founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company, Career and Life
Louis Chevrolet's Personal Details
Louis Chevrolet was a Swiss-American car racer who designed the first Chevrolet automobile and also founded the ‘Frontenac Motor Corporation’
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | December 25, 1878 |
| Died on | June 6, 1941 |
| Nationality | Swiss, American |
| Famous | Automobile Industry, Sportspersons, Founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company |
| Spouses | Suzanne Treyvoux |
| Known as | Louis-Joseph Chevrolet |
| Childrens | Charles Louis and Alfred Joseph |
| Birth Place | La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland |
| Born Country | Switzerland |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Joseph-Félicien |
| Mother | Marie-Anne Angéline |
| Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Born in | La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland |
| Famous as | Founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company |
| Died at Age | 62 |
Louis Chevrolet's photo
Who is Louis Chevrolet?
Louis Joseph Chevrolet was a Swiss-American car racer who designed the first Chevrolet automobile and also founded the ‘Frontenac Motor Corporation’. He learned the basics of mechanics from his father, a watchmaker, and as a teenager used to build, repair, and race bicycles. He was a strong teenager and became a champion bicycle racer after he tailored bicycle gear ratios to take advantage of his strength. His passion for the automobile found him eagerly apprenticed to several carmakers. Working for a prestigious automobile company, he was hired as a driver of the Fiat auto racing team, and after several victories became a celebrity. He rose to fame as a daring automobile racer who displayed little concern for his own safety when the outcome of a race was in doubt. His driving skills attracted the attention of the auto executive, William Durant, and the two men combined their talents to form the Chevrolet Motor Company. With little formal education and a vast knowledge about automobiles, he designed a stylish six-cylinder touring car, which proved that his design abilities matched his racing skills. After professional differences with Durant, he left the company and became a successful independent designer of racecars. Although automobiles were his enduring passion, he also enjoyed speedboat racing, trapshooting and golf. He was a motor racing legend whose accomplishments left a huge impression on the American automotive industry.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1878, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, to Joseph Felician Chevrolet, a watch and clockmaker, and his wife, Angelina Marie Chevrolet. He was the second child of the six children — four sons and two daughters — of his parents.
When he was around six years old, the family moved to Beaune, a small town in the Burgundy region of France. When he was a child, his father taught him basic mechanical skills and stressed the importance of precision in the manufacture of machine parts.
As a teenager, he developed an interest in bicycle racing and became an apprentice in a bicycle shop. He started repairing broken bicycles with the help of repair manuals in his spare time.
Career
In 1898, he got a job with the ‘Mors Auto Company’ and was sent to an auto dealership in Montreal, Canada, the following year. He worked as a chauffeur-mechanic for six months and then moved to Brooklyn, New York.
In the United States, he worked briefly for a fellow Swiss immigrant's engineering company, and then moved to the Brooklyn operations of the French car manufacturer ‘DeDion Bouton Motorette Company’. There he was given the opportunity to be a substitute racecar driver for ‘Fiat auto racing team’ in New York City.
Soon he established a reputation as a race car mechanic and driver in the United States and became a celebrity after several wins. He left Fiat to work for William C. Durant, dubbed as the father of ‘General Motors’ who gave him the job to design Buick concept cars which later led the ‘Buick Racing Team’ to many victories.
In spite of having little formal education, he learned car design and started designing his own engine for a new car in 1909. He built an overhead valve six-cylinder engine in his own machine shop on Grand River Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan.
On November 3, 1911, he co-founded the prestigious ‘Chevrolet Motor Car Company’ with Durant and two other investment partners, William Little, and Dr. Edwin R. Campbell.
But when differences arose between him and Durant over the car's design, he sold Durant his share in the company, in 1915, and moved on to found McLaughlin's Company in Canada for building Chevrolets.
In 1916, he, along with his brothers, founded the ‘Frontenac Motor Corporation’ to make racing parts for Ford Model Ts. But he was not an astute businessman and soon the company failed.
Later on he worked for the Stutz Automobile Company, Indianapolis, and also established an unsuccessful aircraft factory. In 1934, he became a consultant at the Chevrolet division of General Motors, where he remained until he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was forced to retire in 1938.
