The Vega was Chevrolet’s first foray into the subcompact market, and it was in production from 1971 to 1977. More than two million copies were sold, but the innovative little car had quality control problems. So, you seldom run across a Vega today, especially one as nice as this 1974 Vega GT. It seems to be in good shape with just 48,000 miles. The seller was contemplating a V8 restomod but went in a different direction. This survivor can be found in Oxford, Wisconsin, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,800.
There was a lot of fanfare when the new Chevy Vega debuted in the Fall of 1970. Joined by the Ford Pinto, they were the first U.S. automobiles to counter an attack against the imports, led by the VW Beetle. A lot of effort was put into developing the Vega, but its execution was flawed. They became known for engines that would overheat and bodies that rusted prematurely. The car broke its own sales record in 1974, not because it was the best of its kind, but because buyers were facing higher fuel prices and shortages as a result of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo.
If you wanted a sportier Vega, you bought the GT edition in 1974. It came with alloy wheels, a tuned suspension, a snappier interior in terms of fit and finish, optional stripes, and a rear spoiler (which the seller’s car does not have). The engine was unchanged, the same inline-4 the Vega was born with in 1971, though improvements had been made to minimize the issues early owners faced. We don’t know how many folks opted for the GT package in 1974, but more than 460,000 copies of the Vega were delivered overall.
From what we can tell, this Vega presents well from head to toe. The body, paint, and interior seem to be in order, making it one of the better cars to have likely survived after 50 years. The only visible flaw is that the engine block seems to be covered in surface rust, though we’re told the motor and 4-speed manual transmission work as they should.
The tires are new, the carburetor has been rebuilt, and the tranny comes with a Hurst shifter. We’re told this Chevy has only traveled relatively few miles, so it may have been someone’s pride and joy. Since most copies of the Vega have disappeared over time, does this nice example warrant the seller’s asking price? If it were the Cosworth Vega, there would be no debate. Our thanks to Barn Finder “Lothar… of the Hill People” for this Bow-Tie tip.
It ain’t no stag. No rust on a Vega?
SBC time
Yep. Nice one to start with.
Needs up close pictures of rust prone areas including undercarriage. The ad is light on specifics which potential buyers will fill in, but shouldn’t need to.
Steve R
C’mon Steve, Why would you expect rust on a Vega? Other than they were already rusting when they left Lordstown OH GM plant in the early 1970’s . . . . 50 + years later, you’re 99% sure right .
I live in a part of California where no cars rust due to natural causes. I had a 74 Vega GT in the early-80’s, it rusted on the cowl in front of both A-pillars. I’ve seen idiots buy cars from back east, based solely on pictures, that were said to be rust free, the sellers must use a different dictionary than we do.
Steve R
Within the first year of ownership, the windsheild and backlight of my ’71 Vega Kammback were pulled to repair rust damage in a Florida car. Hint: There is no road salt in Florida, and we did not live near the ocean.
I believe they used recycled steel, already rusting when stamped.
Never saw a Vega so good looking, cuz they disappeared so fast
Popular car back in the day, they were everywhere. A coworker at the grocery store I worked at got a new GT just like this in ‘74, it was pale yellow however, tan interior and 4-speed.
He only had it a couple of weeks, we got a few inches of snow one evening and after work he was doing donuts in the parking lot showing off. He went too fast over one of those big sunken drains and bottomed it out, tore the oil pan off. Poor guy was so upset but the rest of us thought it was hilarious.
The radiator looks bigger than the one I owned. This was critical because the engine would be toast if it overheated, and a lot of them did.
Buddy of mine in college had one of these. Kept a case of oil in the back. Took 2 qts per fuel fillup.
I had a 73’ GT that used more oil than gas. I would buy refined oil pumped from a gas pump for 10 cents a quart.
IMO these may be the best looking of the series continuing the Jr Camaro theme.
Waste of a good Hurst shifter!
Two options here:
GM Ecotec 2.2 upgrade, or
Miata engine and trans
Would a Buick V6 do the trick ?
I always felt an old Buick 215 Aluminum V8 would be a great swap candidate for one of these. Or a GM 3.6 HFV6.
” the innovative little car had quality control problems. ”
Quality control implies that there were errors of production, that can be blammed on the workers.
The problems with the Chevy Vega were entirely the result of a program that was badly administered from the get-go by terrible management decisions.
Started under GM managment, then forced on an indifferent Chevrolet team that didn’t want it, and produced to a cost target that was not realistic. The engine was an unproved technology highly dependent on adequate cooling, which could not be delieverd by the inadequate two-pass radiator.
INferior materials remain inferior if assembled by swiss watchmakers or drunken monkeys.
Garbage car, I had a ’71. Still in therapy
Don’t forget the huge issues between management and labor at Lordstown Assembly. There was fault to be laid on both sides but a lot of it started when they cranked up the production rate to insane levels and then blamed the workers when quality fell as a result.
All of the Vega’s issues can be directly traced to bad decisions by management.
