Chevrolet Vega
| Chevrolet | |
|---|---|
 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth MJ 1976
|
|
| Vega | |
| Production period: | 1970-1977 |
| Class : | Lower middle class |
| Body versions : | Coupe , Kombi Coupe , Kombi |
| Engines: |
Gasoline engines : 2.0–2.3 liters 52–82 kW |
| Length: | 4318-4455 mm |
| Width: | 1661 mm |
| Height: | 1270-1316 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2465 mm |
| Empty weight : | 972-1,168 kg |
The Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact class car offered by the American automobile manufacturer General Motors from 1970 to 1977 .
In 1974 the Pontiac Astre was derived from the Vega .
Model history
In September 1970, Chevrolet presented the rear-wheel drive Vega as the brand's first small car, stylistically based on the Chevrolet Camaro . The Vega was aimed at the customers of the European and Japanese import cars and competed against Ford Pinto and AMC Gremlin .
The outstanding feature of the Vega was the 2.3-liter, unusually designed four-cylinder engine with a die-cast crankcase without liners made of aluminum-silicon alloy and an overhead camshaft in the cast iron cylinder head. In the beginning it was very rough and used a lot. A two-door notchback coupé, a three-door hatchback coupé with a large tailgate and a three-door station wagon were offered. In 1973 the output of the basic engine was reduced from 81 HP (60 kW) to 73 HP (54 kW), at the same time a double carburettor version was added to the range that developed 86 HP (63 kW). For the 1974 model year, the car received a modified radiator grille and much more robust bumpers that comply with the latest regulations in force in the USA. In 1975 the engine output increased slightly to 79/88 hp (58/65 kW). The following year it was reduced to 71/85 hp (52 / 62.5 kW).
In 1975/76, after a long development period, the Vega Cosworth, which had already been announced in 1971, was offered, a sports version of the hatchback coupé with a two-liter engine with a shorter stroke, aluminum cylinder head and 16 valves, which developed 112 hp (82 kW), designed by Cosworth in England. Sales of this variant were very sluggish, probably mainly because of the comparatively high price of $ 6,066, double that of a basic Vega; only 3507 pieces were built.
Furthermore, from 1970 to 1975 there was a van variant of the station wagon without rear side windows under the name Vega Panel Van . About 22,000 pieces of this variant were produced.
What was innovative about the Vega was that it was designed to be transported vertically with the front of the vehicle facing down. This enabled more vehicles per area to be shipped on the trains. For example, the batteries had filler caps on the back to prevent leaks during transit. Changes to the engine (special oil baffles) and the tank (for tank ventilation) were also designed. This option was installed as "Vert-A-Pac" at the factory on the corresponding vehicles.
Although electric in-tank fuel pumps were previously used on some Cadillac and Buick models, the H-Platform vehicles (Vega and Monza) were GM's first large-volume models with such fuel pumps. Today this is standard in all common cars with manifold injection .
In 1977 production of the Vega was stopped after a total of 1,955,769 copies. The station wagon was included in the range of the Chevrolet Monza, which is technically closely related to the Vega .
literature
- John Gunnell (Ed.): Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946-1975. Revised 4th edition. Krause Publications Inc., Iola WI 2002, ISBN 0-87349-461-X , pp. 201-215.
- James M. Flammang, Ron Kowalke: Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1976-1999. 3rd edition. Krause Publications, Iola WI 1999, ISBN 0-87341-755-0 , pp. 200-211.
