Chevrolet Celebrity

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Chevrolet Celebrity

Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	1982–1990
Assembly	Oshawa, Ontario Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Ramos Arizpe, Mexico Framingham, Massachusetts Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec
Predecessor	Chevrolet Malibu
Successor	Chevrolet Lumina
Class	Mid-size
Body style	2-door coupé 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	A-body
Engine	2.5 L I4 2.8 L V6 3.1 L V6
Transmission	4-speed manual 5-speed manual 3-speed THM125 automatic
Wheelbase	104.8 in.
Length	190.8 in. 188.3 in.
Width	69.2 in.
Height	54.2 in.
Related	Buick Century Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Pontiac 6000
Similar	Ford Taurus Mitsubishi Sigma Plymouth Caravelle

The Chevrolet Celebrity was a mid-size car built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. The Celebrity was introduced in 1981 for the 1982 model year. Sales were strong — the Celebrity was the best-selling car in the United States in 1986. Celebrities were built at Oshawa Car Assembly in Ontario, Canada; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Framingham, Massachusetts. The car received a facelift in 1986, which included a sleeker front end and a simpler taillight layout. Composite headlamps replaced the quad rectangular sealed beam units for 1987. The coupe was discontinued after 1988, and Celebrity production ended on July 7, 1989 after a short run of 1990 wagons. The Celebrity was replaced by the Chevrolet Lumina.

The Chevrolet Celebrity was based on the front wheel drive A-body shared with the Buick Century, Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser and the Pontiac 6000.

Engines:

1982-1985 Tech IV 2.5 L (151 in³) I4
1982-1989 2.8 L (173 in³) V6
1990 Tech IV 2.5 L (151 in³) I4
1990 3.1 L (191 in³) V6

Part of GM's mid-size A-body quartet, The Celebrity used the same engines as one of its siblings, the Pontiac 6000. The interior space and running gear were the same as the Chevrolet Citation, but the Celebrity was trimmed and equipped better. Power steering/brakes and an automatic transmission were standard equipment in 1982 and 1983; the automatic became optional later on. A roomy 4-door station wagon debuted for 1984, as did a Eurosport handling/appearance package.

The base 2.5 L "Tech IV" I4 engine (Pontiac's Iron Duke) was criticized for being underpowered, but a high-output fuel-injected V6 became optional for 1985. The diesel engine departed after 1985. The Generation II engines, reworked for 1987, now had fuel injection, and a new Getrag-designed 5-speed manual transmission became available with the V6. Balance shafts were added to the Tech IV engine for 1988. The 4-cylinder engine received a 12 hp (9 kW) gain late in the 1989 model year. The coupe model sold poorly and was dropped for 1989. Only the station wagon remained for the 1990 model year, with a new optional 3.1 L V6 engine.

The Celebrity was more spacious than the rear-drive 1978-vintage Malibu that it was intended to replace, with front wheel drive traction and more responsive handling. Workmanship was good, so these cars bettered the dismal recall record of their X-body parents. There were driveability problems with the computerized engine control system in 1982 models, and deterioration of the upper engine-torque strap (also called a dogbone) caused engine/transaxle vibration.