As a youngster, one of the slowest automobiles I can remember driving was a seventies Chevrolet Chevette, owned by my aunt who lived across town. She was recovering from surgery, and family members were taking turns going over and helping her out. One day, she asked me to go to the store and pick up some food, offering me the keys to her ’76 white Chevette. I accepted, but immediately realized the get-up-and-go was dismal, plus the automatic transmission wasn’t responsive either, no matter how hard you hit the gas pedal. These issues have been solved on this 1978 model sedan here on Craigslist in Hamden, Connecticut, as the dreary factory engine has been swapped out for a V8. This one seems like a lot of fun for $5,500, and we’d like to thank Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for bringing it to our attention!
By 1978, the Chevette’s earlier 1.4-liter standard engine had been dropped, and the 1.6L inline four was now the base powerplant, also offered in a “high-output” variant, though even the beefier version churned out only 68 horsepower. Somebody decided the idea of a four-cylinder under the hood here was nonsense, and now the compartment houses a 305 V8, which sounds like a drastic improvement. It’s got some additional goodies as well, including a Holley 650 carburetor sitting on top of an Edelbrock manifold, plus a 200-4R four-speed automatic sourced from a 1985 Buick Grand National. The transmission has been rebuilt and a shift kit added in the process, so this little Chevy should be plenty rewarding to get behind the wheel of.
There’s not much specific mention of the body, but the seller is transparent about the paint not being perfect. However, the sheet metal appears solid and relatively straight, though the rear bumper seems to be sagging a bit on the right side. In my opinion, up front is where this one looks best, with the hood featuring a scoop and pins, plus those fender flares and big-n-little polished wheels let spectators know that this is no ordinary grocery getter. This one’s got a good stance as well, and the suspension features height-adjustable coilovers from QA1.
Most of the interior is black and gray, with the dash appearing to be the sole red item. I’m really liking how the instruments in front of the driver were crafted and installed, and there are additional gauges above the transmission tunnel, which was modified along with the firewall to ensure all the mechanical components fit properly. The seller reports that this car runs and drives perfectly, so unless the next owner wants to spruce up the aesthetics, this 1978 Chevette seems ready to enjoy. Any thoughts to share about this unusual Chevy?
I remember driving my brother’s 1976 Chevette once and having a chance to out run a VW Rabbit from the red light. The Rabbit embarrassed the Chevette.
Hoo Boy.
If you think the gas-powered Chevette was slow you should try the diesel! I met a guy ages ago who didn’t care about anything but the lowest possible cost per mile, so he bought a diesel Chevette. (At the time not only was mileage better but diesel was cheaper than gasoline.) What a miserable thing that poor car was.
Now this is cool!!
Mike, I have to disagree on the slowest car. I respectfully submit the Renault Encore’ I had the pleasure? of working on one years ago and it was, how do I put it, a turd; It ran fine but had zero power. I was test driving it and tried to pass a car turning on the a/c while doing so. The car lost what little power it had and I had to pull back in behind the slower car with what turned out to be a slower car. I wouldnt buy a euro car if you gave me the money to do so.
Once I locked the keys in my car at work. A coworker lent me their Chevette, to go home on my lunch break to get my spare set of keys. It was an automatic and was much quicker than a manual Beetle.
I don’t think i have ever seen a ad for a vehicle that tells you what thermostat it has in it.
a 305,….. why,….. you go to all that work and then put a 305 in it instead of a 350, hell, why not a 383….and why a wideband o2 sensor with a carbed motor
Because you can find a running 305 for next to nothing if you are willing to put in the effort, 350’s can be found for cheap too, but a good running 383, not so much. This is a car with an asking price of $5,500, it’s obviously built on a budget, that makes the choice of a 305 easy to make.
Steve R
Probably because the 305 was readily available and if it didn’t go into the “Vette” it would have ended up at the local marina to serve as a boat anchor. The next buyer can swap in the 383 or an LS.
A lame motor for a lame car. A good match, two things nobody wants.
Or a 440 Magnum
Hot Rod Magazine once squeezed a 500 cubic inch Cadillac engine into a Chevette!
