Vauxhall Chevette
Encyclopedia
The Chevette was a supermini
model of car
manufactured by Vauxhall
in the UK from 1975 to 1984. It was Vauxhall's version of the family of small "T-Cars" from Vauxhall's parent General Motors
(GM); the family included the Opel Kadett
in Germany, the Isuzu Gemini
in Japan
, the Holden Gemini
in Australia, the Chevrolet Chevette
in the United States, Canada and Brazil
, the AYMESA Cóndor in Ecuador
and a badge-engineered Pontiac Acadian/Pontiac T1000 across North America.
, and was initially presented as a hatchback
, a style that soared in popularity during the 1970s. The Chevette was the first British-built hatchback of this size, with Ford
not responding with a similar product until the following year.
Sales began on 1 May 1975, from a price of £1,593.
From 1975 until 1978, the Chevette was the UK's best selling hatchback as UK branded rivals failed to respond to the challenge of the imported Peugeot 104
, Fiat 127
and Renault 5
until the arrival of Ford's Fiesta
at the end of 1976. Chrysler UK
did not launch its Chrysler Sunbeam
for two years, while it was five years before British Leyland came up with the Austin Metro.
The Chevette had an appeal with younger drivers due to its size, good looks and performance
. Although the Chevette had a small engine, it was perfectly capable of sprightly performance. The Chevette had a light steering
, clutch
and gearchange, as well as good visibility and was spacious inside. The Chevette's success was probably due to its versatility. It was available in three-door hatchback
for the single driver, and saloon models which suited families, and estate.
It was launched in the UK using Vauxhall's slogan and musical 'jingle': "It's whatever you want it to be! - A sporty coupe, a family saloon, a handy estate...". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogqEamihmoE It was made at the purpose built factory in Ellesmere Port, Merseyside, under a government initiative to bring employment to the area.
More conventional 2- and 4-door saloons, and 3-door estate variants (essentially the Opel Kadett
with Vauxhall
front sheetmetal and engines) were also offered from June 1976.
The Viva remained on sale until the end of 1979, when the Opel Kadett D-based Vauxhall Astra
was launched, while the Chevette remained on sale until 1984, itself being replaced by the slightly smaller Vauxhall Nova that was launched in 1983, with Chevette production being reduced in November 1981, when Astra production was moved to the Ellesmere Port
factory.
This longevity led to the Chevette being exported to Germany after 1979, following the discontinuation of the Kadett C; here the Chevette was an unusual small car in that it still featured rear wheel drive. A further 12,332 of the cars were sold as Opels in Germany where with effect from October 1980 the car was badged as the Opel Chevette. By this time, it was the only Vauxhall badged car to be sold in markets such as Mauritius and New Zealand: successor models assembled in the UK for sale in mainland Europe, such as the Astra, have been badged as Opels.
A van
version, based on the estate and called the Bedford Chevanne
was also built, and badged as part of GM's Bedford
commercial vehicles marque.
Although the Chevette was largely a rebadged Opel Kadett C with revised front-end (detailed below), it did use the 1256 cc overhead valve
(OHV) engine of the Viva instead of the Kadett's units, which were produced by Opel. The Kadett's double wishbone
front suspension, rear-wheel drive and rear suspension with Panhard rod
, torque tube
and coil sprung live axle
were carried over unaltered. Inside, the two cars differed only in terms of their dashboard
and switchgear: the Chevette stuck to the British & Japanese right-hand drive tradition of having the indicator switch on the right-hand side of the steering column, while the Kadett had the mainland European left-hand drive custom of the flasher stalk being on the left. The Chevette also had a much more angular instrument binnacle, although the instrumentation within was similar (though in imperial rather than metric measurements).
The Chevette's front end featured a more aerodynamic-looking nose treatment than the Kadett, based loosely on the design of the "droopsnoot" Firenza
. In contrast the Kadett had a more conventional flat-fronted design. In 1980, the Chevette underwent a facelift with flush fitting headlights, giving it a "family look" alongside the larger Vauxhall Cavalier
. It also received new wheel designs, revised C-pillar vent covers and revamped interior trim with re-designed front seats to increase rear knee room marginally. However, it was effectively the beginning of a phase-out in favour of the newer Astra
, Vauxhall's version of the front wheel drive Kadett, which was launched in January 1980.
