<VV> OT: Vegas

[Ed Dowds]

I had two Vegas. The first, a '71, cost $50 and had a bad engine and some front end damage. I bought it with a friend as an investment! He supplied the money and I supplied the labor. I worked in a FLAPS with a machine shop. Sunnen (sp) had come out with some special stones for their engine honing machine. I bought the stones and rebored the cyls, replaced the pistons and repaired the front end.
We sold the car for $500 (1973). I think we made about $250.
The second Vega was a '72 wagon with no engine that I paid $15 for in 1978. I got a '68 327 235 HP engine for free and swapped it in.
Added a 3spd Sag to replace the Opel original trans, a GT dash with full instruments, AM/FM radio with rear speaker and a HD trailer hitch. I used an Addco front swaybar, EM Corvair rear springs in front, V8 Monza mounts and exhaust manifolds, P/S and a tilt column from a Buick Monza clone.
My (then) wife used the car until 1988 when I got her an Indy Fiero. I sold the car for $500.
I don't remember rust problems on the wagon, except for some minor stuff around the windshield, even though the car spent it's entire life in NYC's salted streets. I guess I was just lucky!
Ed