My dad worked at the Lordstown Plant from 66-06. He used to tell me about these prototypes. I remember touring the plant in 86 and they had a custom in house built Cavalier El Camino. It was a station wagon that was damaged and couldn’t be sold. So they made it into the El Camino and used it for a parts shagger.
I had one too! It was a dog off the line but once you got moving it pulled strong. I used to race the new Monte Carlo SS cars (1980's) from a roll and it was a tie.
How is it that it’s a “392 mile survivor car” but the flowmaster muffler (founded in 1983) has rust holes in it? This car is definitely not Chevrolet Motor Company modified or even a prototype. This is a home built job
Man your the luckiest, I miss my old Vegas,my mom had a 75 GT she bought brand new,they had their engine issues but they still remain one of my favorite cars and they had the best 4 speed manual ever made!
When I heard about a Vega V8 prototype I was shocked and I didn't even know that that car existed now that I see it I'm like wow 370 horsepower with a 400 trans and a narrow 12 volt posi rear end this car is the ultimate sleeper now I see it now I believe it holla if you hear me
I have very serious doubts as to the authenticity of this being THE GM factory, “prototype”. As a 30 year builder of V8 Monzas and Vegas, there’s too much about this (especially under the hood) that hints to this, most likely, not being authentic. Although, if they were able to produce authentic paperwork to back it up, then I could be swayed. The prototype used a three-core radiator, not a four. As well, the prototype used a 10-bolt posi not a 12. The prototype did not use a 370 hp 350, it actually used a 250 hp V8. This has aftermarket Hooker headers, of which you can’t tell from the shots, but the driver’s side should have one primary that goes over the frame and through the wheelwell before coming back under the car. The prototype used stamped steel valve covers, not these aluminum (?) covers.
The Vega is sharp no doubt. I have to call hold up on GM Prototype???? The A/C and alternator ect is just like my 79 v8 Monza. GM doesn't sell prototypes, they have crushed thousands of prototypes, don't see them making a special exception for a Vega, but I wish they would let me buy THIS ONE. The exhaust is a question also. It is a nice VEGA none the less.
I remember when the Monza, Sunfire, Skyhawk, and Starfire were popular. My girlfriend at the time bought a new 1980 Chevy Monza base model. We kept that car 14 years. It was the last of the rear wheel drive cars. I hated parting with it but a growing family required moving on to 4 door vehicles. The available V6 and V8s for those cars made them move really well.
Different memories here. My best friends mom had the Monza with the V8, so my friend drove it a lot. That thing would not get out of its own way. It felt like a bad 6. There was absolutely no joy in driving that car, which was and felt like a bloated Vega.
No Sunfire yet,I think you mean Sunbird then was the J2000 for the 82 model year then back to Sunbird for 83 then the Sunfire in the late 90s,but I still like the78-79s far better plus I just prefer rear wheel drive and a four speed.
2:30 Rust holes in the exhaust system. This super low mileage car was no doubt started and run for many short times without being driven. Most likely allowing H2O vapor from combustion to condense and settle as liquid inside [ and rust ] the low points of the cold pipe and muffler. If a car is driven normally this would allow the exhaust system to reach it's maximum temperature, hot enough so the water can remain vaporized and exit the system with other vapors and gases.
I noticed the exhaust system is rotting away. Seems he is too poor to fix it? Not really, he wants to show its original but I think this car is a fake.
They are getting people ready for the body rot in the rest of the Vegas hysterical! It’s only a guess but I think it may be due to the fact it’s been parked in GM since like 1976 or so and not been started once.
Nice lumpy cam. Love it. 370HP might be enough to merge on the freeway in that little car. LoL Hope they put rear disc on it with the V-8. That's a good bit of more power and weight for those itty-bitty 4 cyl brakes.
My mom had a 74 vega GT , bright orange with a black stripe on the bottom with GT in it . Never seen another 1 like it. But sadly a tractor trailer pushed us up to 90 mph until my mom lost control and we went flying thru 13 guard rails , down the side of a steep embankment and smacked into 2 trees. Luckily we survived
Still have my '77 Pontiac Astre Formula Safari (kammback) Station Wagon... in silver... FORMULA in black stripe along the bottom and in other places... came with Iron duke 4, 5 speed, posi... never seen another like it... no pictures of one available online... it is real, I've seen that they were available...
