The Chevy Chevy

Yes, you're reading that right (again). I was recently introduced to these on a recent trip to Mexico. Not sure of the reasoning behind the repetitive name of the Chevrolet Chevy (possibly a half-assed attempt to assure public that this car is actually a Chevrolet), but it's basically continual rehashes of outdated Opel products, not unlike the Soviets tended to do to Fiats.

Immensely popular down there, the Chevy Chevy began life in 1994 as a simple rebadge of the Opel Corsa B, which debuted in 1993. However, where the Corsa evolved into the Corsa C in 2000, the Chevy Chevy soldiered on unchanged. That is, until 2004, when it received a slightly updated face. This look lasted for 4 years, and was more heavily revised in 2008 to the horrible looking car you see here. Similar to what Chevrolet attempted with the Aveo (but less successfully, if that's even possible), they managed to graft on the now corporate "gigantic Chevrolet split grille".

Things will change soon, however. 2012 is the last model year for the Chevy Chevy, as it's slated to be replaced by the Spark. The gigantic split grille will soldier on, albeit in a more attractive body.

1979 Kanzler

I can’t find much info on this car, other than the fact that it’s an Opel GT stretched to the limits of sanity. It’s powered by a 351 Ford V8 (not sure if it could even sustain forward motion with the original powerplant as it now weighs over 4400 pounds), and somewhat ironically Liberace owned one of this vaguely phallic looking cars. The grille breaks ground in the neoclassic world, in that it appears it could have been had without one.

2012 Opel Combo

Opel recently released pics of it's new Cargo / people van, and it's surprisingly hideous.  While Opel has produced some very attractive cars lately, this mix of Fiat Doblo, Opel Corso and Kia Soul is not.  Also, it looks way to happy for looking how it does.

Fauxdi S4

Can't afford a new S4? Just spend bundles of money making an old Holden Commodore look like one. So what if the greenhouse doesn't look the same at all...

Attack of the Clones: Aupel V8

Similar greenhouses, bump strips, BBS rims and turn signal placement give the Audi V8 and Opel Senator very similar looks. Slap 4 rings on the Opel and you could fool most people. Not sure who exactly ripped off who, since the Senator actually came out a year earlier and the greenhouse does look similar to the previous generation. But Audi pretty much had it's look set at that point in other models, so I'm going to say it was Opel that was the ripper.

Colani Shark

What did the poor Opel Speedster do to deserve this? The Speedster is destined to be a classic design. This is not.

It also looks frighteningly like a Veilside Supra...

Badge Engineering

We all know that GM is the king of badge engineering. But even back in the '80's with all the Buick/Olds/Chev clones parading around, I have yet to see something this balantly cheap. And GM has done so good with it's badge engineering as of late. I mean - they actually have different bodywork. Usually.

This is not the case. At first you may think, "Hey - an Isuzu Rodeo isn't that bad." Well, it isn't. But this is an Australian version of the Rodeo, rebadged as a Holden Frontera. Still it's not all that bad. But look at the grille. Are you telling me they couldn't afford an NEW GRILLE?!? You can see the freaking rectangular box where the Isuzu logo usually goes!! How cheap can you possibly be?? For those that may argue "my American Rodeo has a different grille" well it does - they used basically the same front end setup as on the Amigo - the American 2-door convertable Rodeo.

If that's not bad enough, the unfortunetly named Holden Jackaroo (isn't that the name of that stupid jackrabbit muppet thing on America's Funniest Home Videos?) has a similar afflication. PS: Although the license plate says Monterey, it's a trim package on the Jackaroo.