Vertical Car Shipping

[DynoTom]

In an effort to cut shipping costs with it’s brand new 1971 Vega Chevrolet worked with Union Pacific to develop “Vert-A-Pac” which allowed 30 cars to be shipped versus 18 that a normal boxcar could carry. Because of the vertical shipping method, the railcars were taller than normal forcing the railroad line to follow special routes to avoid low overpasses.
According to Collectible Automobile The Vegas had four removable steel sockets inserted into the undercarriage. As the Vert-a-pac car doors were lifted and closed the Vegas would roll forward an catch on hooks on the doors. When the doors were fully shut the Vegas were suspended side by side, roof to roof.
The Vega’s engine oil pan had a special baffle to keep oil from seeping into the number 1 cylinder while the cars were vertical. The battery caps, carburetor float bowls and windshield washer fluid reservoirs were also designed to prevent fluids from leaking during shipping...


http://blog.collectorcarads.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/vertapak1.jpg


http://blog.collectorcarads.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/vertapak2.jpg


http://blog.collectorcarads.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/vertapak3.jpg

[VroomPshhTsi]

I was wondering about all the fluids and how that would eff up a lot of things.

[hrsp]

hmmmmmm

[88Nightmare]

I was wondering about all the fluids and how that would eff up a lot of things.

they also could be shipped dry to avoid all that extra engineering required to prevent fluids from going where they aren't supposed to

[hrsp]

they also could be shipped dry to avoid all that extra engineering required to prevent fluids from going where they aren't supposed to

that makes sense!!!

[awsomeears]

Vegas rock !!!

[jbiscuit]

a Vega wagon with a high-winding 327 and a 4-speed would be fun! Or what about an LSX and a t56?

[Windsors 03 Cobra]

Thats really cool to see, as a railfan I'm really diggin that old Milwaukee Road hi-lo.
I understand why shipping them dry was not really an option as those cars need to be started and moved all along their journey.
I wonder where the Vega was built ?

Old guy I use to know use to talk about how when he first started at Nash and how they loaded automobiles into boxcars and they didnt quite drive in, the back of the car had to be pried over a bit with one of them big ole railroad style prybar/jack handles.

[Car Guy]

Very interesting, my father works for Union Pacific and I will ask if he remembers seeing or hearing about this.....



I was wondering about all the fluids and how that would eff up a lot of things.

"The Vega’s engine oil pan had a special baffle to keep oil from seeping into the number 1 cylinder while the cars were vertical"



they also could be shipped dry to avoid all that extra engineering required to prevent fluids from going where they aren't supposed to

They were not shipped dry.....

[lordairgtar]

That pic was probably an off loading point in Milwaukee. My dad told me about that when that happened. He worked for the CMStP&P RR

[Crawlin]

specially designed rail cars for one specific model - $100,000
longer out of the way routes for special railcars - $100,000

total savings GM saw during that time period - $150,000

Overall Net - -$50,000 (yes that's right NEGATIVE)

Yep, that seems to follow GM's track record, HAHAHAHA

(obviously using ficticious numbers)

[88Nightmare]

Very interesting, my father works for Union Pacific and I will ask if he remembers seeing or hearing about this.....




"The Vega’s engine oil pan had a special baffle to keep oil from seeping into the number 1 cylinder while the cars were vertical"




They were not shipped dry.....


yeah I know they weren't. My post, which probably could have been worded better was basically stating (or almost asking if thats how you want to take it): they COULD have been shipped dry.

Didn't say they were :thumbsup

[Russ Jerome]

they also could be shipped dry to avoid all that extra engineering required to prevent fluids from going where they aren't supposed to

Honestly in 1971 we had rivers catching on fire, open coal burning and hundred of thousands of people who worked at paper plants diagnosed with cancer, oil spills wouldnt be a big deal back then :)

Another classic pic, river on fire!
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/images/11-3-52.jpg

[88Nightmare]

Russ, I wasn't referring to fluid spills and ground contamination or stuff like that... But instead of designing and engineering a special oil pan to keep oil from seeping into cylinders and whatnot, why not just ship it dry? then they could use a standard oil pan and save all that money on R&D

[Russ Jerome]

I get it now....yes I am very drunk...again....heading to bed turn the lights off when you go.

[scaleracer]

That's pretty cool wish i was around back then! :thumbsup

[Car Guy]

That's pretty cool wish i was around back then! :thumbsup

No you don't.....:)

[Windsors 03 Cobra]

I read elsewhere the car shipped vertical rattled apart, mounts broke and fluids leaked and that the idea was an utter failure and scrapped after only a few runs.
PAR FOR THE COURSE OVER AT OBAMA MOTORS. I wonder why Yota is king of the world ?

I was born in 79 myself but read it was kind of a joke that the Vega engine was such crap that routine maintenance was an oil change, chassis lube and a fresh long block. :thumbsup

[indyzmike]

I was born in 79 myself but read it was kind of a joke that the Vega engine was such crap that routine maintenance was an oil change, chassis lube and a fresh long block. :thumbsup


The replacement long blocks lasted far longer than the original blocks. Originals were aluminum bores, replacements were steel sleeved. One of my winter beater Vegas was a black 1976 wagon with a vette hood scoop and the name "BIODEGRADABLE" painted on the sides.

[Holeshot]

I'd love to get my hands on a Cosworth Vega :headbang

[lordairgtar]

I'd love to get my hands on a Cosworth Vega :headbang
Cossie FTW!

[Turbo-Triumph]

but read it was kind of a joke that the Vega engine was such crap that routine maintenance was an oil change, chassis lube and a fresh long block. :thumbsup

PFFFFFFFFT! my Dad bought my mom a '74 Vega wagon, that was sitting for (from what they were told) 12 years prior to my dad buying it. The car then sat for another 3-4 years, until my parents divorced, and was towed to a different location, to sit for a few more years until i became owner.

the car sat for roughly 16-20 years, untouched, longer than i was alive, and i litterly replaced the fuel in the tank, replaced the battery, and started it up. Then, because this was before i got my liscense, my Dad drove it (with me in the car) from Milwaukee to FON DU LAC for its FIRST DRIVE IN 16-20 YEARS. and it made it PERFECTLY. (aside from being pulled over for no plates)

So if you consider something that could do this, junk, then yes, the vega motors were indeed trash. :thumbsup