Chevrolet Chevette: The "Vette" no one got excited about

Welcome to Auto Chatter! Todays discussion is about the Chevy Chevette! It was slow, but cheap and reliable. Join me for a discussion about this unremarkable but sucsessful automobile!
Ether Disco by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...

[@williamegler8771]

I got a 1984, which was brand new, as a high school graduation gift from my grandparents. It was a 4dr 4spd with A/C. I drove it like I stole it for the next 8 years and 144k miles. It survived a lifetime of delayed maintenance and cheap replacement parts. After the original tires wore out it never got a new set. It got used tires or recaps. It was driven to Florida and Texas annually from Wisconsin on spring break and was driven from Wisconsin to Fairbanks Alaska as well as several trips of 2000 miles or more. It was hardly the greatest car I have ever owned but it never failed to start or left anyone stranded. It was still mechanically sound and driving perfectly when I junked it because of severe rust. Certainly wasn't as bad as urban legend suggests!

[@autochatter]

They were tough. My Father in law had one years ago that got about the same amount of....love lol, you put yours through. It had well over 200k miles before she gave up.

[@mmoran3]

Well said!!!! My neighbor had an 84 chevette which she got brand new when she was 17 and was still driving it in 1994 when I graduated high school. She sold it to a mutual friend who drove it for anther 5 years

[@blakelyfantastic]

I grew up in the back seat of a T1000 that my parents drove for a bit. Great early memories from it. It’s definitely a basic but reliable transportation option we don’t see offered as much these days.

[@autochatter]

Yeah...People just demand more stuff in a car now. That's what was going through my head when I went on that rant comparing a modern Nissan Versa to a Chevette.....and Nissan never sold 400k plus of them a year here.

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

Had new in 1977 , 1982, 1987. All three was fantastic cars. No issues. 11 year run for GM and Chevrolet. "The heartbeat of America"

[@autochatter]

Did you notice much difference between the 77 and 87?

[@theprinceofsnj]

I had 3 Chevettes. A used 1980 Scooter 2 door. Had it about a month. Traded it in on a base 84 2 door. It was the first car I bought new. Then in 87 I bought a new CS also a 2 door. They were fun cars. And I have fond memories of them.

[@autochatter]

That's awesome. The Cars we grew up with often have a bunch of memories that came with them!

[@Jfleshman1209]

My first car was an 80 Chevette, 4 door and no AC. Great fun to drive. Bought it used for $900.00. Good memories.

[@autochatter]

I suspect in 80, not many Chrvettes had AC anyway!

[@migs1121]

my first car was a 1982 two door standard. I bought it when I was 16 years old for $1200 in 1987. It had A/C and it was awesome. I learn to drive it the day I bought it.

[@autochatter]

Had to be kind of rare having cool breeze in 82!

[@IgoZoom1]

I know a lot of people who remember the Chevette very fondl1y. It was my step-sister's first car and the first new car my friend's mom ever owned. They were priced low and their simplicity made them reasonably reliable. They were outclassed by the design and engineering of the Japanese imports, but they still sold well thanks to pricing and the desire to buy domestic. I used to think they were the most crude cars I'd ever seen, but then I saw a few Soviet-era cars and had a new respect for the Chevette! I wonder if the Motorweek test of the '82 Pontiac 1000 was an anomaly or were they all that slow to 60mph? I suspect the performance to 50/55mph was adequate and the 2-3 shift point was the problem. A Toyota Tercel or even Honda Civic from the same time had a similar issue, although it didn't slow them down nearly as much. It probably explains why most economy cars were manual back then.

[@autochatter]

@@IgoZoom1 You are not the first to question Motorweeks very slow time they got!

[@RomanJockMCO]

Just before Thanksgiving in 1982 mom finally got rid of her wood wallpapered Pinto wagon for a new 1982 T1000. Dad wanted another Toyota and tried his best to get my mom to choose a Corolla. She had a Bonneville in the 60s and loved Pontiac. What a lemon it turned out to be, just slightly worse reliably wise than the Ford. The a/c was extremely cold, something very useful in Florida. Unfortunately it only worked when the transmission had shifted into third gear. In traffic you'd sweat your nuts off then freeze after things got moving. The heater core broke after a few years scalding my dad's ankle. At 30k an "emissions" flap flipped up over the odometer reminding you to get it checked and reset. Dad just ripped it out. Every other month something else would break and it would need fixing. After five years he had enough and mom got a new Nova and it became my sister's car. After she got a new Civic dad began using it to drive to the Cape. Interestingly it became rather reliable trekking 40 miles or so one-way on open highway. Just before it was to become my car he hydroplaned into a bridge. I'd never seen him so happy. Allstate was generous with the settlement. Lastly I think MotorWeek misreported their acceleration numbers as it was quicker to 60 than 30 seconds, 20 perhaps 🤔

[@autochatter]

Motorweek may have, but the auto ones were dog slow! 🐕. The AC button on my parents 85 Sentra auto wagon then Dad called a turbo boost....Because acceleration was alot better when you shut it off!

