Vauxhall Chevette History
Catalog record
Photography for this nameplate has not yet cleared the archive’s licensing and identity checks. The researched text below remains available while the page stays out of search and advertising inventory.
History
Launched in 1975, the Chevette was Vauxhall's version of GM's 'T-Car' small-car family, closely related to the Opel Kadett C, and gave Vauxhall a foothold in the new supermini class. Around 415,000 were sold in Britain across its life, with the three-door hatchback the best-known body.
Its performance legend is the rally homologation special: the Chevette HS (1978–1979) fitted a 2.3-litre 16-valve 'slant-four' producing about 135 hp, and the wide-arched, fibreglass-panelled HSR followed. The cars were genuinely competitive against Ford's Escort RS in late-1970s rallying.
Body styles
- Hatchback
- Saloon
- Estate
Notable special editions & performance variants
Chevette HS
Group 4 rally homologation special with a 2.3-litre 16-valve engine (~135 hp); roughly 400 built.
Chevette HSR
Wide-arched evolution of the HS with fibreglass panels and a bodykit ('Plastic Fantastic') for competition; very few built — sources vary, with roughly 33 to 50 cars made for the road, some converted from unsold HS examples.
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Vauxhall Chevette
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.