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Post by kevinbricknall on Oct 26, 2011 21:25:49 GMT 12
Hello to all members of The New Zealand GM T-Car Club from the Cavalier and Chevette Club in the UK. Hi my names Kevin and i'm the website administrator for the Cavalier and Chevette Club in the UK. (as well as a member as well). www.cavalierandchevetteclub.co.ukI have come accross your site while on a Google search to find out more about the sales of the Chevette in New Zealand along with the Gemini and Mapsey. I any one could provide me with information about how the car came to sold as the Vauxhall Chevette in New Zealand that would be great. Also please fell free to have a look at our website as there is a lot of information on the Chevette on there along with pre-production pictures. I will also add this site to our links page. I also noticed some of our cars pictures under the Billing thread on here which was nice. |
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Post by crazytim on Oct 26, 2011 22:59:59 GMT 12
welcome. just had a look at your site very nice.
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Post by zep on Oct 27, 2011 8:17:33 GMT 12
Hey Kevin, cool to connect with other T platform fans!
I'm a Gemini guy (mostly) and there is little information on where/how they were assembled/brought into/etc New Zealand. The Chevette on the other hand was built in a plant in Thames (I think) in the North Island. Someone else should be able to back this up or refute it.
I have a book on NZ classic cars but unfortunately it fails to mention either car, which is a pity considering the sheer amount of Chevettes that seem to be around, focusing mainly on big Aussie stuff.
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Post by crazytim on Oct 27, 2011 8:58:46 GMT 12
Chevettes were also assembled down by wellington... can't remember name of area massive GM plant welly people will know... was told all the sections came crated from England and were often bent to buggary and bogged heavily. (e.g A stack of roofs etc get stuck together in transit and stepped on etc trying to pry apart... the good ol days)
Was told this by someone who used to work for GM back in those days, cant for the life of me remember who... he said that they were allowed to bring own cars in weekend and buy/parts at cost (or pocket them...) meaning they got all the cool add ons for their Viva's etc making a stock base model into a top spec version which must be why there are so many with the extra's.
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Post by opelmantagsi on Oct 27, 2011 21:02:45 GMT 12
Todd Motors In Wellington Did Some Vauxhall Assembly, the same plant Mitusbishi were in, I did a job down there a few years ago and the site was broken up into a kind of business park, I was lucky enough to get into the old Todd Motors board room, that was pretty cool. Recall seeing some good pics of them building the site, was a huge construction job back in the day. Todd Motors also did all the NZ Chrysler cars like Valiant.
Toyota & Holden at Thames?
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Post by crazytim on Oct 27, 2011 22:50:22 GMT 12
there is no info online... maybe start a fb page asking for info from old employees etc? curious...
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Post by kevinbricknall on Nov 1, 2011 7:31:47 GMT 12
Many thanks for the replys. I'm currently writing a page on the New Zealand Chevette for our Club website so I will use the information provided in it.
I have also managed to locate some New Zealand brochures along with some German ones.
Can any one also confirm that the Bedford Chevanne was sold in New Zealand as the Vauxhall Chevanne?
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Post by mcqunt on Nov 1, 2011 12:44:53 GMT 12
the chevanne would pretty much line up with our base model chevette estate which had a few denominations ranging from '78 through to '81 none were badged bedford as such.
we did not pick up too many panel vans as such in any of the t car formats although i would like one!
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Post by kevinbricknall on Nov 2, 2011 22:46:38 GMT 12
I've managed to find out a bit more information that may be of interest to people on here.
The Chevette was produced at the Upper Hut factory and used locally made seats and some items of trim which i'm told you can see in the brochure.
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Post by zep on Nov 3, 2011 8:26:03 GMT 12
Anything on the Gemini?
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Post by kevinbricknall on Nov 4, 2011 3:08:22 GMT 12
I've also managed to find out that the Chevette was also sold in Germany, Sweden and Austria in Europe. Up till 1981 Vauxhall sold cars in 11 markets along side Opel. However they anounced in 1979 that they were pulling out of these market by 1981.
I knew about sales in Germany but no the other markets and I also didnt realise they sold Vauxhall in 11 different countrys in Europe uptill 1981.
I've also found out something on the Cavalier Mk1 that might be of interest. Holden looked at taking this and prototypes were tested but they found the car would require extensive modifications to handle the roads in the Outback so they declined to take it.
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Post by yammies on Nov 4, 2011 6:31:56 GMT 12
The vauxhall (as we know it) Chevanne was produced in the lineup here in new zealand. These were a 2 seater estate/wagon with rear seats added after manufacture to avoid paying tariffs/taxes on a 4/5 seater.
My first car was a vauxhall chevanne, but it wasn't a panel van - it had rear side windows... Unsure if these were added later
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Post by 77vette on Nov 25, 2011 20:13:30 GMT 12
yeh chevette built in wellingtonz.
My uncle assembled mine when he was working there during uni holidays. he said the parts on one shipment came on the deck of the ship and were fully rusted so they sanded back and repainted lolol
also i was at horipito the other day and found a door = same colour and pinstripe as my car has. So far that makes two wierdos that chose chevette the same spec as mine. Also the viva in 'good bye porkpie' and a couple sunbirds i've seen the same.
yes
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