This was never intended as a production vehicle. It may have been a "prototype", but no way GM was going to produce a Vega with a 350 engine not less one with 370hp. No way, not in 75 or 76. Most likely it was a mule for engineering studies or a one off to test suspension components or other chassis components. GM would build these for testing failure points. They needed to do this because computer modeling was not at the level as it is today.
By '75 GM had the H-body engine compartment set up for V6 and V8 in Monza with heavy duty crossmember, front suspension, heater and A/C hoses relocated from near center to outside area, and dimpled HVAC box so any small block Chevy V8 was just a bolt in... even BBC... Early 1970 Corvette sales literature listed a 370 HP LT1 350" but as far as I know only the 360 HP was ever actually installed in production 'Vettes/Camaros... a few 370 HP ones may have been lying around GM Engineering on pallets... they used the Duntov 30/30 cam from 365/375 HP 327's... I couldn't make out the rear suspension design on this car... my '77 Pontiac Astre Formula Safari Kammback Station Wagon has a torque arm like later F-bodies/GNX's...
@@BuzzLOLOL Well, you do make a great point here. GM definitely would put into production vehicles that would conform to homologation rules or to make the car more competitive, such as the Grand Am with the kamback rear window to make it perform better in NASCAR. My point was more to the engine package in the Vega. In 1975 or 76 there was no way they could or would put a 350/370 hp engine in a Vega production vehicle. Especially when you still had a Trans Am and Z28 still selling.
@@paddle_shift - They prolly should have put the smooth quiet Chevy 262 2 bbl. V8 as an option in Vega and Astre to increase interest in the economy and all versions...
@@BuzzLOLOL the LT -1 in the Vette was rated at 370 hp , in the Z28 and the COPO '70 Novas it was rated at 360 hp . Same engine , different exhaust manifolds .
The music is 20 dB softer than the voice of the narrator. There is no problem hearing the commentator. The music also fills the void when the narrator is not talking. Notice how the music fades up and down. Music is an important element in a professional video. Notice that I used the same technique at the end of the video, but replaced the music with the sound of the car idling as I walked around it. The sound of the idling is 20 dB softer than the narrator. When the narrator is finished talking, the sound of the idling engine increases.
@@KDawgFilmz best explanation I’ve ever heard anyone use on this debate, well said KDawg!! Never ceases to amaze me that you guys are out there spending your time and money to bring top notch info to us that we may never in our lives be exposed to if it weren’t for the free content you give us and folks have the nerve to bitch about it like they paid you to produce the video just for them!! I think you’ve probly figured out by now tho that you can’t make everyone happy all the time but you have succeeded in making most of us happy and for that entire group I’d like to thank you!! I think your videos are better than many professionally produced documentaries and videos and hope you continue. Take care and be safe out there!
For anyone wondering ~ Yes, you can fit a 396 big block in these cars. Get the panel wagon, easier to cage. But yes, it can be done and its a total handful ! I miss that car. 😏😎
I liked my 1973 GT with a Olds (higher compression 4V Buick variation) 215. Engine was about the same weight as the original junk 140, car was dropped about 2" and big Goodyear gumballs all around. Original 4 speed was plenty strong to handle the engine, and I never did find the cornering limits, while it had PLENTY of power in such a light car to get up and move.
@@bricefleckenstein9666 They were actually fun little cars. It didn't matter what motor was dropped in it. It was always ~ Ok, you ready to go have some fun ? They were a blast.
@@bricefleckenstein9666 I still have my 73 GT with a 67 Buick V6 in it. It has the Vega Saginaw 4 speed too. If i ever change the engine I'd put in a Turbo 4 out of a Camaro with a 6 speed. (Like that NoCal Garage Vega)
Pontiac slapped a small block V8 in the Fiero back in the day (my neighbor was a GM engineer) and track tested it. The car wanted to take off like an airplane at about 135 mph do to bad aerodynamics. And, it crushed the Corvette's performance of the day. Pontiac made some really fun cars...but, no more. GM rarely gets anything right or stops production when they are onto something special. Fiero, Trans Am, G8/GTO, and even the 1987/88 Grand Am two-door with a 5-speed.
