As of May of 2012, this car is owned by Todd Sondles of Graham, NC.
This 1976 Chevrolet Vega is #3,231 of roughly 3,500 Cosworth models produced in 1975 and 1976. It is located in Graham, North Carolina and has been fitted with the 2.4L Ecotec inline-four and 5-speed manual transmission from a 2006 Pontiac Solstice roadster. The car was acquired by the seller out of Florida in 2010 as a painted roller without a drivetrain. Sourcing and installation of the Solstice drivetrain components were performed by the seller, and the car has also been modified with a 5-lug conversion and the front brakes from a Chevrolet S-10 Xtreme pickup truck. This Cosworth Vega is now being offered with the original build sheet, records covering the modifications, and a clean North Carolina title in the seller’s name.

The seller states the shell had no evidence of rust repair when he acquired it eight years ago. The body wears Cosworth badging, lettering, and stripes, including around the wheel arches, body sides, and rear.

This Vega is fitted with 15″ Torq Thrust-style wheels in place of the original Cosworth model gold wheels. Michelin Primacy MXV4 all-season touring tires are sized 205/60 and show 2010 date codes.

The seats have been re-upholstered, and the rear hatch area is pictured in the gallery below.

The dashboard has been fitted with an aftermarket stereo and retains its numbered Cosworth Vega dash plaque, showing this example to be #3,231. Aftermarket instrumentation includes a digital odometer that reportedly shows 8,500 miles, which reflects the distance driven since the build was completed. The drivetrain is said to have just under 10k miles.

An Ecotec 2.4L inline-four has been fitted in place of the original DOHC 2.0L Cosworth four. The emissions equipment has been removed, and the aftermarket header and the rest of the exhaust system have received a Jet-Hot coating. The seller reports that the car is fitted with a 3.42:1 rear end with replacement gears and seals.

The front brakes were sourced from a Chevy S-10 Xtreme, and the car features 5-lug hubs at all four corners in place of the Cosworth Vega’s original 4-lug units.

This Vega is being offered with its original build sheet and some spares, and the seller states that he also has records for the build

Well, it looks like my bud, Richard, beat me to getting back into CVs. He just bought #3231 from Gary. We are to pick up the car and all of the many spare engines, transmissions and parts, parts, parts tomorrow, if it ever stops raining in Clearwater/St. Petersburg, FL. Gary has been doing a ground up resto on this car for seven years. It is really nice and only needs the engine and trans completed and some minor TLC issues to be complete.

When I was the Region V Director in the late 80s,Richard Schruefer was a member and previously owned #0127, #1777 and a 1976 (can't remember the #). I had previously owned #0709 and half of the 1976 with Richard.

He will be rejoining the CVOA, but he does not have a computer, that's me. We currently room together, but I will be moving on. So Richard will not be able to communicate on Yahoo! or the CVOA online.

Richard is now officially retired and is hunting for a small house with enough land to erect a 40'x60' to 80' garage for his 13 HBody cars. One of his projects is a 77 Monza Spyder Z01 into which he will install the spare CV engine and 5 speed transmission. He is also working on transplanting a 215 ci Rover (Buick) aluminum V8 engine (which he just bought) into his 1988 Isuzu Impulse Turbo.

Ahhh, what fun things happen when your retired! JD and Richard. Yahoo Post

Sold to Richard Schruefer who lives in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg FL area. This car has been undergoing a
ground up restoration for 7 years and needs only the engine and trans completed and some small TLC work to finish
it.

Began installing a rear spoiler in February of 2003.
An update on #3231. I have been back at it and things are coming along good. The refinished wheels
look great (much better than the first time I did them in 97). Most of wiring is back in, rear end is now in
but the list seems to get bigger than smaller. As far as the wheel refinishing went, I mounted the wheel
on a brake rotor then on a brake lathe and used it to machine the outer wheel lip. Worked out perfect
although it was a little tricky doing the beveled part toward the wheel spokes. Advice! If you have the
money send them to Wheel Medic, it may not be worth the hassle to do it yourself. I’m just cheap! But
anyways I think I may actually get this thing done by the end of the year!! 6 years after I started! Gary
Tonawanda #3698, EFI # 3378 block casting # T0406ZCB, VIN 1V77O6U221062

Just a quick hello message. My name is Gary Wachowiac of St. Petersburg, FL (aka coswac). While I
have been a member of the CVOA since about 97, I am new to this Club. I own #3231 black /sport cloth
interior /5‐speed. I have had this car since 97 and worked on it real hard for about a year and half
before getting distracted with life. Well I’m feeling the bug to get back into it again and maybe the word
completion will appear. I recognize a few names on this board from the CVOA so I kinda feel a little at
home. Also over the past few years I’ve had 3 other Cosworths, so if you’re keeping track of numbers,
#0658 has been dismantled and discarded. A couple of years ago I sold a white with firethorn, 4‐speed,
Hutton Weber conversion, to a gentleman in Miami, but I don't remember the dash number. Gary
(coswac)

