c. 2025 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(3-25)
After writing to General Motors CEO Mary Barra, I started to think more critically about the Chevrolet Chevette and its possible resurrection in a modern form. An idea that might seem puzzling to some, yet would follow a tradition of reviving certain iconic designs. Vehicles such as the two-seater Ford Thunderbird and Bronco 4x4, Volkswagen Beetle, and Fiat 500, have all been reinterpreted at some point. Breathing new life into the lowly, T-car hatchback might be more challenging to justify. But it would certainly remind potential consumers that once-upon-a-time, the Detroit manufacturer loved by so many offered a truly economical and accessible product. One that met global needs and still resonated as a domestic mover of people.
In their most basic, North American iteration, the three-door and five-door models offered value at a level never seen before in our markets. Yugo or Renault or various Japanese brands could not match the impressive dealer network and familiarity of a GM mule. Having the bowtie logo on its grille spoke loudly to buyers. It gave them confidence in choosing to make a purchase. Even with traces of the Vega and Monza lingering in its rearview mirrors. Therefore, one could easily conclude that having a mobile so simple in its nature and easy on the wallet, would be attractive even in an era of oversized trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles.
Yet while pondering the concept, I wondered if a slight tweaking of that venerable shell might also be productive. The Chevette could be upgraded with all-wheel-drive, repurposed as a high-roof crossover, tarted up with performance options, and even offered as an EV to satisfy those interested in joining the race to full electrification.
As a fresh version of the Chevy 500, mentioned in my letter, the platform could reignite love for truly capable and roadworthy trucks, built on a smaller wheelbase. Perhaps an echo of the Chevy LUV, which was of course, a rebranded Isuzu.
I mentioned this line of thinking to gearhead friends who also enjoy the craft of creative writing, and their reaction came swiftly. Though I was not quite prepared for the passion with which they responded.
One
individual stood out from the rest.
Shosan Teeg, a fellow wordsmith who I had tried to recruit at the Geauga Independent, an online newspaper blog, laughed loudly at my questionable notion.
“You’re serious? Bring back the Chevette? C’mon Rodney, did you bonk your head on the sidewalk or something? That’s the sort of tabloid story I’d expect to read in an issue of the Weekly World News, or National Enquirer! Or on a satire website. Please tell me you’re joking, bruh!”
My face reddened as I struggled to speak coherently.
“Look man, I’ve got gasoline in my bloodline. An uncle sold Buick cars and GMC trucks for over 30 years. My father once owned a motorcycle dealership, and was a professional mechanic. I’ve had a jones for anything with wheels, since childhood. So, trust me on this, I know it could work!”
Sho shook his head and smirked. He had the look of a foreign engineer, with huge glasses and a buzz-cut.
“Didn’t you hate your Shove-It? I’ve heard you rant about how it fell apart over time...”
I had to swallow my pride. His ability to recall facts was flawless. But I had some context to offer.
“Yes, right, I might have said those things abruptly, without thinking too hard. Working on a book about my Chevette experiences has changed those perceptions, however. Softened the focus, a bit, you might say. It has made me remember yonder days when that rig was not so beaten and battered. It gave me dependable service for some time... until it didn’t.”
My nerdy pal snickered with the abandon of a cartoon dog.
“Listen to yourself, dude! You’re like a high school kid trying to defend a girl who dumped him right before the prom! You said the little Chevy left a trail of parts in its wake! Broken springs and cables, with a Flintstone floor, completely rotted out! Electrical problems, motor worries, and a tow-truck trip to the junkyard!”
I bristled at his barebones description of my past assessment.
“Right, right, I did run into some problems eventually. They never tried to hide the fact that it was a cheap mode of getting around, you know? Just a point-to-point rattlebox, good for everyday use and not much else. I drove it for three years though, and actually made some memories. That’s what came to mind when I was writing my story...”
Shosan grimaced at my sappy reinterpretation of olden days, long gone.
“And now you’re on a crusade to get the bigwigs in Detroit to open its grave, and reanimate the thing all over again? Really? I think you’re soft in the head. Quit wallowing in sentimentality. Get real, bruh! Get real!”
I made one more attempt to justify my opinion. Though my mouth had begun to stammer with hesitation.
“You can’t tell me that people don’t want a real choice at the dealership! Not everybody is loaded with cash. Certainly not keyboard jockeys like us! Price matters. Value matters. Quality matters. Put all that together, and you’ll be rolling millions of cars off the assembly line, again!”
My expert friend snorted and fiddled with pens in his pocket protector.
“Check the top sellers, Rodney. Half of ‘em at least are full-size trucks. Those beasts are freaking expensive! And by gawd, everybody is making SUVs, even Audi, Porsche, and Mercedes. Along with Volvo, and Volkswagen! Nobody drives real cars anymore! Who wants one of those things? Old people, maybe! Ha ha, that’s it, you’re finally past your prime!”
Our conversation concluded without finding common ground. Yet as I continued to work on my book manuscript, the idea of a reborn economy sedan from Chevrolet lingered. I made a list of possible models in a lineup of new-era, Chevette varieties.
Chevy III – An extension of the forerunner nameplate that eventually was called ‘Nova.’ Just basic, honest transportation. A can’t-miss idea.
Z14 Performance Model – Call it half of a Camaro Z28. With a turbocharged motor under the hood. And a six-speed stick available.
Silverado Junior, or LUV 2.0 – A minimalist workhorse, for those who don’t need a big truck.
Blazer SE – With all-wheel drive and genuine off-road capabilities. Perfect for weekend adventures, and daily driving in urban areas.
Finally, I realized that my note to Mrs. Barra had gone out too quickly. I should have waited a week or two, at least, before making contact through the postal system.
Still, there would be time once my volume of work had been completed, to share a copy with the business titan, as a gesture of faith.
As their ads used to say, “It’ll drive you happy!”
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