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Muscle Wagon: 1967 Chevrolet Caprice 427 4-Speed

There are times when enthusiasts with a larger family can feel left out of the muscle car scene, but that doesn’t need to be the case. This 1967 Chevrolet Caprice Custom Estate is a spotless wagon with seating for eight people. However, you have to look pretty carefully to spot the “427” badges on the front fenders that indicate that this is a cut above the rest. The owner has meticulously restored this classic, and he is allowing someone to fulfill their muscle wagon dreams by listing it for sale here on eBay. The Caprice is located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and the owner has set the BIN at $65,000. There is the option to make an offer, and with 141 people watching the listing, someone may exercise that option sooner rather than later.

The owner purchased the Caprices in 2005 and set to work performing a meticulous frame-off restoration. Once he was sure that the panels had been massaged into shape, he completed a repaint in the Wagon’s original shade of Butternut Yellow. The paint shines beautifully and appears to be flawless. The faux woodgrain that the wagon wears offers a striking contrast, and once again, this is an aspect of this classic that shows no signs of problems. The trim and chrome, including the optional roof rack, present as perfectly as the rest of the exterior. The Wagon rolls on Rally wheels that appear to be spotless, while there are no visible issues with the Soft Ray tinted glass.

If you thought that this Chevy’s exterior looked terrific, the underside almost overshadows it. As you might expect from a classic that has been lavished with TLC, the floors and frame of the Estate are spotless. Forget rust because there isn’t so much as a sign of surface corrosion. It is doubtful that things looked this good the day the Wagon rolled off the showroom floor. The buyer is going to find themselves behind the wheel of a classic wagon that not only presents superbly but is as rock-solid as you are ever likely to find. However, this is a mere entree because the original owner ordered this classic with a specific purpose in mind. As you will see, he wasn’t scared to splash some cash to get what he wanted.

The Estate’s original owner was a doctor from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. When he walked into his local Chevrolet dealership, he knew precisely what he would need from his new station wagon. He owned a large Airstream trailer, and since these aren’t the lightest things on the planet, this Chevy needed some muscle to move it. He then picked up a pen and the Order Form and proceeded to go nuts! The first box that he ticked was for the L36 version of Chevrolet’s mighty 427ci big-block V8. This monster pumps out an impressive 385hp and 460 ft/lbs of torque. With those sorts of numbers, this wagon would barely notice the weight of that Airstream. However, the buyer was far from finished. He also chose to equip the Caprice with an M20 4-speed manual transmission, a Posi rear end, F41 suspension, power steering, and power front disc brakes. Chevrolet produced this wagon when muscle cars were beginning to develop as a category in their own right. This Estate could hold its head high in that exalted company because it could demolish the ¼ mile in an astonishing 15.2 seconds. That figure sounds fairly reasonable today, but for a eight-seat family wagon in 1967 that tipped the scales at more than 4,400lbs, it was astonishing. The engine bay presents superbly, and it seems that it doesn’t flatter to deceive. The owner has accumulated few miles on the road since the restoration was completed, with the wagon spending most of its time in climate-controlled storage. It is said to run and drive perfectly, which holds the promise of some fast family motoring for the buyer very soon.

So, imagine that you were the person who ordered this Caprice in 1967. Would you be satisfied to focus solely on performance, or would a few creature comforts also be on the Wish List? It seems that they were for this buyer because this interior comes fully loaded. Starting with air conditioning, we can also add power windows, sports instruments including a factory tachometer, an AM/FM stereo radio, a 4-speaker 8-track player, a remote exterior mirror, and the versatility of a rear-facing third-row seat. Technically, this wagon should be able to seat eight people. However, with the shifter for the 4-speed poking up through the transmission tunnel, you would find few people who’d want to occupy the middle spot in the front! Once you look beyond the equipment levels and consider its overall condition, the Estate’s interior continues the trend of making nothing but a positive impression. As you will see if you check the photo gallery at the bottom of this article, there’s not much that  I can fault beyond what appears to be a couple of small marks on the wheel. Otherwise, this interior looks factory fresh.

