What is claimed to be the world’s largest time capsule was opened, and it contained an infamous GM model. The time capsule located in Seward, Nebraska was established in 1975 to be opened in 2025, and one of its treasures was a 1975 Chevy Vega. It was brand new when it was put in the time capsule and hasn’t been touched since.
Local ABC outlet KLKN reports that the time capsule was created by Harold Davisson, owner of the House of Davisson furniture store, where the items were brought after the time capsule was opened. The Chevy Vega was one of the most notable items, and the daughter of the man who created the time capsule was impressed with its condition.
“It was unbelievable to me that after 50 years, the colors were that bright and that the whole car was in that good of shape,” said Trish Davisson Johnson. One of the Vega’s roommates for the last 50 years is a blue Kawasaki enduro motorcycle, also in impressive condition a half-century later.
Only a few seconds of video footage of the Vega are publicly available, but it does, indeed, appear to be in good shape. It’s a 2-door notchback Chevy Vega finished in Bright Yellow with a brown interior. The only noticeable flaw is some rust on the front of the hood.
The 1975 Vega’s base engine was the 2.3L I4 L13, rated at 78 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque. The optional L11, courtesy of a 2-barrel carburetor, bumped those numbers to 87 hp and 122 pound-feet, and it’s unclear which engine this one has. Judging by the brief glimpse of the cabin in the video above, this one has a 4-speed manual transmission.
The Vega is claimed to have zero miles on the odometer, raising questions of how it was actually placed in the time capsule. The intention is to get the car into a roadworthy mechanical condition so it can be driven in Sewar’s Independence Day parade on Friday.
Comments
Pretty cool story. Thanks.
It’s possible in those gm cars that the mechanical speedometer was driven by a mechanical cable from the transmission tailshaft. Simply disconnect it and speedometer won’t function. Hence no miles. But actually true zero miles is a question as it would have something from the build factory then driven to a loading location the moved @ the selling dealership
Just unhook the speedometer cable from the back of the speedometer was easy to do. It you pull the cable/gear out of the transmission you have to plug the hole or you have a big leak. Back in the day people used to hook electric drills to the speedo cables and run them in reverse to roll back the odometer miles. It took a while but people did to cheat the buyer of a used car. Of course it was illegal but it happened.
If it truly has zero miles, I wouldn’t drive it in the parade (flatbed it at least). Zero miles is beyond rare. Putting a single mile on it will ruin that specialness.
What is special about one of the worst cars ever made?
I doubt the current Trax will come close to that but higher mileage examples are starting to show issues.
DAVID……It would be impossible for the car to have zero miles. The lowest I have ever heard of was between one and one half to eight.
Unlikely, but not impossible. It could have been trailered. If it was purchased specifically for the time capsule the customer might have picked it up or had it delivered directly to the time capsule?
I actually bought a ’73 hatchback. Trailering would have been the only reliable way to insure that it made to the capsule site. These POS were the premier example of 1970’s GM junk. It’s only historical significance is that it helped open the door for US buyers to the Japanese car manufacturers from that era. Like most GM cars then, the Vega came with a 12000 mile/ 1 year warranty that in reality was pretty much worthless. 12001 miles or 366 days after leaving the dealer most of these were destined for burial or headed to the scrap yard.
I owned a ‘76 Chevy Vega wagon and drove it as a daily driver for over 8 years. It was a great little car and it only required regular maintenance!
The early ones were bad because of the aluminum blocks. The cylinders word quickly and they burned tons of oil by 40k miles. However this was corrected with the “Iron Duke” 4 cylinder engine which was very reliable. My dad had a 1977 which was the last year for the Vega, I believe it came with an extended warranty and was a pretty good car.
I had a 75 Vega that I bought new, drove it for 10 years, last drive was to the scrapyard due to rusting out, 232000 miles and never an engine problem. On to the Chevy dealer, bought a new 85 Cavalier, another car that gave me no problems.
They test drive the vehicles. Also, distance is added as the car is moved from shipping lot to the truck and from the truck to the Dealership lot. These lots can be on site or a mile or more away from the dealership.
my new “ordered” silverado had 8 miles when i picked it up.
Just unscrew the cable from the back of the speedometer and no miles register on the odometer.
That crapmobile should have stayed in storage.
Nah put an LT4 in it… 🤣🤣
Is there any indication what dealer originally provided the car? Maybe it was Rosen-Novak in Omaha? Nobody walked away from Rosen-Novak. Nobody.
Man if that had been a Kammback Wagon I would have thrown my entire bank account at it. Not kidding.
I had a 1975 Kammback wagon in copper with tan interior. It had the basic I4 engine and automatic transmission. It was very strong, withstanding two collisions, one from a 1978 Ford Farlane, and one from a rogue school bus (both collisions were repaired). One option it never had but I added it was a rear window wiper. In 1985 I sold it to a Camaro racer owner who crahed his ride. He transplanted the Camaro’s powertrain (V8 enhine, transmission, and rear end). Later he won sevetal races with it.
I still have the GM factory service manuals, so if anyone is intetested, post a request here.
The rust at the bottom corners of the windshield and over the headlights was quite a problem. However, they were an economical compact and served their position in the Chevy lineup.
Took my drivers test in my grandmother’s silver notchback in 1974. Think hers was a ’71 or ’72 she bought new. Sold her ’57 two-ten. The Vega drove like a go cart. Long time ago. Damn.
Drop in a small block Chevy.
That was done to my Vega. Read my post above. I was interested in putting in a Buick V6.
Worlds best Vega is at Epcot in the large globe. It was installed new and never left.
Mine was second best. It had a second life as a race car!
I don’t understand the down-votes on comments about how lousy of a car the Vega was. To be sure it is interesting and cool that the car was placed in the capsule and kept for 50 years. But that doesn’t change the fact (yes, fact) that the Vega is a historically bad vehicle.
If you’re curious. 1975 Vega cost about $3,000 or $18,000 in today’s money. At 5% over 50 years the $3,000 would be worth about 35,000.
I biught a 72 Vega GT wagon with 32 miles for $14k last year
I bought a 72 Vega GT wagon with 32 miles for $14k last year
Its the base model Vega notchback with s 4 -cylinder, one-barrel engine and 3-speed manual transmission
Chuck Norris owns a 1975 Vega with negative 107 miles on it….
One of the best and easiest engine mods was to install the aluminum Buick/Olds 215 V8’s-fit like a glove.