1972 Chevrolet Vega GT from North America - Comments

It would be easier to state what had not gone wrong on the car. That would be the radiator cap. Everything else in the engine compartment had to be replaced at least once. After a while I had to do all the work myself, just to reduce the cost, and install non OEM parts to get better longevity.

Engine block replaced at 10,000 miles due to scored cylinders.

Head replaced several times due to cracked valve seats, and hardened valve guide seals.

Alternator had the screws come out and fall into two halves.

Due to factory defects, the front fenders would perforate from rust.

Defects in the design of the rims would cause the tires to fall off the rims is the air pressure were two pounds low.

There was no way to drain the radiator. No valve on the radiator, the only way was to pull a lower hose, which was located over a chassis strut and would spill fluid everywhere.

I could tune the car to be quick, and competitive with a Corvette of the same vintage. However, it would not last long.

All the stories on recalls and poor construction are true.

I know what you're talking about. I had a Vega also and it was the worst car I ever owned. The motor would die and not start back up leaving me stranded. The car got horrible gas mileage compared to the Volkswagen Beetle I had before. There are many other problems that escape my mind since it was so long ago.

Man that car was bad. We had one with a three speed stick. The clutch was so heavy it pushed you back in the seat. The engine would vibrate and all of the fittings would break off. The fenders disappeared from rust in two years. The engine wore right out. The worst car ever made. Ties with Yugo.

James Sullivan was the man behind the Vega and he hated all of his customers.

He used to say that people shouldn't understand cars so they should get the Vega. He said the customer was evil and the enemy. He wanted a car to get even with the customer. So he had his friend Roger Smith, an accountant, design the Vega.

James Sullivin sounds like Hobbes the philosopher lol. The Vega was truly horrible, those poor people who owned one.

Sorry you had bad luck, but I suspect the following is true of every car maker: Every one out of a thousand cars or so turns out to be a lemon. I owned a 72 Vega which I bought new and sold it at 152,000 miles. The car never used a drop of oil and never needed a bit of engine work. I wish GM still made this quality little car.

Sorry about your bad experiences, but I loved my Vega GT. It always ran smooth with a nice power band for the displacement. The hatch back feature let me haul all kinds of loads, from groceries to camping gear. I even added a hitch and pulled a trailer for my 125 dirt bike. With the factory four speed transmission, it was quick and fun to drive. I lost mine due to accident damage. It was smashed in a parking lot by a 4 by 4 pickup.

Although I have never owned a Vega, it is my understanding that the aluminum block could be sleeved with steel cylinders. Of course, this remedy involved a major overhaul, but it solved the oil-consumption problems in most cases. In my way of thinking, it's sort of like "loving your Vega to pieces". Why bother?