It was 1968 and you wanted a luxury car with some muscle to it. But the wife insisted on a station wagon to haul all the kids around in. One solution was to buy a Chevy Caprice Estate Wagon with a 396 cubic inch engine. That’s what the seller or someone before him did, at least according to the 396-badge on the front fender. Stashed away in an open shed for who knows long is such a wagon in Ruston, Louisiana. No mention is made if it runs, but since all the tires are flat, we’re guessing not. It’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,500. Thanks, David Byargeon, for sending this tip our way!
Ford came up with the LTD in 1965 to create a new luxury standard for its full-size cars. It was successful and Chevy responded in kind a few months later with the Caprice, a gussied-up Impala. The car become a series of its own in 1966 and remained a Chevrolet staple through 1996. The nameplate reappeared from 2011-17 as an Australian import that found much of its use in police work because it was still a rear-wheel-drive V8. Using the same platform from 1965-70, the 1967 full-size Chevies got a big facelift, so the 1968 editions were only mildly changed.
When the seller’s car was ordered, the 396 V8 was selected, and its likely output was 350 hp. The only transmission choice was the 3-speed Turbo-Hyrdramatic. For a big, bulky wagon, this thing could probably light up the rear tires when not carrying a load, but all that would do is scare the wife and impress the kids. This edition, which is said to wear gold paint (but it looks black), came to rest in semi-covered space some years before this one given the layers of dirt and dust. We’re told it has 90,000 miles, which seems quite likely. The drivetrain is said to be numbers-matching, which adds to what most collectors are looking for.
The black interior is going to need some work, at least in terms of the upholstery without duct tape and new carpeting. Chevy built 115,000 Caprices in 1968 plus some undetermined number of wagons because all the wagons Chevy offered are lumped into one number which is 175,600. So, it’s not possible to ascertain whether there is any rarity to this wagon. According to Hagerty, a ’68 Caprice in Fair condition is a $9,600 car, but the 396 may add a premium.
Absolutely love the design – hate its condition. I can literally smell fungus through my screen. It all comes down to the condition of its body, if it’s sound it could be an interesting starting point. Sadly the ’68 Chev so far seems to be not so well supported by the aftermarket, but hopefully it’ll improve.
Massive love for 60s longroofs that are able to move 🤘
The seller needs to put more effort into the ad, starting with a picture of the engine, which is said to be a 5.7 liter V8 not a 396.
Steve R
FB’s Marketplace has some weird boxes that have to be checked in order to proceed with your ad and “liter engine size” may be one of them with 6.4/6.5 nor being a choice.
Furthermore, the 396 was likely a 265 hp slug…not a 350 hp hot rod.
Stand corrected…should be an L35 with 325 hp. Not a screamer, but better than the 2bbl version a year later for sure.
Yup, one year only. If you wanted a 396 in a full size ’69 Chevy, that’s all you got, and it was a slug. Just ask the late Bud Lindemann.
Great car, but a mildew and mold mess. Louisana is about the dampest state in the nation. Will cost a ton to restore. Hagerty over inflates prices. I have their insurance on my Corvette, but where he comes up with his value guides is beyond me. In the early 70s, I saw a loaded 427 1969 Kingswood Estate at Island Dragway in New Jersey. It had hideaway headlamps. Probably the rarest car I ever saw to date. I grew up in station wagons. Dad bought a new 68 Ford with the rear seats where my brothers and I rode. No seatbelts and we survived.