Arthur Chevrolet
Arthur Chevrolet | |||||||
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Champ Car career | |||||||
6 races run over 4 years | |||||||
First race | 1910 Wheeler-Schebler Trophy (Indianapolis) | ||||||
Last race | 1916 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
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Arthur Chevrolet (April 25, 1884 – April 16, 1946) was an American
Biography
Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Arthur was the middle brother of Louis Chevrolet (1878–1941), founder of the Chevrolet car company; and Gaston Chevrolet (1892–1920). After brother Louis emigrated to America and earned enough money, he sent for Gaston and Arthur to join him. Once there, Arthur worked as an automotive mechanic and joined his brothers in auto racing. In 1911, he competed in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 but had to drop out after 30 laps when his Buick developed mechanical problems.
In 1916, the year after Louis left the Chevrolet car company that he had co-founded, Arthur Chevrolet assisted Louis and Gaston in the new Frontenac Motor Corporation.
Driving a Frontenac, Chevrolet qualified for the Indianapolis 500 again in 1916, but was forced out after 35 laps when the car developed ignition magneto problems. His driving career ended during practice rounds for the 1920 Indianapolis 500 when he was severely injured in a crash. Brother Gaston won that year's race in a Frontenac, but Gaston was killed in a California race a few months later.
In 1928, Chevrolet filed with the US Patent Office for an 'Overhead Valve Engine'. Patent #1,744,526 was awarded on January 21, 1930.[1]
In 1929 Arthur and Louis Chevrolet left the auto business altogether to form the Chevrolet Brothers Aircraft Company with a new engine of their design (Chevrolair). The business was unsuccessful and was eventually taken over by investors. Arthur and Louis returned to automobiles, becoming pioneer leaders in the development of
In 1942 Chevrolet retired to Slidell, Louisiana. Suffering from depression, he committed suicide by hanging in 1946, only nine days shy of his 62nd birthday.[2]
Chevrolet was thought to be interred next to his brothers in the
Motorsports career results
Indianapolis 500 results
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References
- ^ US Patent Office. "Arthur E. Chevrolet - Overhead-Valve Engine". Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- United Pressin The Pittsburgh Press. April 18, 1946. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- ^ The Advocate
External links
- Arthur Chevrolet at ChevroletBrothers.com