Chevrolet Chevette

The Chevrolet Chevette is a front-engine/rear drive subcompact manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet for model years 1976-1987 in three-door and five-door hatchback body styles. Introduced in September 1975, the Chevette superseded the Vega as Chevrolet's entry-level subcompact and sold 2.8 million units over twelve model years. and joined the Vega's reworked model called the Chevrolet Monza. The Chevette was the best-selling small car in the U.S. for model years 1979 and 1980.

The Chevette was one of GM's T-cars, those employing General Motors' global T platform. GM manufactured and marketed more than 7 millionrebadged variants on the T platform worldwide, including the Pontiac Acadian in Canada, Pontiac T1000/1000 in the United States (1981-1987), K-180 in Argentina, Vauxhall Chevette, Opel Kadett, Isuzu Gemini, Holden Gemini and, as a coupe utility (pickup), the Chevy 500. A T-car variant remained in production in South America through 1998.

Development

Under the direction of chief engineer John Mowrey Chevrolet began developing the Chevette on December 24, 1973 in response to the 1973 Oil Crisis and GM's Energy Task Force, arising out of the crisis and the resultant shift in consumer demand to smaller, foreign vehicles boasting greater fuel-efficiency.