6 Chevrolet Utility accessories you didn’t know you needed.

By Stuart Johnston

One vehicle that was seriously mourned when General Motors pulled out of South Africa 18 months ago was the Chevrolet Utility. This small three-quarter ton pick-up was a regular market leader. The good news is that there are still plenty of fine examples around, with a wide range of accessories readily available.

Chevrolet’s Utility pick-up was the best-seller in the General Motors range, with sales of over 1 000 units common place. The decision by General Motors to withdraw has left a huge hole in the three-quarter ton pick-up market that has only been partially filled. The sole surviving entry-level bakkie in the South African new-vehicle  market is the Nissan NP200. Despite increasing production, Nissan, in fact,  cannot cater for the demand  for these small-but- useful pick-ups, which are ideal for start-up businesses.

For a good selection of used Chevrolet Utility examples click here.

The Chevrolet Utility was based on the earlier Opel Corsa Utility, which was also a huge success story here. The thing about these small bakkies is that are often bought by enthusiastic motorists who revel in their light overall weight and strong performance, as well as their utility advantages.

Chevrolet accessory info was not forthcoming from “the source”

In preparing this article we attempted on many occasions to get information from Opel, which has become the “ caretaker “here for Chevrolet parts and service. But ultimately we ran into a brick wall as far as getting information is concerned, on accessories for Chevrolet products.

We then approached Midrand Canopy Centre, which stocks a vast range of accessories for the Chevrolet Utility, as well as items for most popular brands of bakkies in South Africa. Midrand Canopy Centre is a husband-and-wife owned business that has been in existence for over 20 years. This company supplied us with details of their wide range of quality add-ons to make your Chevrolet Ute more useful and easier on the eye.

Our Top Six Accessory picks for the Chevrolet

1. A canopyis probably the most desired accessory for a Chevrolet Utility and there is a wide variety of brands available. We like the quality of the fibreglass Beekman canopy, while other types available include aluminium and more utilitarian steel canopies.
   
   
2. Clip-on tonneau cover.These inexpensive tonneaus are very popular, offering a measure of protection for stuff loaded in the back of your Ute. Midrand Canopy Centre offers UV-protected clip-on tonneaus that locate in an aluminium track affixed to the inner sides of the load bed. An even less-expensive option is the tonneau affixed by elasticated rope.
   
   
3. The ultimate type of load-bin protection is offered by the Securi lid or roll-top type.This lockable cover folds and unfolds to provide cover in much the way as a roller-shutter garage door. These are made of aluminium and long-lasting, as well as providing much better weather protection than a conventional tonneau. When unlocked, a spring system retracts the lid towards the bakkie’s cabin, providing a neat loading and security solution. The Securi lid locks into the tailgate, making it extremely theft resistant.
   
   
4. Carri on bars.These cross bars are designed to fit with the Securi lid lockable load cover. They accept bicycle racks, offering an elegant loading solution for your bikes, while still keeping your valuables stowed beneath the cover safe and secure.
   
   
5. Nudge bar. Aah, everyone loves a nudge bar (or a bull bar, if you prefer that term). The items supplied by Midrand Canopies interestingly carry airbag deployment insurance. If the fitment of the nudge bar can be proved to have prevented airbag deployment in the event of an accident, a large pay-out will be made in compensation.