conceptcarz.com

1922 Chevrolet Series 490

After William 'Billy' Durant was pushed out of General Motors, he decided to re-enter the automobile business with engineer and racing driver Louis Chevrolet. A light car called the Little was introduced, but Durant had a more substantial automobile in mind. Meanwhile, Louis Chevrolet envisioned an even larger car than Durant wanted, so when the first Chevrolet car, the Classic Six, debuted in 1912, it weighed nearly 4,000 pounds and sold for $2,250. Unable to compete with the Model T, a crash program began for a smaller, less-expensive car. The result was the H-series Chevrolet of 1914 (the first Chevrolet to sell for under $1,000), with a 170.9-cubic inch OHV four designed by Arthur Mason. It was a technically advanced and rugged engine that delivered a remarkable 24 horsepower and would remain in production through 1928. Body styles on the H-Series included the Royal Mail tourer and Amesbury Special roadster. They would remain Chevrolet's mainstay until the arrival of the low-price 490 in 1916, which continued in production through 1922.

1922 Chevrolet Series 490 photo
Canopy Express Truck
Chassis #: SH4877PA
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The Model 490 became the company's new bread-and-butter for 1916, with its name being sourced from its $490 price. Body styles included a roadster and tourer, and in contrast to Ford Model T, the 490 had an overhead-valve engine and a three-speed selective gear transmission with cone clutch. In addition to greater power, Chevrolet's Series 490 models were also relatively well-equipped with a folding top, a top cover, and an upright windshield. Additionally, the electric starting and lighting (available by 1919 for an additional $60) provided heightened ease of operation.

Like its rival, Ford, the 490 was initially available in any color you wanted, as long as it was black.

As Ford-based commercial models on the Model T, the first Chevrolet light delivery models, introduced in 1918, were derived from the 490 passenger car chassis. Rated at half a ton, they were powered by the same four-cylinder overhead-valve engine, which made 26 bhp from 171 cubic inches. A heavier, one-ton truck with a worm-drive axle was patterned on the larger FB-series cars, and later, a three-quarter-ton Model G combined features of the other two. The 490 truck, in its basic pickup form called a 'Light Delivery,' was the mainstay of the commercial segment. In time, a 'Canopy Express' model with a covered load area was offered.

1922 Chevrolet Series 490 photo
Canopy Express Truck
Chassis #: SH4877PA
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
By 1922, the inexpensive and reliable Chevrolet was becoming a more popular alternative to the aging Ford Model T. Its stout 4-cylinder engine, conventional transmission, and standard self-starter made the car easier to operate. The engine had solid valve lifters, three main bearings, a one-barrel carburetor, cast-iron block, and it delivered 26 horsepower at 1,800 RPM. Along with a bare chassis, the 490 was offered as a two-door roadster priced at $510, a four-door tourer with seating for five priced at $525, and a Utility Coupe at $850. The four-door sedan was priced at $875, and the coupe was listed for $680. The utility coupe joined the lineup in March of 1922, and the sedan was also a new addition. Changes this year included a lower windshield and a hand-operated emergency brake.

Chevrolet built 243,479 examples in 1922, including nearly 20,000 examples built in Canada.

Nearly 800,000 examples of the 490 were produced during its seven-year reign. 1922 was also the final year for the Chevrolet SEries FB, available as a roadster, tourer, coupe, and sedan. Prices ranged from $865 to $1,400. The 490 rested on a 102-inch wheelbase, while the Series FB had a larger 110-inch platform.


by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2005

1922 Chevrolet Series 490 Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1922 Series 490
$900-$11,000
1922 Chevrolet Series 490 Price Range: $500 - $900

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Series 490

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
13,605
102.00 in.
4 cyl., 170.87 CID., 19.00hp
$490 - $490
18,000
102.00 in.
4 cyl., 171.00 CID., 24.00hp
$490 - $490
57,692
102.00 in.
4 cyl., 171.00 CID.
$530 - $620
86,200
102.00 in.
4 cyl., 171.00 CID., 26.00hp
$660 - $1,060
127,231
102.00 in.
4 cyl., 171.00 CID., 26.00hp
$715 - $1,185
117,827
102.00 in.
4 cyl., 171.00 CID., 26.00hp
$795 - $1,375
109,473
102.00 in.
4 cyl., 170.87 CID., 26.00hp
$500 - $900

Related Automotive News

PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM APPOINTS NEW CMO

PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM APPOINTS NEW CMO

Adam Langsbard, a veteran marketing pro with more than 20 years experience, has already helped launch the New Petersens awareness and fundraising campaign and has locked in significant partnerships with Kia and Jaguar. (November 12, 2013)...

RRDC VOTES IN 37 NEW MEMBERS FOR 2013

HILLIARD, Ohio (Nov. 7, 2013) - Thirty-seven race-car drivers and motorsports professionals have been voted into the Road Racing Drivers Club in 2013. The group includes 13 Regular Members from the open-wheel and sports-car racing ranks, 20 Associate...

2013 LA AUTO SHOW® HOSTS INAUGURAL MPG MOTORING INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY FORZA MOTORSPORT 5 AND XBOX ONE

Top Collectors and Celebrities to Display More Than 60 Unique Vehicles on November 20 More than 60 historic and unique vehicles to be displayed at Gilbert Lindsay Plaza Influential icons, influencers, tastemakers, luminaries, collectors and celebr...
BOND CAR SURFACES! 007 LOTUS ESPRIT ‘SUBMARINE' CAR  TO BE SOLD AT RM'S FORTHCOMING LONDON SALE

BOND CAR SURFACES! 007 LOTUS ESPRIT ‘SUBMARINE' CAR TO BE SOLD AT RM'S FORTHCOMING LONDON SALE

RM Auctions lifts the gavel on the one and only functional submarine car, used in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, at its eagerly awaited central London sale, 8–9 September Fully functioning submarine car was designed and fitted to prop...

Carroll Shelby Annual Tribute & Car Show Celebration In Southern California To Benefit Carroll Shelby Foundation

Los Angeles Shelby American Automobile Club (LASAAC) will celebrate the incredible life of the automotive legend with the first annual Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show on May 11, 2013, one year after his passing. The one day event, which will benefit...