There are classic car enthusiasts who would love to park a muscle car in their driveway, but for whatever reason, they need the versatility that is offered by a station wagon. Many of these individuals will gaze longingly at a high-performance classic and will dream about what could’ve been under different circumstances. For those people, this 1967 Caprice Custom Estate offers the perfect solution. With seating for eight and power to burn, maybe this is the ideal family wagon for you. Are you tempted enough to pursue this one further?

Comments

  1. Fahrvergnugen Fahrvergnugen Member

    Wowwww. What a beautiful sleeping long roof!

    Like 24
  2. PaulG

    Dammmmn, This is super cool! I’ve seen some interesting special order cars, including a couple 4 speed sedans and wagons. This one is special…
    I wonder if the “Doc” knew someone at the dealership to put this into production

    Like 25
  3. jimmyx

    Am I reading this right? The car was restored using a rust free body from California (“WAS GIVEN A FRAME UP RESTORATION USING A RUST FREE BODY FROM A CALIFORNIA WAGON”), but the engine/trans are numbers matching to the original VIN. So the $64,000 question is if the original VIN and data plates were swapped to the replacement body…….

    Like 19
    • Rbig18

      You are reading it right. It has a donor body. So frame and body were not a match from factory. So the only way to make the body tag and vin match is remove them and transplant them. At least he is honest about it not being a true numbers matching ride.

      Like 15
      • Gary Rhodes

        He will be in jail if the police see this Ebay listing. It is a felony to tamper with vin tags

        Like 3
    • jerry z

      So this car is just a smorgasbord of parts from different cars. Good lock trying to get $65K from that.

      Like 8
      • $ where mouth is

        The point here is the car, sans numbers, is built from carefully selected parts.
        The rust free body is a perfect way to build a rust free car. The goal is more the solid n straight car not ‘numbers’
        Surr, if it were a Shelby or Yenko then for a high end collector, numbers.
        This is muscle wagon, to be used and enjoyed.
        As for me, im here cause ive hot for a 67 wagon, or 66 Pontiac, and this (other than the wood grain) is one of the nicest ive found.
        WOW what a machine !
        Im gonna go googly eyes it some more 8D

        Thank You for another amazing Barn Find !

        Like 2
  4. Will Irby

    Eight passengers? That’s a nine-passenger wagon all day long. We had a ’66 Impala 9-passenger wagon, and although ours had an automatic, the 4-speed in this one wouldn’t rule out a middle passenger in the front seat, provided said passenger was a girlfriend.

    Like 19
    • sourpwr

      …. and she’d giggle everytime you hit 4th gear !

      Like 22
    • moosie moosie

      OR Wife.

      Like 3
    • David G

      You will find the third seat is equipped with two seat belts, as are all third seats in this era of station wagons. They are an eight passenger vehicle, not nine.

      Like 4
      • Will Irby

        Okay, I guess all those thousands of sales brochures, window stickers, titles, etc. were printed incorrectly. Google “1966 Impala 9 passenger”.

        Like 0
      • Ed P

        My father’s 67 Plymouth Fury III 4 door sedan was advertised as a 6 passenger vehicle. However, it only had seat belts for 4 people. The requirement for seat belts for all six wasn’t effective until the 68 cars.

        Like 1
  5. Evan

    SWAG, but I wouldn’t bet there were more than 1,000 1967 full-size wagons built with 4-on-the-floor.

    Like 10
    • JoeNYWF64

      I’m not sure why cruise control was so rarely ordered in the ’60s!
      Not on this one either!
      I would have tried to slip the salesman a couple of C-notes & tell him i wanted bucket seats too. Wonder if getting them in a wagon or any ’60s 4 door domestic was even remotely possible.

      How many ’68 caprice wagons were made with a 4 speed, biggest motor & optional HIDDEN HEADLITES? I bet none, tho theoretically possible.

      Like 4
      • Keith

        Back in those days you could with the right connection get anything built. Look at the only one built 68 Z/28 ragtop built for Pete Estes the president of Chevrolet Motor Division.Also a 69 Caprice wagon with the L-72 425hp built with air not a option available with air.There are many more executive built cars built back then with one off options.4-sp wagons were rare cars for sure but I have seen some Ford 4-sp wagons also.The thrill is in the hunt.

