Chevrolet Cavalier

Chevy Cavalier

The Chevy Cavalier may have been more of a workhorse than a noble steed, but for many people it was the right car at the right price.  For its 24 year run from 1982 to 2005, it was consistently one of General Motors’ bestselling cars. 

The First Generation Cavalier

The Cavalier was introduced in 1982 to replace the Monza as Chevy’s compact car.  It was built on GM’s then-new J-body platform, along with the Buick Skyhawk and Oldsmobile Firenza.  The Cavalier came with front-wheel drive (relatively novel for the time), a choice of one of two 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines, and sedan, hatchback, and station wagon body styles.  In 1983, a convertible version became available, and the engine grew to 2-liters and changed over from carburetion to throttle body fuel injection.  In 1983, Chevy sold more than 260,000 Cavaliers.  Cavalier sales wouldn’t dip below 250,000 a year for the following 11 years. 

Initial models weren’t known for speed.  With 88 horsepower, they took as much as 16 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour.  Base accoutrements weren’t impressive either.  In the VL (value leader) trim, you got air conditioning and radio standard.  For more you’d have to look into the RS trim.  Still, all this kept the price low, making the Cavalier appealing for bargain shoppers. 

In 1985, Chevy decided to inject the Cavalier with a bit more excitement.  It introduced the Z24, with improved suspension, tighter steering, and a 2.8-liter engine with 120 hp.  The Z24 could reach 60 in a much more usable 8 seconds.  The Z24 name was intended to position the car as the little brother to the Camaro Z28. 

The Cavalier got as front-end redesign in 1988.  Coupe, sedan, and station wagon trims were still available.  The convertible was only available as a Z24 model.  In 1990, the four-cylinder was increased to 2.2L and the V6 to 3.1L, bringing modest power increases.  That same year, the convertible left the lineup.  Chevy was planning to introduce a Beretta convertible and didn’t want two of its models competing with each other.  The Beretta convertible never came to be, and the Cavalier convertible returned late in 1991. 

1991 also brought another styling update with new lights and a new bumper that bore some resemblance to the ford Taurus of its time. 

The Second Generation

In 1995, the Cavalier was upgraded to a more modern overall look.  The boxy styling of the previous generation was replaced with the more rounded look common to the ‘90s.  Underneath, the car stayed largely the same, still built on the J platform. 

The new Cavalier offered drivers a lot more than the earlier models, though.  Even the bare bones model came with anti-lock brakes, child-proof door locks, daytime running lights, and other basic amenities.  In 1996, buyers told Popular Mechanics that the Cavalier “looks and feels more expensive than it is” and is “a lot of car for not a lot of money.”  Motor Trend singled it out as one of the best deals around $15,000. 

The Z24 trim was still available, but the V6 engine had been dropped.  The lack of the V6 was no hindrance, though, because now Chevy had a 2.3L four-cylinder that could match the output of the old V6, 150 hp.  Eventually, Chevy introduced a supercharger option for the Z24 that boosted power by an additional 40. 

The new Cavalier was briefly sold in Japan as a Toyota Cavalier through an agreement between the Japanese company and GM.  The Chevy Cavalier soldiered on until 2005.  It received two styling updates, one in 2000 and one in 2003, but stayed essentially the same car underneath.  Toward the end of the Cavalier’s run, some reviewers came to want more from the car.  Motor Week called the engine “noisy” and the shifter “stiff and vague.”  The magazine noted that the car was “overdue for a total mechanical redesign.”  That wasn’t in the cards, though.  Ultimately, the Cavalier was replaced by the entirely new Cobalt, built on GM’s Delta platform.  Considering the minimalist approach that Chevy took to updating the Cavalier over its 24 years, the little car had a pretty good run.  

Need Chevy Cavalier Parts?

The Cavalier was a compact car entry manufactured by Chevrolet for over 20 years. Originally designed to compete with imports like the Honda Accord, the Chevy Cavalier became one of the most popular American produced compact vehicles, and was one of GM's top selling cars for a time. Production of the vehicle ended following 2004, but that doesn’t mean it has been forgotten by daily drivers, etc. The need for reliable new Cavalier parts is paramount in order to maintain this discontinued vehicle. Thankfully, 1A Auto provides premium Chevy Cavalier aftermarket replacement parts to replace your worn and broken OEM parts. Our Chevy Cavalier parts are built to last, so you can continue to take your Cavalier everywhere you need to. 1A Auto Parts supplies new aftermarket Chevy Cavalier headlights, taillights, carpets, exhaust manifolds, radiators, weather stripping, and more. So, what are you waiting for? Buy your aftermarket Chevrolet Cavalier parts from 1A Auto Parts today.

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Don't settle for less and let faulty equipment ruin your drive – order from 1A Auto today and get your replacement aftermarket Chevy Cavalier parts delivered fast. If you happen to be an enthusiastic Chevy Cavalier owner, have a deep passion, or just want to learn more about it, continue reading below for a look at the vehicle's history and some fun facts.