If The Chevrolet Vega Could Talk - "People remember me either with love or hate but I'm remembered!"
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ธ.ค. 2024
- Although it's been over half a century that the Chevrolet Vega was first introduced, there were over 2 million cars produced in it's 7 year run! Today enthusiasts are smitten with nostalgia and a Vega is again a very popular car, especially with hotrodders and drag racers! Listen as Tom gives you a brief history of these sub-compact cars.
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#chevrolet #vega #cosworth
Thanks for watching the video If The Chevrolet Vega Could Talk
My favorite Vega memory is this video
Thanks for watching Steve and for leaving such a great comment! We really appreciate it and are so glad you enjoyed the video.
I have a 1976 Kammback with wood panels. Runs beautifully. Rested for 36 years in a barn. All original. When I drive it around I get the same comments as these comments.
Good for you! So glad to hear you are enjoying your Kammback. Keep ignoring all the negative and having fun with your very unique ride! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I was born in '76. I had a toy of the wagon, it was one of my favorites. I remember seeing and loving Vegas as a little boy. Still do!
Right on! Love those memories!
The best thing about Vegas is how they shipped them in their own special railroad cars designed just for them.
That's a cool fact! Thanks for watching! Keep it up!
In 1974, I bought a 73 Vega for $2300.00 It got 35MPG and I had it up to 137MPH drafting an International TravelAll. It lasted two years and 50K miles. The rear hatch flipped over the roof when the hinges rusted out. Driving in the rain, I'd get a shower from water coming in under the windshield. A love bug would rot a hole through the hood in a week. I burned a quart of oil between fill-ups. It was a good-driving car, and my 5-speed was very peppy and responsive when I first got it. Had GM used cylinder sleeves and a different primer, there would still be Vegas on the street. I had a bronze paint job with a wide stripe down the sides and across the hatch and the car was very good looking.
Wow, thanks for sharing such a fun memory of your Vega!
IT WOULD SAY, "I SHOULD HAVE HAD A V-8"❣️😜
I drove a white '74 Chevy Vega Kammback for 13 years. Went thru 3 engines.
The title of your video gave me a chill because in 1982 I composed "Old Vega Talk":
LYRICS:
I've got this feeling that you don't even care
You've got this notion that I'm not even there
Is it the mileage that has got you down
Or that knockin' in the engine that is makin' that sound?
I wash your windows and I shine up your hood
I change your spark plugs like a good driver should
I check your brakes and take care of your clutch
Just get me to work, is that asking too much?
CHORUS:
Can my Old Vega Talk?
Or will I have to walk?
Before my fender gets crushed.
The radiator needs to be flushed.
Don't laugh it's paid for and my other car's a Porche
I don't need a taxi, bus, or a fast racing horse.
But if there is one thing that just makes me grieve
It's Chevy's worst engine with the aluminum sleeve.
I still got to say that my car is still loyal
Even though I know it eats and burns the Penzoil
I thank the Lord it has got me this far
But I'll thank Him just the same for a brand new car.
Repeat Chorus.
That is very possibly the best comment on our Vega story! Is it cool with you if I share it? It amazes me that the Vega can evoke such strong emotions in so many people for so many different reasons! Thanks for watching and sharing your story through your song!
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk Thank you, and of course you may share it.
I'll keep looking for the 40-year old master tape in the basement.
This car, unlike my Saturn, Civic or Dodge Dart, was worthy of a song.
Old Vega Talk has now been posted thanks to your video: th-cam.com/video/kAS78cZI8cw/w-d-xo.html
Had 2 '73 GT'S . 1 hatchback, 1 wagon. They were so easy to care for and fun to drive. Bith were 4 speeds. I also owned, and still have a '73 Camaro Z-28. The interiors of the fastback and the Z-28 were identical rught down to the instrument cluster! I believe someone at Chevrolet even called them "narrow Camaros". I loved those cars si much. I cannot relate to all the negative remarks and press. They were masterfully styled and beautiful. I wish I could own another one. A friend of mine put an Olds aluminum v8 in one! Fantastic conversion. Sounded like and ran like a Ferrarri! I miss mine so much.
Thanks for watching and for the great comment, Jim! It's nice to hear such a happy memory with these cars. Hope you are now a subscriber for more fun! Hey, I'll bet you can pick up another one to play with!
I still have my 1977 Vega wagon with a 350 V8 under the hood and a more modern 4 speed automatic overdrive transmission. I stay on top of it's tendency to rust. It does have new twin Cherry Bomb mufflers. Weighs in at 1900 pounds and will FLY down the road.Getting those 13 inch tires is a chore, very hard to find decent tires. I have installed LED lights to replace every light in and on the car. Kept my old in dash Pioneer cassette deck after installed new belts. Very comfortable for this 1 legged hillbilly to drive and gets damned good mileage. A real Sleeper car. It's parked in the garage next to a 1961 Dodge Dart Police cruiser.(My late father's car that I restored.)
That is so cool! Thanks for sharing your memories and it is awesome that you still have the wagon and the Dart! We would love to do a feature on those two rides! Thanks for watching!
