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GM Names Its Top 10 Production Cars

GM Names Its Top 10 Production Cars

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty PadgettMarty Padgett August 27th, 2008

1999 GM (Specialty Vehicles) EV1

1999 GM (Specialty Vehicles) EV1

Enlarge Photo
As it preps for its 100th anniversary celebration in a few weeks, General Motors has been digging through its archives to name its top 10 production cars built in its history.

There are some familiar names on the list--maybe you've heard of the Corvette or the Chevy Bel Air? Other choices are a little more esoteric, like the 1927 LaSalle, and some seem like kudos thrown to various parts of the General Motors empire for political reasons--we're talking about the influential-but-maybe-not-earth-shattering Saab 92 here.

It's one way to kick off an anniversary celebration--and another way to trigger endless rounds of bar trivia and free drinks, which sounds like the highest purpose we can think of. Disagree with any of these choices? Tell us in a comment below while we try to shoehorn in an 11th nod on the list (what, you're going to diss the Fiero, guys?):

1996 EV1 (shown above): GM bills this one as the industry's first production electric vehicle. Powered by battery and charged overnight at home, the EV1 gave GM an image headache in later years after it pulled the plug--and enraged environmentalists.

1964 Pontiac GTO

1964 Pontiac GTO

Enlarge Photo
1964 Pontiac GTO: They call this one the first musclecar, and they may be right--it's a lot clearer than, say, the "first rock-n-roll record" or the "first person to predict Amy Winehouse's current state of deshabillement." The "Goat" started life as a Tempest, and stirred a tempest in a teapot that still reverbs at GM today in the form of the 2010 Camaro and the '09 Corvette ZR1.

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

Enlarge Photo
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air: Does anything say "fabulous" more than a pink-and-white (or turquoise-and-white) Bel Air with three ladies turning heads from the front seat? You can smell the burgers at the drive-in and practically feel the onset of Eisenhower's first heart attack when you come within 50 feet of one of these ultimate styling statements. We're not exactly sure what it's saying, but it's not saying anything about "change we can believe in," that's for damn sure.

1953 Chevrolet Corvette

1953 Chevrolet Corvette

Enlarge Photo
1953 Chevrolet Corvette: What started so simple and has evolved into a 205-mph maniac came from GM's Motorama drawing boards, and immediately drew gasps, sighs, and a return volley from Ford in the shape of the Thunderbird. The first Corvette was no race champion, but it set the Chevrolet bar higher than any car before it.

1950 Saab 92

1950 Saab 92

Enlarge Photo
1950 Saab 92: The peace dividend in ur-form? Saab engineers leaned on aircraft influences to pen the first Saab 92 and painted all of them green. Both catchy themes are still in evidence today at the Swedish automaker, though things like seat belts and safety glass have brightened the picture measurably for drivers and passengers alike.

1936 Opel Olympia

1936 Opel Olympia

Enlarge Photo
1936 Opel Olympia: Creepy allusions to the Olympics of the same year aside, this Opel's on the list, GM says, because it pioneered unibody construction. It led to lightweight cars with better safety, GM says--and one-upped the more uppity German brands on their home turf. Kind of like Jesse Owens did, right?

1930 Cadillac V-16

1930 Cadillac V-16

Enlarge Photo
1930 Cadillac V-16: If you couldn't count to 16 in 1930, you might have been totally left out of the magic of the Cadillac of that year. Thank goodness for GEDs and friends with higher math skills--nothing like the V-16 Caddy had ever existed and, with CAFE changing the market as much as the housing crisis, you'll never see anything like it again from GM. Unless our kit-car project of welding four Fieros together, comes together. (What is it with the Fiero? Pure, unadulterated passion.)

1927 LaSalle

1927 LaSalle

Enlarge Photo
1927 LaSalle: It's all about the look, GM says. The LaSalle was the first vehicle to have emerged from the hand of star designer--in this case, the inimitable Harley Earl. The attention lavished on this sub-Cadillac birthed the era of real automotive style, something that even GM's Aztek couldn't kill.

