I also like the 70-72 Skylark guys who slap the GS and Stage 1 emblems on the fenders crocked and about 3" apart from each other and swear it's factory.
Back in 1999, I passed by a car lot and saw a 1970 GS Convertible for sale. Dark green ( non-factory color) with a white top and white interior. It was a really sharp car, and he wanted 16K for it... But as soon as I saw the engine I knew we had a fake. A 350 4V... Then I looked at the VIN plate on the cowl and laughed so hard he knew I had busted him... The car had been stolen, recovered and redone from a Skylark Convertible to a GS convertible..Instead of a 44667,( like my 70 Skylark Convertible) the VIN started with a 2 and went from there...He had riveted that plate on there. We talked about it, and he decided to remove the plate on the spot. But he was amazed that I could walk up and identify a fake so easily. All of us Buick folks know our cars! Russell 1970 Skylark Custom Convertible 455 :3gears:
I'm proud of you man! Nothing bugs me more than talking to someone at a show with a great car and have them insinuate "it came that way from the factory". Yes, take pride in what you've accomplished. Yes, you have a wonderful car and I like it. No, it did not come that way from the factory! Why ruin my admiration for your accomplishment. Mikey
I don't know, I'm just asking. She says that "it wasn't offered in the Bel Air with a four-barrel carb till '64." Were all engine choices available in the Bel Air in 1962? I was guessing that maybe some engines were limited to the Impala like the 425 was only available in the Electras, Rivieras and Wildcats in 1964. (I think that's right - someone correct me if I'm wrong.)
The movie is just a movie - the inspiration was there, but the details were not correct. In regards to the quote with the Bel Air, I always inferred that they were focusing on the carb availability, not the availability of the engine in a certain model. I think all Buicks could get the 425 in 1964 but could be wrong. For the lower brands in the totem pole (Chevy, Plymouth, Pontiac, Ford, Dodge) you could get any engine in any model.
20,000 is rare, relative to, how many dime a dozen chevys were made. I mean, they made over a million Vegas. And, how many Vegas do we see, now?
That always bugged me too. Perhaps the tires predated modern P-metric radial measurements? I don't even remember, did they specify in the movie whether the tires were radial or bias-ply?
I think they were only for Rivs. Now did they make Gs wildcats and such? It may have been offered in performance form, but I can't remember....ou:
You're comparing a performance package from one model year with the entire lifetime of a certain model. Additionally, performance cars have been cherished since they were new, while the Vega was a disposable car from the get-go. I just don't know what point is being made? o No: Poppaluv, the 425 was available on the Wildcat, Riv, and Electra. Not sure if it was available on the LeSabre for 1964, but I was leaning towards that.
I'm pretty sure it was available in the '64 LeSabre wagon as that came with a 401 as opposed to the 300 of other LeSabres.
yes. all the way from the 6 cyl to 283 v8 to 327 v8 to the 409. the 327 was available in two versions - 250 hp and 300 hp, both with 4 bbl carbs.
I've lost all respect for Mona Lisa Vito as an expert witness... As to the 425, according to the 1964 brochure, the 401 was standard in Electras, Wildcats and LeSabre wagons. The single quad 425 was standard in Rivieras and optional in Electras, Wildcats and LeSabre wagons. The dual quad 425 was optional in all four. Other LeSabres, Skylarks and Specials topped out with the 300.
I used act the idiot on purpose to mess with folks sometimes. You never know if that guy is testing you!
Actually it was a lot more than I thought; over 1.75 million. From How Stuff Works; http://auto.howstuffworks.com/chevrolet-vega.htm/printable 1971 <table style="width: 457px; height: 46px;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Model </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Weight range (lbs.) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Price range (new) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Number built </td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Vega </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> 2,190-2,230 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> $2,090-$2,328 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> 269,905</td></tr></tbody></table> 1972 Chevrolet Vega Facts <table style="width: 489px; height: 48px;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Model </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Weight range (lbs.) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Price range (new) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Number built </td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">Vega </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">2,158-2,333 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> $2,060-$2,285 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">390,478 </td></tr></tbody></table> 1973 Chevrolet Vega Facts <table style="width: 100%;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Model </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Weight range (lbs.) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Price range (new) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Number built </td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">Vega </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">2,219-2,317 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> $2,087-$2,323 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">427,300</td></tr></tbody></table> 1974 Chevrolet Vega Facts <table style="width: 100%;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Model </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Weight range (lbs.) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Price range (new) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Number built </td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Vega </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> 2,369-2,514 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> $2,505-$2,976 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">456,085</td></tr></tbody></table> 1975 Chevrolet Vega Facts <table style="width: 100%;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Model </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Weight range (lbs.) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Price range (new) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Number built </td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Vega </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> 2,415-2,531 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> $2,786-$5,916 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">206,239</td></tr></tbody></table> 1976 Chevrolet Vega Facts <table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="475" height="61"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Model </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Weight range (lbs.) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Price range (new) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Number built </td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Vega </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> 2,443-2,578 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> $2,984-$6,066 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">160,524</td></tr></tbody></table> 1977 Chevrolet Vega Facts <table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="480" height="63"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Model </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Weight range (lbs.) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Price range (new) </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Number built </td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> Vega </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> 2,459-2,571 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> $3,249-$3,745 </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center">78,402</td></tr></tbody></table> <table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="489" height="67"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> </td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> </td><td style="width: 25%;" align="center"> </td></tr></tbody></table>
