40-Year Shed Find: 1975 Chevrolet Vega Kammback

By the early 1970s, subcompact cars had become more than a novelty. The sales success of the VW Beetle in the U.S. led Chevrolet and Ford to introduce new, small cars in 1971. The Chevy entry was the Vega, whose development was widely publicized. Between 1971 and 1977, more than two million of them were sold, though it was not a flawless product. The seller has a 1975 Vega Kammback, which is a fancy word for a station wagon with a vertical drop-off in the back. It’s been sitting for 38 years and needs lots of help. Located on the back of a flatbed in Braham, Minnesota, this barn find is available here on craigslist for $1,250.

The Vega was developed elsewhere within Chevrolet, but it was John DeLorean’s job to handle the launch and promotion as the GM division’s then-General Manager. The company went out of its way to design the cars, but execution was another matter. The inline-4 engines were soon discovered to overheat, and the bodies would corrode prematurely, too. Those problems may have been eradicated by the time the OPEC oil embargo drove buyers to more fuel-efficient cars in 1973-75.

This Chevy has been sitting in a friend’s shed since 1988. One photo shows it there, and the rest on the back of a flatbed. But it may have been off the road for another five years as 1983 was when it was last registered. The mileage is 103,000, so it was a well-used ride for its first eight years. It’s not complete, but mostly original and fairly solid, per the seller. We don’t know the status of the 4-banger or the 4-speed manual transmission.

There is no title as it was the victim of a shop fire some time ago. The seller is anxious for it to be gone within a month, so you may be able to get it for less than the asking price. The seller is willing to deliver it for you, probably for short distances. Nearly a quarter of all Vega sales were the interesting Kammback wagon. Thanks for the Vega tip, Barn Find Barney!