Simon Cars - Vauxhall Chevette (T-car)

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Vauxhall Chevette (GM T-car)

The first Chevette was launched as a 2-door saloon by Chevrolet in Brazil in 1973. This was the birth of the GM T-car which was to be sold in the Americas, in Europe, and in the Pacific under brands which included Chevrolet (many), Daewoo (KOR), Grumett (URY), Holden (AUS), Isuzu (JPN), Opel (EU), Pontiac (CAN), Vauxhall (UK). Designed and engineered by Opel in Germany, the basis of the car was a front engine rear wheel drive compact available with the following body styles; 2-door saloon, 4-door saloon, 3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 3-door estate, 3-door van (Chevanne), 2-door coupe as well as some commercials in certain countries. Launched in Britain in March 1975 as a 3-door hatchback, which was a special version developed in Britain at British request but subsequently sold in other markets. The Chevette was powered by the Viva 1256cc engine whilst Opel Kadetts were given an 1196cc engine. Wayne Cherry had remodelled the front of the Opel Kadett to give it a distinctive 'droop snoot' for Vauxhall. In the new few months a high-priced Chevette GL and a lower-priced Chevette E were added to the range. In June 1976 Vauxhall added the non-hatchback saloons; the 2-door which in Germany accounted for 63 per cent of all Opel Kadett C sales, and the 4-door saloon. A 3-door estate was added in September 1976 and a windowless van version of this was marketed as the Bedford Chevanne. Opel already had its own Opel Kadett Caravan. Vauxhall was never given an equivalent of the Opel Kadett Coupe, but Opel did receive the Vauxhall 3-door hatchback which they sold as the Opel Kadett City from May 1975. From September 1979 the Chevette was revamped gaining flush-fitting headlamps, this update was not given to the Opel Kadett as this was phased out to be replaced by the front wheel drive Opel Kadett D. Unlike the Kadett, which offered the Germans larger 1584cc, 1897cc and 1979cc engines, the British were kept to the 1256cc engine alone. However, Vauxhall Chairman Bob Price commissioned the Chevette HS in 1978 (and later Chevette HSR) which stuffed in a highly tuned version of the 2275cc slant four engine and gave it handling and body kits to match. Production was limited to 400, but that was enough to give success in Rally Championship events. From autumn 1982 the range of Chevette models gradually reduces until production ends in January 1984 with 415,000 sold in Britain.

Vauxhall Chevette 1976 L 3-door - badge on rear hatch. The name 'Chevette' had already been used on the Brazilian Chevrolet Chevette since 1973, and probably simply means 'small Chevrolet'.	Vauxhall Chevette 1979 4-door E - badge on boot. The 'E' (for Economy) model was launched in June 1976. The even more basic Chevette ES was sold from October 1980 to September 1982	Vauxhall Chevette 1982 L 4-door - Griffin badge on nose	Vauxhall Chevette 1983 L 4-door - badge on bootlid	Vauxhall Chevette 1976 L 3-door. The British Chevette shows its Wayne Cherry designed 'droop snoot' front which distinguishes if from the German Kadett. This early Chevette has the open headlamps.
Vauxhall Chevette 1982 L 4-door. This Chevette has the post-1979 revamp with flush-fitting headlamps. The Chevette was powered by the Viva 1256cc engine whilst Opel Kadetts were given an 1196cc engine. Unlike the Kadett, which offered the Germans larger 1584cc, 1897cc and 1979cc engines, the British were kept to the 1256cc engine alone.	Vauxhall Chevette 1976 L 3-door. It was the 3-door hatchback that launched the Chevette on the British market in 1975, and this defines the model in Britain, whereas the 2-door 'Limousine' defines the Opel in Germany.	Vauxhall Chevette 1976 L 3-door. Britain's contribution to the GM T-car project was to create the 3-door hatchback body which they promoted. This required quite a lot of changed engineering at the rear, even though mechanically the car was the same.	Vauxhall Chevette 1979 4-door E. The 'E' (for Economy) model was launched in June 1976 on the booted saloons and on the hatchback in January 1977. Equipment was cut down, there were no reclining seats, and in June 1980 the Chevette ES was even more stripped down.	Vauxhall Chevette 1982 L 4-door. Britain had to wait for the 2-door and 4-door Chevettes because the unique 3-door hatchback was launched first in Britain before being passed to Opel and other markets.
	Vauxhall Chevette 1982 L 4-door. The rear of the Vauxhall Chevette booted saloons differed little from the Opel Kadett at the rear.	Vauxhall Chevette 1976 L 3-door - lamps. Until 1979 the Chevette lamps were open rather than faired in. Vauxhall probably chose to use headlamps from standard Cibie stock rather than more costly bespoke units.	Vauxhall Chevette 1983 L 4-door - headlamp. From 1979 the Chevette was given a slight makeover which included faired in headlamps.

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