Solstice Drivetrain: 1976 Cosworth Vega

In 1970 GM's General Manager John Z. DeLorean directed his engineering staff the develop a high performance 4-cylinder engine for the compact Vega chassis.  Within a few years a combination of GM's alloy block and a Cosworth Engineering designed head was mounted into a Chevy Vega that cost nearly as much as new Corvette.  The Cosworth Vega was hand built on a special assembly line in a limited run of 4000 machines (the original plan was 4000, but , but today's example is missing the one piece that made the car special...does it still make the cut? Find this 1976 Cosworth Vega offered for $11,000 in Graham, NC via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

V8 Swapped Wagon: 1972 Chevrolet Vega GT

The 4th of July might be over, but the spirit of America is still running strong in Chico, CA where this next slice of apple pie is located.  Find this 1972 Chevrolet Vega GT with small block V8 offered for $11,000 in Chico, CA via craigslist. Tip from Terry B.

V8 Swapped Part Duex: 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth

Did you like the V8 powered Cosworth Vega posted the other day...but had some indigestion due to the sticker price? Yeah, me too.  I prefer my modified Vegas to be a bit dirtier and much cheaper...like this 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth offered for $5,250 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from JB1025.

V8 Swapped: 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth

What is a Cosworth Vega worth on the open market these days...particularly an example that is in great shape, but has had its overhead cam 4-banger replaced with a 383 cubic inch pushrod equipped stroker?  I'm not sure about the asking price...but this next Vega will be the fastest Vega around town. Find this 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth offered for $18999 in Hartford, KY via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!

Finish The Wizard: 1974 Chevrolet Vega Wagon 4x4

Some cars for sale on the interweb seem to have an answer for a question that no one ever asked.  How many Vega wagon owners would think to themselves, "I want to lift this thing and go off road."?  We have a unfinished project here that has some odd things finished and many important ones left to go.  Find this 1974 Chevrolet Vega wagon for sale in Exeter, NH for $5,000 via craigslist. 

DOHC Oddball: 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega

This next feature was inspired by a tip from David, who sent us in a project '76 Cosworth Vega, but I wasn't really in the mood for a project after soccer practice with the kids (I must be getting old) so I searched for an example that didn't need as much restoration.  Find this 1975 Cosworth Vega here on eBay bidding for $1,325 reserve-not-met located in Saukville, WI with 4 days to go.

Auction Watch: 1972 Chevrolet Vega Wagon V8 Kammback

Find this 1972 Chevrolet Vega Wagon V8 Kammback here on eBay bidding for $11,900 with auction ending Sunday at 4:03PM Pacific.

Auction Watch: 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega

Find this 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega here on eBay bidding for $3,050 reserve-not-met with auction ending on Sunday at 7PM Pacific.

SCCA Champ: 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega #1782

Way back in the early 1970s a young John Z DeLorean was in charge of engineering at GM and he directed his engine design group to find something to add some pep to the fuel conscious Vega subcompact. The result was an all-aluminum engine with a twin-cam cylinder head that was fed via fuel injection and exhausted through stainless headers to produce the first domestic high revving 4-cylinder sport compact...but tightening emissions windows (and unleaded gasoline) meant that it was neutered before it could sow any wild oats.  Find this 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega #1782 offered for $4,200 in Lake Orion, MI via craigslist.

Twin-Cam Power: 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega

The Cosworth Vega is one of those wacky and cool automobiles that certainly would have never been built in the first place, if not for the push of some crazy gearhead on the inside at GM.  In this case it was John Z DeLorean who assigned Calvin Wade to find someone to develop a DOHC engine for GM's subcompact Vega.  The result was the Cosworth Vega that cost almost as much as a Corvette when new and wasn't in the least bit financially successful for GM, but it is a cool piece of history today.  Find this 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega offered here on eBay bidding for $3,100 with less than one day to go, located in Solon, OH.

5k: Few Remain: 1975 Pontiac Astre SJ Safari Wagon

If you loved GM's subcompact Vega, (and who doesn't?!?!) then you'll love the badge engineered versions for GM's other brands.  The H-body offerings went up from the basic Vega and they included the luxurious Oldsmobile Starfire, sporty Buick Skyhawk, and the Pontiac Astre -- whose purpose was as confounding as the name.  Find this 1975 Pontiac Astre SJ Safari Wagon offered for $4,950 in Victor, ID via craigslist.

