Chevy Chevette : From a sales hit to a sales bomb

This is the story of the Chevy Chevette. In this episode we provide details on the chevy chevette specs and changes to the chevette over its 12-year run, and how it went from the best selling small car in the U.S. to a sales disaster just a few years later. My brother and I never owned a Chevette but have owned many other cars in our life time and those cars will be in future episodes as well.
If you owned a chevy chevette, we'd like to know what you thought about it. If you've owned a car from the 80s to mid-2000s that you hardly see on the roads today, and would like to see it featured in one of our episodes, let us know! Leave a comment.
Thanks for watching this video on the Chevy Chevette!

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@jaka286]

I had an 86 Chevette as my 2nd car in 1999. It ran really well. I remember going to buy it during a terrible winter storm in Chicago in late January 1999. My neighbors were laughing at me but I was the one jumping their vehicles with a Chevette during a frigid Chicago winter. I loved my small car and would buy another one... Not bad for a 19 year old and $600

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

How long did you keep it Ernest?

[@corvetcoyote443]

Back in the 90s their was still plenty of them on the roads and you could get them at a great price,I had 3 of them throughout the decade.

[@oreally8605]

I'm from Chicago, and I got my 82 for free. Ran it until the timing belt snapped.

[@scottsenatra1193]

Learned to drive in one. It was a fun car to drive really. My pop was a GM guy. So long ago. Not sure the year, but 70’s, powder blue hatchback. We. We’re Chicago kids too...it was easy to park.

[@zerocool5395]

Did you ever tell people "Yeah I drive a Vette" lol

[@gmpny3945]

I remember back in 1984 a friend of mine called to say he just bought a Vette and was bringing it over to show it to me. I got all excited thinking I was going for a ride in the newly redesigned '84 Corvette. You can only imagine my disappointment when he showed up in a Chevette. I closed the door and went back inside.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Lol......haha!

[@stansmith4054]

That's cold, bro!

[@gunterkeegan670]

Hilarious!!!

[@grumpyoldman3458]

I once owned a Little Red Chevette.

[@grumpyoldman3458]

I once owned a Little Red Chevette.

[@stiveemiller6980]

I have a 1980 Chevette, here in Brazil the Chevette is being customized and receiving six-cylinder and v8 engines, it became a fever among young people.

[@russelljohnson1303]

I currently daily drive my Chevette 4 door as it's my only car. It's a amazing little car. Basic yes but as reliable as can be. And best gas MPG you can ask for I average over 33 MPG in town traffic.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

33 mpg in town? Not bad Russel. Thanks for watching

[@honestone490]

A car any backyard mechanic could fix. I loved that era.

[@zythr9999]

@@honestone490 lol

[@apackadayrc7707]

We used to scrounge for change in the seats for gas to the beach and back was a good first car for a 14 year old I killed it before I got my license lol but I was ruff on it

[@stansmith4054]

It's cool to still see these on the roads still. New cars are complete trash! Fact!

[@ericknoblauch9195]

My first car was a brand new 1986 Chevette. Was a reliable and super ruggid car. It never had any problems, and always delivered 36 to 38 miles per gallon of gas. I sold it in the late 1990s. The odometer rolled over twice. A couple of weeks ago, I ran the VIN number from my Chevette, and have discovered it is still registered in a city near my home. I can't believe it is still registered in 2022. A neighbor nearby also purchased one the same year I bought mine, and still has it. I really miss that car. It was versatile, and could hall quite a bit of stuff with the rear seat folded. Chevrolet should update it, and bring it back for a relaunch. The Chevette was one of the best cars I have ever owned.

[@MrJeffcoley1]

My mom had a 1980 Chevette. On a trip from Texas to California the car had a terrible time climbing the continental divide. The air conditioning crapped out in Arizona in the summer, brutal. Then after the trip it started burning a quart of oil every week. Traded it in on a 1981 Citation, which my mom drove until she traded it in on a 1984 Celebrity Wagon. My mom had a knack for picking all the worst GM cars, but she drove that Celebrity over 10 years until she traded it in on a 1996 Impala.

[@hotdon1]

I had an 84 it was one of the most reliable cars i ever owned.And it was dirt cheap to maintain and fuel it.