1912 Cadillac

1912 Cadillac

Enlarge Photo
1912 Cadillac: The semi-lascivious headline notwithstanding, this ad speaks of the revolution under the hood in cars of the early 20th century. Not having to stand in front of a car and crank its engine to life--potentially breaking an arm in the process--was a heady advancement of the day. Note to salesmen everywhere: Less injury is totally a USP.

1910 Cadillac Model 30

1910 Cadillac Model 30

Enlarge Photo
1910 Cadillac Model 30: Rival Ford might have jumped its guns with the mass-produced Model T, but GM says this Caddy was the first closed-in car to be built in mass quantities. This made it better than the more plebeian cars that subject their owners to dirt, dust, rain, and...well, the masses. Highfalutin' features like a single taillight were apparently the bees' knees. Were those the days? Yes, we think in fact they were. 1999 GM (Specialty Vehicles) EV1 Enlarge PhotoAs it preps for its 100th anniversary celebration in a few weeks, General Motors has been digging through its archives to name its top 10 production cars built in its history. There are some familiar names on the list--maybe you've heard of the Corvette or the Chevy Bel Air? Other choices are a little more esoteric, like the 1927 LaSalle, and some seem like kudos thrown to various parts of the General Motors empire for political reasons--we're talking about the influential-but-maybe-not-earth-shattering Saab 92 here. It's one way to kick off an anniversary celebration--and another way to trigger endless rounds of bar trivia and free drinks, which sounds like the highest purpose we can think of. Disagree with any of these choices? Tell us in a comment below while we try to shoehorn in an 11th nod on the list (what, you're going to diss the Fiero, guys?): 1996 EV1 (shown above): GM bills this one as the industry's first production electric vehicle. Powered by battery and charged overnight at home, the EV1 gave GM an image headache in later years after it pulled the plug--and enraged environmentalists. 1964 Pontiac GTOEnlarge Photo1964 Pontiac GTO: They call this one the first musclecar, and they may be right--it's a lot clearer than, say, the "first rock-n-roll record" or the "first person to predict Amy Winehouse's current state of deshabillement." The "Goat" started life as a Tempest, and stirred a tempest in a teapot that still reverbs at GM today in the form of the 2010 Camaro and the '09 Corvette ZR1. 1955 Chevrolet Bel AirEnlarge Photo1955 Chevrolet Bel Air: Does anything say "fabulous" more than a pink-and-white (or turquoise-and-white) Bel Air with three ladies turning heads from the front seat? You can smell the burgers at the drive-in and practically feel the onset of Eisenhower's first heart attack when you come within 50 feet of one of these ultimate styling statements. We're not exactly sure what it's saying, but it's not saying anything about "change we can believe in," that's for damn sure. 1953 Chevrolet CorvetteEnlarge Photo1953 Chevrolet Corvette: What started so simple and has evolved into a 205-mph maniac came from GM's Motorama drawing boards, and immediately drew gasps, sighs, and a return volley from Ford in the shape of the Thunderbird. The first Corvette was no race champion, but it set the Chevrolet bar higher than any car before it. 1950 Saab 92Enlarge Photo1950 Saab 92: The peace dividend in ur-form? Saab engineers leaned on aircraft influences to pen the first Saab 92 and painted all of them green. Both catchy themes are still in evidence today at the Swedish automaker, though things like seat belts and safety glass have brightened the picture measurably for drivers and passengers alike. 1936 Opel OlympiaEnlarge Photo1936 Opel Olympia: Creepy allusions to the Olympics of the same year aside, this Opel's on the list, GM says, because it pioneered unibody construction. It led to lightweight cars with better safety, GM says--and one-upped the more uppity German brands on their home turf. Kind of like Jesse Owens did, right? 1930 Cadillac V-16Enlarge Photo1930 Cadillac V-16: If you couldn't count to 16 in 1930, you might have been totally left out of the magic of the Cadillac of that year. Thank goodness for GEDs and friends with higher math skills--nothing like the V-16 Caddy had ever existed and, with CAFE changing the market as much as the housing crisis, you'll never see anything like it again from GM. Unless our kit-car project of welding four Fieros together, comes together. (What is it with the Fiero? Pure, unadulterated passion.) 1927 LaSalleEnlarge Photo1927 LaSalle: It's all about the look, GM says. The LaSalle was the first vehicle to have emerged from the hand of star designer--in this case, the inimitable Harley Earl. The attention lavished on this sub-Cadillac birthed the era of real automotive style, something that even GM's Aztek couldn't kill. 1912 CadillacEnlarge Photo1912 Cadillac: The semi-lascivious headline notwithstanding, this ad speaks of the revolution under the hood in cars of the early 20th century. Not having to stand in front of a car and crank its engine to life--potentially breaking an arm in the process--was a heady advancement of the day. Note to salesmen everywhere: Less injury is totally a USP. 1910 Cadillac Model 30Enlarge Photo1910 Cadillac Model 30: Rival Ford might have jumped its guns with the mass-produced Model T, but GM says this Caddy was the first closed-in car to be built in mass quantities. This made it better than the more plebeian cars that subject their owners to dirt, dust, rain, and...well, the masses. Highfalutin' features like a single taillight were apparently the bees' knees. Were those the days? Yes, we think in fact they were.

