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Spotted........a Chevette!
- Thread starter Steve
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A
aerog
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Guest
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I've seen a few of them around. A friend of mine in HS had one that wasn't that old and the floors were almost completely rusted out of it. We used to watch the road roll by under the car through 'em.
78Z
Darth Vader
Offline
They are actually reasonably common around here. I think they sold piles and piles of them new. And of course rusting isn't as big an issue as out east either. We also got a badge engineered Pontiac version called the Acadian. One of the more rare American cars is actually a diesel Acadian.
John Loftus
Darth Vader
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Man ... would you guys take this to the Chevette forum before Basil blows a fuse!!!
https://members.nuvox.net/~on.watscarb/dieselvette.htm
https://members.nuvox.net/~on.watscarb/dieselvette.htm
John Loftus
Darth Vader
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sunbeammadd
Jedi Hopeful
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Australia got the Holden Gemini which was a locally-assembled Isuzu Gemini which was the Japanese version of the Chevette.
There are still hundreds of the horrible things on our roads. That's the trouble with living in a place where rust isn't such a problem. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
There are still hundreds of the horrible things on our roads. That's the trouble with living in a place where rust isn't such a problem. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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Chevettes sold in the USA had a stong Vauxhall heritage, so they are very much a British/American design. Some American Chevettes did use the Isuzu diesel engine, but otherwise, the cars we got were Anglo-American in design.
Nowadays, we are awash in small, front-wheel drive buzz boxes, but I really prefer the classic rear-wheel drive layout of cars like the Chevette.
I thought they were OK.
Their rear-wheel drive, non-MacPherson front suspesion and overall light, simple design gave them a "back-to-basics" appeal to me. The 5 door hatchback is very space-efficent.
My Dad had several and I liked them far more than the Ford Pintos or rear-wheel drive Corollas that we had also owned.
As a semi-joke, I talked to several of my friends last year about building a racing diesel Chevette for our small-bore enduro races, mostly just to be *different*. All of us believe that they can be built to handle pretty well...I've seen a fairly decent autocross 1600 Chevette. The engine has almost the same power as my stock-Spridget and these cars can be lightend down to about 1650 lbs in race trim. A few years ago we ran a standard Renault R4 in enduros. Same idea: a slow dorkey but reliable car (the R4 was eventually rolled and wrecked).
The Pontiac Fiero front suspension was sourced from the Chevette parts-bin.
I may be the only one to admit this but I actually enjoyed surfing through the Chevette weblink listed above!
Nowadays, we are awash in small, front-wheel drive buzz boxes, but I really prefer the classic rear-wheel drive layout of cars like the Chevette.
I thought they were OK.
Their rear-wheel drive, non-MacPherson front suspesion and overall light, simple design gave them a "back-to-basics" appeal to me. The 5 door hatchback is very space-efficent.
My Dad had several and I liked them far more than the Ford Pintos or rear-wheel drive Corollas that we had also owned.
As a semi-joke, I talked to several of my friends last year about building a racing diesel Chevette for our small-bore enduro races, mostly just to be *different*. All of us believe that they can be built to handle pretty well...I've seen a fairly decent autocross 1600 Chevette. The engine has almost the same power as my stock-Spridget and these cars can be lightend down to about 1650 lbs in race trim. A few years ago we ran a standard Renault R4 in enduros. Same idea: a slow dorkey but reliable car (the R4 was eventually rolled and wrecked).
The Pontiac Fiero front suspension was sourced from the Chevette parts-bin.
I may be the only one to admit this but I actually enjoyed surfing through the Chevette weblink listed above!
OP
Offline
The Chevette in the UK, whilst being very similar in design, had the droop-snoot styling, which in my opinion was rather more attractive. There was a high-performance version, for which you can still get the suspension components, and it was fitted with a tuned 2.3 litre slant-four. I have found some info on the web, reproduced below:-
Chevette HS
Vauxhall decided to abandon company-sponsored saloon-car racing in 1977, and instead decided to go into Rallying. They had a long-standing relationship with Blydenstein racing, and commissioned them to develop a rally version of the Chevette. They created a far more powerful Chevette variant by shoehorning the much larger 2.3 litre Slant Four engine into the shell, and with Vauxhall developed a twin camshaft 16-valve cylinder head for it. The gearbox was discarded in favour of a much stronger Getrag 5-speed box, and the bodyshell was strengthened. Avon Alloy wheels (similar to those used on the droopsnoot Firenza) were used, as well as a newly developed GRP nosecone. The resulting car was extremely fast with almost 200 bhp, and a far cry from the small-engined Chevettes from which it was developed. In order to compete in rallying, the car had to be homologated, which basically meant that it had to be a production model derivative in order to be eligible. Thus Vauxhall motors manufactured the HS following the Blydenstein pattern for sale. The result was an incredibly fast road car, and while production was limited to around 400 only, they all sold like hot cakes.
The HS was an immediate success as a rally car, clocking up notable wins for driver Tony Pond. It advanced the state of the art in world-class rallying quite significantly, and easily outclassed the Mk2 Ford Escort which had dominated the sport recently. However, its reign was not to last, as the Audi Quattro soon appeared, raising the stakes once again by introducing four-wheel drive. To stay competitive, a further version, the HSR, was developed, which was an even more powerful variant, and held its own for several more years into the early 1980s. However, the days of rear-drive rally cars were numbered, and the sport was dominated from then on by 4-wheel drive designs. The HSR was also homologated and sold to the public, though in very limited numbers.
Both the rare HS and the even rarer HSR are now very sought-after collectable classics.
