| As Rob Berry remembers, after 12 years as one of the best British small family cars, in 1975 the ubiquitous Vauxhall Viva was effectively replaced by the new Chevette. Along with the larger
Astra, this car allowed Vauxhall to considerably expand further into the small-car market. But is it 18-years since the last ones were built?
The
Chevette, announced in March 1975, proved to be the last car badged as a Vauxhall that actually
used a Vauxhall-designed engine. This was the reliable 1256cc four-cylinder in line over head valve engine, which produced 59 BHP at approximately 5600rpm.
The new Chevette had a conventional front engine-rear wheel drive layout, with transmission through a manual four-speed gearbox. The Chevette was effectively one of GM’s world cars, which was known as the ‘T car’. It had first seen the light of day in Brazil in 1974 as a Chevrolet. The ‘T car’ was also sold in the USA, but there it was badged as both Chevrolet and Pontiac versions. The Japanese models used the name Isuzu 1600, this company also supplied engines that powered the Vauxhall Midi vans and mini buses. Of course the GM plant in West Germany was naturally producing an Opel version.
These German-built models were called the Opel Kadett, but we have found no real conclusive reason for the name used in Britain. One source at Vauxhall said that as the Chevette was a mini Chevrolet it was known as the Chev-ette! No doubt someone will be able to tell us the real reason.
The first Chevettes for Britain were initially only the three-door hatchback models introduced at the launch in 1975, followed a year later by the two-door and four-door saloon car versions. |
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Variations On A Theme
The Vauxhall Chevette estate was surprisingly roomy in the back, and with the back seats folded down you could even accommodate a pair of boisterous Labrador’s. Mind you the single gas-lift door strut was something of a drawback, and when they failed, the tailgate could give you a thump on the back of the head that was as painful as being hit across the shins by a Labrador’s tail.
By September 1976, a much-needed estate car version arrived on the market. This proved to be a significant addition to the range, and soon became a popular seller.
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The price of a three-door Chevette L in 1975 was £1,829 (£7,999 in modern
values), which was rather dear for what was then Vauxhall’s ‘entry market’ car.
Yet we have to remember that this was as a result of
spiraling inflation (24%) and unprecedented wage rises (27%). It was also at the time
when a real degree of uncertainty faced the motor industry.
For example, Chrysler-UK had bad financial problems, and its share of the British market slipped to a paltry 7%, while British-Leyland suffered financial collapse and were bailed out by the government.
Even the great Aston Martin company was sold off by Sir David Brown for a mere £1.05 million (£4,580,000). It was a terrible time for the motor industry as inflation went through the roof.
Although car prices were set to rocket, the launch of the Chevette was quite timely, as the energy crisis of that time meant that small cars were a much more practical alternative. Ford would launch its brand new Fiesta the following year, and its cost of £1,856 (£8,110) puts the asking price for the Chevette into perspective.
When the new GM ‘T-car’ was initially launched in the UK, it was offered with just two levels of trim, these being the basic model and the L. However, as the
Chevette, Ford Fiesta and BL Metro all proved popular with the buyers, Vauxhall launched more variations on its theme.
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