1971 Dodge Demon vs Chevrolet Vega Dealer Promo Film

[@neplains]

Wouldn't this comparison have made more sense if Chrysler had compared their Dodge Demon with a Chevrolet Nova? I would think that a Vega would be in a different class of car.

[@4thstooge75]

They were going with the similarity in cost.

[@myassizitchy]

I think so too. Small chevy and a midsize dodge. 4cyl only car to a v6 or v8. Not fair at all

[@ahoneyman]

Well yes and no. The Vega was a subcompact and the Demon was considered a compact. In today's world it would be comparing a Honda Fit to a Toyota Corolla. Buyers do that pretty often.

[@gojoe2833]

The could have compared the Vega to the Plymouth Cricket or Dodge Colt

[@MargauxHemingway]

Correct¡ The Nova and The Ford Maverik were its rivals. Dodge didn't have any domestic competitor for the Vega/Pinto. So they had to convincente the Demon was a better alternative yo buying a small car.

[@DashcamRiprock]

2:59 "...a brand-new, lightweight aluminum design, that may or may not be durable." I guess we know how that turned out.

[@brent440]

lol softest bore material ever!! that's what they should have said. they were either dumb asses or liars, or both. still are

[@klwthe3rd]

Exactly! Best truth quote of the whole video.

[@robwatts4623]

Remember saying at the gas station...filler with oil and check the gas!

[@christianmotley262]

@@brent440 I designed that engine, you got a problem with it, pal?

[@boataxe4605]

Christian Motley I feel for you, why should you have been expected to know that cast iron ( the head) and aluminum ( the block) expand and contract at different rates, causing the head gasket to blow. And that all the previous successful aluminum engines had steel or iron cylinder sleeves.

[@duanepierson4375]

Mom had a ‘71 Dart Swinger, w/ a 318 and a Torqueflite. Great car, I learned to drive in that car. Sometimes I wish I still had that car. 😊

[@whershkowitz4669]

I haven't seen any Vegas for sale recently on eBay, but Demons in decent shape bring in close to 5 figures, V8s well over $10K. I'll take the Demon hands down

[@GenerationXT]

My dad bought a Vega, total POS. I remember it didn't exactly get great gas mileage either. Better to just get the Dodge with a slant 6 and single barrel carb.

[@mharris5047]

One of my aunts married a guy with a Chevy Vega. It was truly a POS, he replaced the engine at about 40K miles, he dumped it when the second engine went to hell after about the same amount of mileage (fortunately he paid cash for it so he didn't have to deal with a car loan payoff when he dumped it). The aluminum and cast iron parts didn't mate well and General Motors didn't try that one again. Also, I hated riding in that thing -- my 400 pound ass didn't fit very well. Fortunately he also had an early 70's Chevy pickup and after one or two rides kindly used that when I rode with him.

[@jamesculbertson1746]

They should've made a film comparing the Vega to the Colt/Cricket.

[@saxongreen78]

Weird how the pricing worked back then...totally different platforms. Demon (Valiant) was considered a large mid-size / full-size car in UK and here in Australia...Vega is clearly a small mid-size.

[@mharris5047]

Ironic how the names change in the UK. Here in the States the Valiant was a smaller car than the Demon/Duster. The Valiant was a four door car, though. Both came with the 225 slant six as the standard engine, at least in Michigan (I don't recall hearing of any actually equipped with the 198 six cylinder engine).

[@williamegler8771]

I remember tagging along with my parents when they were car shopping. We stopped at the Chevy dealer and test drove the Vega. Same thing with the Pinto. Our final stop was the Buick store. Ended up with a Opel Spotwagon. Lasted over 20 years and 200k miles.

[@MargauxHemingway]

Those Opel/Buick were better cars, german made.

[@jdollinter]

My driver’s ed car was an Opel, remember thinking it was a sharp looking car, especially the interior.

[@captainredneck0683]

That is a Ford Pinto at 4:20, not a Chevy Vega!

[@boataxe4605]

Yeah, well you know what people tend to do at 4:20.

