ronmccullock
Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS
At the beginning of the seventies General Motors stared work on a project coded T Car programme this was their first world car project to develop a platform which its subsidiary car divisions could use. Vauxhall joined in this project in 1971 and commenced design work on the XP project in February 1972 this is believed to be six months ahead of Opel. The XP project became the Vauxhall Chevette which was launched at the Geneva motor show in March 1975 and went on sale on 2nd May 1975. The Chevette was offered as a three door hatchback with a four door saloon, and a three door estate versions following a year later. The Chevette was smaller than the Viva and was powered by the same 1.3-litre 4-cylinder 1256 cc petrol engine. Production of the Chevette commenced at Ellesmere Port in February 1975, with the first completed on 10th February 1975.
The Opel version of the GM T Car programme was the Kadett, which was offered as a saloon, estate, hatchback and coupe. The Kadett had a wider range of engine options than the Vauxhall Chevette, and had a better interior. Both the Opel Kadett and Vauxhall Chevette looked identical apart from headlights and interior. Both Opel and Vauxhall had worked together on the new models as a joint project, Opel were responsible for the designs, with the exception of the three door hatchback which Vauxhall designed and Opel copied. Vauxhall also restyled the front of the Chevette to distinguish it from the Opel Kadett which would be sold in the UK. The Chevette sold better in the UK than the Kadett did.
In 1978, Vauxhall decided that they wanted compete in the international rallying scene and developed a high performance version of the Chevette which was sold as a road going car to the public as the Chevette 2300 HS model powered by a 2.3-litre 16 valve petrol engine producing 153bhp driving through a close ratio five-speed gearbox. For rally homologation requirements 400 road going cars had to be built, it is believed all 400 2300 HS cars built were silver. A more potent limited edition version was introduced in 1980 the Chevette HSR. Production of both models ceased in 1981. Production of the Chevette ceased on 28th March 1984 after 415,630 had been built at Ellesmere Port, with CKD models assembled in New Zealand.
Notes: The first customer to receive a Chevette in 1975 was driving instructor Fred Hordswoth.
A red hatchback Vauxhall Chevette appeared in The Likely Lads film which was made two years after the Television series had ended, which Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes) drove and towed a caravan may I add! In the Television series Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads, Bob drove a Vauxhall Viva. The film made by EMI and released in 1976, was shot on location in Tyneside unlike the Television service which was shot in London.
I to, many years ago owned a hatchback Chevette L, which I bought in 1984 from Dobies the Vauxhall dealer in West Cumbria who had the main dealership in Ellenborough in Maryport before it moved to Lillyhall near Workington. The car was three years old with 40,000 miles, I paid £1800 for it and had nothing but trouble with it and I traded it in after 10 months.
My view shows a Chevette 2300 HS model with Monte Carlo in the background.
Photograph copyright: Vauxhall Motors Ltd
Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS
At the beginning of the seventies General Motors stared work on a project coded T Car programme this was their first world car project to develop a platform which its subsidiary car divisions could use. Vauxhall joined in this project in 1971 and commenced design work on the XP project in February 1972 this is believed to be six months ahead of Opel. The XP project became the Vauxhall Chevette which was launched at the Geneva motor show in March 1975 and went on sale on 2nd May 1975. The Chevette was offered as a three door hatchback with a four door saloon, and a three door estate versions following a year later. The Chevette was smaller than the Viva and was powered by the same 1.3-litre 4-cylinder 1256 cc petrol engine. Production of the Chevette commenced at Ellesmere Port in February 1975, with the first completed on 10th February 1975.
The Opel version of the GM T Car programme was the Kadett, which was offered as a saloon, estate, hatchback and coupe. The Kadett had a wider range of engine options than the Vauxhall Chevette, and had a better interior. Both the Opel Kadett and Vauxhall Chevette looked identical apart from headlights and interior. Both Opel and Vauxhall had worked together on the new models as a joint project, Opel were responsible for the designs, with the exception of the three door hatchback which Vauxhall designed and Opel copied. Vauxhall also restyled the front of the Chevette to distinguish it from the Opel Kadett which would be sold in the UK. The Chevette sold better in the UK than the Kadett did.
In 1978, Vauxhall decided that they wanted compete in the international rallying scene and developed a high performance version of the Chevette which was sold as a road going car to the public as the Chevette 2300 HS model powered by a 2.3-litre 16 valve petrol engine producing 153bhp driving through a close ratio five-speed gearbox. For rally homologation requirements 400 road going cars had to be built, it is believed all 400 2300 HS cars built were silver. A more potent limited edition version was introduced in 1980 the Chevette HSR. Production of both models ceased in 1981. Production of the Chevette ceased on 28th March 1984 after 415,630 had been built at Ellesmere Port, with CKD models assembled in New Zealand.
Notes: The first customer to receive a Chevette in 1975 was driving instructor Fred Hordswoth.
A red hatchback Vauxhall Chevette appeared in The Likely Lads film which was made two years after the Television series had ended, which Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes) drove and towed a caravan may I add! In the Television series Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads, Bob drove a Vauxhall Viva. The film made by EMI and released in 1976, was shot on location in Tyneside unlike the Television service which was shot in London.
I to, many years ago owned a hatchback Chevette L, which I bought in 1984 from Dobies the Vauxhall dealer in West Cumbria who had the main dealership in Ellenborough in Maryport before it moved to Lillyhall near Workington. The car was three years old with 40,000 miles, I paid £1800 for it and had nothing but trouble with it and I traded it in after 10 months.
My view shows a Chevette 2300 HS model with Monte Carlo in the background.
Photograph copyright: Vauxhall Motors Ltd