The Chevy Caprice was introduced in mid-1965 as a response to the success Ford was having with its new LTD. Whereas the LTD was a gussied up Galaxie 500, the Caprice was an Impala decked out like a Buick. If you needed to haul a lot of people or stuff, the Caprice Estate Wagon was the way to go, complete with woodgrain decals on the side panels. This 1968 edition comes with a factory 396 cubic inch V8 that has been refreshed and tricked out a bit. Located in the middle of Oregon, this Chevy is available here on craigslist for $5,300.
Customer reaction to the Caprice was positive because Chevrolet promoted it to series status in 1966. From that point forward, there was a Caprice in the sales literature every year through 1996 when rear-wheel-drive cars were on the way out. The nameplate reappeared from 2011-17 as an Australian import that found a lot of use in police work because it was still an RWD V8. Using the same platform from 1965 to 70, the 1967 full-size Chevies got a big facelift, so the 1968 editions were only lightly changed.
If the seller is correct about the 396 motor in this Caprice being original, its likely output was 350 hp. But that be different now given the recent updates and the addition of a low end torque camshaft. You could only get this engine with the Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, which is what’s in the seller’s car. Unfortunately, the listing for this automobile is short on photos, including any of the engine compartment. The reported mileage on the overall car is 137,000.
We’re told the body needs work, but the seller fails to describe how. So, we assume there is some rust besides in one of the door openings, but we don’t see any big dents or dings. The interior has been treated to a set of black bucket seats that don’t remotely come close to matching the rest of the interior. But since you’re likely to redo the upholstery and carpeting anyway, that’s probably nothing to get worked up over. If you’re looking for a wagon that should have a lot of giddyap, is this one you’d take a run at? BTW, thanks to Pat L. for the tip!
factory 396 would be 325hp for this model, next up would be 385hp 427….in 1969 there was I believe the one yr only 2brl 265hp 396 in the caprice….
Apparently it also has “power stirring”! Looks interesting.
Big-block wagons weren’t rare when they were new. They were bought in droves to haul the family camper or boat. Then the first Oil Crisis came and used ones weren’t worth 10 cents – even if they weren’t worn out from all that towing. So all those big-block wagons got bought up and had their engines stuffed in Novas, Camaros, and Chevelles. Maybe after they’d been run through the Demolition Derby.
That’s why nice ones are rare now.
Odd that with today’s insane gas prices, used trucks/suvs with the biggest motors & most weight whose mpg could still be in the low teens or even single digits – may sell for more than their sticker price when they were new!
I remember stopping in at a local used car lot a family friend owned, back around the time of the first “gas crisis” (73 or 74). He was removing the 454 badges off the fenders of a Caprice wagon. I asked why and he said no one ever payed much attention to what was actually under the hood, but they wouldn’t give a car a second look, if they saw the 454 badges.
My parents had a ’67 Caprice wagon with a 327 rated at 275hp. That sucker was FAST. A friend’s mom had a ’66 with the 396 on which he broke the engine mounts one night. His dad, a no-nonsense Michigan state cop, was not pleased. Turns out that a lot of the big blocks did that but by the time it came to light it was too late to save my buddy.
The 1968s are the best-looking imho. A real station wagon with a big block is more of a Sport Utility Vehicle than anything on the road today except a Durango with a Hellcat motor.
“low-in” torque camshaft? If that’s the terminology used by the seller, five will get you ten that motor hasn’t been touched.
I think they meant low end torque.
My father had one. 396 with dual exhaust and posi, factory air and fm stereo. Was a really nice car. When he traded for a 71 Olds Custom Cruiser, he said ” doesn’t have the power of my Chevy” Told him low compression 455 and at least 500 lbs more was reason why.
I do get a chuckle reading the way guys interpret what they heard the “car guy’s talking about!!! Low-in torque camshaft!! Thats a new one!!
5300.00 not a bad price. But these had serious rust problems where the gas tank is saddled That is the first place I would look
Where the car is located, and the fact it still has the original OR plates from new, I would bet that rust would not be a problem. We don’t use salt, and that’s a relatively dry area of OR as well.
Dad always bought Fords of this vintage because you could lay down a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood flat. Unlike the GM’s and Mopars amazingly. Nice car, though.