Chevette Group

[Paul Dobbin]

I had two guys that worked with me buy Chevettesback in 1977.   One was 6'7" and a weight of 270, the other was 6'4'' and weighed rin at 250.   They both wanted ecomomy from the daily drives even if they had use a shoe horn to get in.   The both claimed to love the Chevettes, but I failed to beleive them.   The little guy, 6'4" traded in a really nice 10 year old 67 VW, that I would have bought had been given the chance to buy it.

L lost track of thier cars, sna don;tknow how long they kept them, but I think it was long term.

[Bryan G]

Some folks in our neighborhood ran run for probably a dozen years or more (their second car was a Horizon/Omni). It has to do with your expectations from a car.

 

I dated a girl for many years; early on she saved up and bought her first car, a Chevette (this was around '92.) It really was the perfect car for her as it was cheap to buy, actually reliable, and economical. She didn't keep it long and spent the rest of our time together going from one back-lot buy-here/pay-here special to another, and none could be trusted. There actually used to be a repair shop near here called "The Chevette Shop" that worked on nothing else. 

 

Talk of the diesel model had me thinking of a friend with a background as a diesel mechanic. His daily driver is an old Chevy pickup with the 6.2; for many years his wife drove a diesel Escort, the only one I've ever seen. I suspect he still has it, long parked.

[8E45E]

15 hours ago, JamesR said:

 

I remember a friend had a worn out Chevette that he would use to get us to a bar an hour away to listen to bluegrass music. No other car I'd ever been in more closely approximated a "box on wheels" ride and feel. Smelled bad, too. My sister's new Chevette had a better ride and smell, but it was minimal transportation. Merging on the interstate was not a reassuring experience. I think the car could only be designed and sold during the 55 mph era. 

As I stated earlier, the North American market Chevette was designed for the worst time in US automotive history that destroyed their already unexciting looks and performance.  

[jensenracing77]

I just had a low mile rust free Chevette for a few months earlier this year. I found there was a group on Facebook for them and to my surprise there is a large following for them now. The rust free ones actually sell really easy. I got $2800 for this one and did not even list it for sale. A young couple just had to have it and ask for a price. They didn't even try to talk me down. 

[cheezestaak2000]

if anyone wants to start a chevette group, let me make a suggestion on how to get only the most dedicated chevette owners as members. require prospective members to go out and remove the starter from their little gem. that should eliminate all but the most dedicated. we built them here at the wilmington plant. they were NOT built with pride in wilmington as the sign said.

 

[Frank DuVal]

BTDT. On Scooters not as bad as fully loaded ones!

[8E45E]

3 hours ago, Frank DuVal said:

BTDT. On Scooters not as bad as fully loaded ones!

One of the few that might be a conversation stopper would be 1976 Scooter with ZERO options, not even a rear seat!

 

Craig

[Frank DuVal]

Yes, by 1979, the rear seat was standard equipment. The right front seat still did not have an adjustment.

 

My dad bought the Scooter new. It has zero options for 1979. Between the time he ordered it (no dealer in Richmond area had a no option Scooter on the lot) and it arrived at the dealership, GM made the AM radio standard. So, it has an AM radio. It took months before any dealer would order a base Scooter. Dad finally found a new salesman who just needed to make a sale.😆

 

Dad was tired of driving the 1970 Buick Estate Wagon with the three speed manual to work. We bought the wagon for me, and dad's 66 Biscayne was totaled while sitting at a light, so he ended up driving the wagon.

[8E45E]

On 6/13/2021 at 9:04 PM, Frank DuVal said:

My dad bought the Scooter new. It has zero options for 1979. Between the time he ordered it (no dealer in Richmond area had a no option Scooter on the lot) and it arrived at the dealership, GM made the AM radio standard. So, it has an AM radio.

 

Dad was tired of driving the 1970 Buick Estate Wagon with the three speed manual to work. We bought the wagon for me, and dad's 66 Biscayne was totaled while sitting at a light, so he ended up driving the wagon.

I believe that was one of GM's "Spring Incentives", where they would throw in certain accessories for 'free', like the radio and maybe floor mats to spur sales until the new model year.

 

Craig

[rocketraider]

On 6/13/2021 at 8:02 AM, jensenracing77 said:

I just had a low mile rust free Chevette for a few months earlier this year. 

Yup, you had that Olds crowd going when you said you'd bought a Vette!😜

[rocketraider]

On 6/13/2021 at 11:04 PM, Frank DuVal said:

Dad was tired of driving the 1970 Buick Estate Wagon with the three speed manual to work. We bought the wagon for me, and dad's 66 Biscayne was totaled while sitting at a light, so he ended up driving the wagon.

Frank, do y'all still have that 3-speed Estate Wagon? That had to have been one of a very few if not a one of one.

[Frank DuVal]

Yes I do. But, it has some frame rust. Due to the fact it is a GREAT snow driver!👍

 

According to Pete Phillips (BCA) it is one of 26. From what the original owner told me, it is amazing 26 people put up with all the phone calls from Flint talking them out of it. Because of the clutch cross shaft, they could not fit a power brake booster. Typed on the Broadcast Sheet is Produce with manual transmission and manual brakes. 

 

It is also painted GM code 28, a Rivera only color (well, I guess it really is not Rivera only!) body with a white roof.

 

GM had no high horsepower three speed, so it has the Ford 3.03 RAT top loader, like all the high horsepower GM intermediates of the time.

[8E45E]

32 minutes ago, Frank DuVal said:

Yes I do. But, it has some frame rust. Due to the fact it is a GREAT snow driver!👍

 

According to Pete Phillips (BCA) it is one of 26. From what the original owner told me, it is amazing 26 people put up with all the phone calls from Flint talking them out of it. Because of the clutch cross shaft, they could not fit a power brake booster. Typed on the Broadcast Sheet is Produce with manual transmission and manual brakes. 

 

It is also painted GM code 28, a Rivera only color (well, I guess it really is not Rivera only!) body with a white roof.

 

GM had no high horsepower three speed, so it has the Ford 3.03 RAT top loader, like all the high horsepower GM intermediates of the time.

Still worth the effort of restoring.   1970 Estate Wagons are rare as it is.

 

I've only seen one at a car show.

 

Craig

[rocketraider]

7 hours ago, Frank DuVal said:

Yes I do. But, it has some frame rust. Due to the fact it is a GREAT snow driver!👍

 

According to Pete Phillips (BCA) it is one of 26. From what the original owner told me, it is amazing 26 people put up with all the phone calls from Flint talking them out of it. Because of the clutch cross shaft, they could not fit a power brake booster. Typed on the Broadcast Sheet is Produce with manual transmission and manual brakes. 

 

It is also painted GM code 28, a Rivera only color (well, I guess it really is not Rivera only!) body with a white roof.

 

GM had no high horsepower three speed, so it has the Ford 3.03 RAT top loader, like all the high horsepower GM intermediates of the time.

As well as the few 65-later full-size 3-speed equipped cars.

 

It messes with people when you tell them your big B-O-P GM car has a Ford toploader transmission, or as Olds referred to it "Dearborn" transmission.

 

We all know what big-inch torque monster B-O-P engines would have done to a Muncie or Saginaw 3-speed box. There'd a-been pieces strewed from here to yonder.

 

A Chevette transmission would have run screaming the other way!😄