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk I won this car in a poker game with my now ex brother in law. Drove it until that god awful 4 banger gave out, then dropped a 350 into it from a junked out 71 Chevy pickup. The transmission got changed in 2010, again from another junked out total wreck.
My daily driver, a 1999 Ford Ranger XLT, was built from wrecks and cost a grand total of $500. It's has the 2.5 4 cylinder, modified to run on gasoline or hydrogen(or both). Runs like a scalded dog. I can't afford $50,000 + for a decent pickup. I live on Social Security since I lost my right leg in 2015. I make do with what is available.
Just in case you are wondering, I spend these winter months repairing computers. Been doing that for over 40 years.
I had one back then, never any issues or whatsoever! Sure wish they made cars like them now! Sure wish that I still had it! Was a great car!!!
Right on! Thanks for watching and sharing your memory! Hope you are a subscriber. Keep watching!
I am 43 now, but as a child growing up in the ealy 80's I remember my father turning his vega into a dragster. He finished it.. and it was cherry.. then sold it for an 1986 ford aero star.. haha! Family life.
LOL! I hope you he took the family drag racing in the mini van! Bet that Vega made a great dragster! Thanks for watching and for sharing your great memory!
I had 2 Vegas while working as a young school teacher with 2 young kids. The 73 had a 4 speed manual and the 74 notchback had the 3 speed manual (trying to get a bit more mileage with manual trans). As I remember, both were about $2300ish. Both engines were ok about oil consumption and neither engine failed due to overheating. They were within our meager budget and returned high 20's mpg. They both were traded after roughly five years with little rust and we moved on. In 2022, we drive a Corolla which has been almost bullet proof with almost a quarter million miles and always give me and my wife 34 odd mpg.
Thanks for watching Joe! That is a great memory to share about your history with the Vega! Can't beat those Toyotas for sure!
My uncle, a GM employee and super long GM car owner , had a wagon that was using a quart of oil in under 100 miles. He asked me what my thoughts were. I said a Pinto - which he then bought. The Vega was one of the few quick rust out cars where engine failure happened earlier.
I remember that I was ecstatic that my 74 Vega made it to 44,000 miles before it blew up and died.
HAHA! Great memory! Thanks for watching and sharing!
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk My last memory of that rusty clunker was showing it to the Toyota dealer when I was trading it in for a new Corolla. As we stood there looking at it and talking, the driver's side rear tire flattened. We both had a good laugh, and I've driven Toyotas for the rest of my life. The '78 I bought lasted 359,000 miles, and could have gone more if it wasn't totaled by a Suburban.
Years back a friend and I spent three months in a Vega going across country. We started in LA up the coast to San Francisco then to the Redwood Forest to Oregon Caves. Then thru Spokane WA to Idaho then north thru Eastport to Canada. East along Tran-Can to Maine, south thru Salem--Bosten--NYC--Phila--Washington--Skyline Dr to Blue Ridge Route--Alanta GA "Stone Mountain"--Jackson and St Augustine Fl. Then to Disneyworld to Miami and Key-West. Back north to Tallahassee "Florida Caves" to Mobile AL "USS Alamba"--New Orleans--to Houston then San Antonio. Then on to Carlsbad Caverns "great place"--El Paso--Grand Canyon--Hoover Dam--Vegas then HOME. All in a Vega with no problems... Amazing
Wow, Mike! That is, not only one of the best Vega stories ever, but one of the best travel stories ever! Thanks for watching and sharing your awesome memories with us! Hope you are a now a subscriber and check out more of our features!
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk Just subscribed. Sorry about the long comment... The Vega was a wagon so we slept in the car at truck stops, police parking lots or drove off the road and hid in the trees---but in DC we snuck in the underground parking of the Howard Johnson's hotel for a few days and even used the pool. Most of our fine dining was right from a can, my favorite was Chef Boyardee spaghettiO's . Have a great day....
Wow again....thanks for sharing and subscribing!
My grandfather had a wagon in the late 70's, he gave it to my father in the early 80's. His mechanic suggested he get ride of it.
I git a 75 vega for my graduation gift it was used from my older cousin she got a newer car lol 😆 I loved it
Nice to hear a happy story this morning! Thanks for watching and hope you are now a subscriber!
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk yes sir thanks man look forward to good truth my uncle Earl worked in lordstown Ohio plant and lived in Atwater Ohio he got a new gm every 2 yrs lol 😆
cool little cars
Thanks James! Appreciate all your comments!
My dad had a Vega wagon with V8 power back in the day. I was just a wee lad, but recall he really liked that car. The red Vega wagon you featured is a badass ride!
Thanks for watching and sharing your memory! Glad you liked the wagon, too! Keep watching.
I loved my first little car, A second hand 1972 Vega hatchback! I was in high school and worked part time. What made it even better was a small block Buick (232, 238?) 6 cylinder dropped in and boy did it scream! I could finally start from a stop without turning the air conditioning off.💖
LOL! That is a great memory!! Thanks for watching and sharing! Hope you subscribe and enjoy all the cool car stories you can!
vegas are so cool i think they are what they are
Thanks James. We agree and appreciate you watching and commenting!
