Chevrolet Chevette

Chevrolet Chevette
1977 Chevrolet Chevette Rally
Overview
Manufacturer	Chevrolet Motor Division
Production	1975–1986
Model years	1976-1987
Assembly	Wilmington Assembly, Wilmington, Delaware and Lakewood Assembly, Atlanta, Georgia
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact
Body style	2-door Hatchback 4-door Hatchback
Layout	FR layout
Platform	T-body
Related	Pontiac T1000 Opel Kadett, Vauxhall Chevette Isuzu Gemini
Powertrain
Engine	1.4 L I4 1.6 L I4 1.8 L Isuzu diesel I4
Transmission	4-speed Saginaw manual 5-speed Borg-Warner T-5 manual 3-speed automatic
Chronology
Successor	Chevrolet Sprint Geo Metro/Chevrolet Metro

The Chevrolet Chevette was introduced in September, 1975 and produced for the 1976 through 1987 model years. It is Chevrolet's version of GM's worldwide T platform which was also sold as the Vauxhall Chevette, Opel Kadett, Isuzu Gemini and the Holden Gemini, among others. The Chevette essentially replaced the Vega as Chevrolet's entry-level subcompact import-fighter. The Chevette was functional and inexpensive, and was the best-selling small car in America for the 1979 and 1980 model years. It lacked the technological advances of the Vega, such as an aluminum-alloy engine block. Like the Vega, it has the rear-wheel drive layout, which dropped out of favor with the popularity of front-wheel-drive subcompacts such as the Volkswagen Rabbit.

History

The T-car was first launched in Brazil under the Chevette name in 1974, as a two-door sedan; the Brazilian Chevette line eventually included a 4-door sedan, a 2-door hatchback, and a 2-door station wagon (named Marajó), as well as a pickup (named the Chevy 500), and was produced until 1994. Chevettes are also a car used in racing in Dirt Track Racing. It has its own series. The Chevette was the last rear-wheel drive subcompact for the United States and Canada, although in Mexico, it was last survived by the 2003 Volkswagen Beetle.

Initially available only as a 2-door hatchback with 1.4 or 1.6 L OHC gasoline I4 engines, the Chevette engines produced from 53 to 70 rear wheel horsepower. A 4-speed manual transmission was standard; a 3-speed automatic transmission was optional. Rally and Woody packages were optional, as well as a loss-leader Scooter, a 2-seater (rear seat optional) with painted rather than chromed bumpers, an open glove box, black carpeting, and door pull straps in lieu of arm rests. The Canadian market also had a Pontiac version of Chevette named Acadian.

1976-1978 Chevettes can be identified by round headlights and a chrome-rimmed, tri-color taillights. In 1987, Chevette's final year, a version was offered at US $4,995 to compete with the Hyundai Excel and Yugo GV.

Annual changes

File:Chevette 1977.jpg

1977 Chevette 2-door, Sandpiper model

• 1977: Rear seat made standard equipment on base Scooter model. Introduction of Sandpiper trim package, including “reef” patterned interior, deluxe door trim, cream gold or antique white exterior colors and an exterior Sandpiper logo just behind each door.
• 1978: Revised grille with a grid design, grille and headlight frames chromed for standard models, a 4-door hatchback on a longer wheelbase was added, the 1.4 L engine and Woody were dropped. Fuel door added. TH-180 Automatic Transmission added to replace THM-200 series automatic. "HO" High Output version available in addition to the standard 1.6L featuring a modified head and larger valves/cam profile. "HO" package also includes dual outlet exhaust manifold.
• 1979: Holley 2-barrel carburetor now standard on all models. Front fascia face-lifted with a flat hood, no longer wrapping down to bumper, a large chrome grille with Chevrolet "Bow-Tie" emblem and new square headlights. P.A.I.R. air injection system introduced to improve catalytic converter function at idle. Active Passenger Restraint system introduced in small numbers as an option which featured lower hanging dashboard, automatic seatbelts and a center dash console.
• 1980: Rear fascia revised with a squared-off hatch, wraparound taillights with combined, single colored turn signals. Round gas filler door.
• 1981: New Diesel engine option with a late 1981 availability - (1.8 L Isuzu unit). New styled steel wheels with center caps; previous wheel/hubcap design discontinued. US models received a new Computer Command Control feedback system on gasoline engines. H.O. option discontinued. EST (Electronic Spark Timing) is used on 1981 models only in place of manual timing advance. New engine head design (swirl-port) is introduced to improve low-end torque and fuel economy. Pontiac T1000 introduced which shared all body stampings with Chevette, featuring a chrome center w/black trimmed grille & headlight buckets as well as standard chrome window trim with black area fill. Power steering was a new option (automatic trans. & A/C only) as well as a 3.36 ) axle ratio (standard on T-1000 models. Active Passive Restraint discontinued. New lighter weight bucket seats introduced that lacked much of the lower support of the heavier "panned" seats. New adhesive-based, thinner windshield seal introduced to replace older lock-ring type seal.
• 1982: New 5-speed manual transmission option on gasoline-powered cars (standard with diesel). Scooter available in 4-door hatchback. New GM THM-180C (THM200C for diesel model) automatic transmissions, which include a locking torque converter for greater fuel mileage. Introduction of pump driven A.I.R. system in late model year replaced P.A.I.R. to help efficiency of the catalytic converter. New catalytic converter introduced at this time with an air inlet for forced air injection from the air pump. New 1-piece cardboard based headliner introduced with updated over-head dome light replaced vinyl liner. Pontiac T-1000 gets its own trim pieces including its own style grille, body molding and new vertical lined taillights. Pontiac also introduced new alloy sport wheel option.
• 1983: Makeover for the front and rear fascias, Chevette CS introduced. Black finished grill and trim moldings replaces most chrome pieces. Scooter and base Chevettes feature black bumpers and end-caps while the higher-end Chevette CS models include color-keyed bumpers and caps with chrome bumper inserts as an option. Scooter and base models feature black-only grill and headlight buckets while CS models feature argent colored trim. Chevette S model introduced as a cosmetic package that includes black painted styled-steel wheels and red-accented grill and moldings as well as over-sized decal emblems in red. Front bucket seats feature new adjustable knobs on the sides, but lose the reclining levers of previous years. Interior trim is also blacked out with new black door handles and black plastic window regulators. Integrated cassette deck optional with stereo package. Chrome strip on dashboard available only on CS & S models until end of production. Deluxe door panels discontinued, all models feature plastic door panels, however base and Scooter models still feature laminated cardboard cargo area panels. "Diagnostic Connector" removed from wiring harness.
• 1984: Scooter discontinued, leaving the base model to fill the gap. The T1000 is renamed "1000".
• 1985: Few updates from 84 model year.
• 1986: Chevette base discontinued leaving only the CS and the S. Federally-mandated, third brake light mounted on rear hatch glass. "Check Engine" light replaced by "Service Engine Soon" on instrument cluster.
• 1987: Diesel engine discontinued. Chevette S discontinued. 1987 was the final model year for Chevette, and production ended on December 23, 1986.