Production finally finished in January 1984, approximately one year after the launch of the Spanish-built
Nova. 415,000 Chevettes were sold in Britain.
It was notable that New Zealand had the Chevette as well as the Isuzu Gemini, as neighbouring Australia had only the Isuzu Gemini
-based Holden Gemini
. The Vauxhall 1.3L (from the Viva and Magnum) was the standard engine unit for all Chevette models.
Most models were of "GL" specification and all had metric instrumentation. A lower-level trim Chevanne commercial fleet model was also offered, however unlike the European models it used the estate's bodyshell - complete with side windows - and was badged as a Vauxhall.
In 1979 the New Zealand Chevette had a mechanical update unseen on the European models, when it gained Holden
-developed Radial Tuned Suspension. This resulted in the entire Chevette range being re-suspended on wider tyres, and tuned suspension, giving the car superior handling over its rivals.
At the beginning of 1980 the Chevette received a facelift, which included flush mounted headlamps, and various new interior appointments, including extra air vents and different seats, giving more legroom to the cars.
An additional base "E" model was introduced to the range in 1980, aimed at fleets and budget-minded buyers, using the four-door bodyshell. This car was incredibly spartan – fitted with plain wheels and vinyl seats – and lacked many necessities, including reversing lamps, hazard flashers, radio and many gauges.
Production of the New Zealand Chevette ceased in June 1981, when it was replaced by the Holden Gemini
, which for the New Zealand market had initially been sold as an Isuzu in the mid-1970s and then been dropped before making an early-80s comeback.
On the 6th December 1979 Vauxhall announced that they were pulling out of 11 major European countries where Vauxhall cars were sold alongside Opels. This was to be completed by the end of 1981.
, the nearest thing to a 'works' competition effort, they developed a rally version of the Chevette.
They created a far more powerful Chevette variant by fitting the much larger 2.3 litre Slant Four
engine into the shell, using a sixteen valve cylinder head which Vauxhall was developing. Suspension and rear axle were from the Opel Kadett C GT/E, while the gearbox was a Getrag
5-speed. Chevrolet Vega Alloy
wheels (similar in appearance to the Avon wheels used on the droopsnoot Firenza
) were used, as well as a newly developed glass-reinforced plastic
air dam.
The resulting car was extremely fast, with 135 hp (100 kW), and a far cry from the small-engined Chevettes from which it was developed. In order to compete in international rallying, the car had to be homologated
; for Group 4, the class the HS was to compete in, this meant building 400 production examples. The result was an incredibly fast and well handling, if rather unrefined, road car. Like the Droopsnoot Firenza, the HS was available only in silver, with red highlighting and a bright red, black and tartan interior; though (partly to help sell unsold vehicles) some cars were repainted black, such the Mamos Garage HS-X.
The HS was a great success as a rally car, clocking up notable wins for drivers such as Pentti Airikkala
and Tony Pond
. It was a challenge to the most successful rally car of the time, the Ford Escort, winning the British Open Rally Championship
for Drivers in 1979 and for manufacturers in 1981.
To keep the rally car competitive into the 1980s an evolution version, the Chevette HSR, was developed which held its own for several more years. Evolution in Group 4 demanded a production run of 50 cars incorporating the new modifications; these were made by rebuilding unsold HSs and by modifying customers' vehicles. However, the merger of the Vauxhall and Opel marketing departments had already resulted in Dealer Team Vauxhall
and Dealer Opel Team (DOT) joining to form GM Dealer Sport (GMDS); with the Chevette soon to be obsolete, Opel were able to force the cancellation of the HSR rally programme in favour of the Manta 400.
Both the above special editions were created by Rob Darcus of Star Custom vehicles. Rob started to create specials to shift more metal when he was District Manager for Vauxhall in London. He got Hamilton Motors involved and they set up a facility in Ampthill called Star Custom Cars. They did fancy paint jobs on various Chevette dealer specials (that is they were ordered by Rob's dealers in London and not avalible else where). He eventually got the call from Luton where he did the same sort of thing national. Sadly Rob died some years ago.
