The 1970s was an era of transformation in the American automobile industry, with shifting demands for fuel efficiency, performance, and style. While muscle cars dominated the previous decade, the oil crisis and increasing regulations forced manufacturers to innovate. Enter the subcompact segment, where two distinct vehicles emerged: the Pontiac Astre Li’l Wide Track and the Chevrolet Cosworth Vega. Though both were based on the Chevrolet Vega platform, they took entirely different approaches to capturing consumer interest.
Pontiac Astre Li’l Wide Track
The Pontiac Astre was initially introduced in Canada in 1973 and later made its way to the United States in 1975. As a rebadged version of the Chevrolet Vega, the Astre aimed to inject some Pontiac styling and prestige into the subcompact market. To further distinguish it, Pontiac worked with Detroit’s Motortown Corporation to develop a special edition known as the Li’l Wide Track.
Styling and Features
The Li’l Wide Track package focused entirely on aesthetics, adding aggressive styling elements to appeal to buyers looking for a sporty subcompact. This package included:
- Front air dam and rear spoiler
- Alloy wire wheels
- Rear window louvers
- Chromed exhaust tip
- Unique decals for the hood, sides, spoiler, door handles, and wheel centers
Performance
Despite its bold appearance, the Li’l Wide Track offered no significant performance upgrades over a standard Astre. It was powered by the Chevrolet 140-cu.in. OHC inline-four engine, producing 78 horsepower with a one-barrel carburetor. A two-barrel carburetor that boosted output to 87 horsepower was only available on the Astre GT model. The engine was mated to a three-speed automatic transmission, prioritizing ease of driving over performance.
Interior and Pricing
The interior featured a blend of cloth and Morrokide upholstery, along with artificial African crossfire mahogany woodgrain on the dashboard. The optional rally instrumentation added a sporty touch. The Li’l Wide Track package added roughly $400 to the base price of an Astre coupe, which started at $3,079. It is estimated that around 3,000 units were produced, but very few remain today.
Chevrolet Cosworth Vega
While Pontiac focused on style, Chevrolet sought to push the boundaries of performance. Enter the Cosworth Vega, a high-performance version of the Chevrolet Vega developed in collaboration with British engineering firm Cosworth. Spearheaded by John Z. DeLorean, the Cosworth Vega was designed to showcase cutting-edge technology and European-inspired performance.
Engine and Performance
The highlight of the Cosworth Vega was its 2.0L twin-cam inline-four engine, developed by Cosworth Engineering. The engine featured:
- Bendix electronic fuel injection
- High-compression pistons
- High-performance camshafts
- Solid lifters
- Shot-peened connecting rods
- Forged and magnafluxed crankshaft
With these enhancements, the engine produced 110 horsepower—about 40% more than the standard Vega. While this was a significant improvement, the car’s price and competition posed challenges.
Design and Features
All 1975 Cosworth Vegas came exclusively in black with gold striping and badges, reminiscent of the Pontiac Trans Am. They also featured pressure-cast aluminum wheels, adding a premium touch. The dashboard had a turned-metal finish similar to the Trans Am, reinforcing its performance image.
Production and Pricing
Chevrolet initially planned for high production numbers but ultimately built only 2,061 units in 1975, followed by 1,446 units in 1976 before discontinuing the model. The Cosworth Vega was priced at $5,979—more than twice the cost of a standard Vega and dangerously close to a Chevrolet Corvette. This high price limited its appeal, especially when Japanese sports cars like the Datsun 240Z offered better performance at a lower cost.
Comparison and Conclusion
The Pontiac Astre Li’l Wide Track and Chevrolet Cosworth Vega represent two different approaches to performance branding in the 1970s subcompact segment. The Astre capitalized on flashy styling to attract buyers nostalgic for the muscle car era, while the Cosworth Vega aimed to deliver real performance improvements through advanced engineering.
Key Differences
- Performance: The Cosworth Vega offered a significant power boost and improved handling, whereas the Astre Li’l Wide Track was purely a styling package.
- Styling: The Astre emphasized bold decals and retro muscle-car elements, while the Cosworth Vega featured a more restrained, European-inspired design.
- Production Numbers: The Li’l Wide Track had around 3,000 units produced, while the Cosworth Vega had only 3,507 units over two years.
- Price: The Cosworth Vega was significantly more expensive, competing with sports cars rather than economy subcompacts.
Which Would You Choose?
Today, both vehicles are rare collector’s items. The choice between them depends on one’s preference: style or substance. If you appreciate head-turning 1970s graphics, the Astre Li’l Wide Track might be your pick. If you prefer a performance-oriented, historically significant vehicle, the Cosworth Vega stands out.
