Even if you’re not a huge fan of the Chevrolet Vega, you have to appreciate the special edition that Cosworth Engineering of England helped create 3508 units of between 1975 and 1976. Number 1609 is found here on craigslist thanks to reader Pat L. and is a wonderful surviving example of this bit of international Hot Rod history.
The “regular” Chevy Vega is considered a big success for the General Motors brand, having sold over 2,000,000 models in its 7-year production run from 1970 to 1977 – even after bad reviews, reliability issues, rust, and recalls. For muscle car buffs and Chevrolet aficionados – the limited edition that emerged from the Cosworth partnership is a ray of sunshine in an almost forgotten American small car model. And the Chevy Cosworth Vega was no cosmetic only kick-up like the Ford King Cobra II, for example.
In fact, it took nearly 5 years for the Cosworth Vega to make it to market. With auto legend John DeLorean heading up GM as it’s General Manager in 1970 – a small team of engineers was sent to the UK to research the possibility of better performance for a Cosworth Vega engine using fuel injection and better internal components. The first 1971 prototype was good enough to get GM President Edward Cole to give the green light to a Cosworth/GM Vega project. But it wouldn’t be until 1975 that a powerful, emission passing, quality standard tested Cosworth #0001 was introduced at that year’s Chicago Auto Show.
1609 units later you have this wonderful survivor that the seller says was “….Hot Rod and Super Chevy Magazines winner. 95% original, a 17-year-old paint job, and garage kept under car cover…” You can actually see the Hot Rod trophy in the back of this black on black bombshell. I call out the black on black motif, only because it was the only option available in 1975, and unavailable on other Vega models until 1976. At $12k, this survivor is actually reasonably priced, and might be a great way to add a little muscle car to your collection!
Better than Muscle car. These handled extremely well and campaigned in SCCA events.
Motor peaky and realy needs a 5 speed to race within its power bands.
” campaigned” ??? they were not very competitive at all ….
Very little muscle at that!!
Considering to average going price for these as a bare bones runner is around $15k, that makes this a really good deal.
A buddy at Ft. Gordon, GA. had one of these. This was in 1978, and the car on had a little over 3K miles on it. It was in pristine condition, as this one is (sans the ill-fitting glove box door). It was a blast to drive, for what it was.
I’ve only seen one of this, it was last year, in Grand Junction, CO. It was just a sunbeaten carcass without much of anything. I’d love to take this for a spin!
Always liked the Vega, especially these. One of the few black and gold cars I like. I have no experience with the Cosworth engine,it would seem ANY engine would be better than the stock one, although, for all I know, it could have been, same shmit, different shovel. They were pricey new, and for $900 dollars more, you could have a Corvette. It is a cool little car,,,for half of what they’re asking maybe, just like when it was new.
Bought one of these at the auction in Orlando 20 years ago. A 20K-mile car that was clean enough to have been in local car shows. Paid $3800 and sent it to the dealership I worked for to sell on the used car lot. No one knew what it was and didn’t care. Never sold it and sent it back to the auction six months later. I remember it as being more Vega than Cosworth but different strokes, I suppose.
I think Chevrolet at the time, had a major sales hit staring them in the face. IF, it was priced accordingly, didn’t rust out in one to two winters.
This could have been a new icon car for the GM brand. I’ll bet there was a ton of uphill committee and boardroom debates to try and push this project in that direction. Sadly, staff will only invest so much energy, when top brass is (protecting)- google eyeing other already built candidates…corvette?
Aaaaaand here is another car I should have stockpiled when they were worth a few grands, if that.
I knew it, and I didn’t do it. FML.
Vega styling and a racing bred engine= a hit. BTW, I was at that Chicago Auto Show in ’75 and remember the display. We were blown away, but I think the price and the association to a poor functioning and common at the time car would never let it be widely accepted.
Those huge, blocky bumpers are hideous.
DeLorean wanted the Vega to be a really high quality car, hired a bunch of inspector’s for quality control and all that. Didn’t work out that way at all with Mr. Cole and he more or less cheapened the car. I don’t know if this project is the one that ended DeLorean’s career at GM, but is was around this time frame. Make fun of John DeLorean all you want but the man was a true car nut and excellent businessman.
For everything wrong with the Vega model we have Ed Cole to thank for. Ha!
I understand the performance on these was lackluster>?Too bad could have been something great…12k? good luck to the new owner.
There is a lure to the car as being collectABLE. But what goes out on these engines first? My thought from owning a 2.3 turbo out of a Turbo Coupe TC is that the high rpm and boosted pressure has to go somewhere. The result for me was a cracked exhaust manifold. There is one of these Cosworth Vegas for sale near me, but I have concerns for the high rpms that are a result of driving the car with a little speed for fun. Plus, the price is just shy of $15,000!