[@MrChevelle83]

My grandmother had a 1985 chevette 4 door automatic transmission. It was a great little car, and super easy to maintain and repair. it was on the road for nearly 30 years before it wore out. I dont know how many miles it had on it but Im sure it was near 200k miles.

[@CMHKD]

Had a first year 76. It was used and had 100K but was towed behind a Winnebago most of those miles. Ended up with 300K on the odometer. I've had that car airborne, and half filled with water after ending up in a ditch. Was a blast in the snow! Easly could do a 360 on a snow packed road. I'm a Ford fan but that was a tough little car!

[@robertmead9234]

My 84 Chevette was one of the best cars I ever owned. Bought it for $500 in 1995. Sold it to a kid down the street 7 years later for $300. Still ran and drove great

[@pmscalisi]

I bought a new 1984 Chevette sedan. I think it cost somewhere around $3600. It was cheap and got really good mileage but had no power and 30+mpg. It was fairly reliable.

[@kirk1618]

When I was 17, I had a 1980 2 door with an automatic. Can I tell you I drove that car everywhere, even sand dunes on the beach! I beat the hell out of that car. Oil changes, tires, and gas were my only expense. No frills, no worries. I wasn't picking up all the "go fast chics", but that car saw action!! LOL Good memories. No complaints. The "Vette" served it's purpose.

[@timmotel5804]

Excellent and educational. Thanks again. I bought a new 1980 Chevette. Manual trans and No AC, in Florida, so I had AC installed. It never cooled the car enough and I took it in for service several times, to no avail. Ultimately, I found out that Chevrolet designed them so that the heater hose had no shut off valve! OK car. I should have bought the new Toyota instead. I fell for the Chevrolet advertising campaign "The First Chevy of The 80's". I guess that my "blonde roots" were showing that day at the Chevy dealer...

[@beezertwelvewashingbeard8703]

Easy fix. Install your own for a few dollars.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

We agree with Beezer. The shutoff valve could have been an easy fix. Shut that hot water during the Summer and manually turn it on during the Winter. :)

[@russelljohnson1303]

The first Chevy of the 80s was the ad campaign for the Chevy citation not the Chevette.

[@whiskeybuilder6335]

I don't think air conditioning or 5th gear was available for the diesel. I don't think it had the power to handle either one. I really wish I'd kept that uncomfortable, noisy, little turd.

[@danieljohnson9351]

I'd much rather have a old Chevette than a hideous, horrible, butt-ugly Toyota! Yuck!

[@CaptHollister]

For a little perspective on the Chevette: in 1988 or 89, my 1987 Isuzu Trooper II needed a major brake job the same week my dad's Chevette Scooter needed a replacement engine. My dad paid $50 less to have the engine replaced than I did for a brake job... Before there was a Pontiac T1000, Canadian Pontiac dealers had already been selling the Chevette as the Pontiac Acadian.

[@chrisblackburn1872]

I had a 1978 4 door in the late 80's. I loved that car it would go anywhere I took it on or off the road. 😎👍

[@DrewsCustomDiecastDrewMSmith]

I happen to have a long history with the Chevette. My dad leased the very first 76 in Kansas City from Bill Sight Chevrolet. I got quite the education working on and driving it. Then in the late 80's I ended up owning an 80 and an 81. All were 4 speed 1.6 liter.

[@shh5117]

We picked up a 78 Chevette for $100 because the driver's floorboard was rusted out. We welded in a piece of sheet steel and away we went...durable car and about 35 mpg. Really liked that little car.

[@patcurrie9888]

My Dad bought one in 1981, I took it to my prom in 1982! LOL It was the times, not a bad little car.

[@terrypatterson2822]

I had a 1978 Chevy Chevette was my very first car

[@loron99]

I loved my chevettes. I had a 79, 80 and a 85 model. They were my first cars when I started driving. Brings back many good memories. Thx great video

[@justmy2abelincolns272]

You’d probably all chuckle if you knew I have a 2 door ‘82 Chevette STICKSHIFT DIESEL not only sitting at my auto shop (belongs to a friend and long-time customer), but she has left everything to me in her estate. 2 immaculate Scouts, the Chevette, a 1992 Jeep Cherokee sport inline-6 4.0 4WD & also stickshift and a rock solid tip-top 1997 Rav-4 I sold her some years ago… never mind the house with a total of 2 acres. All in Los Angeles. Anyway fun facts to learn about this interesting fossil!

