5k: 1976 Chevy Vega GT Hatchback – 35k mile Survivor
Chevrolet introduced the Vega in 1970 as a cheap coupe, hatchback, wagon and panel van. Like a Quentin Tarantino film, the Vega started out with a happy face and to many accolades, but ended with broken dreams, bullet ridden corpses and general mayhem. Ralph Nader once wrote that the Vega was “sloppily crafted, unreliable and unsafe automobile” – which makes us want one a little bit more. This 1976 Chevy Vega GT Hatchback with 35k original miles is for sale in San Francisco, CA, on ebay bidding at $3050 reserve-not-met.
This Vega is an interesting color called “Firethorn Red” – and we think it would go really good with an olive green painted garage floor and an old Farrah Fawcett pin-up calendar. This car is the sporty hatchback GT edition…which gave the Vega an upgraded L11 two-barrell engine, a handling package and unique tires/trim. Honestly the Vega is a car that is not seen on the road often today and we’d probably take a second look at one this clean driving down the freeway.
Chevrolet spent many years developing the engine under the Vega’s hood – and while you could easily mistake it for the Iron Duke – it is in fact an aluminum alloy engine – we’ll call it the Alloy Duke. The 2.3 liter die-cast inline 4(in GT L11 trim) puts out 84 horsepower and 122 ft-lbs of torque. Ouch. Unfortunately the low power output isn’t the only reason that would make you wish it had an Iron Duke – the engines were also notoriously unreliable and constantly warped heads and blocks. Its probably the reason this 35k mile example is on its second engine…but maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get 36 years and 35,000 miles out of this lump of mushy aluminum.
The interior is claimed all stock (with the exception of an aftermarket fuel economy gauge) and looks in great condition. Its also a fantastic looking red with grey plaid seats and if you are going to own a low mile ‘show’ Vega (is there such a thing..?) – you’ll want it with the loudest stock interior you can find. The Vega was named after the brightest star in the Lyra constellation – so its only fitting that its interior should also be bright!
We like clean, original, low-mile cars…but would we be willing to scoop the bottom of Chevy’s barrel and see what comes up on our spoon… The answer would be to test drive this car and see if it presses your buttons – it may be just as horrible as the numbers paint it – or it could be a cheap and depreciation free non-beige daily driver. At first glance the seller appears to be a flipper – but he doesn’t have recent auto-sales in his ebay history, but it would be interesting to find out why he purchased the car and how long he has owned it. Lets hope the reserve is low and someone picks this up to keep it on the road.
See another fading star for sale? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
Seller acquired it less than a year ago, so yes, it feels like a flip. Reserve is probably stupid high for what was really a very bad answer to GM's cheap small car dilemma. Then again, when you've got the only one like it, you can price it accordingly.
I have no doubt the great first impression this example makes will quickly give way to an ownership nightmare if the buyer even considers driving this thing regularly – or worse, if the buyer doesn't drive it regularly.
All that said, I have an irrational desire to own this car. It's pretty cool looking in that 70's kind of way, and there are so few nice unmolested Vega survivors out there that haven't rusted into oblivion.
Yes, I've said it before. I know there is something wrong with me.
~ @ Larry, lol – engines were absolute crap. might last a little longer if you can avoid heating it above 'normal operating range' AND drain and change coolant every couple thousand miles, critical to some alloys. this begs for a 215 Buick w/ T5, no?
have a friend who built a high-horse SBC racecar of one. i called 'pretzel-popper'. yanked the fronts two feet up and twisted half way around. lasted most of one season.
I had a silver Vega '76 GT in college, brings back memories. Only paid $500 for the whole car. It looked good, drove Ok, served me well. Had to change out the 5 speed transmission (borg warner) after it siezed-up because it ran on automatic transmission oil — no one told me it needed to be checked more often unlike thicker manual gearbox oil. A scrapyard priced a rare borg warner 5-speed replacement at $500, but priced a 4 speed (inclusing new driveshaft) at $200. $300 bucks was a ton of money then –still is, so I went for the 4-speed and had a whole education installing it myself.
I think these cars have nice lines for the design era, mechanically somewhat unreliable, and the aluminum engine blocks where problematic — fortunately by the 1976 models they had installed steel piston sleeves.
I owned a 76 get bought it new at earnie drake Chevrolet in mint city ten, and I would dare say it was about the best car I have owned in my 60 years I put 46000 miles and it did not burn one drop of oil would love yo have it back now Glenn Blevins
that was mountain city tn not mint city sorry for the miswhack
I owned one I bought for 650.00 in 1984 and didn't give me any problems. I loved the 5 speed gt it ran great didn't use oil and looked great. I might still have it if not for some drunk totaling it when it was parked I really miss it to this day. I bought a 76 Toyota Celica after and it was the biggest junk I ever owned to it's defense it wasn't Toyotas fault the car was abused before I bought it. Moral is the Vega gets a bad rap really didn't know one unless you owned one. I loved mine
I am currently looking to purchace a very nice 76 vege gt i know the one i look for is oyt there somewhere if you know of a prime speciman text me at four two three 7 two 7 four four 8 three thank you very much
The '76 had the industry's longest powertrain warranty and this car has the good-looking side stripes. I hated the huge graphics on the '77 Vega GT. Only thing about this car; I absolutely detest the aftermarket side moldings. I wonder if they could be removed without ruining the paint.