Looks can be deceiving! At first glance, the black paint on this 1976 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega looks pretty good but up close it is faded and dull. The car is located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma which is close to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Listed here on Craigslist, the seller is asking $6,500 for the car and states that the car has only 46,000 miles. The Cosworth Vega cost almost twice the cost of a base Cosworth and approached the price a buyer could purchase a new Corvette.
The Cosworth Vega was brought to the market with a lot of hype due to its all aluminum, dual overhead cam inline four cylinder engine. The early prototype was said to produce 170 horsepower in the 2,800 pound car and breathed through dual Weber carburetors. With 16 valves and a 122 cubic inches (2.0 liters), the fuel injected Cosworth was rated at 110 horsepower from the factory. Of the 3,508 units built over the two years of production (1975-1976), 1,447 1976 models were built in 1976. This car is numbered as #2,279. The engine compartment appears to have a few modifications and the air injection (Pulse Air) to the factory headers has been removed.
Several changes were offered in 1976. In 1975, all 2,061 Cosworth Vegas were produced in black with gold pin striping. In 1976, eight additional colors were offered including Antique White, Dark Blue Metallic, Firethorn Metallic, Mahogany Metallic, Dark Green Metallic, Buckskin, Medium Saddle Metallic, and Medium Orange. In addition to black interiors, a red and tan vinyl interior colors were added in 1976. This car shows tears on the bucket seats and overall looks dirty an unmaintained.
Cosworth Vegas could be optioned with 5 speed manual transmissions but this one has the standard 4 speed manual transmission. The seller states the car needs plenty of TLC but has installed a new starter, clutch and rebuilt the front suspension. The body is said to be straight with no dents and minimal rust. The factory Cosworth wheels have been refinished and look good. This could be a fun piece of history to own if bought at the right price.
I was 21 in 82 had 75 Cosworth got it for 800.00 I had no idea what I had because of my friends jokes, but it had bad shocks on the rear and I could pull the front wheels when I hit 2nd they were amazed I could do that and still made jokes, traded it in for a 1980 Mercury Cougar XR7
I have to call BS on a Vega yanking the front tires off the ground in second gear… These junk vega’s would get sucked off the road by a mid 80’s Citation.
Mark could you not understand the statement about bad rear shocks ?? I can honestly say you have no knowledge of how shocks work, I agree with you about the Citations, but read my comment again, 2nd gear, Bad Rear Shocks !!!!
There’s another listing for a running/driving ’76 Cosworth further down that is in MUCH, MUCH better shape, and is only bid to $4950, but the auction ends in 13 hours! GLWTS! :-)
Look at those seats….. only 46,000 miles…. LOL…LOL..LOL..LOL
I’m a retired plastic Injection molding engineer. In 1973 – 74 we made a part for these that controlled the fuel Injection. It looked like a rotor and had a magnet encapsulated in it.
Chas
OMG, 2 in one day! Enough.