[@robcrossan6274]

Vega with a few improvements would have shifted the tide on Japanese market in the US in the 70s. It was small and economical with the optional GT package offering a handling package, tach and gauges, GT wheels and hotter cam and two barrel carb. It was available in a wagon, sedan delivery wagon, coupe, and hatch. GM had the perfect recipe for a successful car. But they took shortcuts to save money and ended up with customers sorting out the problems GM shouldve found before production. The demon is a cool car but not the same type as the pinto vega or Datsuns , not the same market. You could argue it was still a successful car, by its third model year chevrolet had sold a million Vegas..

[@tommack2832]

yes!

[@zephead843]

Chevy Vega...blown head gasket and warped head at 25k miles. Junk. Not to mention the rust that appeared while still sitting on the dealer lot.

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

That video should have said at the end of it... Look at the Vega it's already rusted out and a quart of coolant is on the ground.... The Demon still has it's paint on it and no leaks...

[@jamesslick4790]

At 4:20 I believe that was a Pinto shown next to the VW, It certainly was not a Vega!

[@71plymouth.]

Hmm,I think you might be right... A very slight mistake?...

[@jamesslick4790]

Likely it was a shot from a Demon vs Pinto film and the editor missed it! PS even as a GM guy, I'll take the MoPar "a" body over the Explosive Pinto or the Vega (with new, exclusive self destructing aluminum engine!) any day!

[@petermainwald6413]

Those arent even real cars!!

[@jamesslick4790]

Probably explain why I thought it looked like a Pinto. It looks toy like. OTOH even a real VW Bug IS a toy car anyways 😉

[@petermainwald6413]

it IS a pinto... just a toy one.. and the VW was better put together than both of them!

[@bboucharde]

Wow! The Demon with the 275 HP V-8 would be a screamer!

[@4thstooge75]

It was! 340 Demons & Dusters were legendary.

[@johntempest267]

275 rating was for insurance rates. It was closer to 330hp.

[@eldo59]

Chrysler didn't make a car smaller than the Valiant/Dart to compare against a Vega or a Pinto. The Valiant/Dart is class equivalent to a Nova and a Maverick.

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

And Vega destroyed it in sales figures...

[@mharris5047]

@@tenfourproductionsllc Two years later, the junkyards got the Vegas and the people went to Chrysler and Ford to buy replacement vehicles. GM had some very nice full size cars but their subcompacts were horrible in the 1970's.

[@bloqk16]

I owned a '74 Vega GT between the years 1978 to 1980 . . . the steering and handling was very good, BUT, the engine and clutch were junk at less than 60K miles, and the rust between the hinges on the rear hatchback was the final straw to rid the car. On the other end of the spectrum, my '91 Honda Civic lasted 21 years, at 235K miles, with the body and engine still in good shape. But, the drivetrain and electricals showed signs of deterioration and I parted ways with the car.

[@davidmizell940]

For your next video you should compare an Imperial to a VW.

[@TheCarCrazyGuy]

Well this video certainly convinced me. I’m getting a Demon, with a 340 of course.

[@midos6767]

If I was a car buyer in 1971 I would pick the Dodge Demon & I'd order mine with the optional 275 HP 340 V8 engine with the 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission.

[@ArchivalPictures]

This was some kind of filmstrip presentation, where the tones would advance the frames automatically. I remember filmstrip front projection kiosks in dealer showrooms, used for promotion.

[@traceydeanrainey]

A Vega with a small block Chevy V8 topped off with a blower and a tubbed rear end was one of the coolest cars that would Cruze on the weekend back when kids would Cruze the strip on weekends and every night in the summer back when I was 13

[@sterlingrozier6380]

Yea , but not the 4cy vega , that model was not a cruiseing on the local strips.

[@rhynosouris710]

My father's brand new Vega lasted a good 14 weeks before the engine turned into a puddle of melted aluminum

[@hansimgluck4965]

😃

[@briansaxby5357]

Guess you're father didn't know how to check on fluids

[@CLee-oo9yl]

You've convinced me. While Vega's "cute" appearance led me to believe that it was the car for me, I've decided to purchase a 1971 Demon instead. Sometimes the older bodystyle is best! Too bad Dodge never made a hatchback!

[@gojoe2833]

How can you criticize the environmentally friendly Vega? It was biodegradable...disintegrated in 5 years or less

[@culcune]

The recycling ability of the aluminum engine was far ahead of its time--before they used to recycle aluminum!