        Like 4
      • Grey O’Brien

        Here is an example of a 1967 Ford Country Squire that came from the factory with bucket seats and console https://www.autoblog.com/amp/2020/05/19/1967-ford-country-squire-428v8-4-speed-for-sale/

        Like 3
      • Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskey Member

        Joe,

        GM, Ford and Mopar all insisted you could only get cruise control with the automatic trans. The reason why is because if you were to push the clutch pedal in, the cruise would see the vehicle speed drop, and increase the engine speed to compensate. In a few seconds the engine would red-line!

        In 1973 I ordered a new Dodge B-200 van, with 318 and stickshift. I also checked off the box for cruise control. The sales manager was a good friend, and he sent the order in with a special note to build it with cruise, and I would add another brake light switch to the clutch pedal, so if the pedal was depressed, the cruise would disengage.

        The van was delivered with a hand-written note taped to the engine cover, mentioning the fuse for the cruise control was not installed, it was in a plastic bag in the glove box.

        Like 7
      • Keith

        Cruise was a over the parts counter accessory kit also. I was a Pontiac parts manger back then and it was very common to have it installed after the car came in and was sold.Chevrolet had the same luxury of these kits also.

        Like 2
      • Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskey Member

        Keith,

        Yes, all the GM divisions had an accessory Cruise Control kit, but as I recall, the switch control was mounted onto the turn signal stalk.

        Like 1
      • jwaltb

        Cruise control is for people who don’t know how to use the pedals. I’ve never used it.

        Like 0
  6. local_sheriff

    OK – it’s a ’67, it’s a 4spd, it’s the largest engine, it has posi,it has the tach, it has the luggage rack,it has the 3rd seat, it’s frickin BUTTERNUT YELLOW and it has wood – feels like I have that too now and that ain’t Di-Noc

    Like 4
  7. Will Fox

    Unless there are IBM cards and other such proof, I don’t believe any original owner would have ordered this car with a 427/4-speed. Anyone can conjure up a story like that, and so without verifiable proof, this is simply a nice restoration in a non-factory color. Chevy guys always think they have the holy grail of cars, and that their surpasses anything anyone else has. I’m so glad I don’t even speak bow tie.

    Like 4
    • racer417

      The seller claims to have the original bill of sale and window sticker (easily verified by an expert). Not likely he’d spend the time and money to restore without it.

      Like 9
    • Michael Cronin

      I know the owner and this car. He is well-known for having cornered the market with GM big block, 4-speed cars (mostly convertibles). Every car he owns is beautiful and well worth the money.

      Like 21
      • bikefixr

        On no Planet is this Frankencar a $65,000 car.

        Like 0
    • Rj

      I’m not sure how Holy anything is, but reading is fundamental, click on the eBay link provided by Barn Finds.

      Like 1
    • Sean

      We can see why your in search of the Wizard of Oz…..Shhhhh don’t speak the road is supposed to be yellow.

      Like 0
  8. Keith

    Very nice and would love to own it. Had the luck to have a friend that had a 69 Brookwood wagon with the L-72 and a 4-sp. Car was scary fast and I believe one of just a few built. Wish i would have bought that one

    Like 8
  9. dW31

    So, he pulled the vin plate from the original car and transfered it to this California body? The feds would like to get to know him better, as that is illegal.

    Like 4
    • Don Eladio

      Give me a break. They couldn’t care less. And that being said…I doubt that’s what he did anyway. It just says he used a rust free donor for parts. He probably cut pieces off of it. Is there some law that says that after X amount of parts it then becomes a different law? So, if you replace one part on an entire car, it’s okay but, if you replace all but one part, it’s not? You’re goofy, lol.

      Like 9
      • dW31

        So, you want to name call, idiot? There’s a difference between replacing donor parts and the vin tag, I stand by what I said. It is illegal, period.

