Brad has a new toy....

Thats because from 64-69 they only made wagons based on the A-body. You have to go back to 62 to find a wagon based on the big car chasis.

In 70, they brought back the big (estate) wagon but it was a one year wonder with coil springs all around. 71-76 brought in the clamshell wagons with a leaf srung rear. Thinking about how amount of tooling costs for panels and trim that is necessary for a one year run is staggering.

70-72 carried on the sportwagon but it lost all the glass. Strangely, its cousin the Vista Cruiser didn't. Also strange is that 70-72 Sportys only were available with the 350, while the 455 could be had in the Vista

... not continually :Smarty:

Sweet wagon Brad - is this your first LooongRoof ? I thought you were going for a Sporty but I do think you'll enjoy the Big Wagon more. Its got more room all over - The sporty's B-pillar and short front doors make getting in and out a slight challenge.

why not have Mark put some headers/dual exhaust with those electic dumps in while he's got his hands on it.

 

That is going to be so much fun to drive, Brad, and in Mark's hands you'll be able to drive it anywhere! It's funny how wagons were just family trucksters back in the day, but now they have become so much more attractive to the eye. And the utility that's always been there will continue to be there! A nice vintage Airstream behind that (with modern upgrades, of course) would complete the look and utility....

Now you "need" a '72 Riviera GS to round out the herd! :TU:

 

Thanks alan, i thought i was loosing it. I looked through all my books and i couldnt find any production numbers on full size wagons in 68. I never thought i would see the day when the wagons would start to be so popular but im really starting to want one. Its killing me that my father in law hasnt told his wife about the 9 passenger 66 impala wagon he bought (yes i know its a chevy) because i really want to take it to some car shows lol. I would be willing to bet at this point alot of the wagons are more rare (because of them being junked) then some of the high dollar stage cars and such. I can count on one hand how many of brads body style full size ive seen. Seen a few more of the later 74-76 big boys that havnt been used for demo cars yet. It really is an awsome find.:TU:

 

Well, my '72 Riv is staying with me anyway (and it isn't a GS). It is a factory color, but Crytal Blue is way too bright, lol. I'm sure there's an adequately bland color Riv to be had out there. :laugh:

I'd go for the nice vintage Airstream and take a nice Brady Bunch vintage vacation. :Brow:

And yes, I've heard Duane talk about these as "donor cars". All those nice long ribbed or striped hoses that can be cut to A-body length. Not to mention clips and all other sorts of fasteners, etc. Make sure you keep that wagon hood closed when Duane is around! :grin:

 

I dont know about more rare than the stages/converts but the ugly truth is Wagons were used, abused, and rarely taken care of the way more status type cars were. Many were traded in for newer ones and sold used to those that couldn't afford new ... and then used and abused by the next owners until there wasn't much left of it. Its true that alot of our GS's / Stages / Converts were daily drivers at one point in their life but people still new they had something special and certainly by the mid/late 80's their collectability started shining while old wagons were just gas hogs being replaced by minivans.

I dont know if Brad knows the history of his, but if he does I'd love to hear it.

As for mine, it was ordered and optioned the way the original owner wanted, driven through the summer it was delivered, and then before winter a used 2nd family vehicle was purchased for daily duty - and from 69-82 the Sporty lived a celebrity life in a heated garage only taken out on nice days and during the summer for the family roadtrip / vacation. The husband died in '82 and the widow, knowing how much he loved it, couldn't bring herself to sell it and there it sat in the garage from 1982 to 2009.

She was quite pleased to hear it was not only going to a Buick lover but someone who grew up in the back of one as a kid. We had a '68 Sporty 400 from '70 - '75 when Mom got rear ended at a stoplight by a dumptruck... and walked away. To this day she'll tell you "Sporty gave its life for me to have mine"

 

I also would like to add a wagon to my fleet.
About a month ago I was chasing this one down on E-Bay.

Could of had it for $3,500 after negotiating but I passed because
I really don't like the dark chocolate interior....oh well I'll find one someday.

 

I was just saying that at this point in time, it seems like there are less wagons on the road then some of stage cars and such. I just worded it wrong. That is so cool when you can find out the entire history of the car like that. I have been lucky enough to know the original owner of my regal but its only 28 years old so its not as cool. i cant believe she had it sit in the garage for all of those years. it would tear me apart to have to walk past it knowing how much it ment to him. its funny you say that about your childhood. i grew up in the back of a 75 vega wagon but i dont know that i would ever own one. it was a serious p.o.s lol.

