1974 Vega Panel Wagon

Garage Projects:
Darth Vega
IMSA style road race car – “Darth Vader’s Street Car“

A list of the modifications:

Rear bumper: 5 inches removed from the middle.
Ends modified to be smooth with the side of the car
Rear bumper: Moved in 3 inches and up 3 inches.
Fabricated steel lower valence
Fabricated a diffuser under the rear of the car
Rear bumper: Protruding carriage bolts removed and studs welded in for smooth bumper finish
Taillights modified to be smooth with the body, eliminating protruding taillights. Fabricated steel rear deck spoiler Ala 80’s style Funny cars
Side marker lights shaved
Fabricated rear steel fender flares, inner and outer for wider tires
Upper quarter panel side vents shaved
Rain channel/edge shaved from windshield post to the rear hatchback
Recessed, gasketed side panels removed and flat sheet metal was welded in from the roof down to the top of the 1/4 panel
Machined door handles
Side view mirrors molded into the door
Modified IMSA style fiberglass front fenders allow fat front tires
Modified fiberglass Z/28 hood to allow Ram Air into fabricated steel under-hood shaker air cleaner
Added spoiler on the rear of the hood scoop and air cleaner to match the rear deck spoiler
Fabricated Lightning Bolt valve covers with holographic metal flake paint. 1/4 inch metal-flake
Fabricated one off custom grille, Front bumper carriage bolts replaced by flat Allen bolts to smooth bumper
Added 4 inches to front spoiler and fenders to get it lower to the ground
Fabricated a splitter for the lower edge of front spoiler and lightning bolt spill plates
350 Chevy V8, Borg Warner T-10 4-speed trans, Headers by Doug
Fabricated flat firewall
6-point roll cage
Fabricated frame connectors
Shortened 8 3/4 Mopar posi rear end
Tubular rear suspension control arms
Rear Pan-hard bar added
Road race sway bars installed front and rear
Vintage American racing wheels
Blitz Black paint

Once upon a time…

Fresh out of high school, I spent all my savings on a brand-new Chevy Vega Panel, ordered straight from the factory. Growing up, I devoured Hot Rod, Car Craft, and Popular Hot Rodding magazines, built model car kits and slot cars, and worked on a 1956 Chevy with my best friend Ken, as well as a 1960 Ford Falcon with an SBC. This Vega was my first new car.

Initially, I planned to build a Pro Stock-style street car, inspired by the Vega Pro Stock drag race cars at the time. But since drag cars don’t handle corners well, I pivoted toward a road-race-style build instead. Drawing inspiration from everything I thought was cool back then—plus some influence from Ken—I knew one thing for sure: it had to have a small-block Chevy and a 4-speed. Most V8 Vegas at the time had automatics, but I wanted something different.

Luckily, I had access to a welder and got straight to work, modifying every part of the car. Warning: Continue at you own risk and mental health.

In 1973 – also known as ‘many years ago’

1974-DSCN7801 — A 1974 Chevy Vega Panel, factory-ordered in 1973, equipped with tinted windows, a 4-speed transmission, and a day/night mirror.

1974-DSCN7802 — A Cal Custom Moon Rise vinyl mural was applied to the steel side panel, and ET mag wheels with wide tires were fitted.

1974-DSCN7806 — Corvette Stinger fiberglass hood scoop added to stock steel hood , Swap meet Thrust side pipes and fiberglass spoiler added. Raceway Park circa 1975

1977-DSCN7810 — In !980 A 350 Chevy V8 with a Borg Warner t-10 4 speed was installed using a Motion Performance swap kit and clutch linkage..

1977-DSCN7811 — Fiberglass bucket seats, Grant steering wheel, SW gauges and Sun super tach.

1977-DSCN7809 — The upper rear quarter air vent was removed, and the rear deck spoiler was custom-built using a steel gas line tubing frame, with sheet metal carefully shaped over a 2×4 wooden form.

1977-DSCN7808 — While driving to work on Route 80 West, I snapped a Strange Engineering axle, sending sparks flying as I slid onto the shoulder. I quickly jumped out of the car to chase down a slow-rolling M50 tire before it could crest the approaching hill. Note the side pipes.

1977-DSCN7807 — Road race fiberglass fenders and a front air dam were installed. The rain edge/dip rail was removed, and sheet metal was welded in to eliminate the factory recessed rubber-gasketed steel panels, creating a smoother side profile. A shortened 12-bolt posi rear with Strange axles was fitted, along with 14-inch-wide M50 tires and machined (not polished) American Racing wheels. To accommodate the wider stance, custom steel inner and outer fender flares were fabricated.

1977-DSCN7812 — A shortened Mopar 8 3/4 Posi rear end was installed. Strange Engineering recommended this setup since their race axles weren’t suitable for street use. Unlike 12-bolt street axles, which are tapered and can’t be re-splined, Mopar street axles allowed for re-splining, making them a better fit for the build.

2010_05_23 058 — The car was parked in 1983 to work on other projects

2010_05_23 078 — Love those American Racing wheels

2010_05_23 083 — Swap meet side mirrors were molded in the doors by adding sheet metal.

2010_05_23 069 — a bit rusty after 32 years in garage

Other Projects

While the ’74 Vega panel-wagon was in storage for 32 years, other exciting things were happening:
Note: This is just a preview of the complete Other Projects gallery which appears at the end of this post.

VegaBO — Other projects: In 1977, with the help of my friend Skitch and my brother Tom, we built a 1972 Vega drag car. We bracket raced it until 1984.

FB-E-Town — Other projects: Wheels up at E-Town

2018-06-05-Vega 056 — Other projects: In 1987 I bought a Pantera and modified it to GT5 specs

DragsterAtlanta2 — Other projects: Dragster in Atlanta

See the complete Other Projects gallery at the end of this post

Blowing off the cobwebs

After 32 years in storage, it was time to repair, restore, and try out some new ideas. Body work, chassis restoration, and looking good under the hood.