[@garbage854]

Cool, We had a 1971 Green Chevy Vega :)

[@christianmotley262]

I'm sorry

[@garycordle5295]

Both cars are very nice,the Vega GT are very nice hot rods especially the Vega split bumper,my brother has one with a 383 stroker motor,but I love Dodge demon's and Mopars 🔥💯💪.

[@pacbeltrr38]

Well........ That was like comparing a PINTO to a Camaro!!! 😱

[@kuhaku9587]

The girl is so beautiful! Because they never say anything against that Demon, look at those tires.. sooo tiny tiny. The Vega got bigger tires, better grip.

[@oneobserver2260]

He said that the Vega was suppose to be a miniature Nova. I would say that it was suppose to be a miniature Camaro. Also, my first car was a 73 Vega. Great on gas, but terrible on oil. It used three quarts of oil a day! I didn't worry about miles per gallon .I went by miles per quart.

[@mharris5047]

The Vega engine was a real POS, wasn't it? You are lucky the head gasket didn't leak, that was also a problem with the Vega engines.

[@oneobserver2260]

@@mharris5047 In my opinion, the Vega engines were one of the worst ever made.

[@bigfoottoo2841]

I was a 21 year old when I bought a 1972 Vega. 6 months later at 29,000 miles, the oil turned brown. I owed $1500 on it at a time when I was only making $100 a week. I was screwed big time by general motors. Bastards, wish I had bought the Demon.

[@naywahn]

Coulda went the rest of my life, never knowing that there was a 1971 Dodge Demon...

[@johntempest267]

A 340 4-speed equipped Demon may have changed your mind. 275 listed horsepower was way under rated. It was a 350hp beast that would make your girlfriend's nipples hard.

[@overcastfriday81]

Coil springs are superior to leaf springs. The small size Vega, if engineered better, would have an advantage for a commuter who sometimes needs to parallel park. Cars have different missions imho

[@jettrink7510]

As I said back in 1971 "That Chevrolet Vega... that's the car of the future"

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

The Vega should have been called The Demon with that engine from hell!!

[@nlpnt]

At this time Chrysler was taking a "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" approach to the small-car market. Besides an aggressively-priced larger entry-level model (the Duster/Demon) they had THREE captive imports for a while - the Simca 1308 which was highly advanced, the Dodge Colt (Mitsubishi Colt Galant) which was well-built and rugged, and the Plymouth Cricket (Hillman Avenger) which was none of those things.

[@chrisward183]

I should think of a Dodge Demon over a 1973 Vega myself! Vega is too cramped up!!!!

[@buckshot6481]

why was mopar comparing a mid size to a compact? yes we found out about the tin foil four from GM

[@mhdfrb9971]

Baylor58 Duncan it's a compact to subcompact.

[@christianmotley262]

They put Lurch in the Vega to look like OJ Simpson trying on the bloodied glove, oh and the size 15 and half shoe to cover the puny petals.

[@harrisonbounel4735]

Apples to oranges. Demon should be compared to the Nova.. and the Nova was a much better car.

[@GenerallyGeneralLee]

Not a realistic comparison. Demon was a compact, Vega was a sub-compact. A level playing field would have been a comparison between compacts Demon and Nova, or sub-compacts Colt and Vega. I'd prefer the Demon over the Nova, but both sub-compacts stunk.

[@danr1920]

In the first several years of ownership the Dodge would cost less. No trade in value on the Vega, the Dodge was strong.

[@05Forenza]

This strangely sold me on the Vega...

[@PunksloveTrumpys]

Yeah, despite its faults the Vega was a beautiful looking car.

[@4thstooge75]

Do you ever see a Vega on the road? Demons & Dusters are not an un-common sight.

[@clemsonbloke]

"Vega is 8 inches lower than VW" except that they weren't showing a vega but a Pinto, LMFAO! They moved on quickly and didn't say anything else.

[@boataxe4605]

They had a 4:20 moment.

[@chrisward183]

It's a compact alright.

[@petermainwald6413]

HAHAHA Was this a serious comparison?

[@pacbeltrr38]

*NO!*

[@paulmarcoux207]

Wasn't this a joke!

