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Interesting read...
In the 1880s, Billy Durant, a entrepreneur from Flint, Michigan, made a little road cart into the world's largest carriage company. Durant seeing a future for the automobile, he bought Buick in 1904. With visions of a automotive empire he established a new holding company that he called General Motors in 1908.
He brought Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac and others into General Motors. He soon over-extended himself, and by 1910 had lost control of GM to the bankers. Durant started again. In 1911 he established another company called Republic Motors kind of new General Motors. In Flint, he was instrumental in organizing the Mason Motor Co. to build engines, and the Little Motor Car Co., with cars powered by Mason engines.
He then established a new company called the Chevrolet Motor Co. in Detroit, and gradually lost interest in Republic. Racing driver Louis Chevrolet was hired to design a new car to be called the Chevrolet.
The Louis Chevrolet-designed Classic Six wasn't the kind of car that Durant had wanted. It was large, expensive, and had a six-cylinder engine, but since the public announcement had been made, Durant proceeded with production. Durant and Louis Chevrolet would soon part company, although the Chevrolet name stayed.
Both the Chevrolet Classic Six and the little car were offered for sale. The lower priced four cylinders little sold well, although Sixes would be offered for several years. The little was continued only until a new, smaller Chevrolet could be designed.
This new, light, Series-H Chevrolet appeared in 1914 bearing the soon-to-be-famous bow-tie badge. A 170 cu in. overhead valve four-cylinder engine powered it, and its two series had the intriguing names of Baby Grand and Royal Mail. In 1915 a dressed up model called the Amesbury Special joined the lineup. They were the first Chevrolets to sell for under $1,000.
These Chevrolet models were well received, and Durant was ready to take aim at Henry Ford's all conquering Model T. The car he planned for this assault was the Chevrolet Four-Ninety, a stripped down version of the Series-H. It went into production in June 1915.
To aim directly at Ford, Durant said the new car would be priced at $490 (the source of its name), The. Model T touring. Its introductory price was $550, however, although it was reduced to $490 later when the electric starter and lights were made a $60 option. Henry Ford responded by reducing the Model T to $440.
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