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the #3283 story

Documented:
The Lowest Mileage Blue/White Cosworth

Presently, 3,281 miles on the lowest mileage Dark Metallic Blue/White Cosworth Vega in the country.  This car has led an interesting past amongst multiple owners before finding its way to my garage. Those who follow the Cosworth scene, likely recognize my work on resurrecting the 'garage-find' of #2315 to show-quality, and #3283 presented a unique challenge and opportunity to recreate the effort again, only with an extraordinarily original, low-mileage Cosworth.

 

 

 

 

Time Capsule:
The Most Unique Cosworth Amongst 3,508 Unique Cars
 

"Mr. Dawson, please do not hang-up the phone, I am not a telemarketer...but I have just taken ownership of a 1976 Cosworth Vega built in the Lordstown plant. I understand that you had worked there, is that correct?"  

"Yes, sir. I did work there for my entire career." 

"When I began the restoration effort on the car, I lifted-up the floor insulation I found a sheet of paper that I believe has yours and 5 other signatures on it. I'm wondering if it was, indeed, you...and why that paper was put there?"

 

"My God!!  You found it!  I had all of the supervisors on the line that day sign that paper because we all thought that this was a special Cosworth. I'd hoped that someone would one day find the paper and call me and you did !!!"  John Dawson was genuinely touched as someone had found his 'letter in the bottle'!

I polled the members of the Cosworth Club and no one ever recalled seeing something like this in any car. The car was a time capsule for John Dawson and his co-workers to send a message into time and be discovered some 40 years later. With but 3,508 Cosworth Vegas produced, from amongst a small group of very unique cars, came #3283...a even more unique car. 

Ownership Timeline:
7 Previous Owners...a Car Begging for Restoration

As I'm told, a Dr. Sam Gladney had bought not one, but two Cosworth Vegas back in 1976 with the hope that this incredibly unique, limited production car would (over time) be a great investment. As time wore-on and 15 years of ownership found the Cosworth not gaining value as he had expected, #3283 was angrily sold and an episode of ownership had begun. 

A succession of 6 owners offereing varying degrees of care ensued. One owner had, apparently, stored the car outside his home in Texas, as evidenced by the series of wasp mud-nest found in improbably tight spots in the car. 

The car found its way to my garage in February 2017 via a trade for #2315, and though a wonderfully original #3,200 mile car appeared, it was positively begging for a sympathetic restoration and returning this car to a condition commensurate with one of this mileage. 

Below is the ownership timeline I have put together through examining email exchanges, discussions with previous owners, and help from the club. 

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