[@josephmclean515]

I had a two tone blue 1982 chevy chevette. Loved it.

[@hughjass1044]

If I could buy one today, I would. Simple, basic, no nonsense transportation.

[@jeffreysnow2640]

I have owned a 78, 79, 82, 83, & 1985 Chevettes. I love them !!! I still have my 1983 " Little Red Chevette "

[@Romiman1]

I like the 1979 model best. And I have had one. Mine was a 1977 two door hatchback, 1.2Ltr 60hp 3speed automatic, the German version "Opel Kadett City". It was my 1st car.

[@guillermojimenezcastelblan8456]

Once again, good information about this special car. It`s remarkable to stand from 1976 to 1987 model year in competition with euro and east asia more "sophisticated" models. That elapsed time, gives the credit this little car deserves. Of course, the Colombian Colmotores model, assembled all from GM`s brazilian CKD, among other local components, was a champion among the taxi cabs fleets, always up to do that job. Production started in early 1982 as two door model, 1984, was added a 4 door sedan, until its final production date, 1992. All the models mentioned were fitted with 67 hp 1.4 liter engine, for first models, and from 1984 and 1992, the engine was a 61.2 hp 1.4 liter, with 1 barrel carb, and a 4 speed manual transmission. Trims, as same as Scooter american model as well, no radio, no AC, any luxo trim or features at all. The car was voted as 20Th Century Colombian Car poll. Modest, humble, but a real street daily driving, highway warrior. Thanks again for this very informative video.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for the insight Guillermo! Thanks for watching. Make sure and subscribe.

[@zaphodhead1]

My first car. An '84 chevette. I put 200k miles on that thing! Drove it into the ground.

[@hugieflhr03]

The chevette could take a beating and keep going. Easy to work on and cheap to keep on the road. During the late 70s and 80s it was the car that was needed. Now we find ourselves in the same place economically and car manufacturers still want top dollar and offer nothing economical

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

Had new 1977. And 1987. Both great memories.

[@bobstewart8032]

My ex-girlfriend drove a 1978 4 door green Chevette. Her mom drove a 1982 4 door silver Chevette. They were very reliable cars.

[@djkenny1202]

A girlfriend in highschool drove her mom’s 85 4 door automatic. It made noise when flooring it, but hardly moved. Rear trunk, that rear drive meant the shallowest trunk evar! I don’t know HOW it remained in the model line up so long?? It was Dated by 1982…

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

lol... Thanks for watching and the comment! We hope you subscribe to our channel if you haven't already. Boca Brother #2

[@ReneRivers]

Reading the comments here I see I'm not the only one with fond memories of the chevette. My grandmother bought on in 1984. I used it in the late 80s and it really was a great little car. It's too bad that inexpensive, decent cars are a thing of the past

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I miss my Chevette. 2 door, 5 speed, just a fun little car. I really want another one

[@chuckford5927]

I went through 3 Chevettes (a 4 door, a 2 door '80, and a 2 door '83 Scooter) back in the '80's. The 1980 model was the most memorable one. I bought it for $495. It had been wrecked, had rust through on the drivers side floor pan, but it never left me stranded anywhere (even when the clutch cable e-clip broke, I fixed it in the parking lot and drove it home!). They weren't powerhouses, but they were great transportation for work.

[@12yearssober]

Had an 86 sport chevette 5 speed. Awesome car. Drove it from Cincinnati Ohio to Seattle down to San Diego then back to Cincinnati on a summer road trip with a couple friends. We still talk about it today almost 30 years later. We were actually in Los Angeles when OJ was found not guilty. We attempted to go to his house that day to take pictures but we couldn't get close to the place. So many media vehicles and satellite trucks. Also the police had the area blocked off. Still was pretty cool as a 21 year old kid to be a part of that history.

