The Chevrolet Chevette replaced the Vega on the company’s subcompact roster in 1976 (though the Vega would continue through 1977). By comparison, the Chevette was boring compared to the Vega, which had become controversial because of premature rust and overheating engines. As a result, the quiet and unassuming Chevette would stick around for 12 years. This 1982 edition is a one-owner car with 35,000 miles. It needs some mechanical TLC but does run and drive. Located in Greenwich, Connecticut, this future collectible (?) is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $2,850.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about the Chevette was that it was the first U.S. automobile that was produced to metric standards. That’s it, folks. It was still a rear-wheel-drive car that used a carbureted engine for propulsion. Besides the 2.8 million copies that were built, Pontiac cloned the car, and it was also marketed in Canada. Dull was its best-selling point, as it would hit #1 on the U.S. sales charts for small cars in 1979 and 1980.
As the story goes, this Chevy belongs to the seller’s grandfather. He was a Chevy mechanic for 40 years but has since retired. He and Grandma bought the little car new 44 years ago and have only put 35,000 miles on the odometer. Most of the time, it stays in a climate-controlled garage. It looks like a used car, so we assume the body, paint, and interior are all original and are in serviceable condition.
While the little Chevy runs, drives, and stops, some work will be needed to improve those things. For example, it’s stubborn to start and stay running, so a carburetor rebuild or replacement is the likely solution. Also, the exhaust manifold has developed a small leak, so you’ll hear the Chevette coming and going. This seems like a great little project with a big unanswered question: will the Chevy Chevette ever be a true collectible? And thanks for the tip, Zen!
Yes, I think it will be collectible. Nostalgia drives things like this. I remember a friend in high school had one. It was abused and poorly maintained, but we all loved that little yellow bastard (the car, not the owner, but we loved him too). We had great times in it, and seeing this Chevette brings that back for me. That’s why I hope it becomes one of those affordable collector cars that folks with less means can own and love. Also, they were easy to work on and Rear Wheel Drive. Thanks, for the memory blast.
You are correct. There is a segment of buyers who go for “regular” cars, even if those who make their money on auction show muscle would try to convince us otherwise. It’s not as well-heeled, but it’s there.
I’d offer him between $2,000 to $2,500, then fix the engine and use it for a grocery getter.
Yeah, I drive a Vette…
I’d have thought it was a former LILCO (former Long Island Electric Utility) or Con Ed (NYC elec utility) car, because of the color, but this one has factory air conditioining. These were pitifully underpowered, I’m surprised it could move at all with A/C on. The hard starting issue is probably due to the poorly designed in-tank electric fuel pump.
My wife had a 1984 Chevette S. We absolutely loved the car put 180,000 miles on it!!! The paint quality was bad but it BBC was a great car. 16 years old when we sold it. It did not have an in tank fuel pump!!!!
I drove one in 1979 or 1980 one summer.as a replacement car.
You..it ran pretty good..its not a camaro..real similar to a vega.car
.power and drive…rj
“In high school I had a poster on my bedroom wall with a Chevette”. Said no-one. Ever.
My dad got one for my sister, and she literally cried. True story.
Decent Lil Unit..for the price and condition!!! I’d go up there and tune it up and bring it back here to Lake Erie
I had three of them at different times did you know they made diesel powed one
Yep, we had a ’84 diesel 5 speed manual. The engine was supposedly the same one used in Isuzu pickup trucks. I think a turtle ran faster. It had gobs of torque. Could put it in first without using the accelerator, and it would chug along at 5mph.
It was horrible
GM has a rich history of foisting junk little vehicles on an unsuspecting public. The Vega started it, the Chevette continued it, and the Cruze solidified it.
The exhaust manifold leak was a recall item in the day. Parents had an 83 they semi abandoned in the yard due to the exhaust leak. One day I got the mail and the recall notice was there. Brought it to the dealer and boy were they pissed, but they fixed it under the recall. I drove it another 100,000 miles. 40 MPG was its appeal.
The danger is that it might +not+ break down quickly.
“It’ll drive you happy!”
Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember cars like the Chevy Chevette. I’ve always liked this version of the Chevette and I’ve never understood why Consumer Reports and other magazines hated the cars.
not saying a whole lot for poppies mechanical skills if barely runs and stalls. i can tell you 1 thing poppie knows how to find the curb with that r/r tire.
I think my nephew may be the only person on the planet to get a speeding ticket in one of these. He drove it for years and actually loved it.
Cheap, noisy, and gutless. But a definite improvement over self destructing Vegas.
Rented an automatic Chevette with AC on a business trip to LA in the early 80s. I learned in the first hour to stick to surface streets.
I swear my Subaru 360 was peppier.
I drove one for 17 years as I was buying rental properties. I tended to the properties and collected rent with that cute little car. I had my own parking space down at the city courthouse. Good landlord car. Tenants felt sorry for me and paid the rent when due. Put 160,000 CITY miles on it before I run into the back of a Ford Taurus.
I always had my real Vette siting in my garage at home.
Owned a 76 model this same color right after my divorce. 4 boys and I used it for transportation for a couple years. Don’t be in a hurry, but it’ll get you there was our motto…it was a blast to turn cats with in the snow in the parking lot after church. Clutch went out once…changed it myself with a friend…backup light switch stopped working so I installed a toggle switch on the side of the console. Got me stopped once when I forgot to shut them off and a cop following me didn’t like them shining in his eyes. Guess they were pretty bright! Hit a deer which broke the hood latch, it flew open and back against the windshield. That was fun! Got the hood shut and kept driving it until I pulled out in front of someone who hit me and tore the front bumper off. We picked it up and went home but that was the end of it. Pretty tough albeit a very slow little car.
I never had one but in 1980 on trip to Florida, I rented one just for transportation. It surprised me! It actually ran pretty good. I still wouldn’t buy one though….too many other good cars at the time…….
After I bought my 1st house money was a little tight so low cost/no cost used cars were all I could afford and I had a 77 Chevette Scooter, everything was an option.
A glove box door, door pulls, radio, carpeting, opening rear windows
I had that car and it had ZERO options and the boring POS just refused to die, when I sent it across the rusty bridge they drove it onto the ramp truck
5 digit odometer its rolled at least once but for cheap transportation I guess it’s ok