1917 Chevrolet Speedster, Austin Depot, Pioneer Town Museum - Cedaredge, CO - Permanent Car Displays on Waymarking.com

"The 1917 Chevrolet Series D V-8 followed an engine trend that Cadillac started in 1915, one that a slew of automakers were copying.

Chevrolet chief "Billy" Durant temporarily put aside his quest for success in the low-price arena and ordered that a new V-8 Chevrolet go on sale -- nearly four decades before Chevy's famed 1955 small-block V-8 would appear.

Advanced in design, the 1917 V-8 had a central camshaft operating vertical overhead valves in each bank, a counterweighted crankshaft, and detachable crossflow cylinder heads. Displacing 288 cubic inches and breathing through a Zenith two-barrel carburetor, it developed 55 horsepower at 2,700 rpm, running on 4.75:1 compression.

Billed as "A New and Greater Chevrolet," the mid-priced V-8 cost $1,385 (more than a Buick) and failed to attract a sizable crop of customers. Riding a 120-inch wheelbase, the touring car weighed 3,200 pounds.

Not only was the V-8 Chevrolet's most powerful engine yet, but years would pass before another could beat it in horsepower. Its new chassis heralded the forthcoming light-car trend, featuring quarter-elliptic cantilever springs at the rear.

Meanwhile, a Series F roadster and touring replaced the Series H models, and the economy-minded 490 model got some improvements -- along with a new sedan. All models had an electric starter. Issuing about 111,000 U.S.-built cars in 1917, Chevy stood fourth behind Ford, Willys-Overland, and Buick." (from (visit link) )

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Pioneer Town Museum is open seasonally (during the summer), so do check their website for the correct hours (visit link) . There is an admission charge, but well worth the price ($5 in 2015).

Car make/model: 1917 Chevrolet 490 Series Roadster Interaction with car: no Admission price: $5 Is the car an original?: yes Viewing time: Not listed

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