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1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 3:39 pm
by 73SILVERGT
Just bought my 1st Vega, a '73 GT with mostly original paint that is complete. :th: It has been stored on jack stands in a garage since 1984. It should be here within a few weeks, I am just waiting on the shipper:

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I grew up in a '74 and a '77 Vega wagon, can't wait to get started on the '73 GT!

Phil

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 4:55 pm
by 283vega
Nice start. I love those early vegas. Ohhh welcome to the greatest site for h bodies!!!

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 7:39 pm
by hammerdown7
Welcome, looks like a solid starting point.

Dick

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 8:13 pm
by kgroombr
Looks like you have an Opel four speed tranny. Those came in 71 - 72 Vegas. Not sure if any 73 ever came with them as they are supposed to have a Saginaw. Sometimes I wonder if they use up parts on early versions.

Ken

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 9:02 pm
by T-FATTY
You beat me to it on facebook, great deal!

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 9:15 pm
by b_pappy
congrats, should be a fun project

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 1:36 am
by RobR
T-FATTY wrote:You beat me to it on facebook, great deal!
Me too! Good luck with the build

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 7:09 am
by 73SILVERGT
Thanks guys, very anxious to get her home. For those that saw it posted on Facebook, it was a pretty wild dash to get it. I saw it about 20 minutes after it was posted, I called the seller (but he was already on the phone with another interested buyer) and then I called back again and was very lucky to get through and told him I wanted it. While I was speaking with him, he must have gotten 5 other calls, followed by several more calls later in the day, then he finally took down the ad that night due to all the inquiries. :shock:

I grew up in two Vegas, both wagons, a '74 and a '77. The motor mounts rotted out of the '74 within a few years (upstate, NY climate) and my father went back for a second one (the '77), against my mother's wishes. :o

Interested in learning more about the drive line, I was under the impression that the car was all original.

Phil

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:25 am
by 74_Vega_GT
Very Nice indeed! Congrats on your first Vega and good luck with it.

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 11:53 am
by 1oldmf
Welcome!

and the addiction starts! LOL

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 7:34 pm
by astreformula
Congratulations on a superb find. These early models are the most sought after especially in the GT trim. I've been patiently waiting for 15 yrs to find such a car like the one you found. As time goes by, these cars are getting harder and harder to find. I did manage to find a low mileage, rust free 72 that the owner would not let go. My mistake was that I told a fellow Vega enthusiast about the car and where the car was located. One day I happened to drop by his place to chat with him and to my surprise the car was parked in his back yard. I've been trying to get this car for well over 10yrs and my friend just happened to pick a day she finally agreed to sell. The kicker is he got to purchase the car for a mere $1500, the price I originally first offered. Luckily, I know of another 72 in the same condition. Unfortunately, this little old lady just won't let go of the car.

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:44 pm
by waybad
excellent,, welcome to the sickness :shock: ,, your front bumper looks like a 71-72 style,, keep us posted on all your progress :th: :th:
also looks like a 55-57 truck on a blazer frame.. can we see or at least pm me picts.. thanks Tink

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 2:04 am
by Smiley
Welcome to the forum ! Nice Car!
The front bumper and shifter location look to be 72 or 71.
But bumpers brackets can be swapped and it looks like a darker panel and rivets on top of the trans tunnel.
Maybe it was an auto and someone converted it to a 4 speed.
Double check that the vin number matches the title.

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:15 am
by 73SILVERGT
astreformula wrote:Congratulations on a superb find. These early models are the most sought after especially in the GT trim. I've been patiently waiting for 15 yrs to find such a car like the one you found. As time goes by, these cars are getting harder and harder to find. I did manage to find a low mileage, rust free 72 that the owner would not let go. My mistake was that I told a fellow Vega enthusiast about the car and where the car was located. One day I happened to drop by his place to chat with him and to my surprise the car was parked in his back yard. I've been trying to get this car for well over 10yrs and my friend just happened to pick a day she finally agreed to sell. The kicker is he got to purchase the car for a mere $1500, the price I originally first offered. Luckily, I know of another 72 in the same condition. Unfortunately, this little old lady just won't let go of the car.


Thanks, I haven't been looking as long as you, only a few years. I found the car on the "Vega Nation" Facebook page. I paid $1700 for the car and will spend another $800 on shipping it to NH. But as we all know, this is just the beginning. :shock:

Phil

Re: 1st Post and 1st Vega

PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:22 am
by 73SILVERGT
waybad wrote:excellent,, welcome to the sickness :shock: ,, your front bumper looks like a 71-72 style,, keep us posted on all your progress :th: :th:
also looks like a 55-57 truck on a blazer frame.. can we see or at least pm me picts.. thanks Tink


Thanks and yes, the car also comes with an extra set of bumpers, I assume they may be the originals. We don't know too much about the car as the owner past away before details could be given. I bought it from the neighbor of the original owner, who found it and never even knew the car was in the garage until after he had passed (it was put away in 1984).

Based on responses here, it sounds like the tranny is not original, I assume based on the shifter and shifter location. The garage and associated truck are not mine, this is a pic from the person I bought the car from. I hope to have the car home within the next 2 weeks and will share more pics. :th:

Phil