Vehicle Description
This Chevy Vega GT is a good looking, sporty little car that was
ahead of its time, receiving "Car of the Year" honors from Motor
Trend and others. It introduced new technology that is used today
throughout the world by auto and motorcycle manufacturers. Opting
for the GT package added engine and suspension upgrades. Check out
this fun to drive and unique part of Chevrolet history.
GM wanted to build a "world beating car", so Ed Cole, head of
engineering and President of GM at the time, assembled a team and
put Bill Mitchell (who along with James Musser designed the Chevy
II and Camaro), on the job. The results were a stylish and
efficient little hatchback that still looks good today. Presented
in yellow with a bold black stripe down the middle, this little car
has a bit of a feisty attitude to it. It leads with a thin chrome
bumper and a black grill which is flanked by headlights sitting
high on the fronts of the fenders. GT badges grace the sides of the
fenders. The hatchback design gives the body a smooth roofline that
leads back to quad taillights with a Vega badge in between them,
above another sharp looking chrome bumper. Side molding runs
straight down the side accentuating the curves of the roof line and
fenders, and a splash of flash appears on the rocker molding and
trim rings of the steel, sport wheels.
Open the door and you will find a simple and clean door panel with
a well-placed armrest for comfortable cruising. Have a seat in the
pleated high-back bucket seats and grab a hold of the 4-spoke
steering wheel with a GT badge in the center. Through it you will
see a nice, wood toned dash panel with round gauges trimmed in
black. Below them you will find controls for the lights and wipers
along with the ventilation controls that include the updated R-134
air conditioning system. The shifter for the automatic transmission
sits on the floor in its own wood trimmed console. Back seats are
pleated like the front and offer nice seating for friends with
plenty of room in the hatch area, or, can be folded down turning
the car into a two-seater with huge cargo space for a little
car.
The engine is what set this car apart from the crowd, broke new
ground, and proved to be game changing technology for the industry.
A couple teething problems on the first models produced were
overblown by the press, quickly addressed by GM and by 1973,
changes were made on the production line addressing them. This is
the cars original, numbers matching engine, and the current owner
has gone through the cars systems during the restoration assuring
that everything is up to par and working properly. The GT option
upgraded the engine with an RPO L11 engine package that included a
Holley 2-barrel carb and a hotter cam. It also included the F41
suspension package that improved the already good handling of this
little car. Sitting on coil springs all around, the 4-link rear
suspension copies that of the 1970 Chevelle, and the short/long arm
front suspension with a sway bar has bigger control arm bushings
than the '70 Camaro.
Check out this American made car that was built to be beat the
sporty little European cars of the 70s and did a good job doing it.
It's good looking, a blast to drive and a unique part of Chevrolet
history.