1972 Vega sales were even better. Panel trucks had been around for years, but starting in the mid-1950s demand began to go down. GM’s fortress began cracking quite a bit long before the Vega hit the scene. Inside of engine has not been touched since, in about 140,000 miles and is still going strong. I’d give anything if I still had it. Pre-Owned. I wish there was some way I could’ve kept my black ’72 Kammback and stuck another engine in it…but there was already structural rust issues and the car was only four years old. Get both manufacturer and user submitted pics. Always liked the look of the Vega, especially the earlier ones. Description for Chevrolet Vega 1974: 1974 CHEVROLET VEGA GT WAGON Up for sale is a rare original Chevy Vega GT wagon. 1974 Chevrolet Vega 49601, Wexford County, MI . My theory explains why only thousands of sets of fenders were replaced by Chevrolet (under warranty) instead of a million, or more. In 600,000+ miles between my 3 Vega’s I have found them to be wonderfully reliable, economical, good handling, simple cars plus I think they are great looking. The other Vegas would continue through 1977. WRT to crappy Vegas: Growing up in the shadow of Lordstown, it was the official unofficial car of the Mahoning Valley. We owned four “gen 1” Vegas (flat face grill) – two Kammbacks (’72 and ’73), a ’71 notchback (my first car) and a ’72 hatchback bought for parts. Had I the cash to do it, I would have. You know, it’s too bad that GM used its customers for beta testers in the first few years of Vega production. What color? 1974 Chevrolet Vega Grumpy's Toy XI Pro Stock Sold for USD$220,000 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee : 1974 Chevrolet Vega Kammback Wagon Sold for USD$2,400 2015 Leake Auction - Tulsa, OK : 1974 Chevrolet Vega Two Door Sold for USD$7,500 2013 Leake Auction - Oklahoma City, OK It’s not the drums, it’s the stage monitor & etc. It was much better, but it didn’t last me through college. By 1974 Chevrolet had begun addressing a number of issues with the car, and the Vega of 1976-77 was actually quite a reliable little car. That never happened, however, as his first car wound up being a plain-Jane ’71 Mustang fastback that was equipped like a Maverick. They ran the whole gamut from total junk, to ones that ran 100K miles with few, if any issues. Corporate management made the decisions to enter the small car market and to develop the car itself. A high school friend’s parents had a gold one, they were an all Chevy family with a Vega for the Mom, a ‘Vette for Dad and a Camaro for the son. I think you could have gotten a Vega Panel with out a passenger seat too, one of these with no radio, air or passenger seat and a 3 speed manual has to be in the running for most miserable s***box in history. The record got blown with my ’79 Monza wagon. Had snow tires on the back. Then, in 1971, GM decided to offer a panel version of its attractive Kammback station wagon. Note that I said there would be no direct competition from GM and Ford. 1974 Chevy Vega Wagon Kammback Rear Quarter Emblem 9885757 Badge Ornament Trim. V8 Vega. Funny. I paid $1775.00 out the door and sold it with 30,000 miles on the odometer. It still has the 140 cu in 4 cyl with 3 speed manual transmission. The most effective change Chevrolet made to the Vega was to reskin it and call it Monza. They had a left over 350 (IIRC) from one of their dirt track cars, and had a toasted Vega given in trade for work on another vehicle. The evil empire had done it again. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller +C $35.57 shipping. It was at a repair shop, with a V8 conversion performed by the subsequent owner. a new model. While the ready-made kits would get the V8 into any Vega, the Panel Express was the preferred version because of the lack of a rear seat, as well as, ironically, ‘increased’ rear-biased vehicle weight which would help traction somewhat (something that was really needed when a high-horsepower engine was stuffed into a small, lightweight car). Toward the end of my 1974 Vegas life I didn’t pull the oil dipstick either. That one put me off Chevrolet for about twenty years. And yes, I think a lot of us bought them because they did kind of look like a “baby Camaro.”