Buick was an on-again/off-again builder of station wagons but they tried to keep things interesting with models like this 1968 Custom “Sportwagon”. The seller suggests, “The wagon you’ve been waiting for“. Well, I don’t know about that, let’s see what’s here and then make a decision about waiting or buying. This nine-passenger people hauler is located in El Cerrito, California and is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $6,900. There is a make an offer option too.
Based on the Special/Skylark extended wheelbase A-Body platform, there were two intermediate models of station wagon offered in ’68, the plain-jane Special Deluxe and a Custom Sportwagon that was available with or without faux wood trim and possessed sky-lights positioned over the rear seat and the cargo/third seat interior area. The Sportwagon’s 121″ wheelbase really put it more in a full-size than an intermediate-size category and it allowed that third, forward-facing seat (more a two-person seat than a three) to be accommodated.
The big surprise here is the 340 HP, 400 CI V8 engine that resides under a hood that appears to have been boosted from a GS. The seller advises, “Runs good and yard drives“. With that engine under the hood, this sucker oughta haul! Unfortunately, it’s held back a bit by its two-speed Super Turbine automatic transmission. According to research, the preferable Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic wasn’t available in the Sport Wagon.
The body is in fair shape though it’s certainly worn looking with some surface rust bleed-through. There is rust stated as inhabiting the area around the rear side windows and images of the underside show heavy surface rust and scale but the entire structure seems to still be sound. The body appears to be surprisingly dent-free.
The interior is rough! The seating upholstery is split in places and what’s not split is cruddy looking. As noted earlier, the third seat is forward-facing which was unusual as most wayback seats were rear-facing unless, of course, you had a better idea Ford with cross-facing seats. Some of the interior trim pieces are missing and that headliner is downright scary looking!
This station wagon definitely has the “Old California” look about it. Decades of strong sunshine have worked hard on the horizontal surfaces and dried out the interior trim and upholstery. But the body panels and frame aren’t showing signs of the corrosive disaster that befalls similar vintage cars from places like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other locales with inhospitable climates. So, is this the wagon that I have been waiting for? Nope, how about you?
It is clear that it was “curing” somewhere for an extended period of time and will require a lot of work to bring it back. These Sportwagons were equipped with the 400 from the factory as evidenced by the 400 emblems on the rear quarters, a top engine offering on the Sportwagon. The seller does not specify that it is a GS engine. It does have a ‘69 GS good however. They were and are great looking wagons for their day. It is unfortunate that Buick did not offer the 3-Speed “Hydramatic” in these models. They are considered one of the best transmissions to come out of GM.
But it was the following year the TH350 came out as a replacement for the ST300 and the Powerglide, although the latter soldiered on until 1973 as a low cost option.
The 400 emblem refers to the TH400 transmission, not the engine size.
As I stated in the post, and Buick’s own marketing material is clear, the TH-400 was not available in the Sportwagon but the 400 CI V8 engine was. I’ve never heard of or seen an instance of placing an obscure transmission detail on a valve cover sticker not to mention the fact that the sticker reads “400-4”, meaning a four-barrel carburetor.
JO
Take a close look at the valve cover decal. That’s the 430 engine, not the 400.
That engine wasn’t available in the Sportwagon. It topped out at 400. So the seller claims it’s a 400, and Buick publications agree (attached) that the 400 was an option and the TH400 wasn’t, so I don’t know what that sticker means assuming that it reads “430-4”, I can’t really make it out and it’s not in great shape. But if that is the case, it could have been wrongly placed by a previous owner perhaps.
JO
After 54 years it is entirely possible that this wagon has received a 430 cubic inch Buick engine swap.
Here’s another engine image from the driver’s side, the valve cover sticker definitely reads “400-4” and I still think that’s what the passenger side one may display, the second 0 on that one just isn’t that clear.
Besides, the seller claims that he bought this car from a friend who owned it for “a couple of decades”. It stands to reason he would have been aware of a potential engine swap and would have listed it as having the current, correct engine.
JO
Never was a transmission identified by emblem , grand sports had the 400 cube motor.and the sport wagons
Thomas, please, it is “Gran”, not “Grand”.
Wrong
Ahhhhahahaha…are you serious? Tell me you’re not serious, lol?