Supermini
A superminicomputer, or supermini, is “a minicomputer with high performance compared to ordinary minicomputers.” The term was an invention used from the mid-1970s mainly to distinguish the emerging 32-bit minis from the classical 16-bit minicomputers...
model of car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufactured by Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
in the UK from 1975 to 1984. It was Vauxhall's version of the family of small "T-Cars" from Vauxhall's parent General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
(GM); the family included the Opel Kadett
Opel Kadett
The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel between 1937 and 1940, and then again from 1962 until 1991 , when it was replaced by the Opel Astra.-Original model :...
in Germany, the Isuzu Gemini
Isuzu Gemini
General Motors sought a replacement for their world car T-body Kadett / Gemini, and this time, instead of building one design on several continents, they decided to build a world car in one location and export it to several continents...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the Holden Gemini
Holden Gemini
The Holden Gemini is a compact car that was built and sold by General Motors-Holden's from 1975 to 1986. It was derived from the Japanese Isuzu Gemini, one of the many cars based on the GM T-car platform.- TX :...
in Australia, the Chevrolet Chevette
Chevrolet Chevette
The Chevrolet Chevette was introduced in September, 1975 and manufactured for model years 1976-1987 based on GM's worldwide T platform and superseding the Vega as Chevrolet's entry-level subcompact...
in the United States, Canada and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the AYMESA Cóndor in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and a badge-engineered Pontiac Acadian/Pontiac T1000 across North America.
Development
The Chevette was designed to fit into the Vauxhall range below the VivaVauxhall Viva
The Viva was a small family car produced by Vauxhall Motors in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979. These were known as the HA, the HB and the HC series....
, and was initially presented as a hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
, a style that soared in popularity during the 1970s. The Chevette was the first British-built hatchback of this size, with Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
not responding with a similar product until the following year.
Sales began on 1 May 1975, from a price of £1,593.
From 1975 until 1978, the Chevette was the UK's best selling hatchback as UK branded rivals failed to respond to the challenge of the imported Peugeot 104
Peugeot 104
The Peugeot 104 is a supermini motor car designed by Paolo Martin and produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot between 1972 and 1988.- Production history :Saloon launch 1972...
, Fiat 127
Fiat 127
The Fiat 127 is a supermini produced by the Italian automaker Fiat between 1971 and 1983. It was introduced in 1971 as the replacement for the Fiat 850...
and Renault 5
Renault 5
The Renault 5 was first unveiled on 10 December 1971, being launched at the beginning of 1972.The Renault 5 was styled by Michel Boué, who died before the car's release, the R5 featured a steeply sloping rear hatchback and front dashboard...
until the arrival of Ford's Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
at the end of 1976. Chrysler UK
Chrysler Europe
Chrysler Europe was a division of the Chrysler Corporation that operated between 1967 and 1979.-Formation:In the 1960s, Chrysler sought to become a world producer of automobiles. The company had never had much success outside North America, contrasting with Ford's worldwide reach and General...
did not launch its Chrysler Sunbeam
Chrysler Sunbeam
The Chrysler Sunbeam is a small supermini 3-door hatchback manufactured by Chrysler Europe at the former Rootes Group factory in Linwood in Scotland. The Sunbeam's development was funded by a British government grant with the aim to keep the Linwood plant running, and the small car was based on the...
for two years, while it was five years before British Leyland came up with the Austin Metro.
The Chevette had an appeal with younger drivers due to its size, good looks and performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
. Although the Chevette had a small engine, it was perfectly capable of sprightly performance. The Chevette had a light steering
Steering
Steering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. which will allow a vessel or vehicle to follow the desired course...
, clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
and gearchange, as well as good visibility and was spacious inside. The Chevette's success was probably due to its versatility. It was available in three-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
for the single driver, and saloon models which suited families, and estate.
More conventional 2- and 4-door saloons, and 3-door estate variants (essentially the Opel Kadett
Opel Kadett
The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel between 1937 and 1940, and then again from 1962 until 1991 , when it was replaced by the Opel Astra.-Original model :...
with Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
front sheetmetal and engines) were also offered from June 1976.
The Viva remained on sale until the end of 1979, when the Opel Kadett D-based Vauxhall Astra
Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
was launched, while the Chevette remained on sale until 1984, itself being replaced by the slightly smaller Vauxhall Nova that was launched in 1983, with Chevette production being reduced in November 1981, when Astra production was moved to the Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
factory.
