• Thought to be the oldest example on UK roads

 • From the first month of Chevette production

 • Only 50,852 miles from new

 • Restored to original specification

 • Displayed at the NEC Classic Car Show a number of times

 • Presented in excellent condition in and out

When it comes to true collectibility and uniqueness, there’s really only one requirement: rarity. And they don’t come much rare than this. 

Believed to be the oldest Chevette on the road in the UK, and hailing from the very first month of production, this lovely little hatch has been restored to original specification and condition. We’re especially fond of the fact it’s the basic ‘L’ trim-level – we can’t remember the last time we saw one!

Displayed a number of times at the NEC’s Classic Car Show, to say this car is a time warp is to do it something of a disservice. With the interior and exterior restored to a very high standard, we believe it must be one of the best vintage Vauxhalls in the country. 

As a cheerful everyday classic it ticks so many boxes, as well as offering a potential investment opportunity for any new owner. 

The original gold-over-gold colour scheme looks fantastic, especially in the sun, and it’s a car that’s sure to be one of the stars of the show at any meet you care to take it to.

With an immaculate history and well-executed, sympathetic restoration, we believe this great little car presents an excellent opportunity to acquire a rare, appreciating classic.

 • Restoration documented with photographs and invoices/receipts

 • Photographic evidence of display at the NEC Classic Car Show

 • Current V5

 • Previous MOT certificates dating back to 1994

 • Old-style tax discs going back a number of years

 • Original Chevette sales brochure

 • HPi clear certificate

 • In current owner’s possession since 2002

 • 5 owners from new

 • Historic Vehicle status – Tax and MOT exempt

 • Original ‘Deerskin Gold’ interior

 • Vinyl and tartan cloth seats and ribbed vinyl door cards

 • Complementary gold carpets and cream headlining

 • Completely original specification

 • Boot trimmed with oatmeal carpeting

 • Full-size spare wheel and jack under boot panel

To sit in this car is to sit in the 70s. That’s very much the only way to describe it. Adorned in various shades of gold and cream materials, it’s a brilliant cabin and has been kept in absolutely original condition, with no additions or modifications. 

Being a base-spec ‘L’, it doesn’t even have a radio, and there’s something really charming about such utility – especially in a world where cars are ever more complicated and laden with technology.

From the gold carpet to the cream headlining, ribbed door cards and vinyl/fabric combination seats, the interior trim is in excellent condition and utterly original.

The dials and switchgear are the original period-correct, analogue items displaying a nice level of wear commensurate with the age and use of the vehicle. 

Internally, the only damage we could identify was to the boot carpet and very minor – the trim on the edge is beginning to come away. But otherwise, everything is incredibly solid and well-preserved.

Overall, this is a prime example of how the interior of a classic car should look: in excellent condition, and wearing its age with pride.

 • Professionally restored/resprayed in original ‘Starfire Gold’

 • Completely original, with no modifications

 • 13” steel wheels with chrome hubcaps and new Firestone tyres

 • Genuine low mileage - just 50,852 miles

Visually, this little hatchback is a striking vehicle, punching well above its diminutive size. The bodywork was comprehensively restored a few years ago, and the car has been kept garaged ever since. 

This care really shows top – we can’t imagine the paintwork was any better than this when it left the factory! The Starfire Gold finish looks amazing in the sunshine, and is perfectly complemented with the red pinstripe that runs the length of the vehicle. 

The only blemish we could find on the paintwork was palm-sized dent on the bonnet, to the left of the Vauxhall badge. The paint is undamaged though, and it looks as if it should just pop out.

All of the external brightwork is in excellent condition, presenting with a deep shine and looking nice and straight. The badges are original and therefore display some age-related wear, as should be expected, but are all present and in good condition. 

We can say the same of the lights, the lenses are clear and in good condition, with no chips or cracks we could see. All of the glass is in fine condition too, with no chips or splits – and the original 70s ‘Cavalier/Chevette Club’ sticker is still present in the rear screen.

Underneath the car, the floor pans, chassis and suspension/braking components we could see were all in excellent condition. They seemed solid and, undamaged and almost new.

Only a couple of very minor patches of surface corrosion could be seen. Clearly, this car has been maintained meticulously and garaged to keep it in such fine order.

 • Engine bay presented in unrestored, original condition

 • Spritely 1,256cc 4-cylinder petrol

 • Manual 4-speed transmission

 • Matching numbers vehicle

One of the most attractive aspects of owning an everyday classic car like this is the simplicity. The drivetrain is as simple as it gets – a charming little 1.3-litre petrol engine driving the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual gearbox. 

They’re a hoot to drive, easy and cheap to work on and there are still loads of parts available. So, as an ownership proposition it makes a great case for itself.

This example runs very well. The engine idling well and pulling the little hatch along easily. Anyone used to modern brakes and power steering may need a little time to adjust to the feel of the car though, and as with all manual transmissions of the time, the gear-shift can be a little notchy. 

But everything works as it should, the brakes stopping the car well and the suspension feeling smooth.

If you’re not used to using a car with a manual choke, starting the car (especially on cold mornings) can take a little getting used to. But once it’s warmed up, the little four-pot runs really nicely, with a charming burble that will be instantly familiar to anyone who owned cars of the era.

As far as we’re concerned, this car is a perfect example of what Car & Classic is all about: it’s an incredible survivor, a genuine one of a kind that’s been beautifully restored, maintained meticulously and, more than anything else, loved. 

Yes, it has real potential as an investment, as much through it’s rarity and outstanding condition as anything else. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a truly special little classic you can regularly use, one that’s so charming it will be welcomed with open arms and broad smiles wherever you take it.

This delightful little time-warp is a gold-wrapped slice of pure 70s. And we love it. 

We won’t lie, after 5 minutes in the cabin, the desire for fluffy dice, flares and an 8-track player was very strong…