Always controversial when we post one here on Barn Finds, the Chevrolet Cosworth Vega was an attempt at turning an American economy car into a small GT. Did it succeed? Personally, I like the attempt although I’ve never been lucky enough to own one. This 1976 model is labeled as a project car despite looking pretty solid and having had some work done already. It’s available for sale here on craigslist from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and came to our attention through a submission from reader Rocco B. The asking price? A mere $3,000.

As with any Vega, the primary concern is rust, but in the case of a Cosworth, you also worry about the parts that are unique to the model. As the seller notes, only 3508 cars were produced between 1975 and 1976 (this is car #2279 as noted on the dashboard) and that means unique Cosworth parts can be challenging. There’s a Cosworth Owners Group on Facebook that may be of some help, and there’s also a Cosworth Vega Owners Association web site. I know we have some readers out there who may be able to help with some more information as to where to get parts and assistance for these rare cars – please add information in the comment section!

There’s a spot of rust at the rear pillar, but generally the body appears to be in good condition. The seller does note that the front clip has been replaced at some point and the windshield is broken. I was concerned when I saw the standard Vega GT wheels that the unusual Cosworth ones wouldn’t be present, but more about those later.

As you can see, the interior is intact but a bit tired. The steering wheel emblem is incorrect for a Cosworth, but I did find one for sale (also in Oklahoma!) here on eBay. You may be on your own for the seat upholstery, although as simple as the pattern is perhaps a local shop would be your best bet to come close to duplicating what the factory pattern was.

This was a pleasant surprise! The factory wheels have already been reconditioned and are ready for new tires (much needed according to the seller) to be mounted.

We’re told that the car runs and drives but is not ready to be “on the road” yet. There is a manual included to help you deal with the factory fuel injection (yes!) system as well. I’d love to see one of you snag this project — but to be fair, there’s one remaining problem. There is only a bill of sale. As we have discussed many times in the past in the comment section, that is more easily overcome in some states than others. Let us know what you think of this American GT project and if you have any (legal) title procurement tips!