Here's how the Chevy Chevette went from sales leader to sales loser

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This is my first video for my new channel - My Old Car - featuring my first car, the Chevy Chevette. In this episode I provide details on its specs and changes over its 12-year run, and how it went from the best selling small car in North America to a sales loser just a few years later. Other cars I owned will be in future episodes.
If you used to own a car from the 80s to mid-2000s that you rarely ever see on the roads today, and would like to see it showcased in a future episode, leave a comment or contact me at [e-mail].
Also check out my Plymouth Prowler channel - / @patrickomeara9420

[@dickamacher1]

I actually worked on the Chevette as a design engineer. The 1.4 and 1.6 liter engines were actually built in Flint Michigan at the same factory making the Chevrolet small block V8. The engine design was form Opel and the car was originally built in Brazil for that market. The Chevette was rushed to market using cars from Brazil as test mules. The production cars were originally assembled in Wilmington Delaware until capacity was added in Lakewood Georgia.

[@jimmyb1559]

I owned a Chevette for a few years. It was like driving a shopping cart with a body. But it got me where I wanted to go. Remember the old saying, beats walk-in’.

[@jnonya3465]

We have a local pizza place that still has chevettes as delivery cars, love seeing them still kicking around

[@basswars7060]

My first car was a used 1981 Chevette. It was great. It took me everywhere I wanted to go and was cheap to run and fix and no matter how hard I tried, I never got a speeding ticket.

[@corycole3474]

I had a friend in college who used to tell the ladies that he drove a vette. LOL

[@danielburke8350]

My sister had one in college in the early 80's. Of course, a lot of students didn't have cars of any kind, so when she was at extracurricular activities there was always someone saying "Hey, can you give me a ride back to the dorm?" She always obliged, and as they were walking back to the parking lot everyone inevitably said "so what kind of car do you have?" She'd always blithely reply "Oh, I drive a 'Vette."

[@barnabyjones6995]

My Dad bought a brand new silver 1978 Chevette. The motor started knocking after a few months. After haggling with the dealer for a long time they finally allegedly "fixed" the motor. Nonetheless, in 1979 he got rid of his one year old Chevette and bought a 1979 Toyota Celica and loved that car. That Celica was indestructable.

[@edwardpate6128]

I knew many friends in the military that bought them in the 80's as they were cheap, pretty reliable and really kind of nice to drive being a rear drive platform. If you maintained them they were pretty nice cars that go you where you were going.

[@williamegler8771]

My grandparents bought me one in 1985 brand new as a high school graduation gift.

[@YourName-jm7lz]

I was born in 1973 and watching this video sure makes me miss the good ol days.

[@mojav26]

I had a used Chevette in the mid 90s which I drove all over mostly the Southwest US, I think I found my peace of mind in that car! :)

[@bassmaster4406]

I had a ‘78 Chevette in high school. AM radio and heat, that’s all it had. My dad drove it to work, then my sister drove it all the way thru high school and then I drove it for my high school years. Not fancy, but it was a good running little car. Simple to work on and good on gas for my minimum wage high school job. This video brought back a lot of good memories

[@stevedeleon8775]

My aunt gave me her 1976 Chevette back in 1978 when she became legally blind...I was in jr. college Sophomore year..I already had my 1970 Chevelle Malibu 350 V8 2 door..so I used the Chevette as a daily driver & my Chevelle on weekends👍..I drove it until 1985..I donated it to Junk For Jesus & it still ran good with 100,000+ original miles

[@stunnedatsunset7649]

I bought a three door Chevette in 1979. Its gas mileage was nothing short of remarkable! I took good care of it changing the oil religiously every 2500 miles. I put 385,000 miles on the little car, replacing the front shock columns with new ones three times. Once, I was directed to the side of the Thruway by a State Trooper who told me that radar had clocked me doing 105 miles an hour. I asked permission to open the hood. He looked confused but consented. I got out of the car and propped up the hood. We stood there looking at the engine together. I offered him the keys and said: "Officer, here take this buggy out on the road and, if you can get this thing to do 95, I'll follow you to the State Police Barracks." He realized that his radar might have locked on to a different vehicle, laughed heartedly, apologized and sent me off. The vehicle's reputation alone won me an argument with a State Trooper which is a rare thing. I finally let it go in 1994. The only car that even came close to the economy of the Chevette was a 1999 Saturn SW1 that I purchased new and I still own and drive it.

[@yannyburger]

Knew a guy drove 1 of these for courier. It was a beater what lasted forever. He was still driving it into the 2000s.

[@steverobsondiecast]

I owned a 1986 chevette and liked it. It had tons of faults. For 8 of the 9 years I had it it used a aftermarket header on it along with other changes. A hot rod of sorts. Not a great one to do but fun regardless. I miss that little car. New cars lack something that these basic older had. Great video.

[@tomspaulding9555]

I had a 1981 Chevette, barebones, plastic interior. I remember at 40,000 miles it would jump out of reverse unless you held the shifter, also the engine check light came on. It was under warranty date wise but not mileage. So I popped the cluster out and rolled the mileage back to 30,000 and took it in to get it fixed under warranty

[@seanmcgivney7631]

A buddy of mine owned one. I had to borrow it for some reason. Took it to work on 285 in Atlanta, stayed in the right lane. I felt a little bit vulnerable at first. But i grew to respect the little car!

[@bssmith4181]

Excellent point about the price as with new cars we are being forced to pay for things we don't even want!!

[@jeffbangkok]

I was a service writer at a Chevy dealer and part of my job checking in the new cars. The first transport of 10 Chevette's that arrived had to be pushed off the transporter as they wouldn't start. The factory shipped them without the automatic choke and we had to hide them till the parts arrived. That was through all the models. Cars we'd have to hide till everything was repaired. One 4 wheel drive pickup came on top of the transporter and the driver said his ramp was broke. He backed up and jumped it off the back. I personally drove Mustangs and had plenty of horror stories with Fords.