Cosworth Vega barn rescue.

Reid Cunningham: After a 30-year sleep, this was pulled from a barn in Aaronsburg, PA, and hauled to it's new home in New Hampshire. Only made in 1975 and 1976, a destroked to two-liter Chevrolet Vega block with a Cosworth Engineering (the Formula 1 folks) dual overhead cam, 4 valve per cylinder head. The first computer controlled fuel injection in a mass produced car, forged internals and a hand welded stainless steel header. An entirely redesigned rear suspension with a locator arm and panhard bar, along with an upgraded front suspension. A hairshirt driving experience, no power brakes, power steering, air conditioning or automatic transmission available. 75's only came in black, in '76 they came in any of the Vega colors. This one is Firethorn Red with the optional 5 speed that became available that year, a 4:10 positraction rear axle and the AM/FM stereo (since it was a Vega, they didn't have speakers on both sides of the car. Instead one channel was in the front and the other was in the rear. You only got true stereo if you say sideways in the seat.). The engines were all hand assembled and the Cosworth cars were sent down a slowed-down production line in batches to get them right. Each came with a numbered dash panel. They were expensive, twice the price of a regular Vega and not much less than a Corvette. 2,000 built for 75, 1,500 for 76, and that was that.
Why do I know so much about this car? I bought if off the rear row of a used car lot in 1986 and drove it for a few years before stashing it in the barn in PA. It was a nightmare to keep running, no one knew how to work on the fuel injection. With the internet and a small but very active owners association, it's actually easier to keep them running now.
The PA house was sold so I needed to rescue it. My middle-school-aged son is excited to work with me on getting it road worthy. Having just moved, that won't happen until at least spring, but we are happy to have it in the garage to begin tinkering. It has some rust, but nothing fatal. The engine will require a lot of checking and TLC before turning over, but the interior is on surprisingly good condition. Wish us luck.

16 Valve Engine Dual Overhead Cam reads the dash plaque.

Unleaded Fuel Only, that transition period.