Not sure what the big deal is/was. We were doing V8 Vegas and Pintos in 72. Motion Industries sold a kit. If you're not familiar with it check out Grumpy Jenkins.
With "392 miles" when did it get the Flowmaster muffler, that wasn't manufactured until the mid 80's, and it looks like has a hundred thousand miles on it? All that silver looking paint don't look like it was factory either. I would think that someone would remember this being built, even as a experiment. The make believe 4 cylinder engine had a tough 4 speed transmission, why the 400 auto, if they were going to try to aim for the sport car crowd? Looks like someone is trying to sell "Wolf Tickets" did you get any buyers?
Yeh That's an engine swap Vega. Why would GM build a prototype Vega from the factory with an aftermarket cam? You can here it at idle !!! The engines worked !!!
@@lic2kil007 How about the big ass headers? Is that something the GM guys would have done? Aside from the motor- looks authentic to 1975. Super sharp! Alway liked the Vega, and 78-81 Pontiac Sunbirds.
@@MrHighAnxiety63 I know gm never made a v8 vega to be sold to the public. I did pay attention. I was just saying the prototype is a poorly done car. Maybe you should read my comment again. It appears you have a hard time reading. Bless You`re Heart.
Fake. Chevrolet did build one, but this is not it! It was an early body style with an all aluminum 302 engine. It was in Hot Rod magazine. If Mechum sold thus as a prototype, they scammed somebody!
Built a wagon with an L82. A hatch with a 400 sbc. Most fun was a 79 Monza Spyder 305 4 speed from original woman owner. Put an aluminum head 355 with a Nash 5 speed in. To find a rust free H body today.
I still have my '77 Pontiac Astre Formula Safari (kammback) Station Wagon... in silver... FORMULA in black stripe along the bottom and in other places... came with Iron duke 4, 5 speed, posi... never seen another like it... no pictures of one available online... it is real, I've seen that they were available...
My biggest question is how did this car escape the crusher and get offered for public sale? I had a friend that worked for then, Sam Allen Salvage in metro Detroit and they crushed cars Like this for GM and other manufacturers. My family worked for GM for 63 straight years among them and I used to hear about all the vehicles and parts that went to the crusher, and trust me many of those drive trains made it out to the street. My friend gave me a Quadra jet carburetor from there and when I went to get it rebuilt later nobody could figure out the numbers on it for a carburetor kit, because they didn’t exist. I would like to know how this car escaped the crusher, it’s too bad they didn’t mass produce that car because it’s a good looking car with a reliable drive train!
This car could get out the way your Q-Jet did... or like the only '83 Corvette still in known existence did... Anyway, by 1975 GM was putting SBC V8 engines in Monzas so all the H-body cars (Vega, Astre, Starfire, Skylark, LeMans, Sunbird, etc.) were then already set up for V6's and V8's! Better front suspension, stronger crossmember, HVAC moved out of the way... 5 speed... posi... You could save 100 lbs. putting a SBC 400 like this in one: www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rfhrk
I Need to see some real documents. If that was a real prototype GM would never have made it sound like that. and the headers no way sorry. In 1972 GM did make a v8 Vega all aluminum 283cu punched to a 302 stock Vega rear end
I painted my 1972 Vega this color. It sucked !!! However, my Vega GT was the underpowered 4-140 engine. I rebuilt these Vegas with a steel sleeved block from S & S in California. The block was over bored and had 4 Ford tractor sleeves installed. Took a special KD tool to remove the stock cam and lifters. Without steel lines the all aluminum block walls had a Teflon coating that the ductile iron rings just destroyed. Not done yet. approximately 1/2 of all pressure tested iron cylinder heads would crack in the oil passages cast in the heads. So, there NEVER was a factory steel sleeved Vega sold to the public. I was rebuilding these engines while several more years of Vegas were produced through the 1977 model year. The Vega was replaced in 1975 with the Chevrolet Monza. The Monza had an iron 4 cylinder engine and offered a pitiful low horsepower 350 cubic inch V8 that had less than 150 HP. Also the V8 motor mounts were pitiful. After market V8 engine mounts were better ( in my opinion ) than stock GM engine mounts. After doing these V8 modifications expect the body to warp as the unibody would flex permanently.
