The Bold And Unusual Chevy Vega

The consequential Chevy Vega marked a shift in emphasis for General Motors, which had been casting about for a way to re-enter the small car market after the Corvair disaster. It was first rolled out in 1970, lasting for 7 years until it was finally put out to pasture in 1977, and never really was given the things it needed to succeed.

The Vega, though, was noteworthy in that it came to market in a relatively quick 2 years from the time it was conceived on the drawing board to the point when it appeared in dealer showrooms. Offered in a number of two-door styles, included a panel truck, the Vega sought to fill a certain niche.

The Vega was brought to market to fill a couple of different perceived needs, including that it be something capable of going up against small imports. Additionally, it was hoped that would be attractive to first-time buyers who didn't have a lot of money. This the Vega managed to do better at than in the execution of its mechanicals.

Initially, though, the car itself proved a good-selling machine, making into the top-ten in terms of sales by 1974. Weak engines -- both in performance and reliability -- proved to be the car's Achilles heel, though, and a number of issues with the engine's aluminum block caused more than a few issues in the first few years of its existence. Happily, most problems were fixed over the years.

Unfortunately, the little four-bangers proved to be too much for the car itself to overcome, delivering -- at best -- very pedestrian performance and only so-so fuel economy ratings. At some point, Chevy began turning out a slightly larger car built off the same platform as the Vega's called the Monza and soon enough, the Vega drove off into the sunset. Curiously, the Monza also went away in 1980, 3 years after the Vega.

Even though the Vega is today slightly more appreciated for what it was meant to do, most experts feel that it highlighted almost everything that was wrong with American car manufacture in the 1970s, though the car did bring more than a few innovations in styling and technology, including fuel injection and widespread use of lighter materials that are taken for granted today.

For the most part, the Vega was noteworthy mostly for the speed in which it was brought to the market, which both impressed experts but also dismayed them, seeing that it appeared as if General Motors missed proper execution due to that same rapidity. Still, that development pace stands today as its most impressive feat.