When the compact Chevrolet Vega was introduced in 1971, the “sporty car”
nothing more than trim and decals.
Newly appointed Chevrolet General Manager John DeLorean (father of the DeLorean) wanted a Vega that would be more than a trim package. He wanted a Vega that would compete with high-performance imports from Europe. Having developed the “race on Sunday, sell on Monday” philosophy, DeLorean directed his staff to develop a high-performance version of the Vega. He suggested to the Vega management team that England’s Cosworth Engineering could design a high-performance version of the Vega’s aluminum four-cylinder engine that would turn the Vega TC (its code name) into a high-performance nameplate and the subject of this week’s spot.
RELATED Spot: This Vega would be the king of the street drags.
Cosworth developed the Vega’s four-cylinder engine into a 290 bhp fire breather, using dual over head cams and two Weber side-draft carburetors. As the development of the Vega went forward problems began to occur trying to meet the new EPA regulations. First, the dual Weber Carburetors couldn’t pass pollution tests. DeLorean’s team turned to Bendix who had an “off the shelf” fuel injection fix. However, by the time 1974 arrived EPA regulations became more restrictive causing Chevrolet to detune the engine again, now putting out only 110 bhp.
The 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega was ready for the public. Available only in black with gold trim and black interior, the Cosworth package made it the second most expensive car in the Chevrolet line at $5,916 (without options) and twice the price of a standard Vega.
The base Cosworth Vega came equipped with a fuel-injected, dual overhead cam engine that was mated to a four-speed manual transmission, stiffer springs and shocks, front and rear sway bars, rear torque suspension, and special alloy wheels. The interior featured instrumentation mounted in a gold-toned dashboard, a dash plaque with the car’s sequence number engraved on it, a “passenger assist grip” and a padded sport steering wheel, which interestingly would find its way into the 1976 Corvette.
What are they worth now? Well first off, good luck on finding one that isn’t rusted out because GM did little to stop corrosion. Ones that look like they just came off the showroom floor with set you back somewhere in the mid to upper $20 grand range. Thanks for stopping by and reading about my spot this week. Come back next Friday or another one along with some of its history. Have a great weekend.
Savage On Wheels 
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