This longevity led to the Chevette being exported to Germany after 1979, following the discontinuation of the Kadett C; here the Chevette was an unusual small car in that it still featured rear wheel drive. A further 12,332 of the cars were sold as Opels in Germany where with effect from October 1980 the car was badged as the Opel Chevette. By this time, it was the only Vauxhall badged car to be sold in markets such as Mauritius and New Zealand: successor models assembled in the UK for sale in mainland Europe, such as the Astra, have been badged as Opels.
A van
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
version, based on the estate and called the Bedford Chevanne
Bedford Chevanne
The Bedford Chevanne was a small commercial vehicle produced by General Motors and built in the United Kingdom. It was based on the GM T platform Vauxhall Chevette estate, however unlike the Chevette it had a flat rear floor, no rear seats and panels in place of the side windows.A similar T-Car...
was also built, and badged as part of GM's Bedford
Bedford Vehicles
Bedford Vehicles, usually shortened to just Bedford, was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the British subsidiary of General Motors , established in 1930; and constructing commercial vehicles. Bedford Vehicles was a leading international truck manufacturer, with substantial export sales of...
commercial vehicles marque.
Although the Chevette was largely a rebadged Opel Kadett C with revised front-end (detailed below), it did use the 1256 cc overhead valve
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
(OHV) engine of the Viva instead of the Kadett's units, which were produced by Opel. The Kadett's double wishbone
Double wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
front suspension, rear-wheel drive and rear suspension with Panhard rod
Panhard rod
A Panhard rod is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle...
, torque tube
Torque tube
A torque tube system is a driveshaft technology, often used in automobiles with a front engine and rear drive. It is not as widespread as the Hotchkiss drive, but is still occasionally used to this day...
and coil sprung live axle
Live axle
A live axle, sometimes called a solid axle, is a type of beam axle suspension system that uses the driveshafts that transmit power to the wheels to connect the wheels laterally so that they move together as a unit....
were carried over unaltered. Inside, the two cars differed only in terms of their dashboard
Dashboard
A dashboard is a control panel placed in front of the driver of an automobile, housing instrumentation and controls for operation of the vehicle....
and switchgear: the Chevette stuck to the British & Japanese right-hand drive tradition of having the indicator switch on the right-hand side of the steering column, while the Kadett had the mainland European left-hand drive custom of the flasher stalk being on the left. The Chevette also had a much more angular instrument binnacle, although the instrumentation within was similar (though in imperial rather than metric measurements).
The Chevette's front end featured a more aerodynamic-looking nose treatment than the Kadett, based loosely on the design of the "droopsnoot" Firenza
Vauxhall Firenza
The Firenza is a model of car offered by Vauxhall Motors from May 1971 till 1975. It was a development of the Viva, but had a distinctive coupé body style and only two doors....
. In contrast the Kadett had a more conventional flat-fronted design. In 1980, the Chevette underwent a facelift with flush fitting headlights, giving it a "family look" alongside the larger Vauxhall Cavalier
Vauxhall Cavalier
The Vauxhall Cavalier is a large family car sold primarily in the UK by Vauxhall Motors, the British division of General Motors , from 1975 to 1995...
. It also received new wheel designs, revised C-pillar vent covers and revamped interior trim with re-designed front seats to increase rear knee room marginally. However, it was effectively the beginning of a phase-out in favour of the newer Astra
Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
, Vauxhall's version of the front wheel drive Kadett, which was launched in January 1980.
Production finally finished in January 1984, approximately one year after the launch of the Spanish-built
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Nova. 415,000 Chevettes were sold in Britain.
Timeline (UK model range)
- May 1975 - Introduction of the Chevette 3-door Hatchback in Base and L model variations. Both had an improved version of the 1256 cc OHV engine from the Viva, with a similar 4-speed gearbox, rear wheel drive, independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and servo-assisted dual circuit brakes. Initial standard equipment included two-speed heater fan, radial tyres, reversing lights, heated rear window and reclining front seats.
- November 1975 - Introduction of the Chevette GL with sports wheels with 175 x 70 SR tyres, bumper over riders, and higher equipment level including new center console, front door pockets and velour interior door panels.
