Kammback Project: 1976 Chevrolet Vega

Chevrolet entered the subcompact car market in 1971 with the (what would become troubled) Vega. It had a seven-year run and found two million customers. Popular was the Vega 2-door station wagon, marketed as the “Kammback”. The seller has a 1976 edition, but it’s rough and far from complete. Available in Fond de Lac, Wisconsin, and here on Facebook Marketplace, this project or parts car is priced at $1,295 OBO. Thanks for the tip, “Lothar… of the Hill People”.

The Kammback term was coined because of the wagon’s sporty looks which involved a more steeply angled rear area than was typical of other such transports. Nearly a quarter of all Vega production was the Kammback (468,000 units), excluding the panel delivery versions, which replaced the side glass with metal. Early Vega’s got a bad rap because their aluminum I-4 engines were prone to overheating, and the cars in general would prematurely rust away. By 1976, these problems were (probably) cured.

This Vega came with a standard 4-speed manual transmission, but it has been swapped out for an automatic. The clutch pedal is still in place, and the crossmember is loosely there. The seller has listed the car for a non-internet-savvy friend, so we’re not sure how the communication process will work to seal a deal. The car has been in storage for years, but we don’t know if it was inside or out.

The parts that you don’t see, like the grill and front bumper, have likely disappeared. The body is rough, and the interior even rougher. Whether the car runs is anyone’s guess. But if you decided to ditch the 4-banger and drop in a small-block V8, that would make preserving this car more interesting. The seller says trades may be considered and seems to be interested in old bicycles or vintage signage.