The Chevrolet Vega is a subcompact, four passenger automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors for the 1971–1977 model years. Designed from scratch by a corporate design team headed by GM President Ed Cole, the Vega was brought to production by Chevrolet in only two years. It was offered in two-door body styles: Notchback sedan, Hatchback coupe, Kammback wagon, and Panel Express delivery truck. The engine is an aluminum-block, iron head 140 cu in (2,300 cc) inline-4. By 1974, the Vega was among the top 10 best-selling American cars. Its H-body platform expanded, starting in 1975, with the Vega-based Monza and variants for three other GM divisions which offered new body-styles that cut into Vega's sales. The buying public's poor perception of the car, which had developed mainly due to early model engine troubles, also contributed to its reduced sales. Chevrolet cancelled the Vega after the 1977 model year. The Vega-based Monza and variants continued through 1980 Collectable Automobile said in April 2000: "Today the Vega is considered a symbol of all the problems Detroit faced in the seventies."
Subcompact
In the fall of 1959 Detroit automobile manufacturers attempted to confront entry-level imports and domestic small cars such as the Studebaker Lark and Rambler American and in doing so created the compact class of cars, including the Chevrolet Corvair, Ford Falcon and Plymouth Valiant, each introduced as 1960 models. By the 1970s, while cars like the Chevrolet Nova, Ford Maverick, and AMC Hornet had evolved into the smallest versions of the traditional six-passenger American family cars, they were larger than subcompacts, and many were delivered with optional V8 engines.
The Chevrolet Vega was introduced September 10, 1970 as part of GM, Ford and AMC automakers entering a new subcompact car class. The AMC Gremlin was introduced six months prior and the Ford Pinto one day after the Vega's introduction. They competed directly with the successful, but aging Volkswagen Beetle, as well as Japanese imports from Toyota and Datsun. Although the Vega's conventional rear wheel drive layout and unibody was similar to the Japanese subcompacts, its 97.0-inch (2,460 mm) wheelbase and 169.7-inch (4,310 mm) overall length were longer than the Toyota's Corolla's 91.9-inch (2,330 mm) wheelbase and 161.4-inch (4,100 mm) length.
History
Design and engineering
Chief engineer Ed Cole wanted a world-beater, and he wanted it in showrooms in 24 months. This was an extremely short time to design and engineer a new car, especially one that borrowed almost nothing from any other. The Vega, like the Corvair, has long been referred to as Ed Cole's baby. It was as GM president that Cole oversaw the genesis of the Chevrolet Vega. Code-named XP-887, Chevrolet "teaser" ads began in May 1970, not announcing its name at first, stating-"you'll see."
The aluminum block inline-4 engine was a joint effort from General Motors, Reynolds Metal Corp. and Sealed Power Corp. GM purpose-built an advanced $75 million plant, Lordstown Assembly in Lordstown, Ohio to produce the Vega where 90 percent of the necessary welding was performed by high-tech unimate robots. Due to its "Modular Construction Design", a Vega sedan with 578 body parts had 418 fewer parts than its full-size Chevrolet counterpart. Modular Construction Design reduced the number of joints and sealing operations resulting in stronger, tighter bodies, effectively contributed to vehicle quality and made possible a very high rate of production.
The Vega's body surface was the first accomplished completely through use of computers. Body surface information recorded on tape derived from the clay styling model, allowed computers to improve the body surface mathematically. Tapes developed through the computer were also used to control drafting machines in producing master surface plates which were extremely accurate. The computer was also utilized in making the hundreds of necessary engineering calculations including vision angle, field of view, rear compartment lid and door counterbalance geometries, structural stresses, deflection calculations and tolerance studies.. All Vega models share the same hood, fenders, floor pan, door lower panels, rocker panel, engine compartment, and front end. In a size comparison with a 1970 Nova, the Vega has 20 inches (510 mm) less overall length, 14 inches (360 mm) less wheelbase, 7 inches (180 mm) narrower width and 2 inches (51 mm) lower height.
