Vauxhall Chevette

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Purchasing classics there

The Vauxhall Chevette, marketed as Opel Kadett on the European Continent, does have a nice story. The Vauxhall Chevette was seen by General Motors as a 'baby Chevrolet' for the American market, hence the name 'Chevette'.

Production moved

Apparently the mutual contacts were not very good, because Vauxhall - also part of General Motors - was now quite in the spotlight with their new project 'Baby R', which was eventually canceled due to the high costs. Something new was designed based on the already existing Opel Kadett. The introduction of this took place in 1973 in Brazil; on 1 in May 1975 entered that model in the American and British showrooms. Initially, the Chevette was produced at the Vauxhall factories in Luton; after that, everything moved to the factories located much further north in Ellesmere Port.

Hatchback

The Vauxhall Chevette had to fill in the gap under the Viva that had fallen into disrepair in the 1970s and was initially only available as a hatchback. Partly by the Pontiac-inspired 'nose', the car looked completely different from the Opel Kadett and was accepted by the buyers as 'something completely new'. Arch rival Ford only reacted a year later with the Fiesta hatchback, increasing Vauxhall's market share. From 1975 to almost the end of 1978, the Chevette was the most popular car in Britain. Great Britain had the Chevette, Germany the Opel Kadett, in Japan the car was called Isuzu Gemini, in Australia the Holden Gemini, in the United States, Canada and Brazil the Chevrolet Chevette and in Ecuador it was known as AYMESA Cóndor. In the States, the cart also appeared a year later as the more luxurious Pontiac Acadian and T1000. The Chevette also stood its ground in motorsport. Powered by an 16-clapper double-knocker and almost 2.300 cm 3 it was an unbeatable rally horse.

Photo: The 2300 HS is again the most coveted Chevette

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