[@jamessawyer8889]

If you notice in the trunk of the Demon you’ll notice that the fuel tank pipe is right in the way of loading luggage on the drivers side so no car is perfect

[@bobtepedino5661]

I sure wish my Dad had purchased a nice Dodge instead of that terrible Vega he bought in 1971...

[@bobtepedino5661]

@Make Me Believe Here in SoCal, I encounter a 1960s or early '70s Dart, Valiant or one of their variants every day. I can't remember when I last saw a Vega...

[@saganich74]

Make Me Believe What college did you go to, Barber or Clown?

[@saganich74]

Make Me Believe I see Clown College, thanks for letting me know. 🤡

[@bradc7882]

How did Toyota do a 4cyl aluminum engine, still running at new with 350,000 miles?

[@boataxe4605]

Sleeved cylinders and an aluminum head so that the head and block expand and contract at the same rate. In other words, they didn’t go cheap!

[@jaymartin4166]

As a owner of both these cars I sold the Demon for more than I paid for it and gave the Vega away to my little sister.

[@stevefranklin3367]

The Demon is actually a mid-size car, unlike the compact Vega. The Vegas were designed to be shipped on rail cars standing on the front end. I think around 16 - 20 per rail car. I understand price comparison issue and know that the Vega was a hurry up to compete with the invading foreign cars and fuel economy. What compact did The Dodge Boys offer? Not sure when the Colt came along but, after all, it was a joint venture too.

[@tommcconnell6893]

Hey. There was a test afterwards. I didn't study.

[@nikita_a_s]

They cost the same price, $2000. Fisher dipped, aluminum block powered Vega and good old Mopar.

[@robakagyser2300]

To compare the 1971 Dodge Demon to the 1971 Chevrolet Vega is a very unfair comparison. The 1971 Chevrolet Nova would have been a better and fair comparison in both class and size. I am sure Dodge was aware of such an unfair comparison to the Vega, and knew they should not compare and/or contrast the 1971 Demon with the 1971 Nova; because the Nova blow the Demon away. That's my opinion at least. Anyways I am a Nova fan, but like the Vega also.

[@adamtrombino106]

I'm a Dodge guy, but I think you're right. The Nova was indeed a good car. We had a used 69 coupe with the 230 6 and 3 speed auto, p/s and p/b. It was a very good dependable car. Rust killed it. I like A bodies, but they were very dated by 71, even more so by 76. Nova lasted until late 79 I believe. The real difference here is looking at just 1 thing.. Chevy made a factory cop car Nova package, whereas the A body never got an official police package, even though some military police and other agencies adapted them for service. That in itself tells 1 how dependable and rugged those cars really were. I had a 73 Valiant sedan, with the 225 and it was loaded. It had factory a/c, p/s, pb, dual outside mirrors, carpeting, deluxe interior, AM FM radio, deluxe wheel covers, frt sway bar, electronic ignition, h/d cooling and electrical groups, etc. While it was a good car dependability wise, it's brakes were terrible. The p/s was very sloppy, even after a new box, and it's ride was very firm, yet heeved over bigger road bumps even with new shocks. I got a chance to drive our old very worn out Nova, and it tracked fine with n/p, very little correction was needed. It's power brakes stopped short and straight, no pull. It took bumps better. It started easier and warmed up quicker. I will say that my Valiant was quieter on the highway, used less gas, and was more powerful to be sure than our old 69 Nova. But the point is testing Vega against a car nearly twice it's size with a completely different rating system in modern standards, is apples to oranges. BUT we all know that the Vega turned out to be a POS, even after the Iron Duke was used.

[@wiibaron]

Demon as so much more car for just $150 price difference...how much was a Nova?

[@terryoquinn8199]

That’s not really a fair fight , poor little Vega never stood a chance ! I do love the 1971 Demon 340 though ! What a sweet ride .

[@deniseb3897]

I noticed that nothing was said about comparing the gas mileage. Though I did have a 1976 Plymouth Volare with the 225 c.i. slant six and automatic trans. I frequently drove the 180 miles to Austin from Houston and averaged 26 mpg at 70 mph. The Volare is also a bit larger than the Demon. Good road car. Considering that maybe their mpg might have been close.

