[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by goatless

Did the Vegas have fluids in them when they were hauled this way? It looks like the guy is driving it up onto the ramp. If they did, how did the oil, coolant, gas, etc. not leak all over the place?

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

I think they were shipped totally dry. Contrary to other people's opinions, I actually thought Vegas were pretty cool looking, just not engineered to last.

Originally Posted by pontiacmonstr

did they really haul vegas like that on the trains? what about the fluids leaking? wow, unbelievable!

The actual, definitive answer on the Vega rail shipping:

The cars were full of fluids and driveable; Specially designed components were used to keep the fluids from draining out:

* Unique carburetors, with special chambers so the fuel would not run out
* Special windshield washer bottles
* Special radiator/overflow bottles, etc
* Unique transmissions
* Special battery caps to prevent acid leakage

among other things -

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 70Steve

The second car carrier shot ties in with Pontiacs, PYer Keith Seymore and his old Uncle (IIRC) Joe. The truck in the 1968 ad is owned by FJ Boutell, a company that Keith's Uncle helped start up and drive for, and, a useless bit of trivia, is that the 70 Judge TV ad (where the drivers unload the Judge to take for a private test drive) features a FJ Boutell car carrier as well.

You are correct - good memory!

My uncle Hal drove for Boutell as well.

K

[71GP76TA]

Here is a link to some of Barris' creations.

IMO Most of his "creations" were hideous..... Though his early stuff were works of art.... such as the Hirohata Merc etc...

http://www.barris.com/gallery_cars/K...s/kustoms.html

[MikeNoun]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

The actual, definitive answer on the Vega rail shipping:

The cars were full of fluids and driveable; Specially designed components were used to keep the fluids from draining out:

* Unique carburetors, with special chambers so the fuel would not run out
* Special windshield washer bottles
* Special radiator/overflow bottles, etc
* Unique transmissions
* Special battery caps to prevent acid leakage

among other things -

K

Keith, I didn't know that!

It's a shame that Chevrolet went to all that trouble to create special components just for shipping Vegas, perhaps they should have put some more thought into the engineering of the car instead of how to ship it?

Still nice looking little cars. My brother had a 73 GT Hatchback, 4-speed, orange with a white stripe, those cool little blacked out 4-spoke mags, and white letter tires. By the early 1980's, we hardly saw any Vegas left on the road in the snowbelt states. The Monza took over the reins.

My brothers 73 Vega ended its life in 1978. He sold it to a guy that was digging a pit in his backyard. He put the Vega in the pit, opened the hatch and windows, and filled in dirt around it. It was a doghouse for his German Shepherd.

Amazing how quickly those cars deteriorated. Imagine going that today with a 4-year old car today! Cars now will last well over 150K miles. Back in the 70's, they were usually all done by 100K, and the Vegas were off the road by the time they hit 40,000, thanks to the lack of steel sleeves in those aluminum blocks. Broken door handles (inside and out), poor materials both inside and out, cheap metal, they were one of the reasons Americans began to look at imports.

But...I still love them! I thought they looked great, especially with a V8 under the hood.

[goatless]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

The actual, definitive answer on the Vega rail shipping:

The cars were full of fluids and driveable; Specially designed components were used to keep the fluids from draining out:

* Unique carburetors, with special chambers so the fuel would not run out
* Special windshield washer bottles
* Special radiator/overflow bottles, etc
* Unique transmissions
* Special battery caps to prevent acid leakage

among other things -

K

Boy, that seems like an awful lot of effort, along with the specially designed rail cars (and presumably loading docks too!), just to squeeze a few more Vegas onto the train!

[Deadhead]

Here are a couple I found recently on another vintage photo thread:

[Deadhead]

Some other lunatics:

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by 71GP76TA

... Barris' creations... IMO Most of his "creations" were hideous...

Agreed. But as I continue working on my '59 GMC, I've gained a new-found appreciation of his "Kopper Kart". With its chop-top, sectioning, channeling, and suspension mods, the roof sits about 20" lower than my truck!

[Brian Baker]

Originally Posted by Deadhead

Some other lunatics:

EGAD !!! Where's an RPG or two when you need one? Hippies suck.

[Brian Baker]

Originally Posted by Deadhead

Here are a couple I found recently on another vintage photo thread:

What's the difference between a Hoover and a Harley?

The position of the dirt bag.

[OVERULD]

Love those old hippies and choppers photos - cool stuff.

As for the Vegas - I had a buddy in high school/college that had a grey hatch back. We drove the car back and forth between Chattanooga and Knoxville during college - had a blast in it. By the time he graduated college, it was done. I think he just left it parked in the apartment complex parking lot when he left Knoxville the last time...didn't think it would make it home and wasn't worth hauling or the cost of an ad to sell it.

BJ

[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

EGAD !!! Where's an RPG or two when you need one? Hippies suck.

I think Kesey has one on top of that bus. Probably to take out the Hoovers.

Is that a school or a hospital where all those choppers are parked? Kind of weird building with the red cross flag on it?

[MikeNoun]

Bad ass Vega...

[MikeNoun]

Daytona Beach in the 70's

[Bill Holm]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

What's the difference between a Hoover and a Harley?

The position of the dirt bag.

Dirt bag?

[Brian Baker]

Yes...dirt bag.

My friend had a '73 Road Runner in high school...not much, 318. We came across a Vega on night with a 350 small block in it and got smoked.

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

Yes...dirt bag.

What is it you don't like about Harleys and the folks who ride them? I rode one for years and have a lot of friends who still do and I wouldn't consider any of them to be dirt bags - in fact, pretty much any one of them would give you the shirt off his back. Not much difference between them and car guys - we're all gear heads.

BJ

[Brian Baker]

Originally Posted by OVERULD

What is it you don't like about Harleys and the folks who ride them? I rode one for years and have a lot of friends who still do and I wouldn't consider any of them to be dirt bags - in fact, pretty much any one of them would give you the shirt off his back. Not much difference between them and car guys - we're all gear heads.

BJ

Not talking about "weekend warrior" types.

I'm talking about "dirt bags".

And it was just a f**king joke, so get over yourselves.

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

Not talking about "weekend warrior" types.

I'm talking about "dirt bags".

And it was just a f**king joke, so get over yourselves.

Oh..well that certainly explains it - it was just a joke. See for a minute there I thought maybe one of them had stomped your A** at some point in the past and you were still sore about it. Glad we got that cleared up.

BJ

[Bill Holm]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

Not talking about "weekend warrior" types.

I'm talking about "dirt bags".

And it was just a f**king joke, so get over yourselves.

Sigh... Apparently some things never change.