[@d.g.n9392]

We bought one of these in 1980 for my older mother. It had problems, and the crankshaft sheared off, it was under warranty. And it was fixed. A couple months later, we went to trade in on something else. A little bigger car. And we made the deal at the car dealership, signed the paperwork. And then the dealer started it to move around the parking area. The crankshaft sheared off a 2nd time. At least it wasn’t our car anymore.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@Ramon-oy5fq]

I lived in Miami, Florida back in 1977.iwas involved in an accident and my car was in the repair shop. My insurance allowed me to rent a brand new chevette. My girl friend was from up state Pennsylvania. She was a nurse in a Miami hospital. We drove the chevette from South Miami to a little town in Pennsylvania called Kersey. It was snowing and freezing. The little chev did great. I liked the car.

[@BillyAlabama]

I had a ‘76 in silver with red plaid seat. I was in college and thought I’d died and gone to heaven!

[@ydmf2]

I had an 85. Loved it.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

We're glad it worked out for you!

[@truelies3690]

I had a 1976 chevette. Dark blue exterior with lighter skyblue interior. Bought it off original owner in 1982 for $750 cash. Automatic, 2 door, a/c, shiny and squeaky clean like new condition. Ran great, 35mpg! 99¢ a gallon gas! Reaganomics going strong. Never had a problem. I changed the timing belt myself for $10! Kept it 2 years then sold it for $1500!. Ha ha ha great times in a very different USA. different people, different country, different life, different times, different world. Like a great happy dream for all alive at the time even with it's so called problems. Glad I lived it. Never to return.

[@MrACDude]

I had a Silver 1979 Chevette that I bought used in 1988 for $75. It had been in a front end collision but because the sheet metal was so thin, I was able to straighten the hood with my hands and got it looking pretty good! I found a used black grille and a radiator in a junk yard and got the car running pretty good. It always stranded me for a while when I took it out of town, but I was always able to fiddle with it and get it running again. It always failed the yearly emission tests but I was able to make some adjustments and get it to pass. One time I even got on local TV while I was working on it at the state run emissions test site! One time the starter motor started on fire after Church on Sunday afternoon. I finally decided to sell the HEAP and couldn't wait to see it drive off under its own power!

[@Al-thecarhistorian]

You hit a home run with this video. I've liked (and disliked) many Chevies, but Chevette and Corvair are my top two favorites. My first new car with wife #2 was a 1980 Gold Chevette 2-door hatchback. Bought it off the showroom floor. Optioned exactly the way I wanted it with 4-speed, white walls and all the other standard features. For the money, the most solid, good looking, reliable Chevy I owned until my 2009 Cobalt. We'd be so much better off if cars like the Chevette were still available. Good looking, reliable, fun to drive, economical, solid and inexpensive. Instead we have $89,000 pickups and the threat of electric cars being shoved down our throats.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@ericknoblauch9195]

I drove a Chevy Cobalt as a rental, and hated it. I also drove a Chevette for 12 years, and thought it was a better car. Also, drove a Cavalier that was great, and lasted for a number of years. Now I am driving a Cruze which is holding up well. After driving all of them, the Chevette was the easiest, and best one to drive. I thought the Cobalt felt cheap. The Cruze has steering that resembles a larger car. The Chevette was the easiest one to steer. I do not think the Cavalier should have been discontinued. The Chevette could have been restyled and updated to live on rather than being discontinued. Many people thought it was dependable, and reliable.

[@OGColorado]

My first car: In 1979 I graduated high school and joined the Air Force to get some experience and training. They sent me to Travis AFB where I soon bought a bicycle to get from barracks to work faster. E1 pay was $419.40 per month before taxes. I wanted a car, flew home and considered the Pinto and the Chevette which were comparable in price and gas mileage. Dad drove a Pinto on his long commute and had already had a timing belt break and top end overhauled. I bought a brand new 1980 Chevette "Scooter" ( very basic car ) for $3880.00 and never regretted it. I drove back to CA from Tulsa, and put 30K miles on the car before going overseas and selling it to another airman for $3500.00 cash. The car had a 1.6L engine, 4 speed manual transmission ( got 30 mpg ) , an AM radio, no air conditioning, and one "Scooter" option included was a back seat. I think they sold a lot of basic Chevette scooters to be delivery cars with no back seat. Anyway, the speed limit was 55 MPH and I could not afford a speeding ticket so the window was open, I went slow, and a farmer's left-arm tan was a thing.