[@RomanJockMCO]

@@autochatter Haha. My friend called it the acceleration or comfort button in his parent's Civic. When I test drove a Cougar XR7 back in 1989 I switched off the a/c during an acceleration test. The salesman, who obviously didn't know squat about cars, asked why I did that. I told him I was curious about how much the a/c robbed power. He said that I didn't need to do that as the car had "turbo a/c". This was the first year of the supercharged Essex V6. I never did ask him to explain it.

[@autochatter]

It was prob best that you didnt!😅

[@MisterMikeTexas]

When I was about to go into 5th grade, my dad bought a remaining new 74 Chevy Nova 4 door sedan, beige. The Malaise era was in full swing at that time, and the car turned out to be the worst piece of crap I remember us having! It stalled frequently, and this, then that, went wrong. Dad didn't wait 5 years to replace it! After I entered 6th grade, he traded it in for a new 76 Torino coupe. Much better car!

[@autochatter]

@@MisterMikeTexas And you could be Starsky or Hutch!

[@richardellis69]

My best friend for 7th, 8th and 9th grade had an older sister with a 1978 Chevette. She taught both of us how to drive, in general, but specifically with the five-speed. Then my newer best friend for 10th 11th and 12th grades had a blue 1980 Chevette. And we spent many many nights messing about in that car on Friday and Saturday nights. Not with each other lol. So FWIW, it was very nice to see your focus on that crappy little car. Cheers brother

[@autochatter]

Thank you! Yeah I know it was never somthing anyone had a poster of in their bedroom, but alot of people spent time in and around one. Prob alot of good memories at times too.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Thanks for another informative vid. I never saw one of these cars in person-ever. I’ve been on vacation but I’ll be reaching out to you soon. Thanks again.

[@autochatter]

Thanks Rob! I'm doing the vacay thing myself soon. I haven't seen a Chevette on the road in years. It' was never a car people usually kept in the garage and pampered,so most are long gone. Funny thing to me with this one is....Can I make a Chevette video interesting, and it grew in length more than I expected LOL.

[@southerncross3638]

I worked at a Shell gas station in 1976, when I came to work one morning there was a Chevette parked with the roof in a V shape right down the middle of the car,it seems the driver and passenger had got into an argument and were luckily both scrunched up against the doors, some punks had thrown a truck tire off an overpass and had hit the car dead middle, thank God for arguments, not a scratch on driver or passenger 😮

[@autochatter]

OMG...Thats like somthing out of a movie!

[@braddietzmusic2429]

An aunt and uncle once had a medium blue Chevette CS. Perhaps 1985 model. I remember riding in the back seat in the summer to the beach once. Solar gain from that rear glass hatch was significant, and the dark blue vinyl seats didn’t help. I was a kid, so whatever. I also remember washing the car more than once for fun. I recall enjoying the simple design, not festooned with normal GM faux-luxury garbage like excess side moldings, wire wheel hubcaps, vinyl roofs, standup hood ornaments and every possible edge of the car treated to a helping of rust-encouraging chrome strips. The Chevette was a refreshingly clean design, and GM managed to not ruin that and keep it purposeful and honest.

[@autochatter]

It was simple,cheap,and fairly reliable.

[@keithbender2061]

At the end of the run, a dealer had a bunch of these on their lot. They were offering your pick of the bunch for $3999. they were new all stripped down, only difference was the color. I almost bought one, kinda wish I had.

[@autochatter]

A Chevette for then Yugo prices was a deal and a half!

[@arieljones4595]

The Chevette was before my time. That said, I really like a cheap economy car. Something that's not pretending to be anything more than it is. There's an honesty to that. Diesel 0-60 time, 30 seconds. Damn!! Also I think you comparing the adjusted price to a modern Versa really helps put things into perspective. Yes, cars seem really expensive now. But when you're paying only $1000 more for a modern Versa you are getting a tremendously better value. Beyond the content you pointed out, you are also getting a lot of modern crash safety baked in as well.

[@autochatter]

Thanks...I thought a little modern "comparison" made the vid more fun.....and a counter to "cars used to be soooo much cheaper"....yeah it was, and people made due with alot less. It's technically a car before my time too, as I wasn't old enough to drive when the last new ones sold....But they graced the High School parking lot! I like my little Vette video...It started getting some views again recently which makes me happy. As for safety...Id bet your better off in a modern Versa than pretty much ANYTHING sold in the mid 70s...The technology has just improved so much since then.