Tags: General Motors

Posted in: 2008, 2009, Chevrolet, Classics, Corvette



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Responses (11 total)

  1. 1
  2. 2

  1. By Aussie Al #1, Posted: 8/27/2008

    And of course, nothing from Holden. Pretty typical on that front.
    Saab 92??? I wasn't aware Saab was owned by GM then!!! Weird.

  2. By  Alvin Spinner #2, Posted: 8/27/2008

    I wonder how the new Chevy "VOLT" will fair on this list? The EV1 made it... and the VOLT is supposed to be the next huge revolutionary new car. I guess only time will tell!

  3. By Nurman #3, Posted: 8/27/2008

    What? No Vega?

  4. By John Themac #4, Posted: 8/27/2008

    Now let's see if GM has learned anything. How about if they publish a list of their 10 worst cars?

  5. By  Marty Padgett #5, Posted: 8/27/2008

    Start us off John - what would be your least favorite?

  6. By Tom L #6, Posted: 8/27/2008

    I'd put the Chevette on the top 10 worst. I owned one (my first car) and it was terrible.

  7. By Juan Francisco #7, Posted: 8/31/2008

    The EV1 was not the first production electric vehicle that
    GM killed. From http://www.milburn.us/history.htm
    "The Milburn plant was destroyed by fire in 1919, with losses totaling $900,000, including 30 completed electrics and even more automobile bodies. In January, 1920, production continued in a building on the grounds of Toledo University. In 1921, Milburn Wagon Company capitalization was increased to $1 million; at that time, the company's 800-man workforce was comprised of 200 men building cars and 600 building automobile bodies, largely for Oldsmobile. In February, 1923, General Motors purchased the plant for $2 million; Milburn workers remained in the plant for the two months following, finishing up cars and bodies previously under contract. Then, Buick moved in and the Milburn Electric was no longer produced."

  8. By Larraby #8, Posted: 9/3/2008

    For GM to put the EV-1 on this list only shows how corrupt they are! They built it, subsequently disowned, discredited, made it practically invisible and unobtainable to consumers, then destroyed every single one of them. They would be the top car manufacturer right now if they hadn't bowed to their buddies in Big Oil. Our world right now could've been substantially different if they hadn't have destroyed the EV-1, and more importantly, sold away the technology to Big Oil...P.S. don't hold your breath for the VOLT --

  9. By  EVangel #9, Posted: 9/3/2008

    A reason GM gave for discontinuing the EV1: low sales. For a car that GM never offered for sale. The Corvette took 30 years to sell a million - but somehow came under different corporate math.
    GM itself called the EV1 the "most efficient production car in automotive history," which quote it seems to want forgotten now.

  10. By  revenge of EV1 #10, Posted: 9/7/2008

    GM so arrogantly took away all the EV1 and crushed them, refusing to sell them to willing buyers.
    Now, GM is paying the price as it pathetically names the EV1 as one of its best cars!!
    TOO LATE, and GM is paying the price for killing the EV1.
    GM could resume production of the EV1 at any time; according to Lutz it cost $80K to build each one. If that's not a lie, then why did GM crush such valuable cars???
    NO, GM is just a liar.

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