Best hotrod ever
One never forgets their first so I'll never forget my Cranberry Red 1972 Hatchback model that I inherited from my Dad. I kept it alive by foraging though the North Jersey "boneyards" seeking what ever thingamabob (sheet metal or otherwise) the vehicle was crying for that week.
While "shopping" one day I stumbled across a t-boned 1973 Pontiac Astre. (The Pontiac Astre was the counterpart of the Vega and was released in 1973 in Canada. It eventually made its way to the US in 1975) The damaged hulk still had it's Pontiac split front grill, chrome headlight/taillight housings, badges, and wheel rims in tact which I promptly emptied my wallet for. It made the plain vanilla Chevrolet look unique. To further muddy the waters I slapped the "Type-LT" badges on the fenders from a '74 Camaro. The car was a little under a decade old and folks in the neighborhood we're congratulating me on the "new car" even though it was the same machine that they had seen for years.
That little Chevrolet was my ticket into the shade tree mechanic " fraternity and taught me much on how to care for a vehicle and detect its ills. It had a myriad of issues, was always flying apart at the seems but I wouldn't have traded it for a Camaro or Corvette. Eventually after it gave me a few more years the car succumbed to rust , and was laid to rest in a boneyard in Northwest NJ. I still have those chrome pieces however and the car's original badges. If mine could talk it would say, " thanks for believing in me, even though I didn't at times deserve it. " Still miss that little beast and wish it was sitting in my driveway.
When I was a teenager, I bought my first 1972 Chevy Vega GT hatch back. The handling was awesome. I loved the cars so much that before I was through I had owned 3...
The only thing I didn't like was the stock 2.3 engine. It only took one incident of over heating to ruin those engines.
I bought my first 72 Vega in 1980. At that time you could get a good running Vega for under $1000. I got mine for $600. And later bought one with a warped head for $100... I built a V6 I pulled from a wrecking yard and I put it in that one. Then I sold my first Vega for $800...
That V6 Vega was so much fun that several years later I built a V8 Vega...
Now days those cars are very hard to find though.
BTW... The Vega never came with the rear suspension you showed earlier in this video...
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Sounds like you sure had a lot of fun with your Vega cars! Hope you're still cruising in one today! Thanks for watching and for sharing your fun memories! Hope you're a subscriber!
If the Chevy Vega could talk it would say,"Tell GM to put four steel sleeves in my engine."
Then the entire history of the Vega would have been different.
LOL! You're probably right, Phil! Thanks for watching and for the great comment!
I had a stock Vega engine Sleeved and got 100k miles out of it.
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk It was definitely an engineering experiment to go with the etched high silicon aluminum block, but an experiment that did not pan out well. I'm not even sure how that was supposed to work in principle, let alone practice, for bits of silicon would be bound to come loose with aging, wear and thermal cycling, and loose grit in a cylinder isn't fun.
Had mine sleeved after 45K -- gave me more HP -- I had to add hotter spark plugs and wires, 40K volt Coil. Already had the 2 BBL Holley - would beat out Porsches in the corners -- drivers were NOT happy
I had a '76 which had the steel sleeves. Car was still junk, alway broken and still rusted, just not as bad as the early years, Workmanship was horrible. It was "Vega by GM" not Chevrolet.
I rebuilt a vega in the mid 80s, a 4 speed manual got it for 200 bucks, it was burning oil but had no rust, I pulled the engine got the block sleeved milled and ported the head, not cost much back then, got the paint in good shape and a good detail , it was a great carhad a lot of power handled well, if only GM would have made them that way
Very true. Thanks for watching and sharing your memories! Please keep watching!
I had a 1973 Vega notch back. With three speed manual transmission. I never had a problem with it.
Thanks for watching one of our older historical features. Tons of people loved the Vega. Thanks for sharing your memory.
My first car I paid for was a 77 kamp back. It had a custom paint job. Dark brown, metal flake. Cosworth engine. Manual. It looked brand new when I drove it home!!!!! 4 years later, the timing belt broke.....locked the block up!!!! Young man who couldn't afford to fix he's own car !!!! Sad loss.
Thanks for watching and sharing your great memory! Did you see our feature on the Little Red Wagon Vega right before this one? Your car sounds like a really fun ride. Maybe you can get another one? Appreciate the comment!
Vega is a good looking car. Too bad they weren't built better.
Yep! Thanks for the comment, David! Welcome to our ITCCT family.
Have a memory of a fellow worker stationed at Nellis AFB , LAS VEGAS. Owned a Vegw wagon and the cable that moves the clutch had broke and the only gear he had was 2nd. Watched him driving slow , in a circle, in a 7 11 parking lot while his wife was getting milk. The wife came out and timed getting back into tue car was perfect. A few days later the car was gone and was driving a 3/4 quarter ton pickup GMC. Stick shift. He owned land in Idaho and was planning a trip to his land. Decided to change the oil and drained the oil. He pulled two drain plugs......Filled the engine with oil and went on his trip. He made up and back to Vegas when his " tranny" siezed up. He had drained the tranny, not thinking..
Oops....what a great and "funny" memory Robert! Thanks for watching and sharing!