[@wintersbattleofbands1144]

The Volare/Aspen were essentially a reskin of the Valiant/Duster/Demon/Dart. The bigger rear quarter window may have made it look bigger, but it really wasn't.

[@GTX1123]

The Vega was an absolute TURD mechanically. But that Camaro look alike front clip was awesome. Today, if I had my choice between a Dodge Demon or a Vega, both rollers w pristine body and interior, I'd take the Vega. Drop a 383 stroker in that baby.

[@matadorman78]

I do believe the AMC Gremlin offered more options and the like in a package closer to the Vega's size. except the back seat. no one should suffer the back seat of a Gremlin.

[@johntempest267]

They knew you wouldn't have a girl to get in the backseat. She'd be legs up in the back of the Demon.

[@jeffwang6460]

Why does this seem eerily reminiscent of Ford's KZbin ads today?

[@pl5624]

Failed to mention vega hatchback and wagon that demon didnt offer....

[@RobertSabolo-y8h]

Know if you understand the commercial it makes more sense than comparing a little larger car to a little Vega at about the same price

[@bmw-e30]

Vega seems a neater, sporty and better designed car.

[@boataxe4605]

Have you missed all of the comments about the engine?

[@RhinoXpress]

9:45 and so is every modern cars.

[@mhdfrb9971]

SteelCity1981 STFU

[@mikerieck306]

Should have compared the Vega to 200 lbs of cow crap.

[@dave_riots]

The Datsun 510 beat both of these cars, and the Pinto in regards to reliability, pricing, comfort, and practicality.

[@johntempest267]

... maybe, but it sure lost the styling comparison. "Demon gets the girl"

[@dougabbott8261]

What a mistake it would have been if you picked the Vega over the Demon after looking at both.

[@d.m.3645]

Does the brunette come with the Demon?

[@tommack2832]

resto mod Vega's look great! The styling was cool! The drive train not so much.

[@cmmolthr]

Vegas were pieces of junk...Save for the gas tank, even Pinto was better

[@carsfan9588]

But Vegas does not explode.

[@kwanlinus6999]

In short, get a Gremlin

[@chrismd00]

Dodge trying to sell the outdated. Just like today: Vega had coil springs, aluminum engine, bucket seats. Dodge trying to sell bench seats, leaf springs, heavy iron engine!

[@bronzepkmn]

Comparing a vega with a demon lol why

[@milfordcivic6755]

Just think of how many poor souls Chrysler saved from having bought a lemon from GM.

[@Toolaholic7]

The Dodge Demons with the slant 6 sold more than with the 340.The religious groups did protest when the Demon came out in 1970,did not like the model name of the car.Chrysler ended production of the Demon in 1972 for this reason

[@gpilsitz1783]

I remember that, I with parents bought the last 71 Demon on the lot. No pwr steering, brakes (4 wheel drum) nonpower, no carpet. Did have automatic transmission, but no radio. But was mine, cash in hand, after discount (last one), $2170.

[@boataxe4605]

Thank goodness they came to their senses and built the Hellcat!

[@AcmeRacing]

These are fun to watch, but it's too bad the colors have faded. I am thinking the originals were film strips, and 1970s color film wasn't all that stable.

[@ConwayTruckload]

In fairness the later model Vegas offered a 305 V-8. But it was a bitch to work on it because it was tight under the hood.

[@mightyeagle]

I had a vega no brakes and no e brake holding engine smokes on start up due to the plated cylinders

[@solltanarab8186]

سيارات مميزه جدا اتمنا توفير قطع غيار ليها بمصر

[@jdollinter]

The Vega is unfairly outclassed by the mid sized Demon . Some contest.

[@saganich74]

Boy did people dodge a bullet buying a Dart over a Vega.

[@seoulkidd1]

GM should of sould the Vega today not the 70s

[@nickk1406]

😢it would rust looking at it

[@johnlyle1127]

How prophetic, "Vega's engines are a brand new lightweight aluminum design that may or may not be durable." That Vega aluminum engine was the most unreliable engine in history that lasted till the warranty ended. It doomed the car and damaged the reputation of small USA cars.

[@luvr381]

Different classes of car.

