Founded on November 3, 1911, by Swiss-born race driver Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant, Chevrolet quickly became part of GM after Durant used it to regain control of the company in 1918 . The distinctive “bowtie” emblem debuted in 1913–14, allegedly inspired by design Durant saw on Paris‑hotel wallpaper or in a newspaper ad . Over the century, Chevrolet has grown into a global icon—best known for classics like the Corvette, Camaro, Silverado, and pioneering small-block V8 in 1955 .