Chevrolet Vega
Manufacturer	General Motors
Also called	Pontiac Astre
Production	1971–1977
Predecessor	Chevrolet Corvair
Successor	Chevrolet Monza Chevrolet Chevette Pontiac Acadian (For the Astre.) Pontiac Sunbird (For the Astre.)
Class	Subcompact
Body style(s)	2-door coupe 2-door station wagon 3-door hatchback
Layout	FR layout
Platform	H-body
Engine(s)	122 in³ Cosworth I4 140 in³ 2300 I4 151 in³ Iron Duke I4
Transmission(s)	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 5-speed manual 2-speed automatic 3-speed automatic
Wheelbase	97.0 in (2464 mm)
Length	169.7 in (4310 mm)

The then-innovative Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact car sold from 1971 through 1977. Available in sedan, coupe, station wagon, and sedan delivery body styles (officially referred to as the Notchback, Hatchback, Kammback, and Panel Express, respectively), it was based on the GM H platform. The 1975 to 1980 Chevrolet Monza coupe was based on the Vega, as was the restyled Monza wagon. The similar Pontiac Astre was available in Canada from 1973 through 1977, and in the U.S. from 1975 through 1977. The Vega was Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 1971. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 702 KB) 1973 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega at the Imperial Palace Auto Collections in Las Vegas. ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, is the worlds second largest auto company by sales revenue as of the first sales quarter of 2007 (behind Toyota Motor Company). ... Corvair convertible The Chevrolet Corvair was an automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1960 to 1969. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... The Chevrolet Chevette was Chevrolets version of GMs worldwide T platform of the 1970s, which was also sold as the Vauxhall Chevette, Opel Kadett, Isuzu Gemini and the Holden Gemini, among others. ... 1976 Chevrolet Chevette and 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Brougham The Chevrolet Chevette was Chevrolets version of GMs worldwide T-car program of the 1970s. ... There have been two different vehicles bearing the name Pontiac Sunbird. ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... A subcompact car is a car in a vehicle size class smaller than a compact car, but larger than a microcar. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Not a hatchback: a fastback shape like this 2004 Bentley Continental GT can be confused with a true hatchback Hatchback is a term describing an automobile design, consisting of a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... In automobile design, an FR, or front-engine, rear wheel drive means a layout where the engine is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The H platform, or H-body, name has been used twice by General Motors. ... The 2300 was a 2. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... The 2300 was a 2. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... The Iron Duke (also called the 2500, 151, Pontiac 2. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... Transmissions provide a speed-power conversion known as gear reduction (in speed) to a higher torque (rotational force) using gearsets. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. ... An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... AMC Gremlin A subcompact car is an automobile in a vehicle size class smaller than a compact car but larger than a city car (and known as superminis in Europe). ... A Toyota Camry, a recognizable sedan The Ford Five Hundred, a full-sized sedan The 3-box design, indicative of a notchback sedan, as illustrated on a full-size luxury sedan. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... A Sedan delivery (commonly called a delivery) is a windowless cargo van built on a car chassis, mainly based on the station-wagon offered mainly in the USA and Canada until the late 1950s. ... The H platform, or H-body, name has been used twice by General Motors. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ...

Subcompact

Detroit's first attempt at confronting the entry-level imports and domestic small cars such as the Studebaker Lark and Rambler American in the fall of 1959 produced the compact class of cars, including the Ford Falcon, Plymouth Valiant and the ill-fated Chevrolet Corvair, each introduced as 1960 models. By the 1970s, while cars like the Maverick, Nova, Hornet, and Valiant had evolved into the smallest versions of the traditional 6 passenger American family cars, they were much larger than the subcompacts, and many were delivered with optional V8 engines. 1960 Studebaker Lark convertible was advertised extensivly; the airborne womens handkerchiefs mimicked the cars stylized lark in flight insignia. ... The original Rambler was an automobile produced of the Thomas B. Jeffery Company then by its successor, Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and finally, by its successor, American Motors Corporation (all in Kenosha, Wisconsin). ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ... The 1960 Frontenac, which was essentially a rebadged Falcon for the Canadian market. ... The Plymouth Valiant was an automobile manufactured by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation in the United States from 1960 to 1976. ... Corvair convertible The Chevrolet Corvair was an automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1960 to 1969. ... Ford has used the Maverick name on four completely different automobiles in the last three decades. ... The Chevrolet Nova or Chevy II was an American compact car introduced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in 1962. ... The AMC Hornet was a compact automobile made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model year. ... The Plymouth Valiant was an automobile manufactured by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation in the United States from 1960 to 1976. ...

