Here we go with another tan-on-tan ’70s car; find this 1976 Chevrolet Vega on facebook Marketplace, priced at $7500. With a purported 10,209 original miles on the clock, nearly every component is as delivered from the factory. Though those words might cause a sensation if applied to a Ferrari of the same vintage, today we’re contemplating what they mean when the subject car is an econobox from a US maker produced during the Dark Period for auto enthusiasts. But before we get to it, we have PRA4SNW to thank for finding us this paragon of ’70s motoring – thanks!
The Vega was launched in a heck-fire hurry for model year 1971. GM was losing market share to imports, and more importantly, it had no viable competitor in the low-priced segment, where the company hoped young buyers could develop a lifelong affection for GM products. So making a new subcompact was Job Number One. At first, all was well with the Vega: its styling was sleek, it was cheap, and Motor Trend named it Car of the Year in ’71. But its aluminum block/cast iron head engine was poorly designed. Cooling was hampered by the lack of an overflow tank and a radiator position too low relative to the motor. Valve stem seals were brittle and broke. Worse, the alloy mixed by Reynolds Aluminum to form the block contained silicon, which via the manufacturing process, became residual in the unlined cylinder walls. The silicone was meant to provide glide, but if the engine overheated due to inadequate cooling, the silicone disintegrated, allowing the pistons to score their bores. Bad! Early engines overheated, broke head gaskets, spewed oil smoke, and let pistons wreck blocks. GM applied fixes incrementally, causing still more angst. The company eventually replaced all the blocks, even those out of warranty. Finally, in 1976, when this car was built, GM quelled the mayhem by introducing its Dura-Built four-cylinder. The new engine was a tough guy, but it came too late to save the Vega from its reputational shellacking. This car’s plugs, wires, gas tank, fuel pump, and muffler have been replaced in the interest of making it a driver.
The condition of the interior supports the mileage claim. Someone took good care of all the plastic in here. The cargo area is clean as a whistle, and other than very mild wrinkling, the rear seats are dandy. Vegas were sold with a selection of manual gearboxes over their production range, but this one has an automatic.
Alas, the Vega was also plagued by rust, which we see on this one’s hood, in most of its lower panels, and in the engine bay. Despite its demerits, the Vega notched sales of over 2 million units. Today, inevitably, many ordinary Vegas have lost their original mechanical components in favor of modern replacements; these cars sell for substantial premiums. The Cosworth has collected fans, sending prices up. Vega wagons are desirable and tend to find homes quickly. But very fine hatchbacks languish in the four-figure area, with the occasional example rising into the teens. Do you think this hatchback could be a future collectible?
1st, rather than start these posts on a negative note, I’ll say what a great find. So many were thrown away like old soup cans. The Vega was a very important car, as foreign makes were slow to catch on, this was the best small car a Chevy fan could get, and made in Lordstown, Ohio, a city devastated by GMs pullout, like most US cities in that situation.
The author is bound by BFs law to state what the ad says, but she knows as well as we all do, 10K doesn’t look like this. We see the cars that actually DO have 10K, even a Vega would be nicer than this. The spot on the hood seems in proximity of the radiator cap, indicating it may have gotten hot at some point. Who knows from there. It did accumulate at least 110K, which for a Vega is pretty good. Regardless of the motor shortcomings, I actually liked the Vega. If only they went with the Opel 1.9 or equivalent. Know why? It was then president Ed Cole, who demanded the Vega motor, or “melting engine” as it came known to be called, be “home grown”, and was rushed into production. Provided this runs good, and it seems like it does, be a wonderful car to have. Nobody is going to take this car across the desert, the kiss of death for a Vega.
They also went with an aluminum block because they had the Massena, NY plants and adjacent Reynolds smelting plant made for the Corvair. And a cast iron head to cut costs.
Too bad they didn’t just put an aluminum crossflow head on the Nova 4.
If I had to have a vega I’d pay the extra $1400 for the cosworth vega from yesterday.
No kidding. Even if you believe the sellers mileage claim.
Steve R
Engine compartment says 110,000 at least, not 10,000. Had one of these in 76 maybe a 72 model I got for 500 bucks, decent little cars but still just worth 500 bucks in my opinion.