[@spyder000069]

Around 1990 my teenage friends dad had a chevette but was out of town. As a couple of 13 year old kids we decided to try to drive this 5-speed car to a girl's house to impress her and her hot sister. It was mostly gravel country roads of Illinois. We knew how to drive dirt bikes with a clutch so we learned to drive the chevette on the way. Had a good visit and then went to take off but underestimated the home's steep driveway and our lack of experience with the low powered car. After about 10 tries getting up the driveway and having to back down my buddy had me try. I think around my 6th try and some burnt clutch later we made it out of the driveway and got the car back. Needless to say we were a bit embarassed but we didn't get caught by his dad so it worked out.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@leebuckner2262]

I had an 1986 4 door 4 speed in high school in the mid 90's and it was a good little car. My dad bought it and a wrecked on for parts as a spare vehicle for us. put lots of miles on that little car. I do recall changing the starter was quite a challenge.

[@waldemargiers9535]

I've had one. As new immigrant to the country that was machine I could only afford. In 1988 I've bought 1982, 4-door with auto tranny and AM/FM stereo. I paid $600 for it, and it was very decent and well-built machine. We as young family drove it for 4 years everywhere until finally tranny failed on us and was not worthed to repaired it. I sold it for $500 with 220k miles on the odometer, and new owner got new/used transmission and I could still see it in the neighborhood for few years after that. It was weel over 12 years when it finally despaired. it was not sexy machine by any means, every vehicle I owned after this one was a better one, but Chevette will be the one I will never forget.

[@seano147]

My dad bought a 83 slightly used in 84. As a little kid it seemed cool, when I became a teen and had to drive it I felt like I was being punished. AM only radio, vinyl seats, no AC, no power anything and a zero to 60 time of never happened. We had the car 12 years and 148k on it before any repairs it need just became not worth it.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

As a teen we'd drive anything just to get around! Thanks for watching Sean!

[@richarddumais1607]

1983 2 door. It ran fine. 1986 I traded it for a Buick Skyhawk. 4 door

[@ksmith1298]

Ive had experience with 2 chevettes....both were completely competent people movers

[@ericbritton9346]

My dad bought one on August 11,1980 when I was just born, and he was 20 years old. It was silver exterior and black vinyl seats inside. Drove it till the motor died in 1987. Goodtimes!

[@ripvanrevs]

Not uncommon for cars back then to only last a few years.

[@blue_lancer_es]

Dad had a 78 and an 84. Learned to drive on them.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Ahhh....The good old days! Thanks Zoom!

[@carlminorsr2634]

I had a grey 1984 Pontiac T1000 and a red 1986 Chevy Chevette....loved both those cars

[@joeg3741]

My first car was a Pontiac 1000. It was actually a great vehicle. I would buy another over current offerings

[@theprinceofsnj]

I had 3 Chevette's I started with a used 1980 Scooter. I had it about a month. Traded it in on a new 84 base model. It was hard to shift from second to third on cold mornings. Found out that the 4 speed was not synchronized between second and third. Then in 87 I traded in the 84. I got a Light brown (gold) CS. This one was an automatic. I did have issues with the cloth interior . It was called saddle. I could never keep it clean. They where fun to drive. Great gas mileage.

[@cosmowerkstapes]

😆reissuing the chevette would be a breath of fresh-air for today's outlandish prices....

[@robertwilson9699]

I had a 78 chevette. Was a fun car. Unfortunately, as with every company that allows accountants to take over, content and quality is lost for profit.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

The bean counters were pretty by back then. Just didn't know what the heck they were doing. Thanks for watching Robert.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for the comment W J!

[@williamegler8771]

I received one as a high school graduation gift from my grandparents. It was a five door with 4spd and A/C. I drove it all through college and veterinary school. Never failed to start or left me stranded. Survived years of delayed maintenance and being driven like it was stolen. Hardly the greatest car I have ever owned but it was cheap to own and it did the job it was designed for reliably.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

We're glad it worked out for you William. Thanks for watching!

