Chevrolet 1973 - Vega Review

I bought this Chevy Vega Panel Express in 1973 -- What's a Panel Express? i "Station Wagon with only ONE front seat (driver's of course) and metal panels in the back where the windows should be AND large covered storage bins behind the driver's area.

I bought this little Panel Express so I could go camping and traveling. And so I could sleep in the back at rest stops -- I outfitted her with indoor padding, mattress, Tape Deck and CB (this WAS the 70's) and multiple speakers, lights, even curtains -- and underneath the car I outfitted her with sport suspension and sway bars (all NON-standard and not even options for the Panel Express-- but the Vega GT components fit very nicely!) and also a Hurst linkage for the standard (Saginaw) 4 speed gearbox -- wow this car was a sweet little traveler!!!

 Chevy actually brought out the Panel Express with a view to its becoming a small delivery van (at the same time that Pinto brought out its own version of a Panel Express) -- and the Vega Panel Express WAS a great little deliverer-- except for the "revolutionary new" Silcon coated cylinders -- which didn't last-- even though I pampered this Vega and did all the preventive maintenance, my car started burning oil every 50 miles, once the odometer reached   40K -- I got the engine rebuilt (cast iron sleeves were put into bored out cylinders-- and VROOOM!! This car's engine performed so well it added at least 5 more HP-- I had to get hotter spark plugs, wires AND coil.

 The Vega marque didn't last much longer -- Chevy turned it into the Monza in 1980, with a cast iron engine. The Vega went the way of the Hupmobile, Cord and other cars that made an impression but then fizzled out for one reason or another.

I still have this car -- she is no longer a daily driver because I am rebuilding her.