Loser cars: All awesomely lame, but which is king?

[Faust]

I see someone already pointed out that I have a couple of EXPs, so I'm glad that got noticed! I was a way for a couple of days, so I didn't get to see a lot of these posts.

I'm sure the Chevette was something GM was really glad to have, from a sales standpoint, and as a world car, it definitely led the way to what we see today.

I also don't disagree that all of these cars were likely tough and a lot of them gave sterling service. They're not losers necessarily in sales, construction or modifiability. I love the Chevette with the enormous motor!!! Traction issues indeed!

I agree that the other versions of the Chevette are much nicer looking that ours, too. I love the notchbacks, and I think there's a Ute too, isn't there?

It's just that stylistically, performance-wise and technology-wise these cars weren't exactly cutting edge. I mean, your Pacer or Monza could have an 8, but compared to the 8's of only 5-6 years before, both power and economy were terrible. These cars were the ones that really redefined the "era of lowered expectations", as one magazine put it. Sure, they COULD be modded to kick some royal butt, but they were a long way off from the golry days of 400 four-speed T/As, R/T Challengers and Hemi Cudas.

I guess maybe they're more "loveable losers" than straight losers. I know I have a soft spot in my heart for all of them, because I was surrounded by them growing up! With my EXP, Cavalier, Probe, Civic, Omni 024, Gremlin and others, I have been working on amassing a collection so I can build a representation of the lowest point in style and driveability when it comes to cars. It tickles my fancy that when I do this it also brings back memories of trying to avoid these things while riding my bike and playing ball ("Bike Polo") in my townhouse complex!

Now, if I could only find that 1/32 LN7 (neighbour had one) and a Pinto (Round 2 - you listening?) I'd be getting closer. It's a labour of love that will never really end, though.

Keep the comments coming!

It's still a dead heat between the Chevette and the Monza! They both have 21 votes... Am I going to have to flip a coin on this?

Oh, yeah: GLH's are scary as hell. Fast as all get out, but weren't they hard on tires? A buddy of mine at work had one back when they were about 10 years old, and he said it ate tires like crazy. Of course, he also drives like a maniac!

Up with the loser machine!!

[Pete J.]

Losers? Well not really. These are the basic transportation, grocery getters, get you to work, drive the wheels off it, unglamorous, point A to point B set of wheels. They didn't inspire passion except maybe with the Birkenstock set. They didn't get the ol juices flowing unless you were in an accident. They just got you there. They were cheap transportation. The real issue with most of them is that they were trying to compete with the corollas, civics, 510s and beetles of the day. Those cars were about the same price or less with better fit and finish, better durability and some of them were actually fun to drive. The big three were really getting their feet wet in the international market and for the first time had serious completion on their own turf. The cars were subpar to what was coming into the country at the time. Unfortunately for American Manufactures it introduced Americans to Japanese cars and many of us(myself included) have never gone back. So Losers. Not really but definitely game changers.

[1972coronet]

The Chevette was GMs original world car, manufactured and sold all over the world. Based in the Isuzu Impulse (the one that Testors had a 1/24 kit of), it was sold as an Opel in Germany, Imported back to the USA as the Opel Cadett by Isuzu, and among others as the Vauxhall Chevette in England. The Chevette name has been since used by GM in South America.

And while we're on it, a later version of the Isuzu Impulse was the Geo Storm in the US. Another much loved, tough little bugger!

Now that is cool ! Those flush-fit headlamp covers and the thin bumper ... what could have been in the U.S. !

[Erik Smith]

Losers that are worth more now than new???

HERE

Original selling price of $4800…yeah, I know, adjust for inflation, but still

Edited November 10, 2013 by Erik Smith

[Tom Geiger]

Wow Erik that has to be the newest Chevette in captivity. And if anyone is going to build their kit, there are over 200 detail pictures at that auction.

[oldcarfan]

I too go for the Chevette. My mom bought one in 1980. I guess she had a thing for weird vehicles. She later traded it in on an Aerostar. She got the Chevette because they were giving two airline tickets to anywhere in the continental US with every purchase. My parents use the tickets to fly to Seattle and then go see Mt. St. Helens not too long after it blew.

[1972coronet]

My contetion is this ; at least these cars and their H-Body / H-Special brethern had their engine and drivetrain facing that correct way and the correct wheels had power to them

[Ace-Garageguy]

How about a Chevette with a Cosworth-Vega Twincam engine swapped in, and '65-'69 Corvair-based independent rear suspension? Could be a hot little Porsche-killer, built from all "loser" parts.

[mademan]

Chevette a loser car? ...... not mine I owned this car for a bit , about 5 years back. Buddy built it..... I refined it, and sent it along its way.

Che-Vette. Complete with SBC V8, and narrowed Buick regal Rearend

[Faust]

Mike!

That is one bad-arsed Chevette! Not quite the stock 1.6 in there, eh?

That'll show you what some ingenuity and time can wring out of even the most humble motorcar!

