Our Chevettes!

[luxy1205]

Here's a look at our other babies! My husband's car named "Beest" has been thru a lot! He bought it in 2006, it sat in a horse barn, on limestone, and horse urine! You can imagine where this is going???!!!??? The whole underneath was rotted thru!!! He custom made a rotisserie to put his car on so he could turn it on its side to rebuild it. Also, he converted the whole back end and the front end to look more like a 1976. A little history lesson: Chevettes first came out in 1976 and the last models rolled off the line in 1987. Sammy used to have a 1976, he bought it as his first car, turned out to be his favorite car! He restored it and used to show it at car shows. Sadly, in 1992 it was stolen and never seen again! So, in 2006 when I met him, he still talked about his Chevette! He always wanted to get another 1976, but in 2006 they're rarer to find and way more expensive! He had a friend that had been trying to sell him a 1985 for years, but he never wanted it because it was the newer body style. In 1979 they changed the front end look, but the back end was the same. In 1980 they changed the backend. In 1983 they blacked out everything instead of being chrome. What's funny is that Sammy restores antique/muscle cars for a living! One time we were out in town and his friend bumped into him and asked him yet again if he wanted to buy his Chevette! I told him to buy it and just convert it to look like an old one! He said that that thought had never crossed his mind before! With that, he bought it and all the pictures I have will commence the restoration! In addition, to the pictures, Sammy and I rebuilt a 4.3 V6 that will go into his car soon! I as well have a Chevette! Mine is a 1980 named "Roxy", 4 door, automatic with the very rare H/O motor and dual exhaust! In the pictures you all will notice that mine (blue) has different fenders on it. Mine was the first year to have that newer looking body style, but yet still had the old style bumpers and fenders. I wanted mine to look like his 1985! So, we got different fenders for her. Also, the headlight bezels and front grill were from his 1985, since he changed is whole front end to look old. BTW, his car looked the same as mine when he got it except the door ratio! Ha Ha! I could literally be here all day writing out what has been done to our cars! So, instead I will just show pictures and if anyone has questions or wants to know more I'll write. Enjoy! -Michelle

 

[luxy1205]

Chevettes

More pictures!!!! -Michelle

 

[suckolux]

Wow, serious projects. I would think the narrow angle V6, like the 2.8 and its cousins would be an easier fit, but should be interesting.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Jeez, ya certainly don't see those on the road very often, anymore! Very cool!

 

[marks_here]

I learned in drivers ed at school in one of those..loved how they drove, better then that tank of a car they gave us a caprice classic, I think driving a school bus was easier then that!

 

[suckolux]

Those and Pintos, hard to find, many just drove them into the ground.

 

[danemodsandy]

David:

"Those and Pintos, hard to find, many just drove them into the ground."

Another problem was that these economy cars didn't attract the most affluent buyers, so deferred/skimped maintenance was kind of the norm.

I used to drive for very little money, because I specifically looked for AMC products, which attracted the same low-budget customer. I would find them very cheap, and then take the K-Mart plug wires off and replace them with good Belden wires, and I'd have the carb rebuilt. The result? A like-new driving car for next to nothing. I had one four-year-old Pacer D/L wagon I got for $600 like that. Drove it for years.

Them days is gone....

 

[suckolux]

Yep, they are! I was a used car dealer, know the way it was

 

[kirbylux77]

David....you were a used car dealer?!?! I wouldn't go telling very many people that if I was you. Here in Canada at least, car dealers & car salesman get very little respect & usually a bad rap from the general public.

Rob

 

[suckolux]

Tragic times, but true.

 

[super-sweeper]

Why would somebody treat him differently for being a former used car salesmen? The sleazy sales tactics used? 

 

[sebo_fan]

Jeez, those cars take me back. The UK versions under Vauxhall were like the old outdated versions.

We had a few Chevies like these in Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland - my home town - and where our U.S base was located.

The Pinto and the Chevette were both very popular, but also U.S market Volvo, Saab, VW cars seemed to be a popular choice. Some even had great huge American cars that took up the narrow streets.

 

[super-sweeper]

"Huge American cars that took up the streets"-I'll have a blast if i ever visit Scotland in my DreamSoto! 

 

[classicfan1]

Well...

There's a strong and blossoming following for classic K-Cars...which were arguably better cars (I still see some and their derivatives on a weekly basis).

But I guess every car has it's day. My step-dad had one and it rusted out to the point that it was unsafe to drive. That's the problem with these cars; RUST! As for the Pintos, they just got a little "toasty" inside.

 

[suckolux]

That was only the hatchbacks! Wagons were different. sedans, I am not sure