Chevrolet Vega in Israel

Chevrolet Vega is a compact passenger car produced in the United States from 1970 to 1977 in four body styles: 2-door coupe (Notchback), 3-door hatchback (Hatchback), 3-door station wagon (Kammback) and 3-door van (Panel) Express). Despite its budget status, the small car received a sporty image, carrying a 2-door body with a wheelbase of 2460 mm, rear-wheel drive, front longitudinal engine arrangement, independent front and dependent rear suspension on springs, disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. The most progressive and, at the same time, the most notorious element of the Vega was considered the power unit - an inline 4-cylinder 2.3-liter engine with a power of 90-110 hp. For the first time in world practice, there were no steel liners in the engine cylinders - the block was cast under pressure from an aluminum alloy. In 1971, Motor Trend magazine named the Chevrolet Vega "Car of the Year." At the same time, the car caused a lot of complaints about body corrosion, poor build quality, fragility of plastic trim, poor sound insulation, high oil consumption, overheating and engine failure. The design defects were corrected only in 1976 with the introduction of a modified 2.3-liter Dura-Built engine, which underwent extensive testing in desert conditions. But by that time the model’s reputation was already damaged. In total, just over 2 million units were built before the Vega was removed from the production line in 1977.