[@georgewilkinson1068]

The 1976 Chevette was my 1st attempt at learning to drive a stick. I failed but I didn't give up. I learned on another car, but I hold the Chevette in high esteem because it was the start of a lifetime passion of driving a stick.

[@daviedmond4639]

Uhg. I remember barely as a kid most family members had one....i remember sitting as a passenger about 3or4 or old with grandfather driving the engine dropped from its mountings and sparks flying everywhere. They have to be the most loud and vibrating experience from a car ever

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Too funny Davi! What a scare hu. Thanks for watching!

[@zebradun7407]

Lord these cars were everywhere at one time.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@JT-SE-OHIO]

I got hooked on them when we got a used postal one for delivering pizza. I ended up having 13 different ones over a 5-6 year period. They keep going until they get wrecked even in the deep snow. I would buy one with a good body and bad motor and another with a good motor and bad body and make another good one. My personal one was an 87 2 dr. I got hit at an intersection and insurance paid me good so I repaired and repainted the original red but with SS stripes then clear coat. After being sanded and buffed it was sharp. Probably the only Chevette that ever got repainted. After I got tired of them I sold them, the sadder looking ones for dirt track racing. I think they used diesel heads on the gas model to get more power. Great little cars for me at the time.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@kesslerrb]

My parents bought a 76/77 ‘vette from the next-door neighbors in the late ‘80s for my older sister to drive. I also drove it a year or two later when she was away at college. Ultimately, it was given to our brother in the 90s who drove it into the ground. It was a piece of s… but it ran…

[@ericcrabtree6245]

First car I ever drove. I love telling people my first car was a 1983 white ‘Vette. Technically not a lie.

[@mikelovin7]

Anyone that knows Corvettes would know it was a lie, because 1983 was the only year that a Corvette wasn't made since 1953. 🤣

[@hermanyanto1338]

I drove my 78 Chevett when I found my next Army duty station is gonna be Ft.Dix New Jersey. From CA. to New Jersey. My Chevett never let me down. As long I kept up the maintenance schedule!!👍👍🙏🙏🙏💓

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@vaughngordon1095]

I had an 82 chevette in college while I was studying auto tech. My instructor and I pondered how we could get more horses out of the thing and came up with a plan. I wrangled a coffee can with a float valve to a hose with a metering jet and spliced it to the EGR valve so that instead of dead exhaust gas going into the cylinder with the air and fuel, water vapor would take its place. The fuel would ignite, the piston would get the initial energy then the water vapor would steam up and expand giving the little engine that could a lot more giddy up.... and boy! Bugger would just zip to 70 instead of gasping around 50.

[@tonymanzi3358]

I had an 82 chevette 5 dr HB,loved it! It even had A/C!! I bought it used privately

[@raytabs5879]

Loved the Chevette, a little piece of americana on British roads. The us versions were awesome. My favourite is the 1st generation with the vinyl wood sides.

[@wildbill9919]

The Chevette was small, affordable, practical, fuel efficient, simple and easy to repair.............those days are long gone in America.

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

one of my younger brothers first car was a 1976 POS Ford Maverick so he traded it the next year for a POS Chevette while I had Trans Ams & Z28s in high skool, he couldnt win for losing hahaha!

[@rmiller1957]

I owned a 1984 diesel 2dr. with vinyl seats and rubber mats. The diesel engine was made by Isuzu and my car had a 5 speed manual. It was originally bought new by my father who kept it a year and then sold it to an older brother. He sold it to me a few years later for $600. When I passed it on to my younger brother, it had around 120,000 miles on it, the doors were rusted through, and the floors had rusted through. Here in the Midwest, all cars from that era rusted. If the temperature was around five degrees above zero, the heater didn't put out any heat. I put anti-gel in the tank in winter, and plugged in the engine block heater in temperatures at or below zero. Never had a problem starting it. In winter I put a couple of snow tires on the rear, and some concrete blocks in the cargo area. It did fine. I got around 45 mpg combined city/highway. The Isuzu diesel was terrific and probably would have lasted at least 300,000 miles, but Chevettes weren't built to last that long.

