Small Pox has been eradicated in the wild, but small quantities of the deadly virus are kept on file just in case it attempts a come-back. Considering the dearth of Chevy Vegas on the road, today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe hatchback is sort of like that safely guarded stockpile, only far less deadly.
The true purpose of Stonehenge has been lost to the ages. My personal opinion is that was a neolithic titty bar actually called 'Striphenge' and featuring a two-mead minimum. Leading anthropologists tend to discount this theory preferring instead the explanation that Stonehenge was some sort of religious or sacrificial temple or at the very least just a bunch of rocks assembled in a circle.
It is true that an inner circle of wooden structures has been excavated at the Marlborough Downs site, one that aligned with the rising sun on the winter solstice, as well as has a road leading to the site that likewise aligned with the summer solstice. Also, during summer months the 'Summer Triangle' is visible on clear nights directly above the obelisks, headed by the star Vega, part of the constellation Lyra.
What does all this have to do with today's candidate? Well, what we have here is a bad ass 1974 Vega hatch that lives today due to the sacrifice of a Solstice, and its existence today is - at least in its ad - not fully explained.
Let's start out with the fact that upon its debut the Vega was rife with problems. From a propensity to rust to an upside down aluminum block/cast iron head SOHC four cylinder that warped and tended to burn oil like the Iraqi army invading Kuwait, the Vega quickly gained a bad rep. By '74 many of the Vega's issues had been sorted out, but the damage was done. Chevy rolled the later editions into the also H-body Monza line, and buyers of those cars were none the wiser, wink-wink.
Today's '74 hatch has been thoroughly revamped and reconditioned and looks to be a tidy survivor. The Crackerjack prize-quality engine has been exorcised from the car and in its place is a DOHC 2.4-litre late of a Pontiac Solstice. The Ecotec LE5 is good for 173-bhp and 164 lb-ft of torque. That's a butt-load more than the 85-horses the car's original mill made when it wasn't trying to self destruct.
Backing up the thoroughly modern millie is a five-speed stick, also taken from the donor Solstice and evidencing a stubby shifter more appropriate on the Pontiac's high console than the Vega's low floor. The rest of the interior of this restored car is a tidy mix of black and beige and, as this is a GT model, comes with a sporty engine-turned IP.
The exterior is painted an awesome shade of metallic blue-grey which is complimented by a set of grey-tinted 5-spoke alloys. Aside from the '74 having a both its still Camaro-esque nose, and its tail changed to accommodate 5-mph bumpers, this model year reins a damn-fine looking car.
According to the ad, additional upgrades include bigger brakes, a new exhaust and an aluminum radiator. It also comes with A/C that blows through corner vents that are conveniently located at crotch level, you know, for your crotch.
It's amazing enough that someone loved his or her Vega enough to put all the time and effort, and yes money, into it to create what we have here. It's even more of a puzzler as to why, after having undertaken such a personal journey they now want to sell the result, but perhaps Craiglist's siren song is just too strong to ignore.
Regardless of the reasons, this restored and Ecotec'd Vega is now up for grabs, at the non-Vega like price of $20,000. What do you think about this restored Chevy for that kind of cash? Does the work that has gone into it overcome the fact that it's a Vega? Or, is paying that much not a sacrifice you think anyone should make?
You decide!
Tri-Cities WA Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to HumanCola for the hookup!
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