At first glance, this ’76 Vega looks like an old Pro Stock car that has likely been relegated to a life of Super Gas or weekly bracket racing duties. The throwback paint scheme and retro-style lettering lend to the nostalgic feel, while the flat-top snorkel scoop rounds out the old-school essence. This thing looks like it would be right at home in the staging lanes beside such Pro Stock legends as Butch Leal, Bob Glidden and Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins.
Take a glimpse into the cockpit, however, and you’ll find the maroon-and-gold Chevrolet steel hides the heart of a modern pro stocker. Yes, literally. The classic-appearing body sits atop, of all things, a modern Rick Jones-built Pro Stock chassis. While the configuration likely won’t see current NHRA Pro Stock elapsed times, the combination of old and new oozes COOL!
Power comes from a healthy dry-sumped 326-inch small block pulling air and fuel from a pair of 850 Holley carbs and is transferred rearward via seven-inch EastWest clutch to a Liberty five-speed tranny. The Vega rides on Weld Magnum wheels front and back and sits atop a Ford nine-inch rear spinning 40-spline axles. Helping bring the fun to a safe stop is a pair of Stroud air-launched chutes, which add a final touch of technology to the retro-modern Pro Stocker.
The car is currently legal to run several classes in the NHRA sanction, including all classes within Altered Comp. If you have a hankering to have one of the more unique cars at any given race, you can own this gem, as it’s currently for sale over on RacingJunk.
If Pro Stock still required stock or stock appearing bodies and body lines, this is pretty close to what you’d get.