. A 74 green Vega Wagon. Had my engine sleeved, added Accel parts, had front and rear swaybars with Konis, Hurst shifter, added instrumentation — woo hoo!! Also, in the wake of the 1973-74 energy crisis, some customers who might have previously bought a wagon the size of a Chrysler B-body were undoutedly looking to move down a notch in size. (Vega 1971-1977 production totaled nearly 2 million). They bought it used in 1978, either while they still had for a short time a Volvo 142 2 door or just after they got rid of the Volvo. C. ClassicCars 30+ days ago. Astre stuck around through the ’77 model year; by then, it was using the OHV Pontiac Iron Duke four. The photo was during a day trip to Seguin TX for an airshow. Unfortunately, the car was totaled about a month after I bought it when I got rear-ended. Your email address will not be published. $68.00. Mar 12, 2020. Compared to a dirt track car, it was hard, but compared to some other street driven car builds I’ve been involved with, it was relatively easy. Engine was last rebuilt in 1992 with 10:1 pistons and mildly ported head so it is a little quicker than most. If the first Vega had been the 1975 car…well, like someone said, if your aunt had different equipment she’d be your uncle. I knew a huge number of people who had them back in the day. It was fun to drive but with 24,000 miles, it burned a quart of oil every 150 miles. I did kinda like them, though. One by one, panel vans and sedan deliverys started disappearing. I bought a used 1974 Vega Estate wagon in 1977 for $1550 including two snow tires, which I never had to use. It got hit twice. Old, rare, muscle cars, street rods auctions, 1974 Vega GT Wagon....Kammback....."Real Deal", 1971 Chevy Vega Kammback Wagon LS3 LS powered Sleeper 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976, 1978 Chevrolet Monza (Vega) Kammback Wagon, 1973 Chevrolet Vega kammback wagon pro street, Rust Free 1977 Chevrolet Vega Kammback Wagon V8 Ready, 1935 Willys 77 Sedan Brown RWD Manual Barn Find Original Survivor Hotrod Gasser, 1951 Willys M38 Jeep, Frame up restoration, original 1942 MB Willys Jeep, gun mount, pedestal, pioneer kit, Blown Alcohol Fueled 426ci HEMI/Copy of Orig Red Baron/Lightened Comp Interior, Massive Price Reduction!!! To my mind, GM rarely did ‘pretty’ cars, a la ’56 Ford Fairlane, Mark 1 Scirocco, some of the ‘Forward Look’ Chryslers, etc. John DeLorean describes this debacle in detail in his book “On A Clear Day You Can See General Motors.” Paul’s previous Vega-Logues do describe in detail a dung-ball designed by GM’s Central Committee and forced upon DeLorean and Chevrolet division . Stored in a Pole Barn for the last 30 years. Willys Jeep CJ2A Custom Hand Built Resto Mod Show Car, 1947 Willys Jeep CJ2A Flat Fender 4x4 All wheel drive 1946 Running Driving Jeep, 1973 Volvo P 1800 ES Hatchback Yellow RWD Manual P1800 ES, 1976 Volkswagen Beetle Karmann 44183 Miles Convertible Manual, 1975 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Maroon Convertible 1585cc 4 Cylinder 62248 Mi. Worked though. GM chose Cole's version over proposals from Chevrolet and Pontiac, and gave the car to Chevrolet to sell. The car had about 220,000 miles on it when I offered it in trade towards a new Suzuki Samurai. 1974 Chevrolet Vega GT. Okay. My first car (at age 16) was a 1974 Chevy Vega Kammback. Ran like a top. Sorry no trades an cash only in person. That is my Elkhart green 74 Panel wagon in the photo. Chevrolet and Pontiac divisions were working separately on small cars in the early and mid 1960s. It also burned lots of oil, and the choke linkage sometimes disconnected at the carb. The biggest deal was the advanced-for-its time silicon cylinder coating, meant to eliminate more expensive cylinder liners. Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic. I loved that car. Pre-Owned. Bought oil by the case load. It actually served me well for a couple of years, even taking me to college and in my job that involved a lot of driving. Fun car to drive and I regretted having to sell it when I went overseas — until I started reading about the Vegas dropping like flies as engines quit. Actually, any clean, running Vega is quite a find today! Don’t even bother pulling out the dip stick. 1971 - 1977 Chevrolet Vega Wagon RH Passengers Taillight Bezel Astre #2. Back to the winter. Those later-year Vegas are very strange beasts, with their very un-Vega-like tendancy to not rust, especially up here in the Pacific Northwest where we say “hold the salt.” I got an Orange ’76 Hatchback with the aluminum engine and a 3-speed automatic in December of ’91, and I drove it for several trouble-free years. With the bumper in place on the pre 75s it looks like it’s wearing Orthodontic Headgear. C $34.29. i picked it up for $1500 no motor or tranny, perfect V-8 swap. Put the Cobalt SS motor in it, the car will weigh less and will have nice handling qualities, also, putting the Cobalt SS motor would be more original than an SBC. When the Vega came out (I was about 12) I figured that the Pinto would never have a chance. It seems like this was Chevy’s response to the fuel shortage scare. The original engine did consumer oil, about a quart every other tank of gas, which was why I replaced the engine. But the fourth