Chevrolet's 100 year history - in pictures

Swiss-born automobile designer and racing driver Louis Chevrolet sits behind the wheel of his prototype car, 1911, the car which became the Classic Six. The car went into production as the first Chevrolet in 1912 Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Buster Keaton behind the wheel of a Chevrolet car, 1932. The company dropped its prices in the 1930s in response to the global slump, with its "Roadster" model costing just $475 Photograph: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

The 1936-37 Flint sit-down strike turned the Union of Automobile Workers from a small group into a major trade union Photograph: New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images

A 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe. The Bel Air was produced from 1950 to 1975 Photograph: CSU Archives/Everett Collectio/Rex Features

An advertisement for Chevrolet Corvette and Bel Air Sport Coupe, circa 1950. Other well-known Chevrolet advertising slogans included 'See the USA in your Chevrolet' and 'Like a Rock' Photograph: Fotosearch/Getty Images

Singer Pat Boone sits in his Chevrolet Corvette sports car, 1950s Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, complete with distinctive 1950s tail fins Photograph: Car Culture/Corbis

A Chevrolet Corvair outside the Skyliner Motel, located at the intersection of Route 66 and Route 99 in Stroud, Oklahoma Photograph: Car Culture/Corbis

A red and white Chevrolet Corvette. First created in 1953, the Corvette is now into its sixth generation, and is still being produced and sold Photograph: Getty Images

The 1958 Chevrolet Impala sport coupe. The Impala derives its name from the southern African antelope Photograph: AP

A line of Chevrolet Trailblazers in the back lot of a southeast Denver Chevrolet dealership Photograph: David Zalubowski/AP

An assembly line worker moves a seat into position for a Chevrolet Volt at the General Motors Hamtramck Assembly plant in Hamtramck, Michigan Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP

A Chevy Volt-Electric Vehicle concept car at the New York International Auto Show. The Volt runs for 35 miles on its electric charge, and can go 375 miles further using an internal petrol-powered generator Photograph: Erik C Pendzich/Rex Features

The New Chevrolet Spark during press day at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show Photograph: Martial Trezzini/epa/Corbis

Shoppers walk past Transformers' star 'Bumblebee' in Westfield shopping centre, London. Bumblebee is an Autobot Transformer who can change into a Chevy Camaro car Photograph: Joel Ryan/AP

A man fixes his 1954 Chevrolet in Havana, Cuba Photograph: Rodrigo Arangua/AFP

The tail fin of the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Photograph: Car Culture/Getty Images