I remember in junior high, back in the late 70's, after school on a snowy day "Bumper Sliding" (look it up!...it was a thing back them in the midwest in the winter). At the nearby intersection, a bright yellow Vega pulled up and stopped. I snuck down behind it and grabbed the lower bumper. When the Vega took off, I was left crouched down holding part of the car in my hands! Needless to say the car was NOT made very well!
I can just picture that adventure! LOL! thanks for watching and sharing your memory!
If they could talk, Vega, Pacer, and Gremlin would be singing 🎶”Scrap Me Now”🎶 in three part harmony.
LOL! But - don't scrap just rebuild better as a cool ride!
I had a couple of 1972 Vega GTs, a 1975 Vega GT, a 1977 Monza (305 V8) and a Astre that I put the 1980 Monza V6 drivetrain in.
Alright! Love a Vega man! Thanks!
had a Vega gt hatchback. British racing green with a tan interior. stick shift. loved it! JDR
Very nice! These little cars really had a lot of people who loved them! Thanks for watching and sharing your memory Jim!
Good article. My first car was a Vega.
Very cool! Thanks for watching and commenting!
One virtue was that it was easy to work under the hood, which was good because (used '75 wagon) it was always having things to work on. But it was practice for mechanical stuff and hacking around.
Agreed! Thanks for pointing out that positive!
I had a brand new Vega in 1974, It was a very reliable car, never gave me any problems whatsoever, although I’m sure it’s In Chevy heaven now , by some miracle it’s still out there I would love to have it back
Thanks for watching and commenting David! We appreciate you sharing your fond memory and we'll keep our fingers crossed that you find your old Chevy alive and well someday!
I took the turbocharged Vega to the drop strip and was able to pull off a 17 second quarter mile.
Very cool!
I always wanted a vega my mom had a 76 yellow with black interior miss that car
It's never too late, Dee! Thanks for watching and sharing your memory!
@If This Car Could Talk I appreciate that and youre welcome
If the 75 Vega was finally reliable it would have been a success, if that had been the first model introduced, but five years of models before cemented its reputation.
Good point, Steve! Thanks for watching and commenting!
The 1974 kamback wagon with the woodgrain panels was given to me on my 16th birthday in 1976. The wagon was good for camping and carrying my stuff back and forth from home to college. I added gold tinted windows which made it cooler in the summer and private for making out in the back with my girlfriend. I added a 115v inverter and a pioneer home stereo in the back with 8" bookshelf speakers that sounded fantastic! My girlfriend also had a 1971 hatch back. It was cool cruising around together in our little Vegas. Mine had a bad cylinder that burned oil and required a valve job at 60000 miles. The original hone marks were still visible so the most likely problems was the rings were wearing down before the cylinder. The alunimum cylinders were imbeded with a hard diamond like compound. I did use Arco graphite in the engine which let me get around 93000 miles before the rear axle strut broke loose. Fortunately I was able to drive to the repair shop to have it rewelded. Never felt confident to drive on the highway after that and sold it in 1984 to a college couple who was happy to have a car around the campus for $400.
I recollection, I had lots of fun doing donuts in the snow,going on double dates,camping,skiing,looking at the stars in remote areas with my celestron c8 telescope,going to the beach and getting me to college and work. In retrospect, my little vega wagon was a pretty reliable first car.
Awesome memories with your little Vega wagons! Thanks for watching and sharing with us! So many people have great memories and stories to go with their Vega! Certainly, for whatever reason, good or bad, they invoke more stories than most cars. Thanks!
great video, you have given so much info on this.
That is so nice to hear...thankyou! We just wanted to share the info. The Vega is one of those cars that has an interesting history whether folks had a good experience with one or not. Thanks for watching and commenting!
That millionth Vega wound up in my home town of Palmerton Pa
Have you seen it? It would be so cool to know it has been preserved. Thanks Harry!
Ahhh, imagine a 2023 Chevrolet Vega II. 😆
Hopefully they would put a little more effort into it - ;-) Thanks for watching and for the comment!
3:52. Very interesting to see the Vega conceived as a baby colonnade-style ‘73 Buick Century, and perhaps shades of mini-Monte Carlo of early 70s. Of course they ended up with junior 2nd Gen Camaro styling. Was a shame when they dropped that early Vega look, and then bulky bumpers boogered up practically every American car design.
Thanks for watching and leaving this great comment! We agree with your assessment and yes, with those new crash test standards - those big ugly bumpers really hurt car designs!
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk You’re welcome. Came here from the Coffee Walk Shelby ep and subbed.
Welcome aboard!
I had a 1973 Kamback GT...Dunno if the 'likes' outweigh the 'dislikes'.
Today we think the "likes" have an advantage just due to the many ways of customizing that are possible. Thanks for watching Jerry!
I took my driver's test in my aunt's Vega, because it was small compared to my parent's Impalas
My dad had a 74 with a 305 in it. Scary fast but I loved it. Good times. I was àbout 8 or 9.
Thanks for sharing your fun memory with us Randy! We appreciate you watching and hope you subscribed for more fun!
I was fortunate and blessed. My first car was a brand new '75 Vega. Subsequently, I had six more. None had engine issues. I did make sure fluids were topped off and changed earlier than scheduled. No rust and no engine issues. Great styling and it was pleasing to look at. I miss that car.