[@zebradun7407]

We owned a Chevette and a Pontiac 1000 the biggest grip was to change the oil or spark plugs you had to pull the engine out of the car. The Pontiacs drivers side door jammed closed and the passenger side window would not roll down, I finally gave it to my son at 14 so he could learn to drive on the farm rds. The Chevette had a blown head gasket both had a lot of miles on them and they were surprisingly fun to drive. I worked with a fellow who bought up five chevettes one would run and he took parts off the other four to keep it running. For the price it was a good buy.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@woxyroxme]

I never had to pull the engine out to change the oil or spark plugs, these cars were very easy to work on

[@Joesmusclecargarage]

Funny, the plugs and oil can be changed in under a half hour. You typed all of that when all you had to say is you’re incompetent?

[@donziperk]

So first of all in Canada in my area they were popular for ice racing because if the soft suspension and rear wheel drive. Second my guy I know has one with a small block stuffed in it. Looks stock right down to the hub caps. Has a quite exhaust on it, a 10 bolt posi diff and stock looking hubcaps. The car is a hilarious sleeper. Love watching him shock Mustangs.

[@mikelovin7]

I had a 1981 diesel, not much power but got 45-50 mpg avg. It was a tough little car and rode really nice, I think it was because of the weight of the diesel engine that made it ride better than the gas versions that I had rode in. I wish they still made a car that was as tough and reliable with an affordable price tag like the Chevette was.

[@lib556]

I had one. When people asked what I drove I said, "a silver 'Vette."

[@zebradun7407]

I worked at a factory that made chevette hubcaps, We asked what it was and the boss said it was a new Chevrolet a cross between a Camaro and Corvette LOL

[@anthonyeverett1391]

Gosh I wish I bought one at that time.

[@Wheelgauge-bt7ox]

My mother had a Pontiac T1000 and I wish I had that car today!

[@jamespepper2541]

I had a 1980 sky blue with chrome and black bullet hole rims it was the nicest one around where, I lived and was a four speed. That was my first car, I loved that little car. 😎

[@jamesellerbee4406]

I had a 85 Chevette. I was 19 years old. The car ran ok at first. But as time went on problems mounted. Traded it in 2 years later

[@kevinbuja4373]

I had a ‘79, and I loved that car. Never let me down.

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[@angelperez7891]

The Chevette was actually extended in production and redesigned for 1988 with styling resembling the original Isuzu Impulse and continued as the Spectrum. The 5-door hatchback was replaced by a square-cut 4-door sedan. It was then finally discontinued after 1996.

[@Argumedies]

My Father had a 76 Chevette and it was the car i first learned how to drive.

[@timf2279]

My grandfather bought one new in 1982 cash. He traded in his 1974 Pinto, which also he bought cash. The man never paid a penny interest on a loan in his life. Being a teenager during the great depression has that effect. Also he never bought a model that wasn't a rental car. He would always take a vacation road trip for 10 days, and rent a car. After the vacation was over and if he liked it he would head over to the dealership and work on a salesman untill the price was right. Both the Pinto and Chevette where huge fleet sales products to rental car companies.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for sharing the info and watching TIM!

[@kingodhill8449]

In 1981 I bought a 78 Chevette scooter. It had no back seat but still had carpet. Mine was ordered with the 4 speed manual tranny and 63 HP motor. Being a kid, I put a custom aftermarket exhaust and duel cold air hi flow air intake. I also put oversized gt tires and rims on it. I pulled a front spoiler from the junk yard and made brackets to hold it under the front bumper. Mine was burgundy metal flake and I put chrome pinstriping down the sides and duel stripes around the contour of the wheelwell openings to match my new rims. I street raced alot of other kids in school and surprisingly won . Not including pony cars. I installed a custom realistic stereo, equalizer and amp and custom built box with 6x9 speakers. I broke a timing belt and that cost 230.00 to repair. I also ripped the shifter out of the socket and had to replace the plasting piece that held it in. I drove it from 81 to Dec of 83. I did put a higher pressure clutch in it July of 83. Nothing about this car seemed to be special yet I had a blast in it and other kids liked and wanted it.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@KenSwiatek]

I bought a 1980 at a govt. car auction. A guy who taught automotive repair at a college, adjusted the carburetor and it was getting 40 mpg!