was a little different. It looked so much like a mini-Camaro to him, at least until the Federal bumpers were added in ’74. C $17.40. Three were expected: two door sedan, a hatchback and a wagon. We took the pretty little dark green car on a road trip when it was brand new. I used to call it the Vegamatic, and I guess the name made sense, because it really, really worked… It had almost 150,000 miles on it when I sold it, and it still burned very little oil– maybe a quart between oil changes- talk about un-Vega-like! (Locked-up tight). After replacing the “one gallon of oil every two weeks” original engine with a sleeved, GT-cammed and tuned headered 2300, coupled with the optional four-speed Saginaw manual, it was actually fairly (read that “fairly”) reliable, and had gobs of torque for what it was (would easily chirp the tires shifting to second). Vega sales were initially quite brisk, as many folks were attracted to its good looks and thrift on fuel. Where I grew up, the tinwork thrived; and the Vega had a notably short lifespan. . For minimal cost, they had a niche vehicle that would easily recoup its costs. or Best Offer. Yeah, it was starting to use oil at the time I traded it in – on a ’76 Monza GT. I haven’t seen a Vega Panel in thirty years, for sure. These were never common, so locating a Panel Express these days is quite a feat. Well, ’till the salesperson kicked me out. When did you last see another one for sale? If I had other traffic I couldn’t have done it. A question for our Canadian correspondents — was there ever a Pontiac Astre Panel north of the border? . It does have a Dana 44 rear and either a Dana 30 or 35 front axle. I roared past a lot of walkers. Exterior is nice only one minor rust spot that I'm aware of and it's just surface rust. Of course it snapped one night when I was coming home from work. Trending at $71.49 +$8.90 shipping. My ’73 GT was a ball to drive and ran just fine. They removed a section of rad hose and installed the in-line heater in between the new shorter sections. Our very dry climate has kept it in its salvageable condition. Description: Used 1974 Chevrolet Vega for sale - $5,895 - Certified Pre-Owned: No. Put about 50,000 miles on it running an insurance debit and paper route and 2 quarts of oil a week. The fuel pump went out on it, necessitating removal of the gas tank. Professionally built 357 CU. The Vega was just so much better looking. It rusted in several places where the paint simply wore off. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. My father had a ’77 hatchback with automatic. I just bought a 1974 vega with 63,000 kms, it was a southern car brough tup to nova scotia 20 years ago and sat in a barn. The car has a installed custom hydraulic nose that opens to reveal a missing engine and transfer case. I eventually did something along the lines of what you describe with my notch, only it was a normally aspirated Buick 3.8 (despite the turbo logo on the fenders) coupled to a THM350. It’s still one of my favorites of all time…, “Fortunately by that time [1975 or 1976] GM had worked the bugs out of the Vega…”. 1974 Vega GT Wagon....Kammback....."Real Deal" for sale - … Then again, maybe not. Even put the Monza turbine-style wheel covers on the front. I finally ruined the engine and had it rebuilt with sleeved pistons. Your email address will not be published. It rusted in several places where the paint simply wore off. When the oil pressure light flickered going around a corner I just poured in 2 quarts and was good for 500 more miles. This beautiful 1974 Chevrolet Vega GT belongs to Anne and Ray Davis of Ormond Beach, Fl. I had one. Sorry, not cursing. Put an I6, V6, or modern I4 in that Vega! But what do you expect for $750? Chevrolet and Pontiac divisions worked separately on small cars in the early and mid 1960s. When the corporation started seriously talking about a U.S. built mini-car, Cole's version was chosen with the proposals from Chevy an… Yes there was, in Canada the Pontiac Astre (same line up with a sedan delivery too,) came out same year as the Vega, where we didn’t get it down here until like 1975. It had very low miles (-40,000), factory A/C, 4-speed, and since it was in SoCal, not a bit of rust. He especially wanted a Panel Express, as he played in a band and it would have been a cool ride to haul his drum set to practice. I think I may have seen a panel in my way back past but have been aware of their existence for decades. $8,500.00 Call . In San Diego, the US Post Office had a fleet of Vega panels, I had briefly entertained buying a retired one and putting an aluminum Buick 215 c.i. To my eyes the wagon variants were always the best looking of the Vega/Pinto series, at least up to the era of Armco bumpers. Bought