VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 First official SPORT car chevrolet made????

What year and model was the first officially advertised/ recognized chevrolet, sold as a sport car made by chevrolet. I do not mean slang or unofficially called but officially titled by chevrolet as a SPORT model.

Guys and Gals

someone told me Louis Chevrolet was a race car driver and was racing around from day one

Ken

Your question and resrictions on answers kind of makes it obvious that there's going to be several opinions on this one...

The first obvious answer for me, in terms of it was designed to be a sports car, and came with a souped up motor and a boat load of sports car advertising would be the 1953 Corvette. Right away Chevrolet got into racing, and developing a pedigree for the car in terms of a factory sanctioned race team and engineering developement with an eye to future races.

However, Chevrolet used the term "sports roadster"or "sports coupe" in marketing cars as far back as 1929. These cars did not come with any performance improvements over a regular Chevrolet, and only signified that the car was marketed to a younger, "sporty" crowd.

The first Chevrolet that offered as an option a "sporty" appearance in my mind is the 1915 Amsbury Special... another looker, but without any performance improvements.

Some may argue that it would be a 1917 series D-V8... but I think that Chevrolet's first V8 was marketed as a higher class of a car, not a sports car.

Ken,
What I am getting at is this. I have a 1927 Capitol AA Sport Cabriolet. It is listed as such in the production records and when I look at other production records, it is the first time this term SPORT, OFFICIALLY appears. No where does it show a 1926 or earlier mention of the word SPORT.I know we casually refer to some as sport coupes or sport roadsters, but these were not official. I believe that due to the promotion of 1927 to get more women into cars this term was first used to describe a car made by chevrolet,in ads and paperwork furnished by the company.
I contend in name only(officially designated by chevrolet), the 1927 Sport Cabriolet was the first sport car ever made by chevrolet.

What I am saying is that 1927 was the first year SPORT was officially used by chevrolet to describe one of it's cars and the SPORT CABRIOLET was the first car they OFFICIALLY used it on. What say you all???

Absolutely... I wrote 1929 in my reply, but forgot about the sports cabriolet from '27.

Their use of Sport had nothing to do with "sportyness"

From 1934 to 1948 a 4 door with a trunk was a sport sedan. The 1940-48 club coupes were sport coupes. Just a name that they seemed to like.

No,nor did my question. I am not asking which one had "sportyness" or appeared the "sportyest", which is based on mere conjecture, but which chevrolet car first held the name/term of SPORT in their model name. I am going to assume that the 1927 Sport Cabriolet was the first ever SPORT chevrolet by nomenclature and the claim to being chevrolet's first SPORT car, unless anyone can shed some purely historical info to prove different.

I would have to say 61 "Super Sport", BUT the first "Super Sport" model GM sold was acually a V8 Oldsmobile made in 1921 or so. Fancy car with all the bells and whistles and had 4 large alum step plates instead of running boards and had mud flaps on the front fenders. Pretty rare to find one today but at least one does still exist! There is a pic of one on ebay that shows up with a ball player standing next to a "Super Sport" Olds. I think at Yankee stadium. The car was given to him and it was a publicity shot. I have to agree the Corvette was the first true Chevy sports car built as a sports car, The other older ones were just "sporty" looking. The later Super Sports did have performance engines and transmissions as well as dress up items.

In the early years [20s & 30s] Chevrolet began to use "Sport" to indicate a model with a rumble seat instead of trunk. Then later (1934) a Sedan without a trunk. So the significance of the term "Sport" is fraught with inconsistencies that are promotionally based. Caveat Emptor!

In 1921 olds made 19,157 vehicles. Models 37,43A,45B,46,47 and economy trucks. The 47 was the only V-8, I think. There were only 3,085 of the Model 47 made. I have looked at many of the promotional materials made that year by Olds and none state "Super Sport or Sport". The picture was probably Babe Ruth, because in 1921 the Yankees announced that they would build a new stadium and they won the championship that year. Ruth would have been the receipent, most likely that year, but Ruth was known to drive a Packard Roadster.
Any of you Olds history or Yankee history guys want to jump in. I know this thread is not about twisting bolts, but history is an important part of vintage cars.
I can find no proof of a 1921 Olds Super Sport.

Thanks Chip for you input. I agree the term was and still is used loosely and open to conjecturer, but what I am seeking is a factual "Model Name", by the manufacturer, in which it was first used. I have a 1927 ad that states the model name was "Sport Cabriolet" and I am seeking similar data published during that year or any previous year, by any manufacturer that uses the term "SPORT" in its Model name, prior to 1927.

If you have,or can get a copy of the book,"The Cars of Oldsmobile" by Dennis Casteele,and go to page 87.There is a picture of the Detroit Tigers Ty Cobb standing proudly by his 1922 Olds Model 47 Super Sport Touring car.
On the same page,there is also a picture of an Olds Model 47 Super Sport,that was sent around Lake Michigan by the Lake Michigan good roads people.
The Model 47 Olds V8 was called the "light V8",as most of the engie was made from aluminium(crankcase etc),whereas the Models 45-B & Model 46 Olds V8's were known as the "heavy "V8's",due to the engines being made prdominately from all cast iron.

Ok , I had to go get my book out for this one. "Setting the pace" by Helen Early and Jim Walkinshaw. Helen worked at Olds since around 1947-9 till she passed and she was Dennis Castelles' secratary at one point. She also ran the Olds history center till Olds closed and GM took it over at the GM Heritage center. She had compiled the most accurate and complete list of Olds production numbers and other records that was possible. Here is what she wrote about the Super Sport. Made in 1922 and 1923. Based on the model 47, Super Sport was the body style as listed. Base price $1680, Production 504 units in 23 (1922 super sport numbers were included in the regular touring car numbers so who knows there), WB 115", WT 3140lbs, V8, L head type, Bore and stroke 2.88"x4.5", CID 234, 63.5 HP. I looked at the photo again on ebay and the car has a Washington DC license plate and the ball player has a "W" on his sleeve so no doubt he played for Washington who ever he was. Here is a link to the large and clear photo. http://cgi.ebay.com/Baseball-Player...Art_Photo_Images&hash=item2308caabe5 By the way , there was also listed a "Sportster" model in 1918.

Same car as on page 87 in "The Cars of Oldsmobile" by Denis Casteele,just a bloke from a different baseball team.But it still gives an idea of how far back the term "Sport" was used in conjunction to promote car sales,especially when they used sports icons of the day as a promotional tool.

Gentlemen and blokes,
Thanks to everyone for your great research. I appreciate your help. The pics were awesome. Does anyone have any more info, specifically related to Chevrolet offically using that term prior to 1927, if not, the 1927 Capitol AA Sport Cabriolet was the first officially named SPORT car made by chevrolet. Can we all agree on that statement?

Doesn't bother me.