External Links
Droop Snoot Group website
Now that set-up, in a Chevy version, wouldn't half raise a few eyebrows /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Chevette HS
Vauxhall decided to abandon company-sponsored saloon-car racing in 1977, and instead decided to go into Rallying. They had a long-standing relationship with Blydenstein racing, and commissioned them to develop a rally version of the Chevette. They created a far more powerful Chevette variant by shoehorning the much larger 2.3 litre Slant Four engine into the shell, and with Vauxhall developed a twin camshaft 16-valve cylinder head for it. The gearbox was discarded in favour of a much stronger Getrag 5-speed box, and the bodyshell was strengthened. Avon Alloy wheels (similar to those used on the droopsnoot Firenza) were used, as well as a newly developed GRP nosecone. The resulting car was extremely fast with almost 200 bhp, and a far cry from the small-engined Chevettes from which it was developed. In order to compete in rallying, the car had to be homologated, which basically meant that it had to be a production model derivative in order to be eligible. Thus Vauxhall motors manufactured the HS following the Blydenstein pattern for sale. The result was an incredibly fast road car, and while production was limited to around 400 only, they all sold like hot cakes.
The HS was an immediate success as a rally car, clocking up notable wins for driver Tony Pond. It advanced the state of the art in world-class rallying quite significantly, and easily outclassed the Mk2 Ford Escort which had dominated the sport recently. However, its reign was not to last, as the Audi Quattro soon appeared, raising the stakes once again by introducing four-wheel drive. To stay competitive, a further version, the HSR, was developed, which was an even more powerful variant, and held its own for several more years into the early 1980s. However, the days of rear-drive rally cars were numbered, and the sport was dominated from then on by 4-wheel drive designs. The HSR was also homologated and sold to the public, though in very limited numbers.
Both the rare HS and the even rarer HSR are now very sought-after collectable classics.
External Links
Droop Snoot Group website
Now that set-up, in a Chevy version, wouldn't half raise a few eyebrows /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
OP
Offline
Neighbors bought a slightly used 'Vette in the late 80's, and it passed to their son Bryan when he got his license. A five door, IIRC. He used it to haul tools and junk around as well as driving to school.
I remember three things about that car:
1.) the color. A nice metallic light blue.
2.) the little yellow tag that flipped down over the odometer when it hit a certain mileage to warn the drivers that it needed emissions system servicing. Never reset, to the best of my knowledge.
3.) the rust. Both floors gone, replaced with sheets of aloominum pop rivetted in place. Front strut towers rusted out as well, to the point that one strut popped out and dented the hood from the inside. Scarily, Bryan continued to drive the car like that....
-William
I remember three things about that car:
1.) the color. A nice metallic light blue.
2.) the little yellow tag that flipped down over the odometer when it hit a certain mileage to warn the drivers that it needed emissions system servicing. Never reset, to the best of my knowledge.
3.) the rust. Both floors gone, replaced with sheets of aloominum pop rivetted in place. Front strut towers rusted out as well, to the point that one strut popped out and dented the hood from the inside. Scarily, Bryan continued to drive the car like that....
-William
curt03mcs
Freshman Member
Offline
I actually still have my 84 Chevette. Its been modified quite a bit though. I chopped the top 3 1/2 inches, lowered the suspension 2 1/2 inches, suicide doors operated electronically, hand built front and rear end. I painted it candy red over a silver base with candy blue flames. It also has lake pipes, handbuilt flares and a frenched power antenna. Chevettes could be easily modified to be great handling and very fast cars, I also had a 78 and an 82. I also own a 1970 Porsche 914/6 and my 2003 Mini Cooper S.
Curt
Curt
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
I actually still have my 84 Chevette. Its been modified quite a bit though. I chopped the top 3 1/2 inches, lowered the suspension 2 1/2 inches, suicide doors operated electronically, hand built front and rear end. I painted it candy red over a silver base with candy blue flames. It also has lake pipes, handbuilt flares and a frenched power antenna. Chevettes could be easily modified to be great handling and very fast cars, I also had a 78 and an 82. I also own a 1970 Porsche 914/6 and my 2003 Mini Cooper S.
Curt
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh, so that was your yellow Mini I left the card on in the Best Buy mall parking lot? I just happen to be in Huntsville (from New Mexico) on an extended business trip.
Welcome to our humble forum!
Basil
I actually still have my 84 Chevette. Its been modified quite a bit though. I chopped the top 3 1/2 inches, lowered the suspension 2 1/2 inches, suicide doors operated electronically, hand built front and rear end. I painted it candy red over a silver base with candy blue flames. It also has lake pipes, handbuilt flares and a frenched power antenna. Chevettes could be easily modified to be great handling and very fast cars, I also had a 78 and an 82. I also own a 1970 Porsche 914/6 and my 2003 Mini Cooper S.
Curt
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh, so that was your yellow Mini I left the card on in the Best Buy mall parking lot? I just happen to be in Huntsville (from New Mexico) on an extended business trip.
Welcome to our humble forum!
Basil
Another welcome from the Land of Enchantment. I see from your profile that you are an electronics engineer with an interest in photography. I don't suppose you could give me any advice on my new digital camera? The old Nikon EM just isn't getting it anymore. Again Welcome and we'll look for your posts.
curt03mcs
Freshman Member
Offline
Thanks for the welcome guys. Are there any other Huntsville Mini's on this list? Basil, I lived in Rio Rancho from 96 to Nov 98, worked at Intel in Fab 11 making Pentium chips. Then moved to Austin TX and just moved to Huntsville about a month ago. Dale what kind of Digital camera are you looking at? I've been a photographer for over 30 years and repaired them professionally for 12 years. If I can be of any help just ask and I'll try my best.
Curt
Curt
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