[@dirttdude]

i raced them in 1600 cc class rally for a number of years, they did really well

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[@ghostmanscores1666]

This was my generations Volkswagen. On any given day there were probably five of these in our high school parking lot.

[@michaelhorn4540]

These were great little cars, and dependable, although I never figured out why the steering column was offset

[@xaenon]

Fitment issues. In most car designs the steering rack has its housing for the pinion gear (or steering gear, if it's the old recirculating-ball type) located directly under/ahead of the driver's feet, but this little car was so tight up front they had to move that pinion housing inboard. Hence the 'crooked' steering column. Not saying they COULDN'T have located it properly. But what CAN be done isn't necessarily easy to implement in a production setting.

[@brentboswell1294]

I think that the Escort being front wheel drive (and having a reputation as a great snow car) ate into Chevette sales big time in the 1980's 😉

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

I remember we had a rare snow storm here in SA back in 84. I had a front wheel Honda and we were able to get to the grocery store with no problems while the rear wheel drives were slipping and sliding. Merry Christmas Brent and thanks for watching. Make sure and subscribe!

[@Sinn0100]

Thank you for teaching me about these cars. As a car guy I always love learning about American cars. Unfortunately, this type of vehicle just isn't my bag. I grew up in the 1990's and I have driven American muscle cars my whole life. My first truly fast car I got in 1996 at 17 years old. It was a 1994 25th Anniversary Trans-Am LT1 w/6-speed. My father was driving a 1995 Z28 LT1 at the time and we bonded over them. Even though I haven't lived with my father in over 20 years we still work on cars together. Hell, he went with me when I picked up my new car (Challenger RT Classic) 3 weeks ago while he drove my older one (2012 SS Camaro). That was a lot of fun. The Camaro gets terrible gas mileage but my 2017 Challenger is getting 26-27mpg easy with a V8 that's making 440hp@425 ft.lb. of torque...that's insane.

[@fordilac]

When you compare it to the Chevy Vega, they were great little cars. Durable when not used like a big block Impala.

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[@martinleicht5911]

I had a 79 & 85, they were fun cars !! 🍺 😎 👍

[@donkique956]

My first car. Oh, the memories!

[@emintey]

I had a chevette. it was...I believe the first US car built to resemble the small Japanese cars which had suddenly become very popular, and the VW Rabbit which was wildly popular. I think I got it around '79 or '80. The Rabbit was much more peppy and really was a cut above and was front wheel drive which was just coming into vogue, the Chevette resembling more the early Japanese imports. Not a great car but adequate for it's low cost.

[@michaeljankowski8036]

I had a 1981 Chevy Chevette Scooter model that I had purchased in 1988 from my Grandmother when my Grandfather had passed away in 1988. It was my first car, I paid $1000 for it. It had 16k miles on it when I bought it, the Scooter model didn't even have a glove box door, Blackwell tires and a A.M.radio. No power steering or power brakes, I wish I never would have sold that car in 1989,but Oh Well.

[@auntbarbara5576]

These were very durable cars.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@guidedmeditation2396]

You could walk up to a locked Chevette and put your palms on the side windows and push them down and the window crank would spin and the window would go up or down. So bizarre. Why bother locking it? How could something like this make it past production?

[@ilovetotri23]

"high end models", I spit out my drink. Great video!

[@BIGGROBB112IDGAF]

I remember telling a girl that I had a vette. So she got excited about it and ask me to pick her up. So when I went to pick her up from her house, she noticed my Chevette. She said, "I thought you have a Vette. And I said I do. She said, I thought you have a corvette? No I said, I have a Vette. A Chevette. Lol

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Hahahahaha!!!!! Thanks for watching!

[@rebelwithoutaclue8164]

Little Red Chevette baby you're not too fast.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@libertylarry6766]

My chevette wasn't too bad. Pretty reliable and easy to work on. Got pretty good mileage, but seemed like it should have been better. Always leaked oil too

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@christopherarmstrong2095]

Why do I love Chevette’s so much? LOL I want a 4spd diesel.

[@MP-th8po]

I had a 1976 chevette and loved it