1975 Vauxhall Chevette

Vauxhall Chevette (Saloon/Estate), 1975-1984

The Vauxhall Chevette was in production from 1975 until 1984. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive saloon and estate range seating five adults.

The Vauxhall Chevette had been intended as a replacement for the Vauxhall Viva HC, though that car continued alongside the Chevette until 1979 and was subsequently replaced by the Astra. The Chevette, therefore, was marketed as an upmarket Viva alternative at first and subsequently as a sub-Astra entry level model in a range that arguably didn't need it. Launched as a three door hatchback, the Chevette range would later encompass two and four door saloons, and a three door estate. There would also be a van version, the Bedford Chevanne. All Chevettes used the same 1256cc engine, with the exception of the 2.3 litre HS and HSR models.

The Chevette was based on an existing Opel model; the Kadett C of 1973, though with a far smaller range of powertains and bodies. The Opel models were available with a range from 1.0 to 2.0, while the Chevette's 1256cc engine was carried over from the Viva and not fitted to any Kadett model. Opel also offered a Kadett Coupe which never saw sales in Britain. The Kadett never played host to performance models in the manner the Chevette did either - the slant four engined HS and HSR models had no foreign equivalent save the 2.0 Kadett GTE coupe. The Kadett was replaced in 1979 - five years before the Vauxhall would cease production.

The Chevette was Britain's best selling hatchback for its first three years, outselling larger cars like the Austin Maxi and Chrysler Alpine. However, it's fairer to compare it to the Ford Fiesta, Renault 5 and Peugeot 104, while later models would compete with the Fiat Panda and the Austin Metro. The performance models had only one competitor in the form of the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, and this kinship suggests that perhaps it would be fair to consider the Chrysler Alpine and Chrysler Horizon as fair rivals for the Chevette too. The Ford Escort Mk2 competed with the Chevette saloons and estates.