Which Chevrolet model was named after the number in its original $490 price?

The Chevrolet 490 was named after the number in its original $490 price.

Introduced for 1915, the 490 was Chevrolet’s first major attempt to compete in the mass market. Its price was deliberately set near the Ford Model T’s price, giving buyers an alternative to Ford’s dominant low-cost car. The model used a four-cylinder engine and was offered in body styles including touring and roadster forms.

The 490’s success changed Chevrolet’s direction. The expensive Classic Six had established the marque, but the 490 created sales volume and helped William C. Durant rebuild his influence in the automobile industry. Durant later used Chevrolet’s growth to return to control of General Motors.

The name is not a reference to engine displacement, horsepower, or a model series unrelated to price. It directly recalled the car’s original $490 list price, although prices and equipment changed during its production run.