The vendor of in the present day’s Good Value or No Cube Chevy says “In the event you like Vegas, come test it out, you gained’t be disenchanted.” Let’s see if the worth proves in any other case.
We had an actual nail-biter within the voting yesterday. Many within the feedback complained that, owing to age and miles, $8,250 was an excessive amount of to pay for the 2002 Nissan Xterra we have been contemplating. A supercharged V6 and five-speed stick stated otherwise, nonetheless, ultimately overcoming these demerits and incomes the Xterra a slender 53 % Good Value victory.
Hey, is it sizzling in right here, or is it simply me? (licks finger and presses it to a hip whereas making a scorching sound.) Apologies for that psychological picture. Maybe as a substitute, the warmth is introduced by in the present day’s 1977 Chevy Vega wagon, because it’s painted with an old-school flame motif throughout the nostril and entrance fenders. That’s not simply sizzling, it’s cool!
In automotive lore, the Vega has acquired nearly as a lot disdain as an abject failure as has Ford’s Edsel. A lot of that was well-founded within the engineering oversights and construct high quality points exhibited by the mannequin’s early examples. That poor status didn’t kill off the Vega, although. It advanced over every ensuing mannequin yr, enhancing each its platform and its notorious aluminum block/iron head engine. Every improved to the purpose the place the Vega and the plethora of platform mates grew to become the spine of Common Motors’ compact automobile lineup for the second-half of the ’70s.
1977 can be the final yr for the Vega nameplate, though the Kammback wagon would soldier on for 3 extra years following a nostril job and rebadging as a Monza. All of the modifications made to the Vega make these later fashions far more dependable to run, albeit not fairly as handsome owing to their greater bumpers.
The chassis beneath remains to be the identical well-handling platform with an A-arm entrance suspension and a reside axle within the again sprung on coils slightly than the standard leaf springs and solidly positioned by trailing arms, a Panhard rod, and a torque arm paralleling the driveshaft. That’s all meant to maintain the reins on the two.4-liter SOHC 4’s 84 horsepower and 122 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed guide makes essentially the most of that sparsely populated corral.
In line with the advert, this Kammback is unmolested apart from the period-correct Magazine wheels, a later stereo, wooden steering wheel, and a few further gauges on the sprint. Oh yeah, and there are these fantastic flames.
There are 71,000 miles on the odo, and the automobile appears good for its age. The entrance bucket seats apparently may stand some consideration, however the rear sunken bench seems intact and in good condition. The under-car pictures present no signal of rust or harm however do present one thing perplexing. This can be a 1977 mannequin yr automobile, but the engine is painted orange just like the ’76 and earlier fashions, not blue. That’s a little bit of a thriller.
The vendor doesn’t give us any clues, nor even a shot beneath the hood. They do be aware, although, that the automobile has acquired new shocks throughout, a front-end alignment, and a wheel steadiness. The result’s a automobile that does what it’s imagined to with none obvious gotchas. The title is clear, and whereas the vendor will entertain a commerce, we’re solely within the $7,500 money value they’ve set for the deal.
What do you assume? Might this basic Vega (that isn’t a Cosworth) be value that form of cash? Or does this Chevy’s status proceed it?
You resolve!
Washington DC Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
Assist me out with NPOND. Hit me up at remslie@kinja.com and ship me a fixed-price tip. Bear in mind to incorporate your Kinja deal with.