Thanks for sharing your very happy Vega memories! We appreciate you and hope you are a subscriber for more fun content! Share with everyone, too! Thanks so much for watching!
IN 1977 my father bought a 1973 Vega with the 4 speed manual for $75.00 in a auction. He gave it to me a young airman in the Air Force. It made it ten miles for me and the shift linkage bound up. I get under the car and free up the shift linkage and return the car to my father and went to the local Plymouth dealer and bought a used 1974 Plymouth Duster.
I then repaired the Vega and it was used by father for the next 3 years as a bomb around car. You never followed that car very close as it would literally drop bits and pieces of rust decayed parts on the road behind. After about three years the car started to be a automatic mosquito fogger as it was going through a quart of oil every 50 miles and my father took the car to junkyard.
LOL ! Well, heard those stories before so you were not alone. Hope the Duster worked out well. Thanks for sharing your great memory!
It sounds like the exact same car my father bought brand new in 1973.
My reverse linkage rod got stuck. Went out and installed a case hardened Hurst Linkage -- great replacement.-
yes a duster was a better car, the old 4 speed GM transmissions were not bad, but if the linkage had any slop you had to make sure you took it out of the gear you were in before picking a new one, or it would lock up, not hard when you got used to it
My best friend bought a 72 Vega in 75. He then dropped a Chevy 283 in it, added a Holley and a bigger rad, and kept it as a sleeper. The only way you could tell it wasn't stock was the dual exhausts. There were a lot of shocked Mustang and Camaro drivers when that little Vega blew their doors off.
LOL - Would have loved to see the look an their faces!
In my case the 283 added to the 4 speed made short work of the diff .
Took my drivers test in a kammback Owned a 71 Vega had no issues, later upgraded it with a V8
Yep, bet it was pretty cool with that V8 upgrade and even more fun to drive! Thanks for the great memory and comment!
I had a 74 Vega with a Turbo Hydra 250 automatic transmission. Rust everywhere. Replaced starter two dozen times. Overheated constantly. Replaced fuel pump four times (inside the gas tank). It was down six months out of the year. Weber carburetor leaked gasoline. Sharp metal in the seats burrowing into the lower back. Replaced the engine but it seized a year later. This is the stuff that comes to mind, but I still love that car! Put in a 5 speed transmission and a small block V-6, and I would drive it today!!
That's great and we really appreciate you sharing your memories with us! Thanks for watching!
In the early 80s I owned a Spirit of America Vega I bought it for 5o dollars it was totally rusted out and the motor was frozen .I took the complete white interior out and put it into my 1975 Vega the interior was spotless I droe that car until the late 80s until the car was totaled in an accident
I don't recall ever seeing one of those Spirit of America Vegas! Bet it looked cool, except for the rust, haha. Thanks for watching and for the fun comment!
I I LOVED all my VEGAS. Had good luck with them .f. the hatters.
LOL! Love this comment, Chris! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching! Hope you subscribed!
Me too!
3:17 center column, sixth line up from the bottom italicized "without a single major problem".
I would classify a broken timing belt, which would certainly have disabled the vehicle and left its occupants stranded in Death Valley in the summer without air conditioning as something more than a paint chip.
Well, that's advertising for you. Thanks for watching.
So sad, cuz the intial Vega was one of the best looking economy cars ever built!!!
Agreed. Thanks for the comment!
Much better looking than the Monza.
I miss my 73 GT with hopped-up 200 V6 awfully bad.
Thanks for watching James and for the great comment! Your 73 sounds like it was a lot of fun!
If the Chevy Vega is to be remembered, it's to be remembered as the car Chevy should have NEVER built.
Maybe so but they do have a following - mostly of hot rodders - who have a lot of fun with them after some modifications! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment!
My parents bought a new 74 Vega Gt orange w/black stripe black vinyl interior ordered with full gauge package A/C am/fm radio sport mirrors bumper impact strips automatic transmission They bought it from Sondag Chevrolet in DesPlaines Illinois a northwest suburb of Chicago they did their best to maintain that car but it was high maintenance by the fifth year it was a rust bucket even with the Ziebart rust treatment and it took a lot of oil to keep it going I think they actually squeezed 92 thousand miles out of that little car many many tuneups & brake jobs & batteries & exhausts & tires and patched up body work god only knows how much oil & gas & light bulbs & fuses & altrernators and A/C compressors and a gas tank & hoses & belts & spark plugs for what they spent on a cheap little economy car they could have had a new Lincoln or Cadillac maybe twice for crying out loud
Like many a story from other owners. People have had both good and bad experiences with this little Chevy. Thanks for sharing your memories with us!
BRING BACK THE 262ci V8 CHEVY VEGA !!
...
Oh wait,... I did that .
Never mind .
Forget I was here .
LMAO! Thanks Kenneth!
I loved the Vega!! It was my first car. I of course put a V8 in it. And many others. They are such a cute little car and the panel wagon was my favorite with the hatchback next. I hope I can find part one. I ended up having almost 50 Vegas. From 283sb up to 482bbc. Sure do like um even though they rust and the stock engine was not that good. Oh I did also put a Buick V6 in one also. Wow what memories!!! Thank you and God bless
Right on! Thanks for watching and sharing your Vega memories!
they need a can am kit too
That would be cool!