[@joeseeking3572]

In 1983 a girl in my HS class bought herself a new Chevette Scooter. Bright red, and she was so proud of it. This was money she'd saved working after school (and probably summers too) and she was determined to buy a car without help from anyone. Always kept it freshly washed. I thought it was a pretty stupid use of her money, but never said anything. She was pretty, a little - but just a little - ditzy, and while she was part of my general crowd, she only dated jocks, and so I didn't spend much time in it. At that time I had a 77 Accord, and while it had its issues, it was a heck of a lot more competent and fun than this thing - although yeah, I probably was just a little jealous; it was after all brand spanking new. (Then again, so were some of the cars of those with more doting parents - a loaded, totally redesigned for 83 200 SX stands out. Interestingly, at this time and place it wasn't necessarily the rich parents who got kids cars, it was the permissive ones. Others just handed down - hence a high school parking lot with a 78 Electra, a couple of wagons, Aspen/Volare twins, etc.)

[@MisterMikeTexas]

My high school car was a hand me down 78 Ford Fairmont Futura coupe, 6 cylinder. It wouldn't win any races, but it did the job.

[@nielgregory108]

Except the tens of thousands that were able to afford a brand-new car for the first time in their life, like my mother. She was very excited to get the 1980 Chevette. Kept it for 14 years until it fell apart. I learned to drive up and down the driveway in that Chevette. I was very excited to learn to drive at 12 years old in the Chevette.

[@autochatter]

Chevettes were loved by many yes. The title was just a play on the other....more exciting car with Vette in its name.

[@RobertRosentreter-zu3wm]

I bought a used 1982 Chevette with automatic in early 1983. Slow as molasses. The radiator went bad at 15000 miles and the paint faded early. Sold it as soon as it was paid off.

[@autochatter]

15k miles and the radiator went? That seems premature to say the least!

[@m1t2a1]

I had a 78 2dr manual in 80. Except it wasn't a Chevette, it was a Pontiac Acadian. I was 18 years old and it was better than walking, a bicycle, and the bus. Put a stereo, CB radio with a 100 and something inch antenna chained to the back bumper. Big Hella fog lights that could cook the alternator. Even a header. Laugh all you want but it never didn't start. Heater worked. Back and forth to school and introduced me to a lot of interesting part time jobs. Could still use the parents cars if I wanted which was great because one was a Country Squire with room for lots of friends. Only kept the Acadian for a year or two. Used it as a trade for a 78 Pontiac Grand Lemans. Lemans until 84 when I bought new Shelby Charger. Interestingly. My parents had an Acadian when I was little. 64ish Acadian Beaumont convertible. My Acadian was nothing like it.

[@autochatter]

I forgot that Canada had a Pontiac version of the Chevette prior to the U.S. I remember you posted about having a Shelby Charger too earlier. I don't always mention Canadian versions, but I did talk about the Mercury Bobcat briefly in the Pinto episode and that you guys got it first.

[@m1t2a1]

@@autochatter Not to worry. It's usually just badges or a different option package selection.

[@autochatter]

@@m1t2a1 But you guys got cool things like Nissan X Trails! But I don't think you got the newer Pontiac GTO because it came with 2.5 mph bumpers?

[@m1t2a1]

@@autochatter Used cars too. Example. Import a wrong side drive Nissan GT-R direct from Japan after 15 years.

[@autochatter]

@m1t2a1 A smart Canadian would scoop some of those up and sell them here later LOL.

[@blue_lancer_es]

I grew up with 2. A 79 beige and blue 84. My first car adventure was in the 79 auto(blue was manual) I was like 11 and got in started it up put the shift lever in R and floored it 😅. Dad was not amused. 1989 oh the memories 😂

[@autochatter]

Haha! I graduated High School in 90, so secondhand Chevettes were common in the school parking lot.Kids liked the freedom and independence of having a car. Their parents liked that it was cheap and not powerful enough to get yourself into but so much trouble.

[@jefferysmith3930]

When I was 17, my sister got a new 86 Pontiac 1000. Her husband at the time had spiffed it up with some centerline alloy wheels. It looked nice. I had very little car experience at that point though I had driven my mom’s 81 Toyota Corolla and my dad’s Porsche 911. Even I could spot Lots of crude harsh plastic on the interior and the WORST shifting manual gearbox I had ever driven….My car at the time was a 71 VW Beetle. That’s saying something about the quality of the 1000/Chevette

[@autochatter]

LOL...my dune buggies had a great shifting feel..Even with a cheap short throw EMPI shifter at one point. Sad thing was the Pontiac version was the UPGRADE lol.

[@sammiret4472]

How big an engine can you drop into an early Chevette? Imagine, rear drive, 300hp, LIGHT car!

[@autochatter]

People have stuffed Chevy 350s in them for years.

[@russelljohnson1303]

I own a 1983 Chevette 4 door I've been daily driving her in all original condition for 3 years now. Unfortunately a few days ago my engine started sucking down oil. She's gonna get a rebuild and return to the road soon. I'd never junk her. A loyal little friend. And 32 mpg.

[@autochatter]

Not many left nowadays, so good to know there's some still commuting!

[@russelljohnson1303]

@@autochatter well as of 3 days ago she rolled up the driveway on 3 cylinders smoking like a train. But she will be repaired and put back into service. Best daily driver I've ever had.

