Chevette GT
Fantasy or Fiction ?
In October 2000, when I acquired my 1981 Chevette, I wondered about the GT emblems on the front fenders. I didn't really give it much thought, I figured that someone had added the emblems for whatever reason.
BUT THEN, a couple of weeks ago, a customer showed up at my shop who showed a great deal of interest in the car, and seemed genuinely excited to see it. This man was a former employee at GM, and was at the Delaware plant during the Chevette production run. He has personally owned over 35 Chevette's, and has worked on quite a few more, having been involved with them for a long time. He was involved with management at the GM plant, and privy to inside information at the time.
I am unable to reveal any of the names of the people involved with this story, as with the advent of the internet, they could all be "found out", and possibly subject to punishment from their former employer.
As any fan of the Chevette knows, the first couple of year production runs included some "special" Chevette models, including the Chevette with H.O. option, Rally Sport Chevette, Sandpiper, Sport Coupe, Chevette Woody Coupe, etc. to name a few. Beginning with the 1981 model year, there were no "special" Chevette designations to be added this year in a cost cutting move........except possibly one. It was discussed at some high level meetings to offer a "GT" option beginning with the 1981 model year. The GT option would include mostly cosmetic changes, such at "GT" emblems, possibly a different steering wheel, paint schemes with stripes, upgrade wheels and tires, optional suspension equipment, and other items " Bill " couldn't remember. No performance engines were planned, as the '81 would have computer feedback engines, and it was not feasible to ramp up to produce a "performance" package, and the cost factor to approve an entirely different package was prohibitive.
At a plant meeting, the "GT" option was discussed, and a sample of the GT emblem was passed around the table, and pictures of prototype cars shown, with production updates of "GT" assembly matters and changes to be discussed with supervisors who would be showing line workers how to make the necessary changes. Templates would be used to place the GT emblems, as it was not deemed cost effective to "pre-drill" the fenders for the GT emblems. They would simply be drilled on the line during assembly of actual GT cars.
One of "Bills" friends was in the receiving department, and when a pre-production package of GT emblems arrived, he kept a few for himself. Since the boxes contained a couple of hundred emblems, he figured that a couple of dozen wouldn't be missed. This turned out later to be unnecessary, as the boxes languished in the back of the receiving department until thrown away years later.
In any event, the "GT" option was not seriously considered, and it never really got off the ground. After the 1981 year production run started, it soon became obvious that there would be no "upgrade" option Chevette this year. So no OFFICIAL Chevette "GT" was ever released by Chevrolet.
HOWEVER........ it seems a few employees decided to take matters into their own hands, and "create" a few Chevette GT's on their own ! "Bill" knows of at least 17 Chevette GT's that were "manufactured" on the line before leaving the assembly plant ! As far as he can recall, 14 were gas cars, and 3 were Diesel. Since 1981 was before cordless drills, the job had to be sneaked inside the building, or even more might have been done outside in the staging areas ! ( Since the Diesel option was a later year option, the GT emblems were added much later in the run. ) The "GT" cars were mostly ordered by plant employees, so that would explain why none ever showed up at Chevrolet dealerships. Also, a lot of employees simply added the "GT" emblems at home after smuggling them out of the plant. The emblems could have been added to the car in varying locations also. "Bill" admits that it is quite possible that more than a few other "GT" cars may have escaped to Chevrolet dealerships, as he heard rumors that a few dealerships called in to ask about the "GT" emblems on the cars, and some dealerships actually wanted to order more ! Probably the emblems were removed at most dealerships, and the holes filled, or fenders replaced.
It is not known if management ever caught on to the "GT" option, and it was assumed that they never did. Since the boxes of GT emblems remained in the receiving department until disposed of, it is assumed that they never did, or they would have taken them long before disposal.
So whether it's fantasy or fiction, if you ever see a Chevette GT, you might be looking at one of the rarest "Collector Cars" in the entire world !
