Wild Chevrolet Vega Rocks 650 Horsepower and Wheelie Bars, Still Road-Legal

But the Vega was also controversial. Various problems forced GM to issue three mass recalls, with the largest covering a whopping 500,000 vehicles. The Vega suffered from defective axles, faulty valve-stem seals, and improper rustproofing. Voted Car of the Year in 1971, the Vega quickly became known as an unreliable and unsafe automobile.

Just like the Ford Pinto, the Vega ended up with a negative legacy that impacted its value in the used car market. And needless to say, it's one of the most undesirable classics from the era. The high-performance Cosworth version didn't do much to improve the Vega's image either, even though this special-edition model enjoys a small cult following nowadays.

Sadly, this also means most Vegas were discarded after only a few years of use. The vehicles that weren't scrapped ended up in barns and backyards, and most succumbed to rust. The survival rate of these cars is estimated as extremely low, to the point where only 5% of the two million Vegas made are still out there. And most of those that survived aren't road-worthy.

It's an unfortunate fate even for a nameplate widely regarded as a failure, so I get excited whenever I see a Vega still running and driving. The black example you see here is one of the lucky ones, but this early 1970s Chevy is far from stock. It's probably the wildest and meanest Vega project ever conceived and proves that all classics can have a bright future with the right parts.

Built by the folks over at Bones Fab, this Chevy is a Vega only by appearance. The shell is the only thing they kept from the original car, replacing nearly everything under the roof and the hood. The car rides on a custom chassis, packs a modern V8 engine, and it's as safe as a modern rig. And don't let the drag-spec tires and rollcase fool you; this Vega is still road-legal.

Yup, it's one of those restomods you can drive to the market on a Tuesday and to the race track on Sundays. Exactly how I like them, and a fantastic new life for a subcompact that doesn't get a lot of love nowadays.

But this Vega isn't exactly new to the drag racing life. This coupe has had the same owner since 1974, and it's been a regular at the drag strip in the second half of the decade. The car was rebuilt to modern specs in 2016 and now rocks extremely fat rear tires, a parachute, a fuel cell, and a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) V8.

The latter is an LSX-type lump built by Mast Motorsports and cranks out a whopping 650 horsepower on pump gas. I like to think it's the most potent Vega out there, but even if it's not, that's still mighty impressive. We're talking modern, range-topping muscle car numbers here!

Unfortunately, the Vega doesn't get a lot of action nowadays, and it has yet to hit the drag strip in this configuration. That's because the owner the owner got sick and can't get behind the steering wheel. Well, let's wish him a speedy recovery because this Vega is definitely something to look forward to driving. Crank up the volume before you hit play.