When launched in 1975, the Chevette was a new departure for Vauxhall. It combined the General Motors T-Car platform proved so successful in Germany as the 1973 Opel Kadett C and the willing 1256cc Viva engine/transmission package.
The ‘droopsnoot’ styling was penned in Luton by Wayne Cherry and proved to be a Vauxhall styling signature for a decade after making its debut on the Firenza HP. It was a very competent small car offered in saloon and estate car form. In addition, Vauxhall engineered a new hatchback rear end that was used across the rest of General Motors, most notably as the Opel Kadett City. It also set Vauxhall apart from its German counterpart, even if it meant that the two companies ended up competing in several markets.
Easy to drive and a tidy handler, the Chevette proved popular enough to remain in production until 1984 – long after the Astra should have replaced it. It ended up making way for the Spanish-built Vauxhall Nova.
Pictured below is supposedly the 1973 Vauxhall Chevette Hatchback prototype.
Source: https://www.aronline.co.uk/
Images: oldconceptcars
