The worst car GM ever built was the Vega

Kinja'd!!! "crowmolly" (crowmolly)
05/15/2014 at 11:58 • Filed to: None

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It's the Vega, and not really a contest IMO.

The damage that the car did to GM's reputation is incredible. From start to finish. Problems all the way from the aluminum block design and issues to the strikes and anger where they were built in Lordstown. It's a bad car when the designers shake their heads at how far they missed the mark and the guys building the cars are so pissed at GM that they intentionally leave parts off of it:

Autos regularly roll of the line with slit upholstery, scratched paint, dented bodies, bent gear-shift levers, cut ignition wires, and loose or missing bolts. In some cars. the trunk key is broken off right in the lock, thereby jamming it. The plant's repair hut has space for 2.000 units but often becomes too crowded to accept more. When that happens, as it did last week, the assembly line is stopped and the workers are sent home, payless.'

They built some real shit over the years but this is the crown jewel is the Vega. Did they sell a bunch of them? Yes. Did they squander years of future sales, especially in the economy car realm due to their reputation? Also yes.


DISCUSSION (14)


Kinja'd!!! 505Turbeaux > crowmolly
05/15/2014 at 12:00

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I am glad the operative word here was "built" or the LeMans would be looking at you hard


Kinja'd!!! crowmolly > 505Turbeaux
05/15/2014 at 12:01

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They use the term "built" loosely here, too. Those line workers were PISSED OFF.


Kinja'd!!! ly2v8-Brian > crowmolly
05/15/2014 at 12:03

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I think it looks good. The bean counters cut too many corners.


Kinja'd!!! crowmolly > ly2v8-Brian
05/15/2014 at 12:05

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I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the engineering lab. Aluminum block but no liners. Hell, the ZL-1 had 'em so they must have known something.


Kinja'd!!! ly2v8-Brian > crowmolly
05/15/2014 at 12:08

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Yeah the cost cutting was ridiculous.


Kinja'd!!!  > crowmolly
05/15/2014 at 12:11

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Bitch please...

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Kinja'd!!! lone_liberal > crowmolly
05/15/2014 at 12:15

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Agreed and it was a shame since it wasn't a bad looking little car at all. The glory that was stuffing a small block in to a Vega almost made it all worth it. Almost.


Kinja'd!!! Pixel > crowmolly
05/15/2014 at 12:24

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1923 Chevrolet M Series Copper-Cooled may be worse.

Chevy planned to build & sell 50,000/month. Instead in the four months of production they managed to make only 759 of them of which 1/3rd were scrapped before they left the factory. Of the 500 that made it to dealers, only 100 were sold, and eventually every single one ever made was recalled & all but 2 were scrapped.


Kinja'd!!! camaroboy68ss > crowmolly
05/15/2014 at 12:24

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I never let my grandfather forget he traded a one year old 1970 Dodge Challenger RT/SE 440 car in on a vega wagon.


Kinja'd!!! offroadkarter > camaroboy68ss
05/15/2014 at 12:39

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did they take his balls as partial trade on that vega?


Kinja'd!!! camaroboy68ss > offroadkarter
05/15/2014 at 12:45

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no, it was either the challenger or the 69 Corvette 427/435 hp roadster that had to go. But he sold the Vette like a month later after trading. He is die hard Chevy guy so I was surprised he bought a mopar till I heard why he did.


Kinja'd!!! offroadkarter > camaroboy68ss
05/15/2014 at 12:51

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none of these were good options in obtaining a vega!


Kinja'd!!! camaroboy68ss > offroadkarter
05/15/2014 at 13:07

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I know but gas crunch, plus my mom and uncle where still very young. Being a die hard Chevy guy pretty much sealed the fate of the challenger. He would be a Chevy guy even if it meant having a crappy one. He then later bought one of the original Luvs.


Kinja'd!!! crowmolly > Pixel
05/15/2014 at 13:13

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That is brutal and is easily the worst car they made, speaking in terms of quality and transportation. What I think sets the Vega apart is the damage it did aside from it's value as a vehicle. It was so bad that it blew the door wide open for imported competition in the economy car market and soured people on GM for a long time. So couple that impact with an extremely poorly built and designed automobile and that leaves the Vega.