As light first entered the chamber, disbelief spread through the crowd. Inside sat a bright yellow 1975 Chevrolet Vega—still on its original tires, with only delivery miles on the odometer. Car enthusiasts couldn’t miss the irony. The Vega was infamous in the 1970s for poor build quality; some joked it could rust just by being mentioned in a brochure. Yet this particular Vega emerged in near-mint condition. Aside from minor surface rust on the hood and a steering wheel affected by heat, it is stunningly pristine—a sight that would make any collector weak at the knees.