There are still a few cars out there that many enthusiasts have probably never heard of, and I’m speculating that the Chevrolet- whoops, I meant Leata- Cabalero is one that might be a new face to some of our readers. It’s an unmistakable high-scorer in terms of rarity, but I’m not sure how many collectors have thought to add one of these to their list of must-own vehicles before passing away, especially if it’s going to set them back $18,500 like this one here on Facebook Marketplace. However, it’s far-fetched to imagine anyone else in your town (or probably state) driving one, and it will certainly generate plenty of attention and questions wherever you go. This little luxury hatchback coupe is currently residing in Scottsdale, Arizona, and we’d like to thank Cameron for spotting it and providing the tip here!
The Leata debuted in 1975, and, in all fairness, the company’s first car was a sleek little vehicle with fun curves that mimicked designs from the 1930s. In 1977, the brand introduced the Cabalero, based on the Chevrolet Chevette. Unfortunately, even with the front as a possible exception, it still looked more like a seventies econobox than any classic from the days of yore. However, those lucky enough to score one got far more bling to boast about than any base Chevette could offer, with sculpted fiberglass side panels, a vinyl top, and opera lights that fit right in with what was popular among personal luxury coupes of the period. Thankfully, the body and paint look very good here, and the seller reports the car has been completely restored.
Once inside, a few more features help ensure passengers won’t immediately think they are riding in an ordinary Chevette. Those two-tone green vinyl and cloth seats look almost comfortable, and the buckets have headrests that are more like small sleeping pillows. The door panels are also trimmed out nicely, and this one’s got a more rocking Stereo than it would have originally come with, since I don’t recall CDs being around until the eighties. It also has a more modern dashboard, including a handy map pocket over the glove box door, but swapping the stock Chevy steering wheel for something more exciting would have been a low-cost, welcome addition to the Leata Cabalero.
Perhaps the biggest oversight was in performance, since a standard Chevrolet inline-4 sits in the bay, but at least it’s the 1.6-liter variety instead of the smaller 1.4. Still, it makes only around 60 HP, and I have no idea whether the header here was added by Leata or a gearhead owner trying to increase power. Fortunately, this one’s described as ready to be a daily driver, so if your commute is short and doesn’t include freeways, it might be a rewarding way to travel. Any thoughts to share on this 1977 Leata Cabalero and its $18.5k asking price?
If one already owns a Mitsuoka Viewt, this would be a must-have.
What was someone smoking when they made this thing? They definitely were trying too hard to make it look fancy with the landau vinyl roof with those huge opera windows. Those louvers on the back window ruin the luxury aspect of it, and I guess they think you’ll get rear ended so they put 2 extra brake lights above the taillights.
Someone in the Design team had a really bad nightmare.
Just what the Chevette platform needed: more weight. If they were doing an economy version of the Monte Carlo it should have been a Mont Carl instead of dropping an L from Caballero.
Looks like the answer to a question that nobody asked