[@Project_Low_Expectations]

@@russelljohnson1303 Do you belong to the Chevette owners group on Facebook?

[@hermanmunster3358]

We had the VAUXHALL Chevette in the UK, and the rest of Europe had the Opel variant. European models came in a 2 or 4 door Saloon/Sedan, 3 door Hatchback, and 5 door Estate/Wagon. But the 5 door Hatchback never made it to the European market. They were almost identical to their Ametican cousins, except European versions had a sloping hood or 'Droop Snoot' front end, different bumpers, and a slightly different rear and tail lights. They were very popular in the UK, and were pitched against Ford's Fiesta and Escort, and other comparable small family sized cars.

[@autochatter]

Yes..I think those were similar to the Imported Buick Opels or Opel by Isuzu. They would be far more rare over here than Chevettes. GM owned or had a stake in all these car companies. I found our Chevette interesting because it ended up being a hit, but was kind of slapped together quickly and not intended as a long term solution to fill a small car gap here.

[@autochatter]

@Herman Munster Yeah...The last rebadged Opel we had here was the Buick Regal...Which was your Vauxhall/Opel Insignia. They went away after GM sold the brands.

[@hermanmunster3358]

@@autochatter PSA carried on with production of the Insignia, and gave it a facelift a few years back. But I'm not sure if it is on a different platform now, or whether they have plans to continue with a new Peugeot or Citroën platform. As everyone seems to be buying crossovers these days, which I am not a huge fan of, as they tend to give them tiny engines with a turbo to boost performance. This is to reduce Co2 emissions I think, until Europe bans production of new ICE vehicles after 2030. They must be planning to expand the Cobalt and Lithium mining industry after that time, to keep pace with demand for Electric vehicles.

[@autochatter]

@@hermanmunster3358 Yeah..Im not a fan of station wagons with lift kits either LOL. But I see why people like them. Brilliant marketing really!

[@williamegler8771]

@hermanmunster3358 Vauxhall was never purchased by Opel. Vauxhall was purchased by GM in 1925 and GM acquired an 80% share of Opel in 1929 and bought the remaining share two years later. The two divisions maintained separate design engineering and manufacturing services until 1980 when Vauxhall vehicles became production line variations of the equivalent Opel models.

[@barryrussell4106]

Wish they made simple cars like this today

[@autochatter]

Me too...But few would actually buy them nowdays.

[@kellygriffith1773]

I bought an 83 in 1990 for $200, I thought I got a great deal on it until I discovered it had a cracked head and that cost me $300 more to get replaced but I kept the car until 1896 and only had to replace the head one more time and just a head gasket one time after that and the clutch went out once so ya great first car great learning experience

[@andy41417]

9:26 Chrome bumper option available to end. See your image at 10:25.

[@autochatter]

Oh wow..Good to know! Thank you! Totally missed that and I had a pic of a 86 with it LOL.

[@P_RO_]

Ah, the "Shove-it" because if you wanted to go uphill, someone had to get out and shove🤣 Power was pitiful with the automatic and a load of four adults. This was the "Yugo" of American cars, utterly the least possible of everything including rustproofing, engine power, quality control, and durability. For those with a few tools, some coathangers, some duct-tape, and some know-how, you could buy one of these used for a song and keep driving it until there wasn't enough compression left to make it go. I've know 2 of these which actually made it to 200K miles, which was unbelievable back them. The last two owners of one of those got the car for free, the previous owner having upgraded and the Chevette having only scrap-metal value. The timing belts wore and didn't always get replaced so they'd jump off the pulleys. If you left the cover off, it was easy to put the belt back on. The last guy I knew who had one of these could refit the timing belt in about 4 minutes beside the road, then off he'd go again in a cloud of smoke. The equivalent car today would be the Tata Nano but I understand it's no longer in production because in it's home market, like the Chevette here, it was seen a a mark of cheapness and poverty instead of frugality. Anybody who could afford anything better (which was everything else) didn't want to be seen in one, and that was really what killed the Chevette and many other cheap cars too.

[@autochatter]

LOL! Yeah....They were thrifty and cheap first, and everything else second. I wouldn't put them on the same pedestal as a 2 stroke Nano that was a glorified golf cart. I also think they were far better cars than a 70s era Fiat built under licsence in Yugoslavia. But yeah...Chevettes were looked down upon often if you had one. It was guilty of being the step up from having a bus pass as your primary transportation. Always a treat to hear from the novelist! Thank you for the comment.

[@doug6191]

My favorite version of these was the Isuzu Piazza/Impluse. So cool. 😎

[@autochatter]

Agreed! Isuzu Impulse turbo!

[@unitedcity_mc4421]

Sure they weren’t very exciting, but they really appeal to me.

[@autochatter]

I have a soft spot for them too!