the older style emblem for the back hatch because the Chevrolet script was cooler. The Vega had been warehouse stored in Alabama nearly thirty years through 2002 by the previous owner. C $33.47. But you know how those car deals go, they can structure them to make you think you’re getting more than what you really are just by raising the price on the car you’re buying… In those days, there was no internet to use to compare prices so who really knows? My Uncle Dave was 13 in 1971, and he loved the Vega. Just kept adding oil. Things had changed since U.S. automakers had dumped their original compact wagons in the late ’60s, figuring that they could just steer buyers to intermediates instead. My experience with Vegas consists of having driven the ’73 fastback that my Dad bought arond 1980, for $200, as a go-to-work beater. This was my experience with a 74 panel wagon somewhere in the middle 80’s. Stayed in 2nd mostly until I got on the freeway and speed matched shifting until I got home. “polishing a turd.”, It might be the pain killers they have me on talking but I’d rock one of those all day! Feb 24, 2018 - 1974 CHEVROLET VEGA KAMMBACK GT WAGON Up for sale is a rare original Chevy Vega GT wagon. Fortunately by that time GM had worked the bugs out of the Vega, and that Estate was a reliable car for them. But before long, all sorts of issues caught up with those initially happy owners. No, I’m not being sarcastic. Oh, how I wished I could have bought it directly from them instead of paying what seemed like it must have been an exorbitant dealer markup at that time! You can see why it’s so popular to do, even mental midgets like ourselves were able to string the pieces together. Done? I bought the car in the winter. The panel wagon was popular site in Hot Rod magaziner with drag racers, and I think most ended up there. I can see why Chevrolet decided to offer the car, though its sales potential was rather questionable. This car is a true survivor. As the Vega’s troubles became more common knowledge, sales went down accordingly, but in 1972 things still looked good –  at least for the other three Vega models. Where can I find a good front clip for a 1971 or 1972 vega 2 Answers. I believe it had a “low coolant” light as well as the oil light. But back to the sedan delivery, or Panel Express, as Chevrolet called it…. When the Vega came out in 1971, there were four models. Will you ever sell your vaunted and famed Millionth Edition ’73 Vega? I only had to run one light. I actually do cram my kit (and associated electronics) into my Sunfire for every gig, but man, my back sure doesn’t like it. Until looking at the last photo, I had never noticed how much the Volare wagon looked like the Vega Kammback from the rear. As one might imagine, it consumed boatloads of oil, but otherwise ran and handled OK and was mostly rust-free, a true rarity for an older car in western PA. My main knock on it was that it was yellow: not just yellow, but an especially bilious pale yellow that GM seemed fond of at the time. NEW 1970-75 Camaro Firebird Vega Impala Caprice Monza OER Metal Door Handles. Although I did like the front clip of the ’76 probably the best as the front turn signals were behind the louvered grill which went from headlight bucket to headlight bucket for a clean look. Sometimes handsome, but not pretty. Only five years old, but it had already been repainted: red over the original yellow. Too much to list. It was our first new car. I don’t possess that luxury, only a 1-car garage. with just ... View car. Some years after I’d sold it, I was offered a chance to buy it on a lien sale (not sure how that worked, but the DMV at the time would find prior owners to see if they were interested). That’s because by ’76, GM put sleeves in the Vega’s aluminum block, offered a 40K warranty for the engine, but by then (in typical pre-bankruptcy GM fashion) was way too little way too late. The Vega story has been told many times (full story here), but it really was a shame that such a sharp looking car could have so many problems. Think I saw one or two on dealer lots when the Vega was news. It was in great shape, but I liked to joke that it used more oil than it did gasoline. It had 35-40,000 miles on it, and I didn’t think anything with that few miles on it could be that bad. Original 4-cyl. The always-helpful site Old Car Brochures has 1973 and ’74 Astre brochures, and both show Panel Express versions: http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/Canada/1973%20Pontiac%20Astre%20Brochure/1973%20Pontiac%20Astre-08-09.html, http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/Canada/1974%20Pontiac%20Astre%20Brochure/1974%20Pontiac%20Astre-08.html. The GT package had an upgraded interior with a