[@barrypfost2963]

That's a bash on John Delorines car

[@culcune]

Do not buy either car! Invest a little more and buy a Challenger, with a 426 Hemi. Better yet, a 'Cuda with the 426 Hemi. Trust me, they will be worth a fortune. Don't drive them...store them away in a temperature controlled garage.

[@BrainDamageBBQ]

This is a hilarious comparison. The Mopar A-body, especially with a Slant-6, is known as one of the best and most durable all-around American cars ever made. And the Vega has gone down in history as possibly the worst American car ever made. The sad part is that the Vega could have been a great car. Should have been a great car. Like we Mopar fans know from the aluminum block Slant-6, die cast aluminum was not ready for mass production at the time. Never mind the Vega's body rust issues. No Mopar A-body would have been able to touch the much smaller GM H-body's fuel efficiency in a well-running Vega... but no Vega will run well for long with its undersized cooling system. And the Vega's engine shook and rattled like something out of a 1920s tractor. I have driven many Vegas and Astres. That OHC aluminum engine was a disaster. I've owned many A-bodies - Valiants, Darts, Dusters. I also owned a Chevy Monza (a Vega with a new name and rectangular headlamps). There is no comparison between the two. I want nothing to do with a Vega. Phil Edmonston used to write a book called the "Lemon-Aid Used Car Buying Guide". His review of the Vega and Astre did not elaborate on the problems, he didn't bother. He just scorched the car with two sentences: "GM's first disposable car. Use either car once, then throw it away."

[@stevenlewis8676]

LMBO, and this came up one day, comparing apples and oranges....😂

[@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793]

Propaganda. Never ever saw a Vega or Astre with body color door handles 😂😂

[@gordthor5351]

In hindsight it seems weird that these 2 cars would ever be compared. The Vega was a throwaway car and the Demon was one of the best cars of the 70s.

[@blacksupersport8311]

I'd rather have the Vega 😂

[@paulmarcoux207]

It seems that Dodge was comparing two entirely different class of cars! The Dodge Demon should of been compared to the Chevy Nova! Because the Nova comes with a 6cyl. Standard and an optional V8. Plus the size of the cars are compatible. And the idiot talking about the cars shows a Ford Pinto for car hight comparison.

[@paulmarcoux207]

Did you notice that they put the 6ft man in the Vega. And the 5ft women in the Demon. For the interior comparison. They buy as well compared to Van to a pickup! WHAT A JOKE, Dodge! WHAT A JOKE!

[@paulmarcoux207]

And by the way Dodge. The Vega looks like a smaller Camaro! Not the Nova. You need to get your eyes checked. And use some integrity when comparing cars!

[@geoharris7576]

Dodge must of been desperate to compare the demon to Vega lol

[@cheetodorito7403]

Ah yes, the subcompact economy car is comparable to a Dodge demon.

[@jimbeekman4863]

You don't care what I have to say either way and why would you? It's just my opinion. Who cares what Jim Beekman thinks. If I don't care why would you?

[@traceydeanrainey]

I had a 5 speed bike back when the Vega came out and my bike was more reliable and the Vega I’m sure made it to the junk yard way before my Spider 5 bike make it to a land fill

[@traceydeanrainey]

Vega engines would have been better at being Aluminum foil rather then an aluminum engine,

[@gonedeep43]

Here is a Demon being compared to an unpolished Turd. I know, I'll buy the unpolished Turd.

[@christianmotley262]

Both junk but I would have to take the Mopar

[@zxtenn]

That slant 6 wouldn't even been broken in while that TRASH VEGA engine was ready to be melted down for a new replacement among ALL the other VEGA 'defects'

[@amerigovespucci4076]

Was not and still not a chrysler fan but for the money, Demon was waaaay more and better car than vega or pinto or VW.........

[@bronzepkmn]

Only cool vegas were the vega gts with sbc 350

[@4thstooge75]

No Vega ever came with a small block V8!

[@johntempest267]

My friend had a Monza with a 3.8/4-speed that was plenty sporty.

[@boataxe4605]

You’re thinking of the Motion Vega’s which were modified in the aftermarket. The Cosworth Vega was cool, it had a much better engine, but it still had the major rust issues.

[@chrisward183]

You want to believe it.

[@karlisbrown8310]

This comparison made no sense the Vega screwd from the get go they should use a Pinto for comparison