[@bigcrowfly]

GM lost money on every one they sold. But it was needed for GM's fleet fuel mileage, so it could sell profitable big cars without paying penalties to the Govt (which would have been similar to the amount lost on the Chevette). (same purpose as Electric Cars today)

[@autochatter]

Yeah that's interesting! I touched base on that with my Geo episode. Their solution later was slapping Chevy badges on Japansese cars LOL. I don't know if GM ever made money on small cars. The Cavalier was a loser too profit wise. The Chevy Spark is a Daewoo basically...I think they are called S Korea GM now.

[@djkenny1202]

And now, POOF! Economy cars are Gone practically, and I’ll never be able to own (or desire) to own.. a New Car!

[@autochatter]

@@djkenny1202 There's still some,but post covid with some manufacturers limited on how many vehicles they can build, are producing more feature packed or expensive models to enhance profits.

[@djkenny1202]

@@autochatter so limited. Granted, I’ve always opted to let someone else take the Depreciation Hit, bought a 4-6 year old car, kept over 20 years until its worth more than I paid originally;)

[@autochatter]

@djkenny Sometimes you make out buying new. My old car was a 15 WRX I bought new. Because of the crazy used car prices recently, it only depreciated about 4 grand in over 6 years when I traded it in.

[@martincvitkovich724]

I disconnected a sensor on my 84 Chevette's carb and it ran like a bat out of hell and got nearly 60MPG

[@MisterMikeTexas]

I wouldn't mind having a 4 door with a 4 or 5 speed.

[@jaredhasanen497]

i love chevettes

[@dposcuro]

I will never understand why GM decided to take the design of the Opel/Isuzu...that was nice, clean and appealing. and give North America that ugly ass front end for the 70s. They were tough little nuggets, and I wish I had the time and space to get one now.

[@autochatter]

Well you could buy a Buick Opel or Opel by Isuzu at your Buick dealer then, and basically get a rebadged Opel Kadett or Isuzu Gemini. Who built them depends on what model year in the 70s you bought it. They didn't sell as good as Chevettes did.

[@dposcuro]

@autochatter I think that might have had to do with Buick trying to sell a small, economy car. But yeah, they sold poorly, and basically no longer exist here in Canada

[@autochatter]

@@dposcuro Buick sold captive import Opels starting in the 50s. Funny how years later, some of the last cars they sold here were just Opels with Buick badges before Buick went all crossovers.

[@kevinpaulson2659]

I had a 77 Sandpiper. Not a terrible car.

[@autochatter]

That's cool! Seemed like a neat trim package.

[@cheez1012]

I can't imagine a car without AC now, I wonder if it was common for all small economy vehicles to not come equipped with AC and why people would buy them without AC

[@autochatter]

Back then and even much later, no economy cars had A/C standard. I guess people just never had it before so they didn't make as big a deal about it. ALOT of 60s and 70s cars sold didn't have A/C at all. It was a expensive option and little econoboxes with it felt like half their horsepower went away when you turned it on.

[@P_RO_]

I'm telling my age, but in the late 50's/early 60's cars lie Caddilac, Lincoln, The Dodge 300, and the top level Buicks and Mercurys had A/C; almost nobody else did because it was a very expensive option. Through the 60's the build costs came down and it became standard on mid-grade and up cars. Through the 70's that expanded to cover all but the cheap models. Some cars wouldn't have A/C like muscle cars and some fleets, but by 1980 almost every car had A/C save for the bottom of the line cars like Chevette. Almost all of today's cars have A/C standard,especially in the US, and you can't even delete it with a factory-ordered car. Around 1980 it was generally thought that using A/C cost fuel mileage, but testing on the newer more aerodynamic cars proved that you got better fuel mileage with the windows up and the A/C on than you did with windows down which ruined the aerodynamic of a car. Another thing discovered in the wind-tunnel testing was that the small "vent" or "wing" windows old cars had on the front doors terribly upset the aerodynamics and fuel mileage. And as the EPA got more involved in cars, their fuel mileage testing required use of a car's standard equipment which with A/C gave better numbers, and since most buyers liked and wanted A/C pushed it to the top of the podium. The next chapter of A/C in new cars may not be a happy one. The culprit will be the R-1234yf refrigerant which is now mandated for use in the US, and costs 10X what it's predecessor R-134a did. It's in all US cars from model year 2021 on. What was an affordable A/C repair job may now become uneconomical, and the resale value of cars without functioning A/C will drop like a stone. Perhaps they'll find something better soon but for now beware buying 2021 and up cars without a perfectly functioning A/C!

[@autochatter]

@P RO All cars currently sold here have A/C standard now. That just happened fairly recently too. In my high school days, even if your old beater you drove had A/C...Odds were it hasn't worked in years LOL.

