I bought a new "76 hatchback with a four speed manual trans. in January of 1977 for $2500. Brown with a tan vinyl interior, am-fm radio and A/C. It was a good car for what it was.
I still have my 1975 Cosworth-Vega. I liked the segment that showed the Cosworth powered midget. I heard of them back in the day, but never saw one run. But they go off the beam when they say it's a Vega block. There actually was a race block that GM sold for racing applications that was different from the passenger car block. Still the same A390 material and etched silicon-exposed bores, but it had thicker walls and bulkheads. Race versions of the Cosworth-Vega made up to 320 HP out of 122 cubic inches with very high compression, injected on methanol. Yeah, the Vega has gone down in history as one of the worst lemons ever made, but GM made lemonade out of the basic platform. The Monza was spawned off of the Vega unibody, and the 3rd and 4th-Gen Camaros/Firebirds were scaled-up versions of it, lasting in production until 2002.
By the time this came out in 1976, the Vega ship was sunk. It didn’t matter what assurances and pronouncements or even actual improvements. Shame. A very attractive car, still.
I had 2 Vegas.. Paid $500. Each.. drove them for 2 years each . sold them rust buckets, oil burning cars for $500 each. Loved them!! Didn't owe me a dime
My buddies Vega started on fire after we parked it one afternoon! Threw sand all over the engine to put the gas fire out!!😂😂 Something leaked out of the carb or some shit and lit up!! Thats the car I was all fd up in one January night in Michigan and I got sick and it froze all over the passenger side floor and the smell never left it!!😂 I know I'm a hell of a friend 😂😂😂!!
Great story Thomas! We all need a good friend like you. I’m smiling at the thought of it. By the way, I almost bought a Vega also. My high school physics teacher said, “don’t do it “
In my city, in any 5 year period I'll probably see at least one surviving example of each of the 1960s/1970s cars I grew up with. But never a Vega, nope.
@@douglasb.1203 Agreed, they could have advertised it more. It really is a shame they couldn't make more HP with all the smog toys on it. If it had 200+ HP it would would been a great car.
@@victorboucher675 Unfortunately most cars built in the 70's were prone to corrosion. The window trim design allowed water to collect around the edges of the windows.
Yes but some people actually washed the salt and mud off the car. And did not overheat them and they did not rust and burn oil and went over one hundred thousand miles. 😁👍
Woulda Coulda Should have just used the FI Opel 1.9 engine. But self recycling (rusts itself into nothingness) feature of the car body is hard to compete with on the stupid contest.
Had friend who used and abused the Vega. They where cheap and he seemed to have a different Vega every other month. Not like one burst into flames on us. I assume that was not due to factory defect.......?? Who knows lol
Gm actually resolved the engine issues for 1976 too bad 77 was the last year...had they did it in 71. They seemed to improved the rust issues as well. All too late
Why is it that GM always puts the car out when it's not ready, and then starts to fix everything that was wrong with it year after year and maybe by the last year it's almost a fixed car. Heres.a thought, GET iit right before introduction.
@@vegavairbob Actually I drive a Hyundai Accent I did have a Ford Mustang II from 1977 as a first car and it was the last Ford I ever driven the car was crap. It was a Ghia model with a V6 engine it was so bad the next car I had being a 1981 Buick Skylark was considered a major upgrade but Jaclyn Smith drove an identical Mustang to mine in Charlie’s Angels that made having the car redeemable. She was certainly attractive
The Opel 1.9 would of fit right in ... ever notice the trans? Like the same? CIH - cam in head, lifters like the the Pont 6, BUT with a double chain, not a rubber band belt.
My Gt was quick,comfortable, and great in the snow.
I bought a new "76 hatchback with a four speed manual trans. in January of 1977 for $2500. Brown with a tan vinyl interior, am-fm radio and A/C. It was a good car for what it was.
How long did you have it?
Nice... I still have my ultra rare '77 Pontiac Astre Formula Safari Station Wagon, Iron Duke 4, T50 5 speed overdrive manual, posi rear end...
