AUTOS CARS CUSTOM

Instead of using conventional rail cars, which carried just 18 automobiles, General Motors worked with the Southern Pacific Railroad to develop the Vert-A-Pac rail car, capable of hauling 30 Vegas per rail car. As the name implies, Vert-A-Pac rail cars hauled the Vegas nose-down, in a vertical orientation, after the cars had been bolted to Vert-A-Pac loading ramps that also doubled as doors. Once the Vegas had been secured, the ramps were lifted into place with heavy-duty forklifts, and unloading was as simple as reversing the process. Though the mere suggestion of hauling cars in positions other than horizontal typically horrifies auto enthusiasts, the Vega was engineered to be transported this way. Engine baffles prevented oil from leaking into cylinders, and special batteries with rear-mounted caps were fitted to prevent acid leaks. Any excess fuel left in the carburetor was drained via a tube to a vapor recovery canister, and even the windshield washer tank was oriented to prevent leaks.