        Like 0
    • Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskey Member

      Actually, it’s not illegal, as long as everything is disclosed to a future buyer. Here on the east coast where the salt eats all the ferrous metals it can find, when I had my restoration shop and bought complete bodies for Mopar and GM muscle cars from rust free Arizona junk yards, I was advised by the state police that as long as the paperwork indicates the body was replaced but the VIN info is the same, it’s ok. We even restored an MGB with one of the newly manufactured Heritage body shells, and our MVA said it was OK to transfer the VIN tag, as the body was a replacement for a totally rusted out body.

      About 30 years ago I also confirmed with the head of the Federal DOT legal office, Z. Taylor Vincent, that as long as nothing was hidden or advertised incorrectly, it was OK. [And full disclosure: Z.T.V. was a personal friend.]

      Like 11
    • jwaltb

      Take a chill pill, dw. We’re sure you’re right.

      Like 0
  10. Grey O’Brien

    Find it interesting that the paperwork in the ad shows it was ordered with 4-Season air conditioning, while the picture shows it’s equipped with Comfortron air conditioning.

    Like 2
    • Keith

      Grey if you look at that window sticker closer you will see Ai Condo Control for $79 that is the Comfortron upgrade

      Like 6
      • Grey O’Brien

        Thanks. You learn something new everyday. It’s a strange way of listing it on the window sticker.

        Like 5
  11. Morley Brown Member

    For about 5 years I rode to work in a 67 ,427 Caprice, four speed with every option you could get. It was not a wagon, but a 2 door hard top. My neighbour bought it when it was a year old . Beautiful black interior and a special silver/blue—only in Canada —exterior. A fast, comfortable car. So you guys that are pissing around about this wagon, retored or numbers matching, haven’t got a clue what you are talking about This is a better deal than any of those crushed/burnt Mopars that keep comming on this site.

    Like 26
    • Don Eladio

      Bunch of Lookie Lous that probably couldn’t buy steam off of a hot dog. They just love to try and discredit every car they see.

      Like 15
      • $ where mouth is

        RIGHT ON ! DE
        My sentiments exactly

        Thank You

        Like 1
  12. Joe Sewell

    Interesting – some in depth research is needed.

    Like 2
  13. ADM

    My 8th grade history teacher, a Mr. Malone, special ordered a ’67 burgundy Caprice wagon, with a 4 speed, but only with the 283. He said it took 3 months to get the car.

    Like 6
  14. George Mattar

    The window sticker looks legit to me. Even though he admits It is a reboot that is totally illegal. I saw this car two days ago on eBay. Proves my point old cars are so much better because you were not forced to buy stupid and overpriced packages like today. I vividly remember a guy in North Jersey who had a dark blue 69 Kingswood Estate with wood trim and a 4 speed 427. This was in 1973 when I was a high senior. It also had hideaway headlamps. I would kill to find that car today. It also had a factory optional set of time, luggage rack, etc. Never saw another one. I would trade my Corvette in a second for this 67.

    Like 8
    • Don Eladio

      There’s nothing illegal about cutting a parts car up and using the parts…give me a break, George. Who cares whether he replaced one part or 100 parts…who are you whine to, the part-swapping police? LOL!!!

      Like 8
  15. Howie Mueler

    Yes very nice and super cool, but i think $65k is a bit too much. I do hope it sells.

    Like 3
    • Don Eladio

      But it’s okay to spend $100K on a new Suburban, lol? I’d rather have this any day for half of that price.

      Like 9
  16. chuck dickinson

    Why would you say it’s a non-factory color? That’s what’s on the sticker—Butternut Yellow.

    Like 5
    • Rj

      They say things because they smart like toilet seat.

      Like 3
  17. moosie moosie

    Why does an L- 36 427 in this wagon have 385 Horsepower but in the same year Corvette have 390 Horsepower ? In the sellers description I took it to mean that the drive train ETC. We’re swapped to a California rust free body, to be # matching after that the VIN . tags ETC . would also have to be swapped out also, legal or not. Probably a trip to the DMV office with proof for both vehicles as to #’s and such would clear up any questions regarding legality of changing tags. But I could be wrong.

    Like 2
    • Will Irby

      Chevrolet always reduced the horsepower rating for non-Corvettes, even if there were no engine changes. Packaging constraints sometimes required different exhaust manifolds that actually reduced power, but usually the lower ratings were required by corporate edict. For example, the ’70 (’70-1/2?) Z28 LT-1 was rated 10 hp less than the ’70 Corvette LT-1.

