Chevrolet Series D
The Chevrolet Series D is an American automobile produced by Chevrolet for the 1918 model year, and was initially the only Chevrolet vehicle manufactured with a factory V8 engine. It was not until 1955 that Chevrolet made another V8.[1]
Chevrolet Series D | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Chevrolet (General Motors) |
Production | 1917–1918 4,000 produced |
Model years | 1918 |
Assembly | (main plant) Flint Assembly, Flint, Michigan (1315 produced) (branch assembly) Oakland Assembly, Oakland, California North Tarrytown Assembly, Tarrytown, New York (3324 produced) Norwood Assembly, Norwood, Ohio St. Louis Assembly, St. Louis, Missouri Ft. Worth Assembly, Ft. Worth, Texas Oshawa Assembly, Oshawa, Ontario Canada (194 produced) |
Body and chassis | |
Related | Chevrolet Series 490 Chevrolet Series FA |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 288 cu in (4.7 L) V8 |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 120 in (3.05 m) |
Curb weight | 3,150–3,200 lb (1,429–1,451 kg) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Chevrolet Light Six |
Successor | Chevrolet Series M Copper-Cooled (market position)[1] |
Over 4,000 units of Series D's were built.[2]
Models
The series came in two body styles, a 4-door 5-passenger Touring Sedan Model D-4 and a 2-door 4-passenger Roadster Model D-5. The only difference between the Touring Sedan and the Roadster was the Roadster had a "dual-cowl" approach while the Touring sedan used four doors. According to documented records, the term "Chummy Roadster" was not mentioned but may have been a marketing term added later.[1] The only standard color offered was Chevrolet Green with French-pleated leather interior. Both were equipped with a 20 gallon fuel tank installed in back. Mahogany was used for all visible woodwork and nickel plated brightwork. Both the touring sedan and roadster had a listed retail price of US$1,550 ($30,156 in 2022 dollars [3]) which made it a one year only product.[4]
Details
The Series D's engine is a liquid-cooled, 288-cubic-inch (4.7 L) 90° V8, designed and built by Chevrolet in 1917 and subsequently by General Motors Company's new Chevrolet Division after the 1918 merger of the two firms.
The engine is capable of producing 36 hp (27 kW; 36 PS) at 2700 rpm.[5] This was Chevrolet's first V8 and one of the first overhead-valve V8 engines (Chevrolet would not produce another V8 until the debut of the Generation I small-block in 1955). This design had a partially exposed valvetrain (pushrods and lifters were visible) with a nickel-plated rocker cover, an aluminum water-cooled intake manifold. The starter is in the valley of the block, as well as the gear driven generator with the fan clutch coming off of it. The gear driven generator runs the distributor as well. The belt in the front drove only the water pump. It had a 50 lb (23 kg) flywheel and a counterbalanced crankshaft. Bore and stroke was 3.375 in × 4 in (85.7 mm × 101.6 mm) with three main bearings, solid valve lifters and a Zenith double-jet carburetor.[1]
- Chevrolet Series D V-8 Engine Compartment
- 1917 Chevrolet Series D V-8 Chummy Roadster front
- 1917 Chevrolet Series D V-8 Chummy Roadster rear
References
- Kimes, Beverly R. (1996). Clark, Henry A. (ed.). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1945. Kraus Publications. pp. 283–302. ISBN 0873414780.
- "75 Years of Chevrolet" (PDF). GM Heritage Archive. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 1, 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- "87 Year Old Chevy V-8!". Motorburg. 19 July 2003. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- "1917 Chevrolet Series D Engine". GM Photo Store. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2012.