Posted on Facebook Cosworth Vega Owners Group Page – 8/22/17
“anyone know the whereabouts of #3460? I used to own the car and sold it to a guy in Florida. I have tried to
keep track of it in case I could by it back. I currently own #3233. The last I knew of it was he was trying to sell
the car through a dealer that was eventually shut down because the owner was arrested on Federal charges.
My guess is that it might have been confiscated as evidence as part of the investigation. Either still being held
or sold at a government auction”

In 2008, now owned by Guy's son David Thrams, who now lives near Charlotte, SC. Still owned by him in
2014..

According to the Region 12 September 2000 newsletter, this is a firethorn car with cloth interior, 4
speed, 53k miles, radio delete, new fuel lines, brake lines, new dash plaque, exterior in good condition
with minor rust, a second owner, the car had been stored for 7 years.

According to a sign‐in sheet of the Northeast Ohio Twincammers circa 1980, this car belonged to Dave
Thrams of 121 Oxford Road, Lexington, OH 44904.

According to Robert Bowen’s January, 1978 Registry, this car then belonged to Guy Thrams, 121 Odford
Rd., Lexington, OH 44904.

Unknown Date. I was wondering if there is a new type of spark plug that I can put in my Cosworth. Like Bosch or NKG to
get a better spark. Sometimes my car dies on me when it gets warm. When I take the #1 spark plug out
and put it back in it will start. Maybe the coil is going bad‐‐I just do not know. Steve Roberts #3235
steveandrhonda@worldnet.att.net

Spoke to Steve in January of 2004. He lives in Ashville NC and reports his car is white with a firethorn interior. It
has been completely restored, including new paint, and he is now about to have the block sleeved and the engine
rebuilt. He has owned the car for more than 20 years. He has removed the pulse air system. Ed.

MICHIGAN INFO INCORRECT

Owned By Fred Keiffer in Atlanta, GA area in the 80's and most of the 90's.
He sold car around 1997.

White Exterior, Firethorn Interior. Custom Side Blue Stripe, possibly dealer installed.

Hutton Engine, Dobi front spoiler, fog lights attached to bumper

Unknown Date. Supposedly later owned by someone named Bailey who lived in MI.

According to Robert Bowen’s January, 1978 Registry, this car then belonged to Leo Sowers, 627
Renshaw, Rochester, MI.

Millard (Sonny) Thompson from Vermillion, South Dakota wants to sell his 1976 CV #3237. The car is not
running, but engine will turn over. He believes it is a fuel problem and needs an in‐tank fuel pump. The
engine is equipped with Webers. It is a 4‐speed car from Arizona and needs restoration. Doesn't look
too bad in the b&w photo. He is asking $1250 obo. Sonny's telephone number is 605‐665‐6303. The
car can be seen online @ www.dealsonwheels.com. Yahoo Post.

Engine swap completed, engine bay resprayed, new brake cylinders and master cylinders installed. Weber carbs rebuilt.

Took the car out for a spin and noticed oil leak under car. Got it back home and found that the oil pump had developed a leak. Put car on lift and pulled front of motor off along with oil pan and replaced gaskets and seal. Upon re-assembly encountered 2 stripped bolts. Heli-coiled them and re-assembled and leak persisted. After tearing back down, found one of the coils did not go deep enough into the block. Fixed and re-assembled. Leak still there... dumps oil in the cavity behind the oil pump / oil filter. Decided to replace the engine. Shopped around and bought a Hutton built engine from Richard Schruffer in Dade City, FL. This is an engine that came out of Firethorn #3212. Ongoing project to reseal the engine and re-install Hutton BD3 cams.

As posted in 2014 I finally did get an offer to sell the car but at the last minute, "common sense prevailed" and I decided to keep the car. I AM SO GLAD I DID. Over the last year the defective tach has been replaced by the guy on eBay that replaces the circuit board with a modern components board. The car has been regularly started up and run a bit. In fact just replaced the battery today! It was washed and waxed about two months ago and STILL is kept in my shop under a car cover when not in use.