Introduced as the Vega 2300, it was one of the first Chevrolet vehicles to have as standard equipment front disc brakes, an electric fuel pump, side guard door beams, a double paneled roof, and foam-filled, hi-back bucket seats with floor mounted controls. Its suspension and live rear axle design, near ideal weight distribution, low center of gravity and neutral steering give the Vega handling characteristics that were praised by the automotive press. The overall chassis suspension was to be tuned to a new A78 x 13 tire that was being developed concurrently with the vehicle. The front suspension is classic General Motors short-and long-arm. The lower control arm bushings were actually larger than those of the Camaro. The four-link rear suspension copied that of the Chevelle, and coil springs are used throughout. This was a significant departure from the leaf spring suspension used in the Camaro and Nova. The Vega's brake system copied an Opel design including solid rotors and a lack of a proportioning valve. The Vega's styling was judged conservative, clean-lined and timeless. GM styling studio's main influence was the 1967-1969 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe AC, and the Chevrolet Camaro/Corvette studio grafted a 1970 Camaro-like egg-crate grille and Chevy-style dual tailights. Many service operations were intentionally designed so that they were able to be performed by Vega owners. To further that end, the "Do-It-Yourself" service manual was made available with each new Vega.
1971–1977
The Hatchback was the most popular Vega model with its lower roofline and useful hatchback with fold-down rear seat, and accounted for nearly half of all Vegas produced. The Sedan, renamed Notchback in 1973, had the lowest price at $2090. It has more rear seat head room than the Hatchback and is the only Vega model with an enclosed trunk.
The Kammback wagon offered more cargo capacity, a fold-down rear seat, and a swing-up liftgate. The Panel Express, a one passenger panel delivery based on the Vega wagon, had steel panels in place of the rear side glass, and an additional enclosed storage area.
In mid-1971 a GT option for Hatchback and Kammback models was introduced. The GT package included the L11 2 barrel carburetor engine, F41 Handling suspension, 6 inch wide GT wheels with trim rings, center caps and A70-13 raised white-letter tires, black-finished grill and lower body sills, full instrumentation, and a hood/deck sport stripe option.Yenko Chevrolet sold a specially modified Vega called the Yenko Stinger II through 1973. Based on the GT, its 140 CID L11 engine features a turbocharger, high compression pistons and was rated 155 hp (116 kW). Included were front and rear spoilers and side striping with "Yenko Stinger II" identification.
1972 models were essentially carried over from 1971 with a few refinements including revised rear shocks and exhaust. A glove box was added and replaced dash storage bin.
The 1973 Vega had over 300 changes including new exterior colors and a new standard interior trim. The front bumper was extended 3 in (76.2 mm) on stronger brackets with a steel color keyed filler panel to meet the 1973 5-mph front bumper standards. Two new models were introduced- The LX Notchback included a vinyl roof and the Estate (Woody) Kammback featured vinyl wood side trim. Both models include the custom exterior and interior options. New Saginaw manual transmissions replaced the Opel designed units and Turbo-hydramatic transmission replaced Powerglide.
Subzero-temperature durability testing of GM's Wankel rotary engine installed in 1973 Vegas began in Canada. Initially planned as a 1974 Vega option, the engine was first delayed, then planned for the proposed Vega-based Monza 2+2. The 1975 Monza's high floor tunnel was designed to accept the Wankel, but GM cancelled the engine due its inability to meet emissions and fuel economy requirements.
On May 17, 1973 the millionth Vega was produced at the Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant - a bright orange GT Hatchback with white sport stripes and Millionth Vega door handle accents. It featured a neutral custom vinyl interior with orange accent color carpeting. A special limited edition "Millionth Vega" was produced replicating the milestone car, limited to one per dealer.
The 1974 model year brought the only major exterior design changes, due to the revised Federal front and rear 5 mph (8.0&#
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