[@P_RO_]

@@autochatter I've had mixed luck with used cars and A/C- about half worked at all and only 2 worked well and most were too old to have A/C standard. Being a poor Southerner all my life I can do fine without A/C but most people now can't. I still prefer window down over A/C as much as I can 😁

[@autochatter]

@P RO LOL. I'm in South Florida, so A/C is mandatory for me! It is nice to drive to work with the top down though.....In the morning before it gets too 🔥

[@GuyNelson-vd1wu]

Well if you can find one running keep it running and just use it as a daily driver

[@autochatter]

The kicker nowadays is the finding one part!

[@orkoto6057]

Woody looks cool af

[@autochatter]

LOL. I guess the retro aspect of it today is cool. I never liked the wallpaper wood that was a popular option on cars then...especially wagons.

[@JohnDaly-x4i]

People knock these reliable cars which had an 11 year world-wide production of 7 million cars. Facts.

[@autochatter]

@user-sv4so1tf5q I agree they were pretty reliable. They were slapped together with simple construction and RWD. They definatley didn't make your neighbors jealous which may have led to more neglect on owners parts over the years. It would be cool to see one now, but 30 years ago people would look at them like you may a PT Cruiser today.

[@raymond_sycamore]

I am excited

[@autochatter]

LOL...I get it!

[@seoulkidd1]

Imagine a 4.3 version or a 3 8 version

[@autochatter]

V8 swaps were somthing I saw quite a few of, but a factory 3.8 would have been cool!

[@Project_Low_Expectations]

GM made a few prototypes with the 2.8, half were built with the 5 speed and the other half with an automatic. They out performed the Camaro of the day and was right on the corvette’s heels. So naturally the GM brass said no way. I’m building one now with the supercharged 3800

[@autochatter]

@@Project_Low_Expectations Sounds like fun!

[@95blahblahhaha]

👍🏼👍

[@theoriginaljimmykicker]

Most of these videos fail to mention the HO option that was available in a few years on the 1.6L. My 80 had it. It was 76hp. It can be identified by the dual exit exhaust manifold. With the 4speed transmission it was a fairly peppy car. While it doesn't sound like much, a 10% HP increase in that car was easily felt. My 85 auto did not have it. It was so very slow. But that one was truly a very reliable little car.

[@autochatter]

I wasn't aware that they offered a HO one myself! I know Escorts in the early 80s did. Having driven manual and auto Chevettes before, I agree the autos were much slower.

[@braddietzmusic2429]

While I am not a Nissan Sentra fan at this point with the awful CVT and as a long term value proposition as compared to other cars in its class, your compassion of the Chevette to the Sentra is easily the best advertisement and sales pitch for that vehicle that I’ve ever seen. You made the Sentra seem like a screaming margin for what you get for the money. Apparently based on use and condition, it too, like the Chevette seems to be the purview of “basic transportation”. It seems the people that own these Sentras of the last 10 or more years have almost NO interest in taking care of and maintaining their vehicles, and barely any greater interest in actually being good drivers in them. I guess a car for people who have ABSOLUTELY NO interest in cars, but life demands they must own one anyway. Perhaps like the Chevette?

[@autochatter]

Sounds like you got the essence of what I was going for! It was a Versa BTW, not a Sentra...and the base one I discussed had a manual transmission. I hate CVTs too. I also did that weird comparison to highlight what people happily paid about the same money for then versus now(adjusting for inflation) and what they got. Personally I think a base Versa with a stick is a great deal for a new car. I've seen enough of them with some high miles!

[@joshgreen2164]

If gheh rereleased it original form id give 15 grand for one

[@PRH123]

We didn't respect the Chevette at all back in the day. Only now I realize how stupid that was. It was actually the best car I could have had in my early 20's. People dream nowadays about a simple, reliable, economical and inexpensive car.

[@autochatter]

@@PRH123 Well put!

[@ChadQuick270W]

Just discovered your channel and am really enjoying it. Have you any plans for a video on the Chevy Vega?

[@autochatter]

@ChadQuick270W Thank you! Yes actually....Its on my to do list and the Monza too.. My next one will be on Buicks only car that had popup headlights

[@mojorisin7371]

My Dad owned a 86 Chevy Chevette 5 speed manuel no a/c crank windows, no power steering dark blue. He drove it for about 10 years and it died with 200k miles. I learned stick on that car and wasn't bad for $6k brand new back in 87. No wonder why it had a Japanese motor so it was basically a Isuzu hatchback seden with a Chevy badge. Like the Chevy Nova in those years that was basically a Toyota Corolla which GM did the Nova name legacy dirty by calling that eco box a American muscle car name.

[@autochatter]

Yeah the Nova was literally a Corolla.

[@markosborne9558]

After an accident I got one of the first year as a rental about 1976 or 77. Charging up a freeway on ramp at about 50 mph at the end i decided to kick down into passing gear and the car actually slowed down. Super gutless. A few years later on I bought a used one as a work car, and the thing ran so right for so long I was hoping it would blow up but never did. I didnt even change the oil not once. For its purpose, a reliable ride. I sold it when the Navy transferred me. .

[@autochatter]

Cool story and I'm former Navy myself!