With retirement on the horizon I have decided to sell my fully restored 1976 Cosworth Vega, dash
number 3241. I purchased this car in 2000 here in Florida where it was originally sold by Spence
Chevrolet of Daytona Beach. I then spent the next 3 1/2 years stripping it down and restoring it. The
ONLY rust areas was the typical, under the battery tray and a spot on the rear panel where the
hatchback meets the lower body. This was completey repaired and a replacement NOS battery tray
welded into place. I was told by the seller in 2000 that the car had been in an inside storage facilty for a
number of years. The paint still looks as good as it did after the restoration. The car has always been
stored in a garage under a car cover. In fact, it has only ever been rained on twice!
At the time I purchased this vehicle I also owned Cosworth Vega dash #2474 that I bought from the
original owner in North Carolina in 1980. Unfortunately that car had serious rust problems and was
never restored, although it did have a very good engine that had been sleeved at 20K miles. During my
ownership of that car I only put 35K miles on it. The reason I am giving background on this old car was
that at the 2007 Cosworth Vega annual meet, I threw a rod in this car I am selling now while auto‐
crossing it. That was the first and LAST time this car was ever driven hard. Since the car did not have the
original engine anyway (was a 1975 engine) and the engine in #2474 had only 56K original miles I simply
swapped in the 1976 engine and sold the old car for parts..
In addition to a beautiful looking restoration, this vehicle is also 100% mechanically sound, no leaks or
deficiencies in drive train whatsoever. There are a couple of minor flaws, discoloration around edge of
windshield, the speedometer is 15mph fast as the 5 speed came out of a v6 buick. Also the tachometer
nor clock does not work.

Posted For Sale in eBay:
1976 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega ‐ Dash Number 3241. This car was one of 17 Invitational Cosworth Vegas
at the 2011 GM Nationals in Carlisle, PA. If you know what a Cosworth Vega is, read‐on. Otherwise you
might wish to visit the official website: cosworthvega.com for more information. With retirement on
the horizon I have decided to sell my fully restored 1976 Cosworth Vega, dash number 3241. I purchased
this car in 2000 here in Florida where it was originally sold by Spence Chevrolet of Daytona Beach. I then
spent the next 3 1/2 years stripping it down and restoring it. The ONLY rust areas was the typical, under
the battery tray and a spot on the rear panel where the hatchback meets the lower body. This was
completely repaired and a replacement NOS battery tray welded into place. I was told by the seller in
2000 that the car had been in an inside storage faculty for a number of years. The paint still looks as
good as it did after the restoration. The car has always been stored in a garage under a car cover. In fact,
it has only ever been rained on twice! At the time I purchased this vehicle I also owned Cosworth Vega
dash #2474 that I bought from the original owner in North Carolina in 1980. Unfortunately that car had
serious rust problems and was never restored, although it did have a very good engine that had been
sleeved at 20K miles. During my ownership of that car I only put 35K miles on it. The reason I am giving
background on this old car was that at the 2007 Cosworth Vega annual meet, I threw a rod in this car I
am selling now while auto‐crossing it. That was the first and LAST time this car was ever driven hard.
Since the car did not have the original engine anyway (was a 1975 engine) and the engine in #2474 had
only 56K original miles I simply swapped in the 1976 engine and sold the old car for parts. In addition to
a beautiful looking restoration, this vehicle is also 100% mechanically sound, no leaks or deficiencies in
drive train whatsoever. There are a couple of minor flaws, discoloration around edge of windshield, the
speedometer is 15mph fast as the 5 speedo came out of a v6 Buick. Also the tachometer nor clock does
not work. This is a chance to own a very good example of a rare but under‐rated vehicle.

Unique items about this car (in addition to it being a Cosworth) include:

Factory installed SkyTrends sunroof. Have the original user's manual insert with instructions for
operation. Original driver's door "SkyTrends" decal.(see photos)
Am/Fm 8‐Track that WORKS!
Five Speed Transmission
4:10 Rear Axle
Hutton Motor Engineering dual DCOE‐40 Weber Carburetor conversion
Re‐indexed camshafts for improved performance
After market Front Air Dam
After market Rear Spoiler

Note: Reserve Not Met

As of 2005, this car has been repainted and restored. It is beautiful. Pictures in Photo Registry.

I came back from the Roundup, looked at the CVOA Magazine, and bought the Orange #3241 here in
Florida. To my surprise it has a Hutton Weber Kit (the chrome cover is like many I saw at the
Roundup). I need a new air filter. Is it a custom job or what? Thanks. Jerry
I recently purchased the Orange Cos #3241 with white vinyl and pulled the build sheet to find that it was
originally a 5 speed. It currently has a 4‐speed in and I would like to replace it with a 5‐speed but I don’t
want that funky shift pattern. I have read Mark’s "tips n tricks" and I see that there ARE alternatives.
Has anyone done this recently? What is the easiest conversion, S10, Camaro, or…? What about the
driveshaft? Any gotchas? Right now my speedometer is 25 mph off. Jerry

Listed for sale in 4th Quarter 2001 CVOA Magazine as follows:
76-3241. Orange, white vinyl. Extra motor and parts. Good condition. $3800 OBO. Please call Thomas Gore, Interlachen, FL 386-684-0967