1976 Chevrolet Vega Nomad

Anyone know anything about this one? I don't find any mention of a Nomad option in the 1976 Chevrolet brochures. Dealer added option maybe?

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/cto/3841301913.html

 

The 'Nomad' Vega was an aftermarket-modified model, supported by Chevrolet. Really nothing more than some fillers on the door/quarter glass, moldings on the rear gate, and some emblems. Oh, and some paint to make it 2-tone.

 

Cool little retro paint of the times little bugger.

 

there was one of these locally, was a dealer installed option the guy told me? He would not sell me the conversion parts

 

So I read 1976 was the first year of the "improved" engine design. Too late to save the car as production ended with 1977 model.

 

Cool car. Looks like a 4 speed too!

 

I'm not sure, the naughty little automatic had a console shifter like the one in picture too....can anyone see enough of the driver's footwell to see if there's 1 or 2 levers coming down from the lower dash area? And also wonder if the prior owners may have cut holes in the floor boards for that "Yabba dabba doo!" power?? :confused:

 

Griffin says he prefers to have serious American V8 power under his paw!

 

It's a automatic, if it was a 4spd there would be a boot on the shifter very similar if not identical to this 75 Vega.....





It's a interesting option, the Nomad. I never knew it existed, I found another one.....

 

That crappy, vibrating, loud and gutless Vega engine with an automatic. Bet it's a real ball of fire. 0-60 in two weeks. Ha!

Cute little car though. Needs a Buick V6 swap.

 

Yeah, and way back in 1974, I wanted a 'GT' Kammback wagon soooo bad. Couldn't afford a new one, but I found somebody in Arcadia with one in my price range. Went and drove it - had numerous issues, and a salvage title - on a 2-yr old car. Surprisingly (for me), I was smart and passed on it. My lust for the Vega soon passed.

 

No actually in needs a buick 300(aluminum heads and intake) v-8 on Monza V-6 mounts swap. I had one built it myself(had 18 vegas actually) and I can tell you this NO ONE could touch it! Fastest car I ever had.


and BTW with the right intake from an early GT(2bbl 283-307 style carb) and head on the newer bottom end I could roast em in 3 gears of 4. Not so gutless if you know what your doing.

 

This one looks to be an automatic... it also has A/C, but that is to be expected for a Texas car.

From a distance, I like it, but I don't like the vertical shape of the back part of the door frame.

 

It's cute. I like it... Not so much the colors but it looks like it would be a neat little 'round-towner'.

 

Those Vega Nomads were Modified off site by a Company in SE Michigan called Motortown, it was owned by the Self Proclaimed "Father of the Pontiac GTO" Jim Wangers. The Company is better Known for Conversion Work done on The 77 Pontiac Can Ams, and Mustang Cobra II's.
And Vega's tend to get a worse wrap then they Deserve, like Most Cars GM Makes they had worked most of the Bugs out of them by 76/77 they had improved the rust issues (by no means am I saying they had SOLVED the rust issues, they still rusted like most cars of the era) The handle very well if they are equipped with front (yes base model cars did not get a front bar, or the mounting poits welded onto the lower control arms.) The 76 and later cars use a Torque arm rear suspension similure to 3rd and 4th Gen F-bodies. But like most cars of the era they need more HP to be an enjoyable street car, and the 4 cylinder H-bodies need a front disc brake upgrade.

The Nomad package added the previously mentioned Side Glass panels on the Door and rear 1/4 windows. Most if not all had Vynle tops installed, Badges, and the rear hatch had vertical trim peices added to look like the 55-57 Nomad Wagons. The engine issues of the earlier Vega 2.3's were solved by 76, but coupled with an auto trans, and probably 2.93 or 3.08 rear gears this car will be a slug of the line. This car has the Delux interior that gives it the same seats that years Camaro got, and it has a GT Dash pad (the grab bar on the passenger side makes it a GT dash pad) but it has the base model dash board, I do not know if the GT dash pad was part of the Nomad package, or if it was added at some time. It could be a good buy, but would have to be inspected in person to make sure!!!!

Thanks for posting it!!!