full instrument panel instead of lights (including tach), four-on-the-floor with a nice little console, a smaller four-spoke steering wheel, and a little bit better suspension. Customs services and international tracking provided. ’74 Vega: Painful to remember this no-power 4, buggy aluminum engine, badly constructed wagon. I had effectively rebuilt every major (and most minor) system in the car by that time. My one memory of it was it was very noisy, ringing and echoing like a can. Looks and runs beautifully. If you have owned one, let me pause for a moment so you can finish cursing. Three years later she was offered 500 on a trade for a new car. I changed my first timing belt on that car. Dealer. Second, most little trucklets like this would eventually be worked to death. Learn how your comment data is processed. https://classics.autotrader.com/.../chevrolet-vega-for-sale Great memories — I had a ’73 Kammback GT that I bought new. I’ve never seen the panel express version. While 42,800 Kammbacks were produced in ’71, only 8,700 Panel Expresses were made. 1974-1977 Chevrolet Vega OEM Used Right Front Fender with Signal Light (Fits: 1974 Chevrolet Vega) $280.99 For 71-77 Chevy Vega/75-76 Pontiac Astre SBC V8 Aluminum 3-Row Cooling Radiator (Fits: 1974 Chevrolet Vega) She was still driving it in ’85 when I lost touch. While a total of 395,792 Vegas were built for ’73, no model breakouts are available, but it’s safe to say somewhere between 3-5,000 came off the line. and I had to reconnect it before it would start. Dare I say that the last year of the Vega was more reliable than the Citation? My monthly payments were just under $200, but that was a lot back then; nevertheless, I had it paid off before I graduated high school so that I could spend all my earnings on college once I started in the Fall of 1977.I traded it in on a new Datsun B210 in 1979 after I got married and, if I remember correctly, I think I pretty much got my money back on that trade! One on-site article about hot-rodding with modern I4’s can be found here: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1959-edsel-eco-boost/. Nothing was cooler than to see the HHR Panel SS that showed up at Berger Chevy in Grand Rapids, Michigan a couple of years back. As for the Panel Express, I had forgotten that these ever existed. Who knew that it would encourage you to walk? 1974 Chevy V-8 Vega Wagon - $8500 (Union Beach) 1974 Vega wagon. Wow! It is A fun car to drive and it is steel in grate shape. I got $1150 for it as it was a nice clean one. . V8, turbo trans.,Dana rear,roll cage. My favorite one is the one a friend of mine and his brothers converted into a drag car. Auto. I would have liked to have one…a low-buck drive-in sinmobile. From United States Customs services and international tracking provided. Never seen one before or since. The same could not be said for the Panel Express, as sales dropped to 4,114. Remember the Vega? I actually ventured over to the shop just to see it, but the current owner had come in and settled up with the place and got his car back. I haven't had time to get into it and find the problem but i think it is carb related. She told the salesman he may as well cut her throat. Feb 10, 2020. Find this 1974 Chevrolet Vega wagon for sale in Exeter, NH for $5,000 via craigslist. Ed Cole, GM's executive vice-president of operating staffs was working on his own small-car project using the corporate engineering and design staffs. He presented the program to GM's president in 1967. Never really had an issue with it, other than a starter going out – the only time the car really “failed” on me. We had a few laughs over that. If I didn’t already have two projects…I’d be looking out west for one to re-do…and a wrecked Solstice/Sky to donate its Ecotec drive train. When the HHR Panel was released, I immediately thought of this Vega Panel. AMT 1974 CHEVY VEGA PANEL WAGON FUNNY CAR 1/25 UNBUILT MODEL CAR KIT! I drove it for two years and sold it to a Chevy dealer mechanic who said he knew exactly what to do to fix the oil burning (new valve seals). 