Miss my astre woody wagon with black corduroy interior and roo l11 engine
Sounds like a cool wagon John! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! Keep watching for more cool stuff!
I remember how badly I wanted a Vega in high school.
Oh ya! I remember how badly I wanted an AMC Pacer! Memories of the old days. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Bought a 1974 GT Wagon with 4 speed in January 1974, my first car. Gradually things broke (and more than once). The car had a system where the fuel pump would turn off when the oil pressure was low. The oil light would come on and the car would stop in about a block. I kept a case of oil in the back and would throw two quarts in and the car would start back up. The motor finally gave way at 66,000 miles. The body was rusting bad at that time, too. What a P.O.S.
Unfortunately, this is not an unusual case and sorry to hear of your frustration with your first car. Thanks for watching and commenting! Hopefully you are a subscriber now and found some stories that will bring you good memories!
I purchased a 74 hatchback in June of 74. It had A/C and a 4 speed. The A/c worked great at night but couldn't keep up with the glass area and sun. I had the car for 18 months and traded it for a special order 76 Nova SS. The main reason for getting rid of it was it was like a 2 cycle outboard. Every time you filled the gas you had to add oil!
Interesting info about the a/c. Fun memories! Still have the Nova? Thanks for sharing!
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk The Nova I sold in November 1985 for $200 less than I paid for it. It would be nice if I still had it but you can't hold on to everything.
ya any car with massive amounts glass can severely curtail your A/C, moon roofs are notorious for that, on a hot day you would be amazed the difference a covered and uncovered moon roof makes. and leaks dont get me started, not much but two tiny holes keeping the wet out of your vehicle, sounds like a warped head Americans could not make an aluminum engine at that time
My '71 wagon was perfect for me. Mustard colored, 2-speed automatic, I bought it for $700, drove it all the way to my marriage, sold it for $900. I used to take it deer hunting, laid the back seats down for the perfect sleeper in a perfect snowstorm.
Wow, that is a very cool memory! Thanks for watching and sharing. Haven't heard about anyone going hunting with one!
I had a 73 vega wagon 4 speed from 75 to 77 . I liked it's looks and practicality . It was noisy and slow and very poorly made . It's fuel milage was ok for the time , but not great . The engine quit at 46000 miles , it was also rusting . Later on I had a 76 Datsun 710 , full of rust but much more dependable, and considerably more power .
Thanks for watching and sharing your memories! SO many people had a Vega and you rarely see them as survivors due to all the issues!
I had a green 72 Kammback. I loved that car. Always started after sitting a week in sub zero weather in Burlinton VT. UVM student. I drove it straight through to Ft. Lauderdale FL and back. It ran fine, but...19 quarts of oil used. Every 150 miles it needed a quart. It got 28 mpg. I never had an issue with the stick shift.
GM fixed it on warranty, and then 1,000 miles/quart. Acceptable.
That's hilarious! It's great how all you have is great and fond memories of that car though! Thanks for watching and for the great comment!
At least most people have fond memories of the Vega while it ran, including me! I bought a kamback with a blown engine with less than 40k for $200.00, still in great shape. Dropped in a motor I traded for, and had a great time in in for a few years. But yeah, the guy I sold it to ended up having to add a quart every 100 miles.
LOL! Thanks for watching and for the great comment!
The problem with the vega was people were used to big powerful cars and the vega wasn't. In the 70's the four cylinder technology wasn't developed yet so the car was underpowered. If they had offered it with a v6 it would have done much better.
Good point Julian. Thanks for watching and keep it up! Lots to love here!
Vegas did 0-60 mph in 14-17 seconds depending on transmission - same as American compact and intermediate cars with 6 cylinder engines, and faster than the most popular small car at the time: the VW Beetle.
My Grandma drove a 1973 Vega hatchback. I remember the road trips in that car going to visit her mother for long weekends. I miss the 70's.
Another awesome memory of those fun little cars. I feel you my friend - I really miss the 70's too! Thanks!
I miss the 70s to
Love the history!!
Thanks, so do we! Appreciate the comment!
What about it's sister car, the Pontiac Astre? I have a '75 Astre with the usual mods, small block V-8, 700R4 trans and posi!
Thanks for watching George! Your Astre sounds very cool! Can't be very many of those around? Appreciate your comment!
I had one
My experience with the Vega was my crazy stepfather screaming like a lunatic because us kids got mud on his Presious Vega back seat. this guy was insane in so many other ways not just in his classic Vega obsession, he had reupholstered the entire interior in white leather go figure three kindergarten children might mess it up going to baseball practice, what was the freak thinking? He wasn't, he was a moron obsessed with holding onto his failed youth. even his biological children thought he was an idiot caring more for that damned car than getting off his ass and being a part of his family's life. so, as you can see, I don't have many loving memories of this car, don't get me wrong as an adult I think now that the Vega was one of the better cars American Auto industries put out in that sucky era.
On my, Jason...so sorry to hear about your youngster experiences with a Vega but very glad you watched this feature anyway. It sometimes amazes me how our memories from long ago can come flooding back when we see or hear something today. Best wishes to you and hope you find another feature video on here that will bring back wonderful memories for you!
