BangShifter Tom Loreto send a tip line email in with this car being the subject. Tom’s take? It read as follows: “This is a very BangShifty find. A 500ci Caddy powered, rear engined, Vega Wagon. If someone sorts this thing out so it runs right, it looks pretty f’n cool.” Now we have never met Tom in person but after that email we’re sure that we’d get along just fine because he’s 100% right. This thing does look F’n cool and while is needs to tweaking and work, it does currently function. Lots of times these projects get started, someone hacks the car up and shoved the motor into place and then it all just grinds to a halt. In this case, the car does actually work after being wrenched on at a shop.
The paint scheme is perfectly horrible and we would not change it. The whole car is so nuts, the awful paint really suits it. After all, a package like this is not about taking yourself too seriously, right? The guy selling the thing claims that it feels like the cars wants to pull the front end when he is messing around in his driveway and an earlier owner who had the car in happier times claims that it would pull the front end under the right circumstances. Whether or not that’s true may be up for debate but the ability to tell people that you have a rear engined, 500ci Caddy powered early Vega is the trump card of all trump cards. The sick part is that with all the torque and grunt that engine is making, the thing is probably fun to drive and pretty fast as well.
Someone needs to buy this car and that someone needs to be a BangShifter.
Here’s the text of the ad in case it disappears:
The car was customized with a rear mounted 500 Caddy motor and transmission from a Caddy Eldorado. The engine runs great. The engine specs are: 1970 500, 400 hp@ 4400 rpm, 550 lb·ft@ 3000 rpm , 10.0:1 compression. When I picked it up from the shop, the flexplate is rubbing on something now, so there is a noise from under the car. It did not do that when I dropped it off there a while back. No knocks or smoking. The transmission works good. The tires are dry and should be replaced but hold air. I have a pair for the rear of the car, and I may be able to provide a pair for the front, but no promises.
Now the car runs and moves under its’ own power. It could use some minor TLC to be road ready. It wouldn’t be too safe to drive right now with the dry rotted tires on it. The body also shows its age, and could use some rust repair. Anyway, my lack of time, and my other project, are forcing me to move on.
Here is an email I received from the person that actually built the car: it used to be yellow with good paint and interior. motor and trans was 70 elderado. axles were half caddy and outers were corvair spider 5 lug. dont remember what bushings are in arms. its had at least 2 other owners before you. it used to yank the front tires when i owned it and it was registerad in ct.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE PHOTOS AND THEN CLICK THE CL AD FOR EVEN MORE PHOTOS –
finished it could be a mini Chevanado (Chevarado?), Street Freak at its best
If it were mine, the only thing I’d paint is the engine. Chevy orange on a Cad mill? I think not! That engine needs to be dark blue! There are lots of speed parts for those engines available now. Those things have buckets of torque, no doubt it’ll hang the hoops when all tuned up!
This was in Racing Junk not long ago. Junk,the appropriate word.
Why the gauges in the back with the motor?
Twin turbos, wheelie bars, and Jesus on the dashboard just to remind you to say your prayers
Funny-I was just thinking about this car yesterday.
It was sitting 3 miles down the road from me in Ct. for many years. (it was yellow at the time). From what I remember, it actually had a 350 Chevy up front to begin with.
Shoulda bought it when it $3000 less than now….
If it wasn’t 3000 miles away I would pay what he is asking for it
At 2k I would be all in. It would be a fun little project. But 3,500 is a bit wishful thinking.