I do like this car, only one problem I can see, it's not mine! 😭👍🤟 If I had owned it then , there would have been a lot of sad singing and slow walking... and I don't think that I'd be around ... I would have been happy, though.
Sorry, I am crying foul here. No way this car has less than 100 miles judging strictly by the rust holes in the exhaust. Calls the credibility of this channel in to question.
Yep , back in 1970 Chevrolet changed the engine codes from a single letter, two digit ( L88 ) to two letters and a single digit code ( LT 1 ) . They also had LS 5 , LS 6 , and LS 7 big block 454s .
The Monza came out in 1975, the Monza chassis and rear end configuration were significantly different than the Vega. The Monza torque arm handles V8 weight, and torque much better than the Tri 4 link rear Vega. The handling of a v8 Monza at speed is much better than the Vega, even with the extra weight up front. Those headers would never be used by GM, especially since the Monza exhaust had been developed and approved for production. The decision to end the Vega came in 1974, at the end of 77. Why prototype a v8 Vega when the Monza was IN production for 75 release. This Vega is very nice, I would be proud to have it, but prototype, well.........
@@HEHE-dx9og Well either it's a torque are or a 4 link...there is no in between, the floor pan has significant differences, as does the drive train, I have two Monza's...the rub is convert away from the torque arm, which has no H-body aftermarket support, with a custom back half, or fabricate custom torque arm/chassis/drive train upgrades. Like I said before, It's a nice Vega, I would like to have it, but prototype.....I ain't buying it.
The absolutely worse thing you can do, let them sit. They need to be driven. People with too much money, and don't know what to do with it. Unbelievable...
@@navvet4518 thats the first thing that i noticed! they did say shit was raised 3 inches but somebody cobbled the shit out of that. was probably a mechanic, not a bodyman that did it
If GM would have built and sold these cars they would have been more popular and sold more of them. it is supposed to be fuel efficient to compete with other car manufacturers .but in the end it went down in history as a flop because of the engine they used.
"Experimental" AC was mentioned thats why it has the newer style compressor. So the exh was replaced, things get old and rot believe it or not. If the guy has papers, history whats with all the negative nancys? Think its a cool ride, probably better built than most garage builds. Juse raise the idle up where its supposed to be....and drive it! MIles arent going to change value. No way could I not drive this
I had a red GT in the 80’s, and the aluminum block ended up bored .010” over on its own before I sold it. I really loved the car, and dreamed of having a great engine in it. Even a built V6 would have been a massive improvement in such a light little coupe.
3:04 - From the sound of it, they should fix the holes in the exhaust. Yeah, it likely has a racing cam in it, but still. And who in the EFFING Hell, at GM, decided to put that type of engine in and pair it with a GM three speed automatic transmission????? +facepalm+
Unfortunately after the 73 model year GM had to obey Democrat ordered 5mph battering ram bumpers and presto ,who wanted one anymore anyway.Not to mention production V8s that did appear in the likewise ugly Monza were 100 hp 305s.
dont like the idle sound. Sounds all beefed up with cam & electronic ignition & extra stuff and headers etc ....the stock 350 is all the cars needs. why not make it quite & comfortable , not ready to go racing people . Its just such a nice car, to turn it into a souped up race car seems to take away from its niceness imo
The 75 vega had a torque arm from the rear to the transmission tail housing. This car does not. I see losts of tach welds on the transmission hump and floor as well, Probably due to rust repair. Chevy NEVER made a V8 vega. This is a backyard machanic build. That A4 a/c compressor didn`t come out till the 80`s. The 70`s used the A6 compressor. You can see the waves in the paint from poor bodywork. Just another home built V8 vega. Nah, Nice try. Pretty cool car but not a gm prototype.
Youse see by 1975 GM was putting SBC V8 engines in Monzas so all the H-body cars (Vega, Astre, Starfire, Skylark, LeMans, Sunbird, etc.) were then already set up for V6's and V8's! Better front suspension, stronger crossmember, HVAC moved out of the way... 5 speed... posi... torque arm rear... You could save 100 lbs. putting a SBC 400 like this in one vs all iron 262 V8: www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rfhrk
