1913 Chevrolet Series C

Louis-Joseph Chevrolet was born in northwestern Switzerland in 1878, and in 1886 his family moved to Beaune, in the Côte-d'Or département of France. While there, Louis developed mechanical skills and an interest in bicycle racing. He later moved to Paris and then to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1900, where he worked as a mechanic. A year later, he moved to New York City, and within a few years, he was hired by FIAT as a racing car driver, working briefly with The AutoCar Company in Philadelphia before being hired by Buick as a racing driver.

The Buick Motor Company was officially founded in May of 1903 by David Dunbar Buick and quickly gained a reputation for its valve-in-head (overhead valve) engine. Despite its technical prowess, the company was soon in financial distress, rescued by William Crapo Durant, who used the financial and manufacturing resources of Durant-Dort to correct Buick's course. Under Durant's guidance, Buick soon became the best-selling automobile in America and eventually became the basis for an umbrella automobile company called General Motors. Durant consolidated 13 car companies and ten parts-and-accessories manufacturers under the new holding company's control in 1908. The rapid acquisition of so many companies grossly overextended the corporation, and it soon faced a cash shortage, and in the aftermath, Durant was forced out of the company.

Capitalizing on the popularity of Louis Chevrolet, William Durant, and Louis Chevrolet co-founded the 'Chevrolet Motor Company' in Detroit on November 3rd, 1911. Investment partners included William Little of the Little Automobile Company, James H. Whiting, Durant's son-in-law Dr. Edwin R. Campbell, and later, R.S. McLaughlin of General Motors in Canada.

Just like the Buick automobile, the Chevrolet automobile employed an overhead valve engine. The six-cylinder unit, cast in three banks of two, had a T-head design with a cast-iron block, three main bearings, and solid valve lifters. It was backed by a three-speed selective sliding transmission with a cone-type clutch and floor-mounted gearshift controls. Stopping power was provided by internal expanding brakes at the rear, and wood-spoke artillery wheels were located at all four corners. It was called the Classic Six 'Series C' and offered as a four-door tourer with seating for five at a price of $2,250 in 1912 and $2,500 a year later. The Series C was officially introduced in the fall of 1912 as a 1913 model at the New York Auto Show.

The Chevy Series C, designed by Etienne Planche, rested on a 120-inch wheelbase and came equipped with a full-floating rear axle, drop-forged 'I' front axle, worm and gear type steering, and an English Air starter. The Chevrolet name, in script, could be found on the German silver radiator - the first use of the 'bowtie emblem' logo was in 1914 on the H Series models (Baby Grand and Royal Mail) and the L Series Model (Light Six). The splash aprons, hood, and fenders were all painted black, and a light gray stripe accented the wheels and body side. Standard equipment included a twenty-gallon fuel tank, a two-gallon auxiliary oil tank, a running-board mounted tool kit, a gas gauge, demountable rims, electric lights and self-starter, speedometer and electric speedometer light, a windshield, and a top and top boot.

Chevrolet built approximately 2,999 vehicles in 1912 and 5,987 the following year, the same year the Little Motor Car Company merged with Chevrolet. The 1912 and 1913 Chevy Series C were similar, and at some point, the design of the windshield changed slightly, becoming bolted to the swept-back cowl instead of directly to the dashboard. The swept-back cowl was also a unique feature of the circa-1913 Chevys.

The all-new Series H was introduced in 1914, joined by the Light Six Series L and the Classic Six Series C.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021