 

"And yes, I've heard Duane talk about these as "donor cars". All those nice long ribbed or striped hoses that can be cut to A-body length. Not to mention clips and all other sorts of fasteners, etc. Make sure you keep that wagon hood closed when Duane is around!"

Ken,
Don't you start picking on me just because Brad bought a nice motor with a lot of Brown paint surrounding it. I already talked to Brad and listed all the good parts that are on it.:laugh::laugh::laugh:

I know I am in a rut regarding GM A-bodies, but I can't help it. Now if it was a nice Sportwagon............................
Duane

 

You could rip all those parts off that brown thing and put them on it! :idea2:

 

Haha the old wagons are coming up in price. We had a 59 Mercury Wagon sold a few years back, all original with 34k miles, needed paint and chrome. Sold 3 Vista Wagons, rock solid needed paint and we also have a 58 Country Squire and 60 Plymouth Wagon for sale coming very soon. We got a heck of a find, several years ago with a 70 Vista Cruiser, factory 455/400 trans, all original #s matching and sheetmetal, with only 54k and protecto plate for pennies on the dollar. The old man is right, the wagons are hot and you cant find them like you use to for obvious reasons. The big block wagons and wagons in general are already increasing in value and getting big $$ as we speak and will only continue to grow. 70s iron in general like Cutlass or Monte Carlos are already doing stupid money and this year alone we have sold several late 70s Grand Prixs to Florida and local as well. The demand for reasonably priced old cars say 5-10k is very difficult to find as they are now going for really between 15-20k. But those late 70s iron and wagons in the 70s will be sought after as you can find something reasonably priced!

Brad got a great deal and like i told him i have never seen a '72 Estate Wagon.

The Diabos had a nice 70 Estate Wagon they used to tow their GSX to BG with but they sold it to a tour bus driver who was supposed to sell it to us but then like a lot of sellers, didnt hold true to his word and sold it to someone local in Connecticut who proceeded to add tacky silver pinstripe, mag wheels and tons of aftermarket gauges. Really made it into a hooptie:af:

 

"You could rip all those parts off that brown thing and put them on it!"

Especially if I was making it into a 2-door Sportwagon. I still think about that one.:laugh::laugh::laugh:
Duane

 

Wagon stigma hard to shake . . . (Re: Brad has a new toy....)

Dear V-8 Buick Wagon fans,

Thanks for all the interesting thoughts about wagons all of a sudden.

It is certainly true that wagons are rarely purchased unless the owners intend to use them - as wagons. We were told that our 65 Special wagon was used "mostly for commuting" when we bought it second-hand in 68. However, damage to the cargo area made it clear that - the car wasn't used only for commuting. However, we hardly did any better. I have a plenty of horror stories when Biquette had to carry something - she wasn't supposed'ta - and somehow the car managing to come through for us. The car saved our lives at the time, but I'm paying the price in repairs now for her years of tough service.

That should make wagons more difficult to find now. Few would end up in "barns" so that clearly should push the price up. Unfortunately, as I've noticed, it also means parts are harder to find.

Still, I encounter everywhere: the wagon stigma. Station wagons appeal to a certain group of male adventurers in a way that a four-door sedan doesn't. Still, that crowd is still much smaller than the sport car fans and not that many realize the potential of a wagon as drag-racer. Worse, before minivans became the curse of disfunctional families, there was - the family wagon. When I've taken my wagon to car shows, the number of people who are visibly turned off by a wagon remains surprisingly high. Even in this conversation, there are few among you who would restore a wagon first.

I think the curse of being a wagon was summed up nicely be a conversion I had with the manager of Orinda Motors:

• If a sports car is the aphrodisiac of motor vehicles, then a station wagon is the closest thing to . . birth control. ou:

As long as station wagons carry that sort of a stigma, they'll never gain that much popularity. While they will always have their fans, they shall always be something of the Rodney Dangerfield of classic cars.

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

hey you liked my car...and even told me how rare the heater hose bracket was...maybe I should keep my hood closed too...:grin::laugh:

 

Sean,
Personally if I were you I would keep your car away from Brad also. Once he sees it either he on one of his kids will want it.
Duane

 

not to take away from Brads purchase...but I get a lot of compliments on my 67...was at E-town 2 weeks ago...judges loved it...but it is a survivor...went to another show this past Saturday and people swarmed around it like moths to a bright light...I talked to Brad last night and he was like a kid in a candy store...

 

That's because we are not used to seeing rust free cars in the NE, or Ohio either.
Duane

 

Still my all time favorite wagon............

 

Mine too. Good call Ron.
Duane