General Motors responded to Ford’s all-new Model A, priced lower than a comparable Chevrolet, with the 1928 Chevrolet National Series AB, offering a $50 discount off its base price. The strategy paid off. Chevrolet ended 1928 as the nation’s sales leader, although Ford would soon reclaim the advantage.

Essentially a renamed 1927 Series AA Capitol, the 1928 National Series AB benefited from both mechanical and visual improvements, including a handsome facelift and a wheelbase stretched by four inches for a total of 107 inches. Notably, this model revamp would be the first project undertaken by GM’s nascent Art and Color Section. Built from the ground up by lead stylist Harley Earl, the department would eventually become GM Design, making the company the first automaker to standardize the design process within product development, the company claimed.

Compared to the previous model, the 1928 National Series AB featured a longer, straighter hood, flowing fender lines, a lower profile, and smoothly integrated body panels. The longer hood was both aesthetic and functional, as it made room for the six-cylinder engine GM planned to introduce.

For 1928, the tried-and-true 171-cubic-inch four-cylinder engine received its final upgrades by way of higher compression, larger valves, aluminum pistons, and a revised carburetor. These refinements bumped output to 35 horsepower, although the added weight of the car negated any performance gains. The National would become the last four-cylinder-powered Chevrolet until 1961.

More significant to buyers, Chevrolet added mechanically actuated four-wheel brakes, a major safety improvement. Fisher Body offered eight different options, ranging from open to closed body styles. One standout was the Coupe, as offered here, which featured false Landau bars mounted on its fabric-covered fixed roof—a stylish nod to the National Series’ top-of-the-line Imperial Landau Sedan.

Acquired for a sizeable collection in 2014, this National Series AB Coupe is finished in the model’s signature color of Faunce Green. Black fenders and Dunsmuir Gray wheels offering a pleasing contrast to the main body. A pair of cowl lights, a fabric windshield visor, a rear-mounted spare, and a Boyce Moto-Meter enhance both style and function. On the interior, a lovely wood-rimmed steering wheel and corduroy upholstery are a pleasure to behold and feel.

A lovely little pre-war coupe, this National Series AB in an attractive color scheme exudes character and historical significance as the first model styled under General Motors’ dedicated design department.