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Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Browse our products on Amazon: The Chevy Vega should have been a success for GM, with over 2 million units sold during it production run. However, the car gained considerable attention for its engine overheating woes and body corrosion problems. The 1976 model solved some of these issues and represented a final push by GM to save the design , but despite this the Vega name was abandoned in 1977 after a mere six years on the market. This film was presented by Chevrolet to promote the 1976 Vega Hatchback Coupe car, in a last-ditch effort to save the mark. Engineers designed this improved Vega model to endure constant driving in high temperatures and push back against the claim that the car's quality was poor. Three of these cars collectively drove 180,000 miles through Death Valley, only pausing for gas refills and maintenance starting August 1st until September 30th in 1975, to demonstrate the durability of the model. The public relations effort failed to reverse opinion about the car, and GM terminated the mark in 1977. “Vega Death Valley Engine Durability Run” title banner (00:06). Bird’s-eye view of the Death Valley national park in California (00:12). Three Chevrolet 1976 Vega Hatchback Coupe cars powered by an inline four-cylinder engine driving over 60,000 miles in total through the valley 24-hours a day for the blazing summer heat to demonstrate the car’s engine durability and heat resistance (00:27). A map of the route going from Las Vegas, through the Amargosa Desert, to the town of Beatty, to the ghost town of Rhyolite, then turning in the Stovepipe Wells, and continuing to the town of Furnace Creek, and then returning to the Death Valley Junction (the Amargosa Desert), then to Shoshone and Pahrump, and finally back to Las Vegas (01:10). The three cars driving off-road for special laps (01:46). A large Chevrolet crew inspects the cars, the drivers are exchanged, and the gas tanks are filled at a truck stop near Las Vegas on route 15 three times every day (01:55). The cars exit the truck stop and continue driving laps on the Death Valley route (02:56). The narrator explains the “Coolant Recovery system” (03:28), followed by the “New Radiator Pressure Cap” (03:37), and the “Stainless Steel Head Gasket” (03:42), the “Redesigned Thermostat” (03:47), the “Water Pump Shield” (03:49), the “Cylinder Cooling Slots (03:53), the “Special Sealers” (03:59), and the “Early Warning System” (04:07). The cars continue the lap through the desert (04:16). The cars arrive at the truck stop at nightfall (04:46). The Chevrolet crew preforms the safety procedures and maintenance and fill the gas tanks, as the drivers alternate (04:59). They cars exit the truck stop the continue driving laps on the route (05:24). They drive through the ghost town of Rhyolite (05:45). The finish line on the final lap on the day of the run’s official completion (06:06). Crew members collects all results certified by the United States Auto Club (06:09). Recaps of the Death Valley Run (06:29). Static and cut footage from a different film titled “Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother” (07:04). Different boats sailing (07:07). The Chevrolet Vega was manufactured and marketed from 1970 to 1977. Available in two-door hatchback, notchback, wagon, and sedan delivery body styles, all models were powered by an inline four-cylinder engine with a lightweight, aluminum alloy cylinder block. Variants included the Cosworth Vega, a short-lived limited-production performance model. The Vega received praise and awards at its introduction, including 1971 Motor Trend Car of the Year. Subsequently, the car became widely known for a range of problems including its reliability, safety, propensity to rust, and engine durability. We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
