Thread: 1974 Vega: Spirit of America Edition

Holy $hit, I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. My daughter saw it coming and asked "Was that Herbie?", referring to the Love Bug. I said "no, it was a Vega". There's a soft spot in my heart for these little cars, light, simple and they can except a smallblock V8 with ease. My mom had a '72 and a '74 when I was growing up, both were GT's. My second car was a V8 Chevy Monza. Don't see many standard issue Vega's anymore, let alone limited versions like this one...



The CVOA: Spirit of America Vega

There, I hope you learned something today...

Yep I remember these cars from the day. Owned a '72, loved the car. Hated the motor. Would have jumped on a V8 vega or Monza V8 and slapped either a small block 400 or retroed a modular LS1 in either one. And let's not forget the Cosworth Vega, intentionally detuned for the US market...

SOB if I didn't see this same Vega at the local monthly car show Saturday evening. It's no trailer queen, but a running driving survivor. Wanted to talk to the owner, but he was chatting it up with a group so I moved on. Nice to see it up close in person.

For years I've been thinking that if I had the funds I'd build a modern Chevy 302 DZ and dump it in a Vega with a 5 speed. I'd love a Cosworth, but couldn't bring myself to modify one. OEM stock goodness FTW!

Here's the only pic I have of my old Monza. Saw it sitting on a used lot a few weeks after I traded it in on my '83 Shelby Charger and snapped this pic....



What a dog it was. Guy I bought it from told me it had a 305 in it. Turns out it was a bone stock, 110 HP 262ci with a Holly 600 on it. Burned tons of gas and went nowhere, although it did get lot's of looks. Oh, and a rollbar in it too!