The Vega was introduced as part of "Big Three" (GM, Ford, Chrysler) automakers' creating a new subcompact car class which would compete directly with the successful, but aging Volkswagen Beetle, as well as Japanese imports from Honda, Toyota, and Datsun which were becoming increasingly popular. Its conventional 4 cylinder rear wheel drive layout and unibody was similar to the Japanese subcompacts. It used stamped A-arms for the front suspension with a solid axle with coil springs in the rear. The Vega's 97-inch wheelbase and 169.7-inch overall length was somewhat larger than the Toyota Corolla's 161.4 inch length and 91.9-inch wheelbase. Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the worlds third largest automaker after Toyota and General Motors, based on worldwide vehicle sales. ... DaimlerChrysler AG (ISIN: DE0007100000) is a German car corporation and the worlds fifth largest car manufacturer. ... AMC Gremlin A subcompact car is an automobile in a vehicle size class smaller than a compact car but larger than a city car (and known as superminis in Europe). ... This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. ... The logo of the Honda automobiles The logo of the Honda motorcycles Honda Motor Company, Limited )   (TYO: 7267 , NYSE: HMC), or simply called Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, engine manufacturer and engineering corporation. ... Toyota Motor Corporation ), or Toyota is a Japanese multinational corporation and the worlds largest automaker by sales revenue as of 2007[3] (in front of General Motors). ... Datsun is a marque of automobile. ... Rear wheel drive was a common form of engine/transmission layout used in automobiles throughout the 20th century. ... Monocoque (French for single shell) or unibody is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ...

One innovation of the original Vega was that it was designed to be shipped vertically with its nose down. For example, the battery had fill caps at the back to prevent leakage during transit. Special rail cars known as "Verta-Pak" cars were built with hangers to carry the first Vegas to market in this vertical arrangement. One of the notable locations where these cars were unloaded was at the now defunct Sawtell Auto Ramps in Atlanta, Georgia, located on the former Southern, now Norfolk Southern mainline to Macon.

Reviews

Though often today dismissed as a failure, the Vega was a strong seller. Although outsold most years by the Pinto, Chevrolet sold over two million Vegas during its lifetime. Consumer Reports rated a 1971 Vega above the Pinto and the Gremlin, but had reservations about the Vega's workmanship with similar reviews for subsequent Vega tests through 1974 and a subsequent test of a similar Pontiac Astre in 1975. Consumer Reports, an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union, publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. ...

Car and Driver awarded top pick to the Vega above five other cars including the Corolla, Pinto, Gremlin, Volkswagen, and an obscure Simca "because of its particular suitability to American driving conditions." It was the only car besides the shortened compact Gremlin that could cruise at 70 or above. Its long 2.53-to-1 axle ratio allowed a low 3,000 rpm at 80 mph. Its ride was judged to be plush with a comfortable seating position, though it lacked traditional glovebox. The Vega was the fastest of the cars tested, taking 12.2 seconds to reach 60 mph, similar to a modern Toyota Prius. Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ... The Ford Pinto was an American subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, first introduced in 1971, and built through the 1980 model year. ... The AMC Gremlin was the first American subcompact car. ... Volkswagen AG (ISIN: DE0007664005), or VW, is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany. ... Simca Rallye 2 Simca is a now-defunct French automobile manufacturer, which also produced cars in Brazil and Spain in the 1960s. ... Hybrid Synergy Drive The Toyota Prius is one of the first mass-produced and marketed hybrid electric vehicles. ...