- January 1976 - Limited edition Chevette E introduced with L type specification but with black rubber surrounds on windows, revised brightwork and vynide (plastic) seats. U.S. version, the Chevrolet Chevette, is introduced as the smallest domestically-produced car there.
- April 1976 - Revisions: base renamed L and gains cloth upholstery; L renamed GL with no changes; GL becomes GLS and gains velour upholstery.
- June 1976 - E and L 2- and 4-door Saloons and GLS 4-door Saloon introduced with mechanical specification of Hatchback versions. E has reduced equipment level without reclining front seats. L and GLS have specifications of hatchback models plus (on GLS) clock, cigar lighter and bonnet light.
- September 1976 - Chevette L Estate introduced with specification of Saloon model. Bedford Chevanne Van version of Chevette introduced. Similar to Chevette Estate, but without rear side windows and rear seats.
- January 1977 - Chevette E 3-door Hatchback introduced with similar specification to the Saloon model.
- January 1978 - Chevette HS 3-door Hatchback introduced with 16-valve 2279 cc slant-four engine, 5-speed close-ratio gearbox, uprated brakes and suspension. It proved extremely fast and a great success in the rallying tournaments. The HS also featured a full front air dam, black and tartan interior trim and additional instrumentation. Other versions of the HS included the HS-X (with walnut trimmed interior) and the Panther WestwindsPanther WestwindsPanther Westwinds was a manufacturer of niche sports cars and luxury cars, based in Surrey, United Kingdom. Founded in 1972 by Robert Jankel, the Panther company enjoyed success throughout the 1970s with retro-styled cars based on the mechanical components of standard production cars from other...
(with single-cam turbo), both of which were made in very small numbers. - October 1978 - Chevette GL 4-door Saloon model introduced with similar specification to Hatchback model. GL Hatchback now has sports wheels, additional bright trim around the windows, and matt-black rear panel. GLS Saloon discontinued.
- September 1979 - Revisions: all models now have flush-fitting headlights, restyled seats, front door pockets, additional fascia vents, new badging and rear fog light. GL adds protective side mouldings. Optional 3-speed automatic transmission available on L and GL models.
- November 1979 - The rear-wheel drive Opel KadettOpel KadettThe Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel between 1937 and 1940, and then again from 1962 until 1991 , when it was replaced by the Opel Astra.-Original model :...
range was discontinued and replaced by a new front-wheel range with the same model name. - April 1980 - Chevette E Estate introduced with specification of Hatchback and Saloon versions; the E model was intended for the fleet market. Limited edition Chevette Special 2- and 4-door Saloons launched, based on L models. Introduction of the Chevette HSR, which was just an evolution of the Chevette HS.
- June 1980 - Limited edition Chevette Sun Hatch 2-door Saloon model introduced with sunroof, tinted glass and radio fitted as standard.
- October 1980 - Chevette ES 2-door Saloon and 3-door Hatchback introduced with similar specification to the E models but with even lower level of trim with vinyl trim plus carpets. Revisions: E has plaid cloth upholstery; L has radio and quartz clock; GL has front head restraints, radio and (on hatchback) load area cover.
- May 1981 - Limited edition Chevette Black Pearl introduced with black paintwork, silver strobe stripes and ES type specification.
- January 1982 - Limited edition Chevette Silhouette 3-door Hatchback introduced with black paintwork, strobe stripes and ES type specification.
- September 1982 - ES and E models discontinued; range now consists of L and GL saloons and hatchbacks and L estate. Revisions: all models now have laminated windscreen. L models now have push-button radio.
- August 1983 - With the introduction of the Nova four months earlier, the Chevette range was reduced to just the Chevette L 4-door Saloon and 3-door Estate.
- January 1984 - Production of the Chevette L 4-door saloon and 3-door estate, the last available model, ends.
New Zealand
Although the Chevette was generally a European car, it was also assembled in New Zealand between 1976 and 1981. All bodystyles that were available in the UK were sold.It was notable that New Zealand had the Chevette as well as the Isuzu Gemini, as neighbouring Australia had only the Isuzu Gemini
Isuzu Gemini
General Motors sought a replacement for their world car T-body Kadett / Gemini, and this time, instead of building one design on several continents, they decided to build a world car in one location and export it to several continents...