[@gregg9672]

I've always wondered if the Chevette outsold the Sprint and Spectrum I know they were only sold together for 3 years but I remember the Chevettes being everywhere

[@autochatter]

I suspect the Chevette outsold them.

[@ayrproductions]

Noticed you didn’t mention three of the other versions of the T-car - the Isuzu Gemini, Holden Gemini and the Vauxhall Chevette.

[@autochatter]

I mentioned the first few as there was several T platform vehicles later...including the Isuzu Impulse too. I could prob do a whole episode just about different T platform cars made.

[@TheOzthewiz]

The '78 Chevette 'Scooter' had the cigar lighter as a $10 option, but the painted cardboard "door cards" were standard equipment!

[@autochatter]

The Scooter was about as base as you could get. Luckily doors were not optional on it!

[@gregg9672]

Oh I loved those Geo I've owned all of them and they were so reliable even had a Sprint Plus pretty good as well

[@autochatter]

Cool!

[@geraldlorrainebeeler372]

Had a 1976 " shove it " in Canada. The catalytic converter was located by the passenger floorboard so all winter the floorboard was wet . It soon rusted away and left a gapping hole. Handy for throwing trash out while moving but dangerous on gravel roads. Car developed an 'uncle buck ' backfire. Park the car and as I open door on my house it would backfire. My young sons enjoyed that.

[@autochatter]

LOL. I loved the car from Uncle Buck!

[@rileys_garbage]

I own 2 chevettes a 1979 and a 1980 neat little cars by today's standards.

[@autochatter]

Wow! Still have two? That's cool!

[@jamesriis9240]

We never ever called it the other vette, we called the Sh#tvette

[@autochatter]

Yeah..I remember that too!

[@fuelmanadventures5800]

the year, 1980, terrasse vaudreuil quebec, i'm 6 years old, parents freshly divorced, mom working the graveyard shift at the hospital, my sister is with her friends, i have no friends and nothing to do, took the keys, started by cranking the engine, slowly moved up to backing out the driveway and drive forward to put it back in it's spot, mom never knew, several years later in beresford new brunswick, same situation but with a AMC eagle, i could've sworn mom was sleeping😂but she was at her sister's the next street over, she saw the car leave, she thought her boyfriend had came home and took the car, so she walked back home and saw me drive back from the store and park the car back in the driveway, i was 11 years old, that's when i found out how much a measuring yard stick could hurt, the chevette was an extremely dull car but will forever hold a special place in my heart as the car i learned to drive with❤

[@carlm8821]

This was great, thanks again! After seeing this makes me appreciate the fact my 1st car was a Monte Carlo, and not a Chevette! Of course I would have been happy with a later version as a first car as well!

[@autochatter]

Glad you enjoyed it! I wouldn't mind seeing one again. My local Cars and Coffee is big so you never know!

[@raverboyloki]

What year Monte Carlo? I too had one of these - after the Supra died. Mine had that lovely GM flawed paint that was never seal coated correctly so what originally started out as one shade of green eventually faded to four to six different shades.

[@carlm8821]

@@raverboyloki Mine was a 1980, last year of the smallest downsized 78-80 Monte Carlos! Mine was light met-blue, but I highly suspect it was repainted because the clear coat and color was all even and nice for its age(9 years old at the time). I know those, as well as most GM vehicles of the time had terrible paint quality issues, and the plastic bumpers never really matched the body color on those years depending on the color either! We had a two tone light(avocado) green over a darker metallic green 79 Monte Carlo in our High School auto shop and all the kids were absolutely crazy about it.

[@raverboyloki]

Mine was a 1973 - Light Green version with a green landau roof. I bought it for $400.00 after the 1983 Toyota Supra met it's demise. It had captain chairs that swiveled to get in and out of it easier because the doors were 12' long. Unfortunately, the driver's side captain's chair was broke and never locked in place, so if a corner was taken too fast, you drifted in the seat.... The exterior body panels were pretty good - but the interior of the trunk had rusted so you couldn't put anything in there you did not want to get wet in the rain. Eventually the rear bushing went on it - and this was a part no longer found. Funny thing - Bought it for $400 - sold it for $1000 because under the hood was a 454 ci engine which someone pulled and added it to their drag car after some modifications. @@carlm8821

[@carlm8821]

@@autochatter Same here as well, being on the west coast, I get to see them very occasionally, but still a rare sight nowadays. The other G-body coupes of the same (78-80) generation are even a much rarer sight!

[@GeeEm1313]

They really were crap. But reading the comments warmed my heart. I walk by a pale yellow 4-door Chevette on the way to work every day. At first, I used to laugh at it. Now it's a welcome sight. I miss the 80s.

[@autochatter]

Growing up in the 80s, people used to joke Chevettes all the time...Because they were cheap moreso than being a bad car.

[@carlasghost656]

​@@autochatter Cheap was their major, if only selling point. They weren't that expensive to begin with, then GM added sales incentives (Cash on the hood), and they deprecated fast. Combined with fleet sales it meant there was a huge supply of a car no one aspired to. But it was better than a bus pass and a bike, especially in bad weather.