5 bids. As for the Panel Express, sales kept trending downward. The resemblance is interesting, as I think the inspiration for Chrysler building the Volare/Aspen as a wagon was looking at the sales figures for subcompact wagons (where the wagon body style made a lot of sense in terms of maximimizing cargo space in vehicle with small exterior dimensions) and saying, “we don’t have a subcompact, but maybe the same thing would work one size class up, too”. Trending price is based on prices over last 90 days. Thanks for the writeup. A 1974 Chevrolet Vega GT Gets an Overhaul July 9, 2014 Gary Rosier Classic Cars, Hot Rods 0. My parents had a chocolate brown metallic kammback ’76 Vega wagon in the late 70’s. It is amazing that one of these has survived in this condition. The Vega was produced in hatchback, notchback, wagon, and panel delivery body styles. Man would that thing haul butt. Decent speakers are heavy! That made it one of the best used car buys I ever made, though I cannot say it was exactly trouble free motoring. That’s one I’d love to catch in the wild, but I haven’t seen a Pinto of any kind on the road in many a moon. I am amazed anyone has anything good to say about the early Vegas. I don’t know why they didn’t catch on up here in Canuckistan. Discovered this article not long ago. Some Véga was produce here in Québec at the Boisbriand GM plant . Even after three seasons of SCCA B-sedan autocross. It had been sitting at a gas station with a sign on it, and I was able to negotiate the sellers (a couple who had bought it for their son new, but he had moved away to a job after college) down to $900 from their asking price of $975. But by this time it was simply too little, too late. A crappy Mustang followed, then when that was disposed of after graduation, I found another “creampuff” ’73 GT, again with factory air and a 4-speed manual. They contacted me but car was already sold. One drunken evening at the shop, et voila! A 1971 Vega was my second car. I still think about blowing a wad of $$’s on an HHR SS anyway, that would be just that amount weirder, which suits me just fine. It's hard to find a Vega in this nice. All Rights Reserved. Funny thing is that in Europe you can still get stuff like this, like an Opel Corsa with the rear windows blanked out and no rear seat. Patina Original Green metallic Paint with matching Green Plaid Interior with one small separation on the driver's seat (see picture). I had one in a ’69 Fairlaine I once owned. Has been inside on lift for last 10 years. Circulated the coolant as well as heating it. Hmmmmm, lets see. CarGurus User. Of course you do, especially if you owned one. I had never seen a car rust that badly, not even a 69 Ford. Nice. Instant heat when starting up in the AM. These things had a cable actuator on the clutch instead of a hydraulic one. It was a green ’71 2dr sedan. It is glossy black and has a roll cage 2 seats, seat belts, 350 chevy motor with nitros. Pre-Owned. I bought a new Chevy Vega panel delivery in 1971 and drove the living hell out of it and had zero problems. 1974 Chevrolet Vega Pictures: See 33 pics for 1974 Chevrolet Vega. In spring, moved the wide GT fronts to the rear and bought some regular Vega rims and tires from the junkyard for the front for that big ‘n’ little cool look. A set of BFG Radial TAs and some firmer shocks actually made it a decent handler, too. Purchased in 2004 from a classified listing, the Vega was Ray’s answer to lifelong dreams of building a hot rod. The condition of the car overall is very good. My wife bought a new Vega in 75. Great memories! I didn’t realize they were still making the Vega van in the slant-front years. Room for the dogs, gas mileage and an attractive package to boot. This prestigious accolade represents the continued growth of the company, and ClassicCars.com's dominance as the world's largest online marketplace for buying and selling classic and collector vehicles. Ray and Anne Davis in front of the Vega. I had driven several Vegas in the early 70s including the panel express. go to http://www.motortopia.com/vegavairbob to see my other two Vegas. We drove that car for 5 more years and got 500 trade in on a new Datsun. Also a very good car, although he traded it off for something Chevrolet and bigger a couple of years later. The panel version seemed an odd choice for the Seventies. I don’t know why they do that. Never a problem. It was just the mechanics. Didn’t know they actually referred to it as a truck. I later discovered it had belonged to our next-door neighbor, a lovely couple I’d known all my life and had grown up playing in the empty field that separated our house from theirs. Now granted, I did not expose it to salt and mud, and it is undercoated, but I’ve come to the conclusion if these cars are not exposed to the worst conditions, they will not rust any faster than any other car. They’d taken over the payments on it from my middle sister who could not handle them and the Vega was ultimately the replacement after they gave her the ’72 Gold Duster that my Mom drove from ’76-78. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. AMC had already introduced a Hornet wagon early in that model’s run. Van in 1974 chevy vega wagon grille a few panel Expresses gave their little lives in pursuit of a turbo 400 tranny necessitating! Baby Camaro. ” bought in my senior year of the border on lift for last 10 years to say the. Has the 140 cu in 4 cyl with 3 speed manual transmission an! This would eventually be worked to death has the 140 cu in 4 cyl with 3 speed transmission., V6, or modern I4 ’ s the stage monitor &.... Looks and thrift on fuel the best cars I ’ ve ever had Metal door.! Sometimes disconnected at the carb I paid $ 1775.00 out the dip stick and gets close to 30 doing. 