Have you ever finished watching a YouTube video and happened to see one of the related videos in the sidebar on the right side of the screen, and that video is more interesting than the one you are watching? Happens to us all the time.

Someone had sent us a video link of some chick crying about how much she loves cats and a video on the sidebar led us to another video. That video took us to yet another video, and yet another video after that. Somewhere near the tenth click in a chain of related videos, we finally found the jewel that we were looking for. It’s amazing that we followed the crying cat chick down the rabbit hole only to find something amazingly exciting.

Jeff Schwartz of Schwatz Performance is no stranger to chasing dreams into wonderland. His company specializes in taking classic cars and injecting some modern technology into them. The result is a finished product that represents the way the classic car should have been built in the first place, if the technology had existing at the time.

Schwartz’s 1972 Vega is a prime example of “what could have been” but now is. What makes Schwartz’s project cars so popular is the simple principal of building on a budget. Case in point, this 1972 Vega. Schwartz bought the car, without an engine, for $1,500. Setting a very realistic goal of $5,000 for the complete project, he started by picking up a missing nosepiece and some front sheet metal.

With all the body panels in place, Schwartz scuffed the body and sprayed some metallic brown paint on the exterior to make it look presentable. The interior of the car was in pretty good shape so very little needed to be done there.

Doing most of the work himself, Jeff figured out that a Chevy S-10 rearend, along with with the five lug hubs, brakes and spindles would fit on the Vega if the S-10’s brackets were cut off and the Vega’s brackets were welded on the housing.

A few more quick fabrication details and some handy engine work and Schwartz’s notchback Vega was ready to show what it could do. His goal of building an extremely cool classic performer on a budget was showcased as Schwartz began taking his car out to compete in the Goodguys autocross events to show that even when the economy is not favorable to big dollar car builds, a low bucks budget car can look good and consistently place in the top five.

Performance and classic style on a budget.

Schwartz Performance 1972 Vega Details:
Engine
Type: 2004 5.3L Gen III aluminum-block LM4 from a Buick Ranier SUV
Displacement: 325 ci
Compression ratio: 10:1
Oiling: Stock 2004 Buick Rainier with a Gen III 2002 Camaro pan
Rotating assembly: Stock
Cylinder heads: Stock, 2004 Buick Rainier
Camshaft: Factory LS7 hydraulic roller, 211/230 degrees at .050-inch lift
Valvetrain: Stock 2004 vintage LM4 valves, pushrods, and rockers, Patriot Titanium retainers and locks, Patriot Gold Extreme valvesprings; LS2 timing chain
Induction: LS1 Corvette intake
Throttle body: Camaro 75mm mechanical throttle
Ignition: Stock 2004 Buick Rainier with MSD coil-on-plug
Fuel system: Aeromotive fuel rails and regulator, Holley fuel pump; Stock Buick Rainier injectors
Engine management: 2002 Camaro ECU and HP Tuners software
Front cover: LS2
Exhaust: 2004 Buick Rainier exhaust manifolds, 3-inch custom dual exhaust, modified Flowmaster muffler
Cooling: Be Cool radiator, Factory Rainier water pump
Fasteners: ARP
Output: 400 hp at 6,000 rpm

Drivetrain
Transmission: TH350 three-speed automatic freshened by Ralph Babineau; B&M holeshot,800-stall 10-inch converter; stock Vega shifter, custom crossmember
Rear axle: ’99 Chevy S-10 Xtreme 10-bolt with 3.42 gears, Detroit Truetrac posi, custom suspension brackets
Driveshaft: Schwartz custom

Chassis
Unibody: all body joints seam welded continuous for strength, rear seat back brace seam welded and reinforced
Steering: stock with Flaming River 16:1 Quick Ratio box
Front suspension: custom tubular control arms, Chevy S-10 Xtreme spindles, custom engine bay reinforcement bars, stock Vega springs, Afco shocks, Addco sway bar
Rear suspension: custom tubular control arms (stock Vega four-link geometry), stock Vega springs, Afco shocks, shortened Chevy S-10 Addco sway bar
Brakes: Chevy S-10 Xtreme discs, front and rear

Body & Paint
Paint: scuff-and-shoot PPG

Wheels & Tires
Wheels: Superlite 15×7, front; 15×8, rear
Tires: 225/50R15 BFGoodrich G-Force Sport

Owner: Jeff Schwartz of Woodstock, Illinois

2010 Car Craft Muscle Car Shootout

According to Schwartz, the video below is from “one of our last Autocross runs at the 2010 Car Craft Real Street Eliminator Muscle Car Shootout. We finished Second overall in the Muscle Car (Pre 82) class with a tie for 1st in the Launch Box, 2nd in the Autocross and 3rd in the Chassis Dyno.” Building a super cool classic, with modern performance, that can compete on any track within a budget can be done. Jeff Schwartz has proven it beyond a doubt.