Major Works
In 1905, in his first automobile race, he defeated the great American driver Barney Oldfield, and thereafter he set records on every important track in the United States. During his career on the famous brick track he won 10 races and an additional 27 major races elsewhere.
In 1911, he co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Company with Durant, and even with little formal education, he designed and built the first Chevrolet automobile. He also established the ‘Frontenac Motor Corporation’ to build high-performance engine heads.
Awards & Achievements
In 1990, he was inducted into the ‘National Sprint Car Hall of Fame’.
He was named to the ‘International Motorsports Hall of Fame’ in 1992.
In 1995, he was inducted into the ‘Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1905, he married Suzanne Treyvoux. The couple was blessed with two sons, Charles Louis and Alfred Joseph.
He died on June 6, 1941, in Detroit and was buried in the Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Louis Chevrolet biography timelines
- // 25th Dec 1878He was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1878, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, to Joseph Felician Chevrolet, a watch and clockmaker, and his wife, Angelina Marie Chevrolet. He was the second child of the six children — four sons and two daughters — of his parents.
- // 1898In 1898, he got a job with the ‘Mors Auto Company’ and was sent to an auto dealership in Montreal, Canada, the following year. He worked as a chauffeur-mechanic for six months and then moved to Brooklyn, New York.
- // 1905In 1905, in his first automobile race, he defeated the great American driver Barney Oldfield, and thereafter he set records on every important track in the United States. During his career on the famous brick track he won 10 races and an additional 27 major races elsewhere.
- // 1905In 1905, he married Suzanne Treyvoux. The couple was blessed with two sons, Charles Louis and Alfred Joseph.
- // 1909In spite of having little formal education, he learned car design and started designing his own engine for a new car in 1909. He built an overhead valve six-cylinder engine in his own machine shop on Grand River Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan.
- // 1911In 1911, he co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Company with Durant, and even with little formal education, he designed and built the first Chevrolet automobile. He also established the ‘Frontenac Motor Corporation’ to build high-performance engine heads.
- // 3rd Nov 1911On November 3, 1911, he co-founded the prestigious ‘Chevrolet Motor Car Company’ with Durant and two other investment partners, William Little, and Dr. Edwin R. Campbell.
- // 1915But when differences arose between him and Durant over the car's design, he sold Durant his share in the company, in 1915, and moved on to found McLaughlin's Company in Canada for building Chevrolets.
- // 1916In 1916, he, along with his brothers, founded the ‘Frontenac Motor Corporation’ to make racing parts for Ford Model Ts. But he was not an astute businessman and soon the company failed.
- // 1934 To 1938Later on he worked for the Stutz Automobile Company, Indianapolis, and also established an unsuccessful aircraft factory. In 1934, he became a consultant at the Chevrolet division of General Motors, where he remained until he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was forced to retire in 1938.
- // 6th Jun 1941He died on June 6, 1941, in Detroit and was buried in the Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Louis Chevrolet's FAQ
What is Louis Chevrolet birthday?
Louis Chevrolet was born at 1878-12-25
When was Louis Chevrolet died?
Louis Chevrolet was died at 1941-06-06
Where was Louis Chevrolet died?
Louis Chevrolet was died in Detroit
Which age was Louis Chevrolet died?
Louis Chevrolet was died at age 62
Where is Louis Chevrolet's birth place?
Louis Chevrolet was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
What is Louis Chevrolet nationalities?
Louis Chevrolet's nationalities is Swiss, American
Who is Louis Chevrolet spouses?
Louis Chevrolet's spouses is Suzanne Treyvoux
Who is Louis Chevrolet childrens?
Louis Chevrolet's childrens is Charles Louis and Alfred Joseph
Who is Louis Chevrolet's father?
Louis Chevrolet's father is Joseph-Félicien
Who is Louis Chevrolet's mother?
Louis Chevrolet's mother is Marie-Anne Angéline
What is Louis Chevrolet's sun sign?
Louis Chevrolet is Capricorn
How famous is Louis Chevrolet?
Louis Chevrolet is famouse as Founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company