      Like 7
      • Keith

        Yes Chevrolet was notorious for these Horsepower issues. I believe the worst was the L-88 rated at 430 hp and really putting out way over 500hp. The 67 to 69 Z/28 rated at 290hp was also a real joke for the truth.

        Like 3
      • Rj

        Ford and Mopar were just as notorious at playing the horse power game.

        Like 3
      • Will Irby

        Yep, they all did that; it was a game they played with the insurance companies. Ford’s 428 rated at 335 hp, Mopar’s 340 rated at 275 and factored to 325 by NHRA, 426 hemi rated at 425, etc.

        Like 1
  18. Gary Rhodes

    ILLEGAL if the vin was changed to a donor body. I know two people that were jailed for unknowingly buying cars with vin # tampered with. Very real chance of going to jail if that’s the case. The seller needs to clarify this going forward.

    Like 3
  19. Brock S

    12 Valve cummins swap would be cool

    Like 1
    • jwaltb

      Barf.

      Like 1
  20. Rj

    It’s not illegal if one has a “full” paper trail.

    Everyone needs to be on the lookout because the internet police are coming. They will come in force from all departments. They will come with the GrammerPolice, SpellingPolice, TypoPolice, UpperCasePolice, PunctuationPolice, AndroidPolice, iosPolice, PhotographPolice, and maybe others we don’t know about. Things are getting out of control and many of you will be going to a netlag that are said to have harsher conditions than Siberian gulags. Put a red filter over your screen so at night when the HolyGrailPolice that are packing IBM punch cards are peeping in your window it just looks like the glow off your Budweiser lamp.

    Like 7
    • Gary Rhodes

      Buy a car with a tampered with vin, no skin off my teeth. Take it to the nearest Highway Patrol Post and ask them to look at it and when they lock you up call your attorney. But don’t spread false information to people who could go to jail over it

      Like 1
    • $ where mouth is

      LOL 😄
      A gentleman, scholar and hilarious !

      Thank You Rj, the rediculousness here needs a good flushing.

      Like 0
  21. Keith

    Yes Bill the cruise kits included a new turn signal lever with the button on the end to engage the cruise. Had to pull the steering wheel to put on the new lever. Easy job without all the airbag crap in the way.I did a few of them and took about two hours start to finish with a couple cold beverages in the mix also.

    Like 1
  22. bikefixr

    Dr. Rhyne had good taste. He died in 2003. He also raced cars acc’d to his obit…so that lends credence to how he spec’d the car.

    Like 3
  23. John L.

    If you lived in Arkansas in the mid to late 60’s, and wanted a special Chevrolet, Mc Curry Chevrolet in Heber Springs, AR, was where you went to get it. Heber Springs has a population of less than 10,000, but many Chevy muscle cars came out of there. King Chevrolet in Calico Rock, AR, also a town of less than 10,000, was another special order dealer. They would hand you the options book, and an order form, and let you spec the car yourself.

    Like 4
    • Mark

      John, don’t you like me wish we could do the same today? Now it is “take what we have built” with all of the big three.

      Like 3
  24. Joey-2

    Just needs Turquoise or Blue paint and possibly a 427 / 425 to be perfect.

    Like 0
  25. Rj

    Don……..Lookie-Lous, or Stinky-Poo’s ??

    Like 0
  26. Utes

    I know this owner, & I’m proud he calls me his friend. I’m also craving EVERY vehicle he owns, though this Caprice Estate is perhaps the most unique. ALL his vehicles are of impeccable quality &/or restoration. Our late friend who is dearly missed, would’ve been more than happy to have had this one in his OWN incredible collection…..RIP Chuck!

    Like 4
  27. JoeNYWF64

    jwaltb, cruise control is meant just for the hiway that’s not too bizzy, even with manual trans – no shifting done there, unless you want to catch or race someone. On a very long monotonous trip(say from NY to Florida!), one’s RIGHT foot can get very stiff stuck in 1 place if you don’t have cruise, while one’s left foot isn’t doing anything & can move around.
    I guess back in the day, drivers w/o cruise made more pit stops to excercise that right foot on long trips. Or switched driving with the passenger.