Engines

Vega engines become infamous for their lack of durability which was often associated with their innovative use of weight-saving aluminum cylinder blocks with cast iron heads. These blocks did not have iron sleeves and contained the moving aluminum-alloy pistons. A wear surface was created on the aluminum cylinder bores with an electrochemical process that bonded a coating of "Nikasil" (Nickel and Silicon). Most Vegas were equipped with a 2.3 L "2300" SOHC I4. The standard engine used either a single-barrel carburetor which produced about 70 hp, or a 2-barrel option which boosted output to 85 hp. Early models overheated due to poor cooling channel design. The 2300 engine typically burned oil not due to cylinder wear (which was the rumor) but instead due to poorly designed valve stem seals. When some customers didn't check the oil level often enough, a high number of engines were completely ruined due to lack of oil supply. General Name, Symbol, Number nickel, Ni, 28 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 4, d Appearance lustrous, metallic and silvery with a gold tinge Standard atomic weight 58. ... It has been suggested that Silicons ranking be merged into this article or section. ... The 2300 was a 2. ... Single overhead cam (also SOHC) refers to the internal combustion engine design where one camshaft is located above the valves. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... Bendix-Technico (Stromberg) 1-barrel downdraft carburetor model BXUV-3, with nomenclature The carburetor, carburettor, or carburetter (see spelling differences), also called carb (in North America) or carbie (chiefly in Australia) for short, is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. ...

The 1976-77 2300 engine received factory iron cylinder liners and better valve stem seals in the hopes of improving sales, but the Chevette and Monza began replacing the Vega with some overlap, to use up existing, but slow-selling Vega parts. The 1977 model Pontiac Astre was equipped with the more reliable 2.5 L Iron Duke engine. The Chevrolet Chevette was Chevrolets version of GMs worldwide T platform of the 1970s, which was also sold as the Vauxhall Chevette, Opel Kadett, Isuzu Gemini and the Holden Gemini, among others. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... The Iron Duke (also called the 2500, 151, Pontiac 2. ...

The Vega was one of the first automobiles that GM produced that made extensive use of robotic welding equipment.

Cosworth Vega

The limited-edition 1975 to 1976 Cosworth Vega (see main picture) was a special performance version of the subcompact introduced long before cars like the Golf GTI or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Only 2,062 were built the first year. It was fitted with a fuel-injected DOHC 2.0L 16-valve version of the engine designed by Cosworth Engineering in England, which was famous for its racing engines. Built by Chevrolet at its Tonawanda engine plant, the engine was fed by Bendix electronic fuel injection controlled by a computer in the glove box. First planned in 1969, the first 1971 development engines delivered an impressive 180 bhp. It had special stripes, wide radial tires on alloy wheels and antiroll bars. But when finally put into production, the 1975 engines produced only 120 bhp. At $5,916, it cost double a normal hatchback, and only $900 less than a Corvette. Car and Driver magazine would report "The 3.11 first gear matched to a 3.73 axle ratio makes the Cosworth Vega tough to launch from a stop". They measured 0-60 mph times of 8.7 seconds. In 2006 Inside Line wrote "Fat and strangled by emissions regulations and GM's own noise concerns, the Cosworth Vega was a disappointing car in every sense". This is decidedly misleading since all cars in 1975 and 1976 were similarly "fat and strangled by emissions regulations." In comparison to other affordable performance cars of those years it was light and fast. Only 3,508 were sold over two years. This fell so short of projected sales of 5,000 that 1,500 unused exotic Cosworth engines were simply scrapped for lack of demand. Though sales would be disappointing, it is today the Vega most sought by collectors. A subcompact car is a car in a vehicle size class smaller than a compact car, but larger than a microcar. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in North America) is a compact car / small family car manufactured by Volkswagen. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... // Fuel injection is a means of metering fuel into an internal combustion engine. ... A double overhead cam (also called a dual overhead cam, DOHC, or twincam) engine is a type of internal combustion engine where the camshafts that operate the intake and exhaust valves are mounted above the cylinders, and where there are separate camshafts for inlet and exhaust valves. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Cosworth Logo Cosworth is an automotive engineering company founded in London in 1958 specialising in engines for automobile racing. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total 130... The name Tonawanda as a location confuses even the people who live in other and even nearby Western New York communities. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... The Chevrolet Corvette is the sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. ... Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ...

Problems

The Vega ultimately would be doomed by with poor reliability and several highly publicized design problems including carburetor fires, engine overheating problems, and premature body rust, which began to affect sales after 1974 even though most of those problems had been resolved by that time. Labor/management strife at the GM Lordstown, Ohio plant where Vegas were built including a three-week strike in early 1972 added to the car's woes. Lordstown is a village located in Trumbull County, Ohio. ...