I agree with John on the drivetrain thing. Notice that all of these are rear-drivers! It's pretty neat to see that, actually. Another good reason that Omni and EXP wouldn't fit in. Gremlin would have, though, now that I think about it.

[fractalign]

The Chevette looks a lot like the Gemini that was built over here in Australia. I always liked the look of the hatch back coupes !

[Skydime]

Hm,could it be this one? Often used in rally and motorsport.

Yes, there was this and another similar style

[Skydime]

I agree that the other versions of the Chevette are much nicer looking that ours, too. I love the notchbacks, and I think there's a Ute too, isn't there?

There actually was a Ute version. I think that may have been in Brazil. (?) Here in America, I knew people who cut the body at the back of the doors and added the back of the cab and bed from Chevy Luv trucks to make "Cheluvs" out of US market Chevettes. I wish I had some pictures of them. Yahoo, Bing, and Google seem to be completely devoid of their existance.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Skydime

[om617]

Yes, there was this and another similar style

Yes,you could get this style in both 2 and 4 door over here,called sedan. They also made the 2 door wagon.

[Faust]

Man, Cheluvs are a great idea!

I wish they had brought more styles; they could have really had a nice, full, compact lineup to compliment the Monza line and to fight the smaller Fords, and even beat the Escort to the punch by 7 years!

I like that red two-door. Reminds me of the Mazda Familia, in a lot of ways!

Oh, if anyone wonders; the Monza is back in the lead! It's a one vote margin, though! I think the poll ends Thursday, so it's going to be tight.

Poor Mr. Pacer; he seems so forgotten. It's a lot like real life!

[oldnslow]

Let's not forget the lovely gremlin,

although this on looks pretty good.

.

and now everyone can have one,

Edited November 13, 2013 by oldnslow

[Modelbuilder Mark]

Well...you know my Vote is the Monza, 2+2 all the way.

[Customman]

Adam,

Way to go I just knew you stuck a stick in a Hornets Nest with your opening line ! lol And I also knew that a bunch of people were going to come to the rescue of these 3 so called undesirables ! The engines available for the Monza was the "Iron Duke" 151 c.u., the old reliable V-6, and the 267c.u. not the 305 If my memory is on I think the 305 c.u. only came in the "Monza Spyder" at least that's how it was when we first started building them. Hey man they were about the cheapest transportation you could buy.

I couldn't wait till I heard a V-8 one coming down the repair line that I drove off of with the exhaust not hooked up. and then it was play time. Then I'd go out in the lot and hammer the hell out of it.

Oh and of course my choice would have to be the Monza, Because I was a "new car driver" that was my job classification in the GM plant where they were built.

Shortly after the Monza's (in fact we built the Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick Versions of the Monza also) I quit and froze my pension and sold cars GM cars that is sold the whole lineup in 33 years, I did sell Mopars towards the end.

Wow, I never thought a thread would get this big from those little nothing cars they must be flashing everyone back to the good old days !!! Our youth ! he he

Edited November 15, 2013 by Customman

[Skydime]

Let's not forget the lovely gremlin,

.

Dang it! Now you got me thinking of doing something similar to this one too.

New Camaro mirrors, die cast wheels from the parts box, a mild drop, some mini tubs, 08 Challenger Hemi I got laying around, and some minor shaving including that wing. My 87 S10 Blazer had one of those and the first thing I did was go to the junkyard and get a set of rear window hinges without wing mounts.

Edited November 13, 2013 by Skydime

[Pro Wrench]

Couple of stock Chevettes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5fyIbJNRJ8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-YIDmwv4pE

LOL!

[zenrat]

the Vauxhall Chevette in England.

70s rust proofing plus road salt means that most of these were eaten by tin worm.

I really like all three and have the kits too. They may have had a certain stigma in the US for years but any of them would now be considered ultra cool at the car shows I go to over here.

That probably says more about Switzerland than about the cars...

[Faust]

The Gremlin is definitely something I should have put in here, I think. However, he'll be around for a rematch, I can tell you that!

The Monza 2+2 coupes could get the 305, I think, too. That's the engine the kit comes with, and from what I can tell, that's legit. (Wikipedia says so, and so does the brochure I have...)

I can't believe how much response this topic has gotten either; but I guess the "good old days" argument is as good as any!

It's really fun to see what people have to say about these cars, and what people remember and chose.

Right now, Monza is ahead by a 5mph-crash-bumper-equipped nose, so Chevette Nation better put it in gear if they want to see their favourite H-body on the table next!

[mademan]

I would love to import a chevette coupe! those are really neat. Ive currently got a 77 chevette 2 door that I am really contemplating putting my 450hp 383 stroker into......

[Tom Geiger]

Since we're talking about the lost cars of the 1980s and 90s... Geo Storm wagon. This is one rare bird. I've only seen a few of them. I've been wanting to scratch build that back onto one of the cheap and eternally available Geo Storm promos. And Storms were bullet proof.

Edited March 1, 2014 by Tom Geiger

[cobraman]

Was the Storm a Isuzu based car ?