Successors

The Chevette was never truly replaced in terms of a rear-drive, domestic sub-compact car. The Chevette had been in production since 1976 and was originally intended as a "filler" model to compete with import cars until the upcoming "X-body" cars were introduced in 1980. The popularity of the Chevette by 1980 and the unexpected trouble with early X-body vehicles kept the Chevette as a cheap and viable option on Chevrolet's lineup. The Chevette was a top-seller in 1980 and remained the bargain car from Chevrolet until its production ended in 1987.

In 1984, GM started importing cars from Toyota, Suzuki and Isuzu under the Chevrolet nameplate. Moreover, these cars were an outsourced answer to compete in the rising sub-compact market of the mid-80's. The Chevette was out-dated, and did not stack up against more modern, front-wheel drive cars in terms of comfort, size or economy. Chevrolet introduced the Spectrum in 1984, which was a rebadged Isuzu I-Mark. The Nova name was re-introduced in 1985 as a rebadged Toyota Corolla hatchback as was the Sprint, which was a Suzuki Swift. Chevrolet now had 3 choices in the lower-end car market ranging from the low-end Sprint to the Nova on the higher end. The Chevette remained the lowest priced of brand name until termination in 87 and would be the last domestic made subcompact from the company. The Spectrum, Nova and Sprint were all updated and regrouped in 1989 under a new nameplate known as "Geo". The Nova became the Prizm, the Spectrum became the Storm and the Sprint became the Metro. the Geo nameplate also marketed a small SUV as the Tracker that was also made by Suzuki. The Cavalier was the smallest car that Chevrolet made domestically until its termination in 2005. Currently the Cavalier's successor, the Cobalt is the smallest car that Chevrolet manufactures in the US.

Gallery

• 
  1978 Chevette
• 
  1983-1985 Chevette CS 4-door
• 
  1983-1985 Chevette CS 4-door
• 
  1986 Pontiac Acadian
• 
  1980-82 Pontiac Acadian 4-door (Canada)
• 
  Pontiac Acadian 3-door (Canada)
• 
  1979 Chevrolet Chevette 2-door
• 
  1977 Chevrolet Chevette Hatchback 1.4 liter

Beyond commuter duty

A 1980 Chevette-500 CID (8.2 L) Cadillac engine

Being a low-cost, lightweight, and readily available compact, Chevettes occasionally find their way onto dirt track racing or drag racing, The Chevette's rear wheel drive, and compatiblty with many common GM components, made upgrading for racing and performance purposes easier than many subcompacts. In Europe, where the Vauxhall Chevette HS was successful rally car, a common swap is the lightweight Rover V8 engine, requiring somewhat extensive fabrication. Common in the US and also requiring extensive fabrication is the GM 60-Degree V6 engine and the Chevrolet Small-Block engine. The GM Ecotec engine is also suitable and can be fitted with sidedraft Weber carburetors in place of the engine's standard fuel injection system.

See other

This article is about the automobile, Pontiac T1000. For the character in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, see T-1000.

External links

• American Chevette Online Forums, Tech Articles, Links.
• Car Domain: Chevrolet Chevette
• Chevrolet Chevette - The Ultimate Car Site