[@autochatter]

@carlasghost656 "better than a bus pass"...I say that line fairly often LOL.

[@theoriginaljimmykicker]

I wouldn't call them crap. They were as good or better than most other US cars. People that buy cheap cars generally didn't maintain them. Treated as disposable. My 85 had almost 200k when I sold it. Granted it was falling apart, but again, 200k was a lot of miles for a car back then. That 85, albeit slowly, did it with a smile and never a complaint. Best $275 I ever spent.

[@autochatter]

@theoriginaljimmykicker The fate of many entry level cars.

[@raverboyloki]

1976 Chevrolet Chevette - the first car my mother ever purchased on her own. Up until 1978, my mother owned a 1973 Chevrolet Bel Air, it eventually got to costly to maintain so a "new" car was needed. My mother purchased the Chevette from a former rental car business (AVIS). She liked the ease and maneuverability the Chevette had over the colossus Bel Air. It was green, and originally had the black inserts around the headlamps. They would be later be upgraded to the all chromesque ones after an accident broke one of them. This was basic transportation that allowed my mother to commute the 20 miles each day back and forth to work. It was good basic transportation. Funniest memory - We use to bring my grandfather (her dad) back and forth on the weekends. One drizzling afternoon, he noticed smoke coming up from between his legs. My mother pulled over, and he was sopping up rain run off with wet napkins and placing it on the smoldering carpet. It eventually was put out - a later deeper review found that the entire floor under the passenger seat had rotted away., and the carpet was resting on the catalytic converter. The only thing hold his 6'4 275lb body in the car was one seat mount.. We had visions of hitting a bump and the Chevette becoming an updated version of the Flintstone Mobile.

[@autochatter]

LOL..That was wild! I'm not from a area where rust was a huge issue, but I've seen enough cars from up north to see its effects. Oh my goodness...have I made a vid already for every car you had a personal connection with? I personally like the Chevette one myself. Fun little story!

[@raverboyloki]

Thanks - at this point I have been licensed for 35 years and have had quite the amount of cars (Personally - and through family members). My current owned total is 9(ish). There are two I have owned that never got put on the road. Let's see if how many you have done - lol @@autochatter

[@autochatter]

@@raverboyloki Unless its something exotic, I'll prob find the rest!

[@zestydude87]

My first car at 18 was a 1981 T1000. No power brakes no power steering. Loved that little car. It never broke down on me once. Great video bro!

[@autochatter]

Thanks! I knew people in High School who had Chevettes and T1000s. My first car at 16 was a 79 Toyota truck that only let me down once. The factory carb was...finicky lol. My next vid is on another quirky car that came out around the same time as the Chevette..Wayne and Garths ride!

[@zestydude87]

@@autochatter the Pacer...sweet! Looking forward to it.

[@jimmousseau2765]

I had one of these in Highschool. Great Little car. Very simple design and really easy to repair.

[@autochatter]

They were awesome first cars for sure.

[@jtreut]

We would love to see a video about the International Scout (and other International SUVs). Thank you!

[@autochatter]

Not a bad suggestion. I've got a all new Datsun/Nissan truck about to go live now, but that could be a good one to do.

[@jtreut]

Looking forward to it! Knowing you, Auto Chatter will probably include intro about the non-US Nissan Patrol. Keep up the great work!

[@autochatter]

@J T Thank You! I'm going to take this challenge on. It's on the agenda now.

[@andregonsalvez9244]

Great show ! I remember these cars growing up in the 70s and 80s . My parents usually owned GM full-sized cars back in those days . The Chevettes did very well for GM .

[@autochatter]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I just felt there wasn't alot of Chevette vids on You Tube!

[@andregonsalvez9244]

@@autochatter I would take a Chevette in a heartbeat today ! I miss these simple cars today lol to hell with high-tech .

[@autochatter]

@andregonsalvez9244 I hear ya! Unfortunately the average car buyer now wants features unheard of even on luxury cars 30 years ago.

[@ltjoseph9042]

By 1982 chevettes went somewhat hightech with the gm computer command engine management system; this resulted in a check engine light and they were a more modern car. But still very easy for mechanics to change belts and parts compared to all cars of the 2000s. And it was like driving a little English Triumph with a manual or a Fiat with tight, twitchy small car steering, but with a much lower stickerprice. I still have a 1980 4sp 2 dr, painted black, and rebuilt 1.6. It's like driving a sportcoupe, but with the rebuilt 1.6 it could really use a 5th gear on a highway so I drive it mainly on secondary nonhighways cruising in 3rd most of the time. I hope the 4sp trans is full of oil, I need to have it checked. It's actually my only car.

[@ltjoseph9042]

​@@andregonsalvez9244 Why, don't you like paying over $1000 just to have a heatercore changed that requires removal of the entire dashboard?