Its rival counterpart, the Ford Pinto, was known for fuel tanks which could and did rupture and explode in collisions, where the Vega's own defects were the oil-burning engine and body corrosion. To dispel the Vega's sagging sales and reputation, Chevrolet made many internal improvements to the 140 in³ four-cylinder engine for the 1976 model year, and backed this engine with an unprecedented "5-year, 60,000-mile warranty" at a time when most new cars and their drivelines were backed by one-year, 12,000-mile warranties. By that time, the Vega's sales were sagging further due to new competition from two new small Chevrolet models, including the sportier Vega-derived Monza. The later Chevette was a world design adapted to the US market. It would eventually replace the Vega as Chevy's entry-level import-fighter. The Chevettes also acquired a reputation for low quality. Chevrolet's first front wheel drive domestic compact, the Chevrolet Citation, debuted in 1979 and suffered from defects and recalls as well. The Ford Pinto was an American subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, first introduced in 1971, and built through the 1980 model year. ... The Chevrolet Chevette was Chevrolets version of GMs worldwide T platform of the 1970s, which was also sold as the Vauxhall Chevette, Opel Kadett, Isuzu Gemini and the Holden Gemini, among others. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... The Chevrolet Citation was a compact car sold by the Chevrolet brand of American automaker General Motors from 1980 through 1985. ...

In a book later published by John DeLorean who was then president of Chevrolet, he indicated that the prototype car literally fell apart just eight miles into its first road test. DeLorean claimed that the car had been designed by GM engineers rather than Chevrolet engineers and said that the car had been forced upon Chevrolet by GM management. He also criticized the engine saying that it "looked like it had been taken off a 1920 farm tractor." De Lorean featured with his namesake car, the De Lorean DMC-12 John Z. De Lorean (born John Zachary Delorean) is a personality, engineer, and executive in the U.S. automobile industry, and founder of the De Lorean Motor Company. ...

All these well publicized problems combined with a string of recalls hurt public perception and sales. Forbes Magazine included the Vega on its list of the worst cars of all time. Nevertheless an ad agency director of the GM account at a Canadian ad agency would note that his GM executives were impressed with his leased Kammback wagon, and "the Chevrolet Vega, at least in its latter years, was not the disaster most critics suggested." There are collector clubs for Vegas and derivative Monzas, and Hemmings listed a 1976 Vega wagon offered at $5,900 in 2006. Alternate meaning: For the Boston Brahmin family associated with John Forbes Kerry, see Forbes family. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ...

Production

Vegas sold very well despite their problems, many of which were eventually corrected. In total, 2,154,434 Vegas and Astres were built from 1971 through 1977. A large majority of these were produced at the Lordstown Assembly plant, but some were also built at Saint Therese Assembly in Quebec. Lordstown Complex East and Lordstown Metal Center (formerly known as Lordstown Assembly) are part of a General Motors automobile factory in Lordstown, Ohio. ... Saint Therese Assembly was a General Motors Canada automobile factory, which opened in 1966. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Duchesne - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area  Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² (595...

The Vega wagon body continued through 1978 and 1979 under the Monza nameplate. About 29,000 additional vehicles were sold under this name. The hatchback body continued briefly in 1978 as the "Monza S", presumably to use up surplus supply of 1977 bodies. Modified 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... There have been two different vehicles bearing the name Pontiac Sunbird. ... The Chevrolet Chevette was Chevrolets version of GMs worldwide T platform of the 1970s, which was also sold as the Vauxhall Chevette, Opel Kadett, Isuzu Gemini and the Holden Gemini, among others. ... Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Not a hatchback: a fastback shape like this 2004 Bentley Continental GT can be confused with a true hatchback Hatchback is a term describing an automobile design, consisting of a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo...

Hot-Rodding

Because of the Vega's design, light weight, low cost, and poor durability of the stock four-cylinder engine, the car was a popular choice for performance modification. A small-block and big block Chevy V8 engine fit surprisingly well in the engine compartment; it was speculated at the time that GM had planned to offer a V8 Vega option -- the Vega-based Monza did so later with a 305 cubic inch small block V8. In modifying the Vega, the remainder of the drivetrain was also replaced typically with a Muncie 4 speed, a shortened V8 driveshaft, and a narrowed 12-bolt Chevy rearend. Heavy duty front coil springs were also required to support the considerably increased engine weight, as well as a larger radiator for cooling. This conversion was so popular that parts and kits were readily available on the aftermarket from several manufacturers. For example, Doug Thorley sold many tube exhaust headers for the V8 conversion. The unibody of the Vega wasn't particularly strong, so high-performance conversions required modifications up to frame rails and full roll cages, for example. The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration, although modern automotive versions use a 90 degree block angle. ...

