- An Educational Website -
Film Footage & Videos
From the very beginning, automobile racing has attracted a lot of media attention. During their heyday, the Chevrolet Brothers competed in a number of races which were professionally filmed by motion picture studios. The 1909 Atlanta Speedway races, 1916 Uniontown board track races, and 1923 Windsor Canada Triple-A races were all captured on film. Movie goers across the country had an opportunity to see these films shortly after the races were held.
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Unfortunately, the bulk of these motion pictures have not survived the test of time. As most movie buffs are painfully aware of, old film stock was produced on nitrate film, a medium which is prone to decay and deterioration. Perhaps with a little luck there might be footage of the Chevrolet Brothers that has somehow survived, and which is waiting to be viewed by a new generation of race fans.
Below are a handful of film clips which have been carefully preserved, and that show the Chevrolet Brothers in competition. Also included are videos of some of the machines the brothers had a hand in building, and that are still running today. Enjoy!
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January 1906 - Ormond Beach, Florida
25 Liter Darracq V8
Driver - Louis Chevrolet
(Detroit Public Library)
1905 Darracq - 25 Liter Land Speed Record Car
Mark Walker purchased the Darracq LSR car in 2006, and spent the next several years restoring it. This video shows the car being fired up for the first time in nearly a century.
June 1910 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Buick Race Car
Driver - Louis Chevrolet
(Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
1910 Buick Bug Model 60 Race Car
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Sloan Museum Curator Jeremy Dimick stops by Jay Leno's shop, and discusses the finer points of the Buick Bug racing machine.
Late 1911 - Detroit Michigan
Chevrolet Classic Six Prototype
Mr. Murphy & Louis Chevrolet
(Detroit Public Library)
1913 Chevrolet Classic Six
Lou Costabile interviews Sloan Museum Curator Jeremy Dimick, and gives a close up view of the Chevrolet Classic Six.
August 1917 - Brooklyn, New York
#54 Frontenac Race Car
Driver - Louis Chevrolet
(Library of Congress)
1917 Match Race - Sheepshead Bay Speedway
Louis Chevrolet races his Frontenac against Barney Oldfield in the Miller powered Golden Submarine, and Ralph DePalma in the 12-cylinder Packard.
Sept 1917 - Harkness Trophy Race
Ray Bigby & Louis Chevrolet
accept trophy from Harry Harkness
(Kettering University)
1917 Harkness Trophy Race
Louis Chevrolet scored a number of significant victories in 1917, including the Harkness Trophy Race at the Sheepshead Bay Speedway. This film captures Louie's Frontenac in action.
Nov 1917 - Ascot Park, Los Angeles, CA
#1 Frontenac
Driver - Louis Chevrolet
(Revs Institute)
1917 Ascot Park - Los Angeles, California
Louis Chevrolet is seen with the #1 Frontenac in the 50-mile feature race at Ascot. He finished 3rd that day behind eventual winner Eddie Hearne.
(British Pathe' Film)
Oct 1918 - Belmont Park, Long Island
#16 Frontenac
Driver - Louis Chevrolet
(Aircraft Yearbook)
1918 Belmont Park - Long Island, NY
Interesting film showing Louis Chevrolet in a special exhibition race against an Army Scout Plane.
Sept 1919 - Sheepshead Bay Speedway
Race Action
Louie's Machine Catches on Fire
(Pathe Films Newsreel)
1919 Sheepshead Bay Speedway - Brooklyn, NY
Louis & Gaston Chevrolet in terrific side by side action, at the colossal 2-mile high banked facility. Louis' machine caught fire that day, and both he and his mechanician were badly burned. (British Pathe' Film)
May 1920 - Indianapolis Speedway
Gaston Chevrolet Wins 500
Brother Louis on right celebrates
(Goodyear News Service)
Gaston Chevrolet wins the 1920 Indianapolis 500
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Highlights of the 1920 Indianapolis 500. Gaston Chevrolet, driving a Monroe sponsored Frontenac, wins the 500 without a tire change.
July 1920 - Tacoma, Washington
#4 Frontenac
Driver - Gaston Chevrolet
(Tacoma Public Library)
1920 Tacoma Board Speedway
Wonderful film clip of the AAA stars at the big oval in Tacoma, racing Duesenbergs and Frontenacs. (British Pathe' Newsreel)
November 1920 - Beverly Hills, CA
#6 Frontenac
Driver - Gaston Chevrolet
(Newsreel Film Still)
1920 Thanksgiving Day Race - Beverly Hills, CA
Rare footage of the tragic accident that cost the lives of Eddie O'Donnell, Lyall Jolls, and Gaston Chevrolet.
May 1924 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Fronty Ford Race Car
Henry Ford and Louis Chevrolet
(The Henry Ford)
1924 Indianapolis 500
A few seconds of the famous meeting of Henry Ford & Louis Chevrolet, where Henry is seated in the Fronty Ford race car.
May 1932 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Louis Chevrolet has a friendly meeting with notable VIPs before the big race
(Fox Newsreel - Univ of South Carolina)
1932 Indianapolis 500
Louie is seen having a nice chat with track owner Eddie Rickenbacker, marine engineer Gar Wood, and Henry Ford. (Fox Newsreel - USC)
May 1935 - Dearborn, Michigan
Supercharged Miller-Ford race car
which was prepared by Art Chevrolet
(Wayne State University)
Construction of the 1935 Miller-Ford Race Car
Rare film showing the engineering shop in Dearborn where the Miller-Ford race cars were built. Arthur Chevrolet is seen leading a group of workers assembling the body of the car. (Fomoco/National Archives)
May 1935 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Supercharged Miller-Ford race car
which was prepared by Art Chevrolet
(Shutterstock.com)
1935 Indianapolis 500
The famous FWD Miller-Ford was the brainchild of Preston Tucker, and Harry Miller. In the spring of 1935 Arthur Chevrolet was recruited to help the team. He would serve as George Bailey's crew chief.