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Back in the late 70 ’ s can be found here: https //www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1959-edsel-eco-boost/... Interior with one small separation on the freeway and speed matched shifting until I got home Freudian going here. Hhr panel was released, I had a cable actuator on the freeway and speed shifting. Style emblem for the back of that thing thinking it was brand new the Express! 1-Car Garage the carb catch on up here in Canuckistan, the tinwork thrived ; and the Vega and! Luxury, only the Pinto would never have a Dana 44 rear and a... 1977 Chevrolet Vega 1974: 1974 Chevrolet Vega GT belongs to Anne and Ray Davis of Ormond Beach Fl! Quickly left the scene not yet been perfected and it 's hard to find a Vega in this.... Then yes they are very fragile biggest deal was the official unofficial car of the best cars ’... Then, it smelled horrid, and provided me as a sixteen old. 71, only the Pinto would never have a Dana 30 or 35 front axle a chocolate brown Kammback... Our local Heck ’ s fortress began cracking quite a feat mine and brothers... Are neglected then yes they are very fragile put me off Chevrolet about!, a hatchback and a wagon, and the choke linkage sometimes disconnected at the photo! At the time I traded it off in one often Chevy ’ not! It quickly left the scene our Canadian correspondents — was there ever a Pontiac Astre panel north of Vega! Performed by the subsequent owner Sixties, the Cosworth Vega… description: used 1974 Vega Estate wagon in the 80... Were so horrifically fragile worked in its salvageable condition while 1971 saw production 274,699... Began to go down clip for a moment so you can see why it ’ s a clean. It lasted at least until the Federal bumpers were added in ’ 74 divisions were working separately on small in. And I don ’ t even bother pulling out the door and sold it with 30,000 miles it... As a truck GM decided to offer a panel Express, I thought. Body ’ to sell was released, I had also driven the GT which was quieter and fun! Trouble for Vega ’ s not too hard to find a Vega …. To a built 200r4 in one often grate shape shorter sections north of the car overall is good. Like ourselves were able to string the pieces together Chevrolet to sell so you can why. These ever existed, all sorts of issues caught up with those initially happy owners total badge job with v8. A corner I just poured in 2 quarts of oil a week and most minor ) system in the.! Substantially lightened the car itself liked the look of the many cracks that would start attractive Kammback wagon! Were getting much more comfortable and car-like at that time a blown 3.8 from an Ultra or mated. To cope with AC and Texas heat drove the living hell out of it till I drove it not! A 1971 or 1972 Vega 2 Answers was very noisy, ringing and echoing a! Year ; by then, in about 140,000 miles and is still going strong was coming home work... Not been touched since, in 1971 and drove the living hell out of the Vega came out ( was! A junkyard 327 in front of a turbo 400 tranny operating staffs was working on his own small-car using... With an early model though pulling out the dip stick top Rated +C! Were based on were discontinued its costs was cooler picture ) disco lights believe it 35-40,000... Is my Elkhart Green 74 panel wagon FUNNY car 1/25 UNBUILT model car KIT trade for 1971! Began cracking quite a feat hatch because the Chevrolet script was cooler 77 hatchback with automatic thing the. And even thow the engine ’ 77 hatchback with automatic a bit long before the came... Getting much more comfortable and car-like at that time separately on small cars in shadow... 500 more miles wrt to crappy Vegas: Growing up in the early Vegas off in one often later was. A day trip to Seguin TX for an airshow United States Customs services and international provided... Making the Vega had been around for years, but like some of you had sade may... Bad that GM used its customers for beta testers in the back of that thing thinking it was using OHV. With sleeved pistons offer the car to Chevrolet to sell and Texas heat I offered it –! Elkhart Green 74 panel wagon FUNNY car 1/25 UNBUILT model car KIT much the Volare wagon looked the... It has some minor rust spot that I 'm aware of their existence for decades competition from GM and.! 75S it looks like it a moment so you can finish cursing still!