-based Holden Gemini
Holden Gemini
The Holden Gemini is a compact car that was built and sold by General Motors-Holden's from 1975 to 1986. It was derived from the Japanese Isuzu Gemini, one of the many cars based on the GM T-car platform.- TX :...
. The Vauxhall 1.3L (from the Viva and Magnum) was the standard engine unit for all Chevette models.
Most models were of "GL" specification and all had metric instrumentation. A lower-level trim Chevanne commercial fleet model was also offered, however unlike the European models it used the estate's bodyshell - complete with side windows - and was badged as a Vauxhall.
In 1979 the New Zealand Chevette had a mechanical update unseen on the European models, when it gained Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
-developed Radial Tuned Suspension. This resulted in the entire Chevette range being re-suspended on wider tyres, and tuned suspension, giving the car superior handling over its rivals.
At the beginning of 1980 the Chevette received a facelift, which included flush mounted headlamps, and various new interior appointments, including extra air vents and different seats, giving more legroom to the cars.
An additional base "E" model was introduced to the range in 1980, aimed at fleets and budget-minded buyers, using the four-door bodyshell. This car was incredibly spartan – fitted with plain wheels and vinyl seats – and lacked many necessities, including reversing lamps, hazard flashers, radio and many gauges.
Production of the New Zealand Chevette ceased in June 1981, when it was replaced by the Holden Gemini
Holden Gemini
The Holden Gemini is a compact car that was built and sold by General Motors-Holden's from 1975 to 1986. It was derived from the Japanese Isuzu Gemini, one of the many cars based on the GM T-car platform.- TX :...
, which for the New Zealand market had initially been sold as an Isuzu in the mid-1970s and then been dropped before making an early-80s comeback.
Ecuador
The local factory AYMESA produced a version of the Chevette starting in 1978. This version was called AYMESA Cóndor. It had a glass fiber body and a 1500 cm3 engine.Sweden
The Chevette was also sold in Sweden. The range was a little different to that of the UK with the 2 door saloon and 3 door Estate only available in L spec and the Hatch and 4 door saloon only available in GLS spec - no E or GL models were offered.Austria
The Chevette was also sold in Austria, where it was also offered with the option of a low output version of the 1256 engine (49.5 bhp). The range included 2 & 4 door L saloon and Estate, GL 3 door Hatch, GLS 4 door saloon and 3 door Hatch.France
The Chevette was also sold in France but it did not sell well against the Peugeots and Renaults of the time. The Chevette was the last Vauxhall sold in France.On the 6th December 1979 Vauxhall announced that they were pulling out of 11 major European countries where Vauxhall cars were sold alongside Opels. This was to be completed by the end of 1981.
Germany
However within weeks of this being announced Vauxhall said they would be exporting Chevettes to Germany. At the time Opel had already started selling the Kadett D/Astra Mk1 but felt there was still a market for the previous rwd model so the Chevette was sold through Opel dealers with a 1256cc 53bhp N and a 57bhp S Automatic. The only Vauxhall badging was the hub caps and steering wheel.Chevette HS
In 1976, at the instigation of new chairman Bob Price, Vauxhall decided to increase their profile in international rallying. In conjunction with Blydenstein Racing, who ran Dealer Team VauxhallDealer Team Vauxhall
Dealer Team Vauxhall or DTV was set up in January 1971 and closed in 1981Formed by Vauxhall Dealers to circumvent the General Motors and Vauxhall ban on Motorsport...
, the nearest thing to a 'works' competition effort, they developed a rally version of the Chevette.
They created a far more powerful Chevette variant by fitting the much larger 2.3 litre Slant Four
Slant Four
The Slant Four is a type of car engine manufactured by Vauxhall Motors and in modified form by Lotus Cars. Unveiled in 1966, it was one of the first production overhead camshaft designs to use a rubber toothed belt to drive the camshaft from the crankshaft , a method developed in 1956 by Bill...
engine into the shell, using a sixteen valve cylinder head which Vauxhall was developing. Suspension and rear axle were from the Opel Kadett C GT/E, while the gearbox was a Getrag
Getrag
Getrag is a leading manufacturer of automobile manual transmissions. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG...
5-speed. Chevrolet Vega Alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
wheels (similar in appearance to the Avon wheels used on the droopsnoot Firenza
Vauxhall Firenza
The Firenza is a model of car offered by Vauxhall Motors from May 1971 till 1975. It was a development of the Viva, but had a distinctive coupé body style and only two doors....