Inferior materials, inadequate cooling, bad headgaskets, absent rust protection. Not the result of assembly quality.
Labor relations were poisonous……largly because management thought they could just speed up the factory’s throughput by a factor of four, but the terrible engine’s flaws, the crap steel, the absence of rustproofing were managment decisions, not labor problems
I believe the GT wheels were upgraded to 14” & an improved style, but they were still steel.
These were matched with 70-series Goodyear Polyglas GT bias belted tires.
…
A popular aftermarket modification/upgrade was to switch to 15” wheels with 60-series radial tires, or (IF you could find them) 16” wheels with 50-series tires.
(I ran 60-series BFGoodrich Radial TAs on my ‘76. …along with upgraded/stiffer shocks & larger anti-sway bars front & rear. That car handled REALLY WELL with those upgrades! 👍‼️)
…
Back in the late-70s/early-80s I owned/drove a silver&black ‘76 GT (…looked very similar to this one), which included the very desirable Borg Warner 5-speed transmission.
(2000rpm at 60mph)
That particular example was a very nice and very reliable car. Drove great, never used/burned/leaked any oil, never broke down, was easy (& cheap) to maintain, got decent gas mileage, and it got many compliments from other drivers.
Many people called it a mini-Camaro.
I was my very 1st car & I loved it!!
(I bought it in approx 1979 or 1980 for just $2200.00. Drove it daily until approx 1983, & upgraded the tires/wheels, shocks, sway bars, and the stereo system (installed a Concord AM/FM/Cassette deck, + equalizer/booster, & 6 speakers). Also added a front spoiler & rear window louvers. Sold it in approx 1983 for approx $3500.00. 👍😎💰)
CORRECTION
The Vega GT wheels were 13” diameter, & shod with Goodyear Polyglas GT 70-series bias-belted tires.
They were definitely steel wheels.
These GT wheels also included a chrome beauty trim ring.
…
My upgraded tires/wheels were 14” Keystone Klassic alloys, with BFGoodrich 60-series Radial TAs.
…
& yes, the GT also came equipped with a 2-barrel carburetor (I believe it was a Holley carb), & upgraded handling (slightly better shocks, & anti-sway bars front & rear). The gauge package might have also been upgraded.
…
Interesting oddball fact:
My ‘76 Vega GT came with a GM/Delco AM/8-track (NO FM) radio.
The ’76 and ’77 cars with the “Durabuilt 140” were vastly supperior automobiles. Had the initial run been sold with the improved cylinder head, cooling system, rustproofing, and other features, the Vega would have gone down in history as “The Right Car at the Right Time.” But they weren’t . Undeveloped, inexcuseable garbage.
When someone writes glowing stories about their own Vega, it is ALWAYS post ’74, and usually 1976-77. (oh, and 140 cubic inches is 2300 cc, GM didn’t fool anyone)
The Vega GT had steel wheels with a four-spoke kind of look. The GT also had a two-barrel carburetor.
I bought a ’75 Vega GT brand new back in the day by trading in a 1966 427 Caprice two-door with buckets and a console with the console-mounted gauge cluster.
My GT was a bright metallic green with a beige cloth interior, a four-speed, flip-out rear windows and an AM radio. It was comfortable, but it intermittently was impossible to start within the first year. It was a piece of crap, although a good-looking one.
The GT wheels were shod with Goodyear Polyglas A70-13 tires from the factory. If I could find a complete, non-rusty (right) 71-73 Vega GT with or without an engine I would be sorely tempted… a 4.3 LS would be a nice choice for an engine swap!
@19sixty5
Thanks for the correction.
Yes, the GT wheels were 13 inch diameter. (…I do remember that now.)
I upgraded to 14” Keystone Klassic alloy wheels on my ‘76 GT, along with 60-series BFG Radial TA tires.
(…thus, my earlier mistake regarding the GT wheel size.)
& yes, the GT wheels were definitely steel, not alloy.
And just think: The 1975 car was significantly improved over the early tragically flawed POS cars that they were.
You did WHAT!!!!????
Junk in 1974. Junk in 2024.
Wow. What an insightful and helpful comment. I for one, am so thankful you were here to share that astute tidbit with us all. Thank you!
It is his opinion and it is also shared by many !
It was vastly better than the hopeless 1971 and 1972 models. These were the first cars “ready for recycling” on Day One.
So , all it neerds is ;
1 engine
2 transmission
3 brake upgrade
4 differential
5 cooling
6 electricity upgrade
What else?
Is it worth it ?
YOLO
Claudio, that was true the day that it left the showroom.
I bought a 1974 Vega GT in 1976. It was red with a black racing stripe down the center of the car. It had a black vinyl interior with red pin striping. Very nice looking car. The car was either under coated or very well taken because there was no rust. I had trouble with overheating and heads. Why the dealer never mentioned putting in a bigger radiator is a mystery. I also never thought of that probable fix. Traded in 1977 for a new Nova with the 305 V-8. That was the best car I ever owned.