Always wanted one as my first car in 1984. The 1974 Beetle that I got with 12,000 miles on it was a better choice.
God, I've forgotten how rough brand new engines used to run in the 70's. I remember marveling at how smooth the engine in my 85 Honda ran.
Can't believe people bought new Buick V6s that ran like a V8 with 2 bad spark plugs!
Death Valley in a 76 Vega...Jesus Christ, what level of hell is that?
Yeah, what's the point? They look like they're destroying the suspension.
Wow... They really want you to know: "It doesn't suck as hard anymore!"
I miss 1970's flute music.
I can't remember the 70s ...
I still have my 1975 Cosworth-Vega.
I liked the segment that showed the Cosworth powered midget. I heard of them back in the day, but never saw one run. But they go off the beam when they say it's a Vega block. There actually was a race block that GM sold for racing applications that was different from the passenger car block. Still the same A390 material and etched silicon-exposed bores, but it had thicker walls and bulkheads. Race versions of the Cosworth-Vega made up to 320 HP out of 122 cubic inches with very high compression, injected on methanol.
Yeah, the Vega has gone down in history as one of the worst lemons ever made, but GM made lemonade out of the basic platform. The Monza was spawned off of the Vega unibody, and the 3rd and 4th-Gen Camaros/Firebirds were scaled-up versions of it, lasting in production until 2002.
I never heard of a special block my coz. Has the same block. As a standard Vega.
@@chriscatarcio2983 Yes. The production Cosworths had the standard Vega block. The racing block was in the Power Manual.
My Dad bought a 1976 Cosworth Vega brand new in early 1977. Rare white car. Serial #2812 🌞
He died years ago but I still love the Cosworth!
I still have my ultra rare '77 Pontiac Astre Formula Safari Station Wagon, Iron Duke 4, T50 5 speed overdrive manual, posi rear end, A/C, RTS...
Legendary Vega durability was only surpassed by its ability to burn oil and rust.
I owned two. Sold one. Wrecked one. Zero rust. Far better than the Ford Bomb. I mean Pinto.
By 76, they had improved rust-proofing and improved valve-seals, but by then their reputation was ruined.
@@Channelscruf not really, both were POS
The Vega looked good like a mini 2nd generation camaro they were improved by the end and arguably better than the cavalier or citation after it
@@davidpistek6241 You never see Cavaliers or Citations on the road anymore.
By the time this came out in 1976, the Vega ship was sunk. It didn’t matter what assurances and pronouncements or even actual improvements. Shame. A very attractive car, still.
Typical GM. Work out all the bugs then cancel production. Then came the ja ja ja Junk CITATION. 🤮
Guaranteed to burn oil. After installing a 400 sbc and a M-21 it was a good car.
And subframe connectors.
Yes but it probably shoved it's heavy-nose into corners instead of nimbly zooming around them.
@@MrSFSTUDIOS It wasn't made to turn with those E78-13s. 😅
@@michiganmotorsports The optional Z-29 Wheels really made it handle with 195/70R13 Radials.
A friend of mine preferred a 454. It was a fairly stealthy car -- as stealthy as a 454 in a Vega can be at least.
I had 2 Vegas.. Paid $500. Each.. drove them for 2 years each . sold them rust buckets, oil burning cars for $500 each. Loved them!! Didn't owe me a dime
Sounds like tech...the voice of the animated cartoon like chrysler master tech film host in the 60s and early 70s
Regardless of what is said , that motor was a real piece. 327 made it better.
Thank you John. Another keeper.
There was a perfectly good 153 4 cyl that would have been great in the Vega, then Pontiac designed their version called the Iron Duke- go figure!
Yes, but it would have weighed a lot more.
They installed them in MONZAS. I know IHave one. Love it. But I'm upgrading it to a 4.3 vortec v6.
153 used old 283" V8 3 7/8" pistons, 151 used the current 350" V8 4" pistons... 151 stroked to 181" for marine and postal vehicle usage...