) were used, as well as a newly developed glass-reinforced plastic
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
air dam.
The resulting car was extremely fast, with 135 hp (100 kW), and a far cry from the small-engined Chevettes from which it was developed. In order to compete in international rallying, the car had to be homologated
Homologation
Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
; for Group 4, the class the HS was to compete in, this meant building 400 production examples. The result was an incredibly fast and well handling, if rather unrefined, road car. Like the Droopsnoot Firenza, the HS was available only in silver, with red highlighting and a bright red, black and tartan interior; though (partly to help sell unsold vehicles) some cars were repainted black, such the Mamos Garage HS-X.
The HS was a great success as a rally car, clocking up notable wins for drivers such as Pentti Airikkala
Pentti Airikkala
Pentti Airikkala , was one of the 'Flying Finns' who dominated world rallying in the past four decades...
and Tony Pond
Tony Pond
Tony Pond was a well-known British rally driver.-Career:His first outings in a rally car were on the then regular Saturday night road rallies in the home counties around London, driving a Mini Cooper S...
. It was a challenge to the most successful rally car of the time, the Ford Escort, winning the British Open Rally Championship
British Rally Championship
The Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship is a yearly rallying series based in the United Kingdom. It comprises seven events with eight scoring opportunities throughout the British Isles. The first championship was run in 1958 and it has been licensed by the MSA Motor Sports Association since...
for Drivers in 1979 and for manufacturers in 1981.
To keep the rally car competitive into the 1980s an evolution version, the Chevette HSR, was developed which held its own for several more years. Evolution in Group 4 demanded a production run of 50 cars incorporating the new modifications; these were made by rebuilding unsold HSs and by modifying customers' vehicles. However, the merger of the Vauxhall and Opel marketing departments had already resulted in Dealer Team Vauxhall
Dealer Team Vauxhall
Dealer Team Vauxhall or DTV was set up in January 1971 and closed in 1981Formed by Vauxhall Dealers to circumvent the General Motors and Vauxhall ban on Motorsport...
and Dealer Opel Team (DOT) joining to form GM Dealer Sport (GMDS); with the Chevette soon to be obsolete, Opel were able to force the cancellation of the HSR rally programme in favour of the Manta 400.
Chevette Blackwatch
This was a Special Edition Chevette made by Star Custom Vehicles, Station Road, Ampthill. They came with Black and Silver Paint, a plaque inside the door stating styles by Farina, sports steering wheel, flared arches and low profile wheels. Blackwatch was written on the nose of the car and on the bottom of each door.Chevette Grenadier
Also produced by Star Custom Vehicles, Station Road, Ampthill. Features Black, Silver and Orchid livery. Color impregnated Front Air Dam. Flexi Rear spoiler. Alloy wheels with locking option. Head restraints. Black four spoke Sports Steering Wheel. Centre console. These features in addition to the Chevette L Hatch Specification. Burr walnut fascia, hinged glove box and door capping. Removable glass tinted sun hatch. 2 wave band radio/stereo cassette player with door speakers. Lock wheel centers. Does anyone one have any more information on this model, are there any left on the road? Do you own one? If so do you have a picture we can use on the site?Both the above special editions were created by Rob Darcus of Star Custom vehicles. Rob started to create specials to shift more metal when he was District Manager for Vauxhall in London. He got Hamilton Motors involved and they set up a facility in Ampthill called Star Custom Cars. They did fancy paint jobs on various Chevette dealer specials (that is they were ordered by Rob's dealers in London and not avalible else where). He eventually got the call from Luton where he did the same sort of thing national. Sadly Rob died some years ago.
Chevette Jubilee
This 1977 special edition was produced to commemorate the Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977.External links
- Vauxhall Motors UK website
- Chevette Owners Group - The most active chevette forum in the UK
- Chevettes.com - Home of the Vauxhall Chevette on the web
- The Droop Snoot Group - the club for Chevette HS, HSR, and all big engined, tuned and modified Chevettes
- Chevettes.net - technical informations about Chevette on the web/Informações técnicas sobre Chevette na web
- Vauxhall Cavalier and Chevette Club Website