1971 Chevrolet Vega Panel Express review from North America

Engine smoked like a freight train.

Drivers door had to be lifted when shut due too bad bushings.

When visiting a gas station, normal procedure was to fill it with oil and check the gas.

When bottoming out after becoming airborne, the cross member would flex rearward and punch a hole in the oil-pan.

I drove this car, nicknamed the "Mosquito Killer", in high school and had an absolute blast.

The Vega Panel wagons came stock from the factory with only a drivers seat, drivers visor and drivers outside mirror, no rear seat and three speed transmission, though these items were optional.

They were listed from the factory as a delivery truck, and mine carried a commercial truck tag for years.

The original three speed was removed and replaced with a Saginaw four speed out of a '74 Vega GT, along with GT bucket seats.

The engine smoked so bad that when forced to sit at long traffic lights, I had to shut off the engine to keep from asphyxiating everyone within a three car radius.

This old Vega was very reliable for years until if finally just wore out.