My first car was a 1972 Vega. The previous owner had put a competition clutch and hurst shifter on it ..he raced it. It was yellow with a black stripe. I had a super great fun with the car until than darn aluminum block engine caught fire on my way home from my freshmen year in college. It couldn’t be salvaged and was totaled with only 50 K miles….
Wow....what a mixture of memories for you with your Vega! Glad you mostly had fun with it! Thanks for watching and for the fun comment! Hope you subscribed!
Hi from England. Although we have many enthusiastic owners and clubs for US cars over here I don't think I've ever encountered a Vega. Probably because small compact US cars are not particularly desirable compared to the homegrown products. Unfortunately this car highlights general motors muddled thinking in the sixties and seventies as there were proven engines of this size being produced in Europe by Opel and Vauxhall that would have been far more reliable than the aluminium block Chevy were using. Ford on the other hand used the German ohc engine in the pinto which whilst not exactly refined was generally reliable apart from worn camshafts and would hit 100k without too much drama. This policy also saved a ton of money with development costs. Incidentally the chevette, of which we had our own version was probably the car that kept GM afloat in England as it sold like hotcakes.
Hello Robert! Great to hear from you again! That is a very interesting take on the Chevy Vega and the options overseas! That little car invoked the strongest feelings from our followers, both good and bad and has the most comments by far! Hope you are all doing well across the pond! Thank you for your comment and support!
I had a Pinto wagon with the German 2 liter engine, cam notwithstanding (easy fix) that little engine was tough.
My uncle had a black Vega wagon he put a 350 V8 in- it was the thing to do. 😊
That's right, Norm. That was a great car to have some fun with! Thanks for sharing your memory and for the great comment!
Contrary to popular belief the chevette was actually one of the best cars GM ever built.
I had a 83 Chevette and that thing would never start in the summer and always started fine in the winter
It was a good replacement for the Vega, especially for the time. Thanks for the comment!
LOL - well, probably kept the mileage low then. Thanks for the comment!
I owned three Vegas. My main car was a '74 Spirit of America. I had a '76 GT that was rusted out. and a '73 with the original aluminum bore block and an Opel 4 speed. The Spirit had a backfire without the air cleaner assembly and the resulting fire wrecked most of the wiring and plastic in the engine compartment. The Rusted 76 had a rear swing arm pivot rust out and I had to use it as a parts car. The 73' needed a front end clip and engine and the '74 got all of the GT parts such as the dash, manifold & carb, Plastic, Air cleaner and A/c. I drove the 74' for eight years on the steel sleeved engine and never needed to open it up. The '73 drove for many years without issue. I sold both of them running at some point. The best part of the '73 was that front grille (which was wrecked when I bought it) . The Opel gearbox had a reverse gate shaft break on the spline(I had to weld it). The '74 post-fire was a fantastic car. I loved that ugly little white car with the blue vinyl roof.
Thanks for watching Guy and for leaving a comment about your Vega memories! It's sure nice to hear what great times (mostly) you had with yours and would have loved to see that '74! Hope you are now a subscriber!
I did have a 72 Vega I was very young 350 conversation .
.
Thanks for watching Scott! Hope you have great memories of your 72 Vega!
I remember the Chevrolet Vega too when growing up
Hopefully good memories! Thanks for the comment! Hope you subscribed for more fun!
Back in 79 there was a blizzard that rolled through Illinois my Dad decided for some reason to turn his 74 Vega around in the front lawn and got it stuck and it's that there till the snow thawed
Well, hopefully it started right up and off the lawn then! Thanks for sharing such a fun family Vega memory!
You know what doesn't make sense? GM had a division which was expert at making mid-size and small size cars and that division was Australia's GM Holden. Holden engineers put together various presentations of how the "HQ" model Holden and "LJ" Torana would suit the America market. Both cars were seriously considered. They had been engineered so that they could be built in LHD and Australia's RHD. The engine bay in the HQ could accommodate Holden's straight 6 or any Chevy engine required. The LJ could take any engine, including many OPEL four cylinder units. Both cars were extremely strong (built to take Australia's outback roads) and would have suited the US market.
The problem was that Chevy's engineering department baulked at having their Aussie upstart sibling providing anything at all to the US parent company. So instead of adopting a tried and true design Chevy struck out on their own because of prejudice against the Aussie product. Fair enough...their call but I find it ironic that the Holden's would finally be imported into the US as Pontiac G8s and later as Chevy SS.
Thanks for all that added information! Very interesting side of the story that is probably mostly unheard in the US. We really appreciate your awesome comment! Thanks for watching and being part of our ITCCT family!
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk If Chevy had gone with the Holden proposal this is what you would have received...
th-cam.com/video/7HgmAz8Y0b4/w-d-xo.html
Owned a '73 Estate wagon. At precisely 35K miles, the rings failed, resulting in 1 qt per thousand miles in oil consumption. As it was "out of warranty", Chevrolet was not interested in assisting with the problem.
That's a bummer of a story, Jim but thanks for sharing.
