Here’s a peek behind the scenes at the GM Proving Ground as the 1949 Chevrolets are put through a series of rugged tests.
We were fortunate to find this fine old Jam Handy reel in the Periscope Films archive. It’s a 10-minute survey of the rigorous testing procedures for the 1949 Chevrolet, with much of it filmed at the General Motors Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan. So along with the closeup look at the bow-tie lineup for ’49, we also get to view some interesting test rigs and procedures, along with the roads and facilities of the Proving Ground—just as they were in 1949. According to the film, titled Rough House, the testing was broken down into six areas: performance, durability, comfort, economy, safety, and appearance.
The testers must have been doing something right, for Chevys in those days were known for their reliability and value. The car line was all new for ’49—the first new models since before World War II—with a revised chassis and up-to-date styling. There were two basic body styles, the three-box Styline and the fastback Fleetline, but the top seller was the four-door Styline Deluxe Sport Sedan at more than 191,000 units. That was a pretty good chunk of Chevrolet’s sales that year of slightly more than 1,000,000 cars. See the Chevys put to the test in the video below.
I’ve got a ’49 Chevy Styleline Deluxe. I really enjoy watching cars like mine go through their paces…
Chevrolet may have been very accurate about the durability of these cars. Examples of them, rusty and smoking, we’re still driving around my hometown in the mid-seventies.
I love these old films – Periscope Films does a good job. One thing that struck me was how well landscaped the proving grounds were. It’s a pity the film wasn’t made in color, but that would come a few years later with films like ‘The Rainbow Is Yours’.
My Great Grandpa had one of these. I don’t remember much about it other than it was a black 4 door. It’s doubtful he bought it new, but probably after it was several years old. He kept it parked in an old wooden shed, I remember the black paint was very glossy. When I was a teenager, he traded it in on a new car, new to him that is, a 10 year old, white with red interior, 1961 Impala 4 door hardtop. Again, 6 cylinder, 3 speed manual transmission, he wouldn’t have one of those fancy automatic shifted cars, LOL. He kept that 1961 until he passed away in the early 1980’s, still driving it until he was well in his 90’s. Chevy’s served him well.