I remember that build. It involved adjusting the transmission tunnel with a sledgehammer
The Used Car manager at a dealership I worked bought a VW bug at auction with a 538 Chev in the front. Driver seat was where the rear seat had been.
What a sick’ little puppy…
Ridiculous.
I’m not sure I’d put a V8 engine in a car like this. A V6 engine if it fits, but a V8? Hell no!
Chevrolet’s 2.8 V6 is an easy fit in a Chevette. Chevrolet actually built one in 1982 with a 2.8HO and a 5-speed from a Camaro. It was decently quick for the day. You can find an article about it in Car & Driver’s archives. I’d be concerned about this one twisting like a pretzel. I didn’t see any mention of unibody reinforcements.
Back when I was a young hoodlum…er, I mean hot rodder, I was a member of a hot rod gang. Just young guys who had brothers, uncles, fathers, friends that were drag strip, circle track and street racers who helped us youngsters build cars and teach us car lessons. This got me into garages and warehouses that made me drool, wide eyed and green with envy. One guy had a blown 427 in a 2 door Chevette and when he cranked it up it scared the daylights outta me! Not because it was soooo bad xxx but because it was in that short wheelbase tin can! Holy hell!
The good old days. I was always into cars from when I was a kid hanging with older guys. The motorheads in my neighborhood would grab me when working on their car cause I had little hands back then and didn’t mind getting dirty. I earned my busted knuckles.
This has me in stitches. It looks pretty good overall. That 305 should shove it down the road alright. I’d take a spin.
deathwish sleeper!
I sincerely hope they replaced the Tinkertoy rear axle for a build like this. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make it out of the shop!
I drove a Chevette from Dallas to Los Angeles pulling a trailer. Longest month of my life.
Looks like fun!
Like John up there. We had a neighbor outside of Maineville oh. That put a 427 in one. You’d see it MAYBE 3 times a year. He would pull it out of his garage and go around the subdivision once or twice then back in the garage it would go. Probably scared the crap out of him. I was trying to remember the color of it, I believe it was blue too.
I’m 68 now and that was50 years ago
Like John up there. We had a neighbor outside of Maineville oh. That put a 427 in one. You’d see it MAYBE 3 times a year. He would pull it out of his garage and go around the subdivision once or twice then back in the garage it would go. Probably scared the crap out of him. I was trying to remember the color of it, I believe it was blue too.
Gotta give this guy an “A” for effort.
A true HOT ROD ! Taking a bunch of nothing parts and making something out of it .
right on
Im geeking on it, sweeet communter car for the suburbs and city
Pizza delivery !
Id be smiling cruzin it
Many, many years ago I was rearended on the Edens Expressway and my car was totaled. The offenders insurance company gave me a rental Vega. I was driving over 800 miles a week and the Vega (automatic) was a real dud. Meanwhile the insurance company hadn’t settled and the rental company wanted the Vega back because it was time to turn it over. So they gave me a new Chevette. It was worse than the Vega. Several years later while running a couple of Goodyear stores. We kept seeing Chevettes with alignment problems that could only be made ” close” with an 8′ prybar and two guys grunting alot. (Before they had offset ball joints available) And everything you lifted one on the rack the rear springs would fall out. So I’m not real hot on Chevettes. And too me, flared fenders and 4 doors don’t go together.
right on =)
Im geeking on it, sweeet communter car for the suburbs and city
Pizza delivery !
Id be smiling cruzin it
nice color, nice condition, rare find, rare year for rare find and nice looking nose, cool grills
I mean…. I’ve driven more dangerous cars than this! What’s the worst that could happen?
Lol back in the 90s I was a single dad with 4 young sons. “Family car” was a 4 door Chevette. Got the job done but could hardly get out of its own way. Nevertheless we had lots of adventures in it. Had to install a toggle switch for the backup lights because the switch failed for reverse, one night I forgot to shut them off and got pulled over because they were bright enough to bother the cop following me. Sure wasn’t for speeding! Oh and it was a blast to turn cats with in the church parking lot in the winter…good times!