The Chevrolet Vega was manufactured by General Motors from 1970-77. The subcompact car featured a four-cylinder engine that generated less than 100 horsepower in order get good gas mileage. 

Jim and Crystal Fields’ 1975 Vega Kammback is the polar opposite of the factory-produced car. With twice as many cylinders and five times as much horsepower – which results in less than 2 miles per gallon – this is far from the Vega wagon your mom drove to the grocery store.

The car is far from its original factory condition. In fact, it’s far from everything that GM had in mind for the car when it was produced. This car is all hot rod and race car. 

Replacing the original 140 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine is a balanced and blueprinted 350 cubic-inch V-8, bored .60 over to make it 355 cubic inches. Dual Holley 650 CFM four-barrel carburetors sitting atop a Holley aluminum Pro Dominator intake delivers the fuel through the aluminum heads to the thirsty Wiseco pistons. The steel crank engine packs a 12:5-1 compression ration, 630 lift competition cam to produce more than 550 hp.

All this power is delivered through a GM PowerGlide two-speed transmission with a 1:82 first gear ratio and 5,500 stall speed, with a B&M Pro Shifter to a 12-bolt 5:38 rear end. This goes to 14-inch rear slicks on 15-inch rims standing 31 inches tall and 14-inches wide with wheelie bars. The Vega does 6.61 seconds in the eighth-mile, 10.28 in the quarter-mile at 129 mph.

Nothing remains from the factory interior; two racing seats are the only creature comforts. The dashboard has been replaced with a custom-made racing dash. Long gone also are the rear fold-down seats, now replaced with a tubbed-out interior complete with roll bars. And the rear of the car displays two phrases that are almost gospel to drag racers. “He who snoozes, loses,” and “Happiness is a low E.T.”

Jim is a lifelong gear head and racer, but that hobby had to take a back seat when he was raising his children. Now retired, he is building and racing cars again. 

His Vega has its roots in Muncie, where he purchased it about four years ago. Racing isn’t cheap as Jim’s powerful and thirsty engine gets a mere 1.6 mpg, and the required 110 octane fuel – available at only three Southside sites – costs about $6.99 a gallon. And there is also the maintenance.

Although Jim hasn’t raced the past two summers, he’s ready to do so. If you don’t see him at the Muncie track or other drag strips, you may catch him at some car shows and cruise-ins.

By Bill Thorpe

Jack Powers was a long way from cruising in his favorite car back home during his one year of service during the Vietnam War, but he never gave up on his dream. In the following years he owned several exceptional classic cars, which he displayed at shows and cruise-ins.

General Motors launched the Chevrolet Bel Air series in 1955 and continued it through 1975, selling more than 500,000 of these cars as a midpriced line between its Biscaynes and Impalas. The fifth-generation Bel Air, 1961-64, was popular because of its great value – a starting price of $2,400 – and a choice of four engines, which cranked out between 140 to 425 horsepower. The station wagon version of the Bel Air was a huge seller.

Jack purchased his 1964 Bel Air in early 2014 and spent the winter making it show worthy. The seats were still covered with the original clear vinyl plastic, and the floor mats were still factory fresh. A major improvement consisted of moving the three-speed shifter from the steering column to the floor with a Hurst shifter from the 1960s.

He also replaced the 14-inch bias-ply tires with modern Goodrich TA-15 inch radials mounted on Corvette-styled rally wheels. Chrome trim and bumpers were refreshed, and minor painting upgrades were needed to restore the luster to the hood, roof and rear deck. The engine was removed, cleaned and repainted. All hoses and belts and the alternator were replaced. A chrome air filter and valve covers with a rebuilt carburetor and new intake manifold completed the 283-cubic-inch (4.6 liter) three-speed engine. 

Under the dash and between the seats, Auto Meter mechanical gauges for water, voltage and oil pressure were installed for a stunning interior visual effect. The V-8 engine produces 195 horsepower. This Chevy, which shows 86,000 miles on the odometer, is proving to be quite the head turner. 

The Bel Airs of the early 1960s are most remembered for their plush interiors, sport coupe bodies and various engine sizes. Jack’s car would grow in size for the 1965 model, which ushered in the sixth generation with a total change in styling. 
Until next time, happy cruising!