 The 1917 Chevrolet Series D had good power, but its high price led to low sales. See more pictures of Chevrolet Series cars. |
Chevrolet chief "Billy" Durant temporarily put aside his quest for success in the low-price arena and ordered that a new V-8 Chevrolet go on sale -- nearly four decades before Chevy's famed 1955 small-block V-8 would appear.
Advanced in design, the 1917 V-8 had a central camshaft operating vertical overhead valves in each bank, a counterweighted crankshaft, and detachable crossflow cylinder heads. Displacing 288 cubic inches and breathing through a Zenith two-barrel carburetor, it developed 55 horsepower at 2,700 rpm, running on 4.75:1 compression.
Billed as "A New and Greater Chevrolet," the mid-priced V-8 cost $1,385 (more than a Buick) and failed to attract a sizable crop of customers. Riding a 120-inch wheelbase, the touring car weighed 3,200 pounds.
Not only was the V-8 Chevrolet's most powerful engine yet, but years would pass before another could beat it in horsepower. Its new chassis heralded the forthcoming light-car trend, featuring quarter-elliptic cantilever springs at the rear.
Meanwhile, a Series F roadster and touring replaced the Series H models, and the economy-minded 490 model got some improvements -- along with a new sedan. All models had an electric starter. Issuing about 111,000 U.S.-built cars in 1917, Chevy stood fourth behind Ford, Willys-Overland, and Buick.
 The 1917 V-8's 55 horsepower would be the most for a Chevy until 1932. |
| Model | Weight range (lbs.) | Price (new) | Number built |
| Series D | 3,150-3,200 | $1,385 | 511 |
For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:
- Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.
- Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.
- Sports Cars: Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.
- Consumer Guide Automotive: Here's your source for news, reviews, prices, fuel-economy and safety information on today's cars, minivans, SUVs, and pickups.
- Consumer Guide Used Car Search: In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and trouble spots.
- How Chevrolet Works: Get the inside story of one of America’s greatest automotive marques in this lavishly illustrated history of Chevrolet, beginning with its founding in 1911.