My dad was a mechanic. Your 1 qt/thousand miles was lucky. Many consumed much more than that. The failure rate of the pre 1976 engines was very high. They’d overheat, blow head gaskets, score the aluminum cylinder walls, and drink oil. The solution was to rebuild them by having a machine shop install steel cylinder sleeves. I think the 1976 engines came like that from the factory. That’s why they lasted longer. But the fragility of the early engines ruined the reputation. They actually handled pretty well… until the front springs started to sag (another common issue).
My parents bought a 76 GT wagon.
It was a 4 spd with A/C and it was in the family for 22 years and 170k miles.
When it was new it was Ziebarted and my parents kept up with inspections and touched up paint chips and scratches.
They were meticulous about mechanical maintenance.
When the car was finally totaled after it was rear ended it the only rust was a quarter sized spot in the doglegs and the engine only used a 1/4 between changes.
Well said! Proper routine maintenance wins! Thanks for sharing the great memory!
I used to be a Chevrolet salesman in the 70s. I can tell you that the 76 models were vastly improved in durability, both in rust resistance and in the cooling system. The 76 & 77 Vegas were longer lived than a great many small cars of that time. -and they always got outstanding fuel economy. The car magazines used to note that in their big econo-comparisons, with 5 or 6 competing cars.
had a 73 GT
Find another one and do it up the way you talk about!
My friend and landlord had vega's both had to have engine work before warranty expired,Chevys lemon of the 70's.
A common experience, for sure. At least it was before the warranty expired! Thanks for sharing your memory!
I remember seeing Vega after Vega with huge rust holes in the body. Aled to the rust was the pall of oil burning smoke many trailed behind them. The Vega was nicer looking than the Ointo but neither car was worth a fig.
Had a 76 Vega purchased in 78. It had a 60,000 mile engine warranty from the factory. From about 40,000 miles on it was a wretched vehicle. I moved from my home state to Mi to complete my education and find work.
With about 55,000 Miles on it it was drinking oil at a ridiculous rate. So off to the Chevy dealer I went and demanded a new engine. Then I rented a car and left it at the dealer.
About two weeks later I was paid far more than I paid for it and drove off in a brand new Chevette.
About the only thing that Vega did well was provide a very nice environment to park on a hill and enjoy watching the stars…………..
Well, at least you have a funny story/memory to share! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Had a '72 Vega hatchback. Suffered overheating coming back from the beach which led to engine failure. The block got sleeved and was a decent car until I slid into an intersection in the rain and got hit from the left. That car got totaled. Found a same year Vega with a blown engine but also had a 4-speed. Swapped the motor out of the wrecked one into the newish Vega, Now, that car was fun to drive...until I popped the clutch too hard and took out the tranny and the rear end. Eventually, the overheating problem returned and it was sold for scrap. Definitely a love/hate thing for the Vega.
Wow...thanks for sharing such an awesome memory of your two Vegas! The 4spd version must have been a blast! So many people have that love/hate relationship with them! Thanks for watching and hope you are now a subscriber to watch even more fun!
I had a 1973 Vega, I loved it until it was 3years old and the top of both front fenders rotted out, the hole length of each finder, a condition called Vega fenders
Thanks for sharing your memory, Bob! We appreciate you watching! Sorry to hear about Vega Fenders...that's a term I haven't heard before. Hope you are a subscriber and find more fun features!
Yes, I remember my Vega. I loved the way it looked. The thing I hated about it was the two speed automatic. The brakes were mushy and the steering was vague.
So many people loved their Vega even with the downsides they experienced, just like you. Thanks Gerald for watching and commenting! Hope you find more cool stories you'll love!
The Vega was never sold in England but I like the proportions of the estate (“Kammback”); it reminds me of the Volvo P1800ES…
That's a good point. Thanks for watching and for the comment! Oh, and welcome to our ITCCT family from across the pond!
Got one in Dec 71 when it first came out. My 1st car ! Fastback, 3 speed & pretty green. Totaled it almost exactly a year later before it started using oil. Went to college with the money. Couldn't downshift from 2nd to 1st without coming to a stop. Made cornering in small town interesting! Other than being underpowered I loved it. Did what I needed it to do.
Thanks Dennis! So glad you watched and shared your fun memory with us! Keep watching and you'll find other features you'll enjoy!
It's too bad - the engineers did a good job on the overall design ( except for the aluminium cylinder walls), and then the bean counters ruined it.
Thanks for watching Richard and...yep!
Was getting them on the cheap, or free with like 70k. Change the head gasket and put another 70k on them.
Had my favorite parts I would keep like the power steering box, it was less than one full turn from full left to full right. And a small grant GT steering wheel.
I considered them like bic disposable lighters at the time, now want another but the price has gone up.
Also saw one of those millionth orange ones at pick and pull, and it was in better shape than mine. Dented front fender.
They handle great, I guess because of the weight distribution.
Good video, I now know they made 6500 of the one millionth one.
Great comment! Thanks for watching!
@@IfThisCarCouldTalk I remember now, I took the clock adjustment knob off of the orange one, great car. Thanx.
Aluminum block turned out to be a very bad idea.
Unfortunately for Chevy. Thanks for watching and commenting, Dennis!