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Re: 1975? Vert-a-pak's, Vegas, and Disco Fever.....
Author: I Was There
Date: 01-12-2019 - 22:15
Yes, the Vega really was that bad. Interesting, though, that Mercedes and Porsche both used (may still use) the linerless aluminum block technology that the Vega pioneered; difference is, the Germans provide enough cooling that the engines don't warp (the Vega's problem).
Vegas were also rustbuckets: Dad had an assigned car from work that lasted only about 2 years in the Bay Area before the entire cowl below the windshield rusted through and the glass fell out. Also, there were SF hills that it simply could not climb.
Pintos were firetraps until the 5mph bumper requirement came around - at which time Ford had to add enough structure behind the rear wheels that the gas tank acquired a little bit of crash protection.
Gremlins were Hornets with the back end cut off; they were heavier with poorer gas mileage (if that was even possible) than the Vega & Pinto, had horrible driving dynamics, and broke down a lot, but that was American Motors of the time.
Worked one job in the late 1970s where our small local fleet was switched from AMC Matadors (V8, 16 mpg on leaded regular, 4 doors, seated 6, 20 gal. tank) to Pintos (could hardly get out of its own way (VW diesels were quicker at low speeds), 18 mpg on unleaded, seated 2 (back seat unusable - same in the Vega and Gremlin), 10 gal. tank). Do the math...
Chrysler was later into the tiny car game; their initial US-built entry (Horizon) was a slightly bloated and poorly-assembled VW Rabbit-style thing, but it was better than the others. Best small car they had in that period was the Dodge Colt, which was really re-badged Mitsubishi, with the "twin-stick" manual transmission (4 speed with high & low range).
IIRC, the Vegas were built with plugs in the fuel, brake, and water lines, so when they were tilted up in the Vert-a-Pak the fluids wouldn't all run out. Unloaders or dealers were supposed to remove the plugs before delivery, and did, some of the time... I presume the other brands were shipped using normal auto-racks.
Vegas were also rustbuckets: Dad had an assigned car from work that lasted only about 2 years in the Bay Area before the entire cowl below the windshield rusted through and the glass fell out. Also, there were SF hills that it simply could not climb.
Pintos were firetraps until the 5mph bumper requirement came around - at which time Ford had to add enough structure behind the rear wheels that the gas tank acquired a little bit of crash protection.
Gremlins were Hornets with the back end cut off; they were heavier with poorer gas mileage (if that was even possible) than the Vega & Pinto, had horrible driving dynamics, and broke down a lot, but that was American Motors of the time.
Worked one job in the late 1970s where our small local fleet was switched from AMC Matadors (V8, 16 mpg on leaded regular, 4 doors, seated 6, 20 gal. tank) to Pintos (could hardly get out of its own way (VW diesels were quicker at low speeds), 18 mpg on unleaded, seated 2 (back seat unusable - same in the Vega and Gremlin), 10 gal. tank). Do the math...
Chrysler was later into the tiny car game; their initial US-built entry (Horizon) was a slightly bloated and poorly-assembled VW Rabbit-style thing, but it was better than the others. Best small car they had in that period was the Dodge Colt, which was really re-badged Mitsubishi, with the "twin-stick" manual transmission (4 speed with high & low range).
IIRC, the Vegas were built with plugs in the fuel, brake, and water lines, so when they were tilted up in the Vert-a-Pak the fluids wouldn't all run out. Unloaders or dealers were supposed to remove the plugs before delivery, and did, some of the time... I presume the other brands were shipped using normal auto-racks.