5k: Hearse Lite: 1979 Chevrolet Monza Series II Wagon V8

Like the LeCar, Yugo, and others, the Vega/Monza is the car you love to hate. Some portion of that savage hostility is bandwagon H-body hate, but most is justifiable. After all, they were built during a time when quality control meant that the guy who controlled the assembly plant only read quality MAD Magazines, while the plant workers were probably doing the same, for all we know. Here, with a rare factory V8/manual transmission combo, it's the most fun you can have in one of the worst cars, ever. Find this 1979 Chevrolet Monza Wagon with factory 305 for sale in Phoenix, AZ for $4,900 via craigslist. 

5k: Pro Street: 1971 Chevrolet Vega V8

A few weeks back, I published a story about a Vega that was modified in the vintage drag style and I said that I hated the wheels and suggested a set of Minilites and a thorough lowering job.  A few commenters pointed out that this was a pro-stock nostalgia style drag car and the wheels were appropriate, but I still maintain that the wheels were hideous and needed to be thrown into a fire.  This next feature, on the other hand, doesn't need new wheels and looks much better.  Find this 1971 Chevrolet Vega V8 currently bidding for $4,550 reserve-not-met on eBay with 1 day to go, located in Arlington, TX.

10k: Needs More Minilites: 1975 Chevrolet Vega V8

Most of the time when someone builds a hot rod and immediately sells it, the seller takes a bath on any money he sunk into his project.  The only time that seller will make money is if he hits a fortunate upswing in market forces or gets a great deal when buying it.  This is unfortunate reality for most folks who enjoy building cars but a good thing for buyers who are looking to get something custom without spending too much money.  Even better for those buyers is to find a car that needs a few small things corrected that keeps the price down, like this next example that really needs some new shoes.  Find this 1975 Chevrolet Vega offered for $13,950 in Sebastopol, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Adam. 

5k: Track Rat: 1974 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth Twin-Cam

DT commenter and Fiat owner PeteL summed up the Datsun B210 vintage racer featured yesterday nicely when he said: "That is a lot of kit and history (key for vintage acceptance) for $2600 and an easy freshening of the bottom end. The parts and fab work are 10x the selling price...wow."  If you still want to experience cheap vintage racing, but perhaps are looking for something with a little more vroom-vroom to go with the zoom-zoom, this next feature should perk you up.  Find this 1974 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth Twin-Cam Race Car currently bidding for $2,750 reserve-not-met with 2 days to go, located in Beaverton, OR on ebay.

5k: American Little Mouse: 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega

The word muscle derives from the Latin musculus which means literally "little mouse" - a reference to the way muscle looks when it moves under the skin.  The Chevrolet Vega was a mouse sized sub-compact built by GM from 1970-1977- initially touted as "Merica's answer to European sports cars.  Unfortunately a number of classic GM initial build quality defects tarnished the Vega's reputation and even sweet optional Cosworth DOHC 4-banger couldn't save the Vega from GM's compact model name cemetery.  Find this 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega for sale in Palmdale, CA for $7,500 via craigslist.

2k: Collectors Item?: 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega: Some Assy Required

In 1970 GM's General Manager per-incarcertion John DeLorean directed his engineering staff the develop a high performance cylinder head for the Vega 4-banger engine.  Within a few years a combination of GM's alloy block and a Cosworth Engineering designed head was mounted into a Chevy Vega that cost nearly as much as new Corvette.  In the August 1973 edition of Car and Driver magazine, one of the talking heads wrote "Cosworth Vega 16-Valve. More than an engine. A taut-muscled GT coupe to devastate the smugness of BMW 2002tii's and 5-speed Alfa GTV's. A limited run of 4000 machines, each one built away from the tumult of the assembly line to precision tolerances, as a show of technical force by Chevrolet. All of them will be collector's items."  Find this 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega for sale in San Jose, CA for the bargain price of $2,500.  Tip from Jeffrey L.