Buick offered a 430 4-barrel V8 in the 1967 through 1969 model years. It was only available in Wildcats, Electras and Rivieras, but that didn’t stop some of them from ending up in the smaller models like Specials and Skylarks, and maybe this particular SportWagon.
I’m sorry Rick, you are absolutely wrong. The 430 did not end up in ANY Skylark…be it GS, Wagon, or otherwise. That’s nonsense.
After studying the pictures I have come to the conclusion that the valve cover on the left (drivers) side shows 400 while the right side clearly depicts 430-4. Since it can’t be both some parts swapping has occurred be it the entire drivetrain or a lone valve cover. Trying to decide how it’s equipped by referencing factory equipment seems illogical. Just accept it for what it is, an old car with a V8 engine.
Jack:
It’s not illogical at all. Every one of us writers at Barn Finds starts with that factory assumption and runs with it unless the seller has specifically stated something else, or barring that, there is photographic evidence otherwise. You have to have a starting point, a basis, not having one is illogical.
JO
For a worn out old nothing of a wagon, with a GS hood stuck on it, it sure has generated a lot of comments on Barnfinds!
Without a doubt the right valve cover says 430-4 and the left 400-4. Wouldn’t it be funny if it was really a 350 (yes, I know Buick 350’s come from a different engine family than the 400, 430, 455).
Probably should call it a 415 and just be done with it.
JO
Jim, in my defense there is “photographic evidence otherwise” However I wasn’t calling you out. It’s just that the commenters seemed to try too hard to justify the engine as factory correct in some way. and remember that this is only my opinion. Thank you for all you and the rest of the writers at BF because it is the first and sometimes the only website that I check out every day, it is the best!
Rusty and crusty. Been sitting for decades near or around the S.F. Bay.
You mean the Exon or Mobil or Chevron gas prices, I pretty sure US gov doesn’t drill for oil. If it’s due to lack of Russia imports, it is a small price to pay to help Ukraine. But please no politics on this site .
ST300 was a very good transmission. No parts were interchangeable with Powerglide.
If I remember correctly the sport wagons had the gs style hood . Come on buick people speak up. I had a 69 gs convertible the 400 threw a rod. Swapped in a 430 , which wasn’t built as high performance as the 400 , milder cam and lower compression head s
It’s my car, the valve cover sticker -430- was incorrect from the factory. The hood was added by my pal. Barnfinds always up
My a** with the cars I have. Check out Dans Discoveries here. I’m still at it and barnfinds still owes me a shirt.
I know a previous owner of this car. It did have the 400 engine. I rode in it from San Francisco to Sea-Tac, Washington and back in 2005. I also rewired the side marker lights so they flashed with the turn signals with one minor splice.
They had a 65 Lesabre 400. Callout on rear quarter. It had a 300 cid engine with the new TH400 (3speed).
The sport wagon did not come factory with the ram air GS hood someone added that – it was however available from Buick in 1968 with a 400 engine from the factory – the Buick 400 and 430 were the same engine block in 1968 and 1969 – Buick did use 400 badges for the th400 transmission on some cars – I had a 1969 Lesabre 2dr hardtop years ago that had 400 badges but the engine was a 350-4 the 400 emblems were for the transmission but if the 1968 or 1969 sport wagon had 400 badges that meant that it came factory with the 400 big block
Buick did offer the TH400 in the Sportwagon in 68. It was identified as a Super Turbine 400. Super Turbine 300 was also available.
This was my former Sport Wagon 400, which I rescued out of the New Mexico desert back in 2004. It is indeed a 400ci V8 – the factory installed engine. The 430 stickers were a mystery to me – I suspect there was an error at the factory as this was a very early 1968 production car – not an unheard of mistake. The car had just under 40K miles on it when I acquired it. I believe this to be true mileage as it still had its original spark plugs and year correct spark plug wires. It also had original T3 headlamps. The original hood had a dent in the leading edge, which is why a subsequent owner replaced it. I’m so sad to see the rust on it as it had none when I acquired it, as well as the wear to the interior. The front seat had been recovered by a shop in New Mexico before I bought it. I’d love to hear from the new owner to give them the known history of this Sport.