Popular game show prize

The Vega was a popular prize on TV game shows in the U.S. during the 1970s. Some game shows that gave away Vegas as prizes included Let's Make A Deal, The Hollywood Squares, Wheel of Fortune, The Joker's Wild, Gambit, Truth or Consequences and many others. On the first broadcast of The Price Is Right to be hosted by Bob Barker, which aired September 4, 1972 on CBS, the first new car to be given away as a prize was a blue 1972 Chevrolet Vega Kammback wagon. The contestant won that first car after successfully spelling out the four numbers of the price in the "Any Number" pricing game. Lets Make a Deal is a television game show which aired in various encarnations in the United States. ... Hollywood Squares is a American television comedy and game show in which two contestants play tic-tac-toe to win money and prizes. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... // The Jokers Wild was an American game show of the 1970s and 1980s, billed as the game where knowledge is king and lady luck is queen. ... A gambit is a chess opening in which something, usually a pawn, but sometimes even a piece, is sacrificed in order to achieve an advantage. ... Action Comics #127 (December 1948), featuring Superman appearing on the show with Ralph Edwards Truth or Consequences was an American quiz show, originally hosted on radio by Ralph Edwards from 1940 to 1957, and later on television by Edwards himself from 1950 to 1951, Jack Bailey from 1954 to 1955... The Price Is Rights US 35th season logo. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... CBS is one of the largest radio and television networks in the United States. ...

Trivia

• When the car was still in development, it was code-named "XP-887" within General Motors.
• Then-General Motors President Ed Cole named the car Vega after other nameplates were considered such as "Gemini" (pronounced G-Mini) and "Chevette," the latter name saved for another Chevy subcompact that would ulitmately replace the Vega in the division's lineup.
• John DeLorean, Chevrolet general manager, noted in an autobiography "On A Clear Day You Can See General Motors" that during the early stages of development, Chevy's engineers had developed a short-stroke Hemi-head four-cylinder engine utilizing a cast iron block for the car which he said was a better performer than the OHC aluminum engine that was ultimately selected and was actually developed at the "corporate" level under the direction of then-GM President Ed Cole and then handed to Chevrolet for production.
• DeLorean also noted in that same book that the Vega was originally planned as a well-equipped semi-luxury subcompact with many amenities included as standard equipment to justify GM's original price target in the $2,100-$2,300 range in base form. However, in the end, the corporation went along with the price target for the base car, but with the proposed interior upgrades removed (moved to the option list) and many proposed exterior styling touches deleted and smaller, cheaper tires used in place of the upgraded rubber originally intended that reportedly would have improved tread mileage and fuel economy along with ride and handling.
• Teaser ads for the '71 Vega began appearing in national magazines during June of 1970 announcing the new car and with headlines such as "If you like the 1971 Vega, You'll love the 1975 model", in which text noted that Vega would undergo only under the skin improvements rather than drastic year-to-year styling changes through the next few years, ala VW Beetle.
• For 1971 and 1972, Chevy officially referred to the car as the "Vega 2300" (with nameplates above the front grille and between the rear tailights), derived from a common practice by European automakers to include alpha-numeric codes based on engine displacement in centimeters (the Vega's 140 cubic inch four-cylinder engine was also measured as a 2.3 liter and 2300 cubic centimeter powerplant). In 1973, the car officially became just the "Vega" due to the fact that few Americans idenitified engine displacements in metric measurements at that time. The front and rear nameplates of 1973-77 Vegas read "Vega by Chevrolet."
• To better position the Vega as an automobile that was inexpensive both to purchase and to maintain, Chevrolet published a do-it-yourself maintenance manual for owners.
• In 1973 and 1974 during the height of the energy crisis derived from the Arab Oil Embargo, Motor Trend magazine included feature articles on a test Vega that had been modified for improved gas mileage with goals of 37 and 40 MPG.

Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ...

See also

• Chevrolet Monza
• GM H platform

It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... The H platform, or H-body, name has been used twice by General Motors. ...

External links

• Bob Gumm's V-8 Monza/Vega Site & Message Board
• H-Body.Org
• H-Body FAQ
• Cosworth Vega Owners Association
• Inside Line Chevrolet Vega

Video

• Pro Street 73 Vega