    Like 0
  28. Rj

    Ok ddub, roadtooth, lookie-poo’s, smorgabordZ, MrIBM it’s time to read, and remember “reading is fundamental”.

    https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/vin-swapping/41833/page1/

    Seems those that say the most know the least.

    Like 1
  29. Christopher A. Junker

    About executive built specials: Back in the late 60’s I saw a 64 Buick Riviera GS with a 4 speed.

    Like 1
  30. David

    A friend in high school had a ’69 Kingswood Estate that his Grandparents handed down to him for his first car. It was power-everything, red w/black interior and a 427. After we graduated (1991), he sold the car for $1K (faded paint, but the car was Mint) and bought a Toyota Celica. He told me the guy just wanted the car for the engine…that was going to be put in a Chevelle. Damn Shame.

    Like 2
  31. RalleyeRimRay Member

    Very nice 427 powered longroof….plus a 4 speed….what a combo !! I’m a Mopar maniac but I can appreciate this. Lots of controversy over it’s correctness….I’m a strictly a Mopar dude so I’ll defer any comments to the 1000′ s of experts out there who know way, way more about Chevys than I do. But I do think this wagon is cool and beautiful. For me, my former 1969 Chrysler Town & Country wagon follows a slightly similar build story. I sold it to a good friend, Nelson last July ’20 who is thoroughly driving & showing it. December 1968, a couple goes to Chrysler/Plymouth dealership to hopefully purchase a large station wagon for her, however he would like a Road Runner. Arguing all morning on which type of car to purchase, he gives in, a station wagon it will be. Test driving the big wagons, she is happy with a dark blue one with a blue interior with a/c, power seats & windows, 9 passenger, roof rack, the works.. He is not happy with the base 383 – 2 barrel or the color. He asks the wife that since she got her wagon, could he order one of a different color. She says ok, but the salesman says it may take as long as a month or more to get….she still says ok. A few hours later, the man returns and says to the salesman he would like to change his factory order. He tells him that he now wants the Chrysler Town & Country to be built as the following : NO a/c, power seats, cruise, power seats, 3rd row seat or roof rack…..none of those things. But he does want : 3.23 SureGrip gears, B5 blue exterior and a 335 horsepower 383 Road Runner engine with the upswept Magnum style exhaust manifolds. The difference between the Chrysler 383HP motor at 330 horsepower and the Road Runner 383HP at 335 horsepower of 5 horsepower was the air cleaner only. The Chrysler came with a dual snorkel air cleaner, while the Road Runner came with a unsilenced air cleaner…that it. So the man got some satisfaction in that he sort of created his own “Road Runner” wagon without the wife not really caring what he did….as long as she got her big, Chrysler wagon !! Happy wife, happy life. Fast forward to 2017, when I purchased this one owner wagon that had not been driven since 2002 and placed in a heated, dry garage outside Seattle for the last 15 years. The changing of fluids, new carb, new brakes, complete tune up, new exhaust with FlowMasters and 17″ wheels & tires brought this bad ass back to life. It still wears it’s original paint and vinyl wood paneling sides…..another cool long roof prowling the streets. Oh yeah, I couldn’t stay away too long, picked up another…1973 Plymouth Fury Suburban with factory 400, I added : lowered 2″ , 15×7 & 15×8.5 vintage Amerirican Racing 200S wheels, original paint, new dual exhaust with FlowMasters , complete tune up, new brakes, not as cool as the blue ’69, but cool in it’s own right. Long live loogroofs !! Take care folks !!

    Like 4
  32. RalleyeRimRay Member

    The 1969 Chrysler Town & Country

    Like 1
  33. RalleyeRimRay Member

    The 1969 Chrysler Town & Country’s special factory 383-4 barrel, 330 horsepower engine featuring the Magnum exhaust manifolds.

    Like 3
  34. RalleyeRimRay Member

    My current ” replacement” longroof. 1973 Plymouth Fury Suburban, factory 400, 9-passenger

    Like 4

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