My buddies Vega started on fire after we parked it one afternoon! Threw sand all over the engine to put the gas fire out!!😂😂 Something leaked out of the carb or some shit and lit up!! Thats the car I was all fd up in one January night in Michigan and I got sick and it froze all over the passenger side floor and the smell never left it!!😂 I know I'm a hell of a friend 😂😂😂!!
Great story Thomas! We all need a good friend like you. I’m smiling at the thought of it. By the way, I almost bought a Vega also. My high school physics teacher said, “don’t do it “
In my city, in any 5 year period I'll probably see at least one surviving example of each of the 1960s/1970s cars I grew up with. But never a Vega, nope.
What was in GM's hand was not what they told us.
GM ran an advertisement for Vega that said it all, "WE HAVE PLENTY TO HIDE."
GM didn't spend enough time on the Cosworth.
Emissions killed it and Cosworth couldn't make the Vega block hold-up to the rigors of racing.
@@MrSFSTUDIOS talking more about the length of time on the promotion.
@@douglasb.1203 Agreed, they could have advertised it more. It really is a shame they couldn't make more HP with all the smog toys on it. If it had 200+ HP it would would been a great car.
The cost of it in a cheap rust bucket was a joke
@@victorboucher675 Unfortunately most cars built in the 70's were prone to corrosion. The window trim design allowed water to collect around the edges of the windows.
Tilt wheel more head room
I guess my memories of these turds rotting out in two years and the cylinder bores wearing out at 40k miles are wrong...
No, your right. Real POS
Yes but some people actually washed the salt and mud off the car. And did not overheat them and they did not rust and burn oil and went over one hundred thousand miles. 😁👍
@@chriscatarcio2983 Really?
@@victorboucher675 really
The engine was improved and the body galvanized starting in '76...
Woulda Coulda Should have just used the FI Opel 1.9 engine.
But self recycling (rusts itself into nothingness) feature of the car body is hard to compete with on the stupid contest.
Had friend who used and abused the Vega. They where cheap and he seemed to have a different Vega every other month. Not like one burst into flames on us. I assume that was not due to factory defect.......?? Who knows lol
Actually, the dash-pad was known to spontaneously combust.
Gm actually resolved the engine issues for 1976 too bad 77 was the last year...had they did it in 71. They seemed to improved the rust issues as well. All too late
Yes, the engine was improved and the body partly galvanized starting in '76...
Why is it that GM always puts the car out when it's not ready, and then starts to fix everything that was wrong with it year after year and maybe by the last year it's almost a fixed car. Heres.a thought, GET iit right before introduction.
Engineering 😂improvements oh please make me laugh
let me guess you drive a Ford. you make me laugh
@@vegavairbob Actually I drive a Hyundai Accent I did have a Ford Mustang II from 1977 as a first car and it was the last Ford I ever driven the car was crap. It was a Ghia model with a V6 engine it was so bad the next car I had being a 1981 Buick Skylark was considered a major upgrade but Jaclyn Smith drove an identical Mustang to mine in Charlie’s Angels that made having the car redeemable. She was certainly attractive
Well the engine was improved and the body galvanized starting in '76...
I need me some silly-con
Where is the Cosworth?
England
No Victor you idiot, I mean where is the car? THEY DON'T SHOW A COSWORTH VEGA.
They actually had a great little motor in the OHC 6 cylinder from. 1969. All they would have had to do was chop 2 cylinders off.
The Pontiac Sprint 6! Not remembered by many, but loved by those who do. Jay Leno has a restored Firebird convertible with the Sprint 6.
The Opel 1.9 would of fit right in ... ever notice the trans? Like the same?
CIH - cam in head, lifters like the the Pont 6, BUT with a double chain, not a rubber band belt.
The car rusted in the showroom.
Youre delusional or brainwashed
A Vega would still make a better President than Biden. 😂😂😂😂😂
Had to bring politics into a historical car video didn't cha" mr. buzzkillington....
@@PorkusMaximii Like Hitler, somethings you can not ignore.
Enjoy your summer.
its smarter
I barely remember those. They were junk. Could wreck them real easy. Handling sucked.
They handled great. W.t.f. are you talking about.
Did those two kids just steal that bag of ice? 🫣
sounds like a disease