On an almost daily basis, I grapple with the desire to continue owning a traditional sedan and not give into the masses’ love of SUVs and their impressive convenience. Besides the Cadillac CTS-V, which still trades hands for a serious amount of cash used, there’s no fast wagon choice for the enthusiast with little ones in tow. That’s why I’m digging this 427-equipped Chevy Caprice wagon, and wishing such a rig was still produced. Find it here on craigslist for $9,500, and go here if the ad disappears.
The seller says this Caprice has been stationary for 10 years, and will need the requisite reconditioning as a result. However, the thumpin’ 335 b.h.p. 427 still turns freely, so it shouldn’t take too much coaxing to get that people mover to fire. The body looks sound, and there’s no evidence of major damage beyond what a decade of storage can do to a car. It’s well-optioned, with air conditioning, power steering and power disc brakes.
I’m digging the faded woodgrain trim and Rally wheels with fat trim rings that give the steelies some serious dish. I can’t tell if the rear glass is still present – in some photos it looks like there’s nothing there – but more to the point, I wonder if this Caprice has a power rear window. I’m sure one of our experts can confirm if that was ever an option. The tail lights are some of my favorite designs on a domestic body like this one, and all the Caprice is missing is a suitable period roof rack.
Chrome all looks decent, too, and I can only see one crack in the dash. The seller notes that high levels of originality are the big selling points here: “The vehicle is a completely original unmolested station wagon. It features the 427 motor with 335 horsepower and a Turbo 400 automatic transmission. The numbers match to the car.” That’s rare in and of itself, considering how many frumpy wagons were likely pillaged for a hot motor like this one. Hopefully, we’ll soon see this one dropping the kids off at the pool and then laying a patch all the way through the parking lot.
Cool wagon! Always loved the ’67 &68 Impala style.
This car looks familiar….and just not a lot of pictures.
Cool old Chevy BB wagon! That was back in the day where if you “checked all the right” boxes, the vehicle would most likely be built.
Were those taillights a carryover from the 1965 Impalas?
Still three but different.
The tail lights are not from 1965. The 1965 tail lights were perfectly round. The look is still excellent.
Big block wagon are great for cruising to pick up lil old grannies and take them to get wheelchairs and dentures.
Yep nothing like a big block wagon to race for depends when you need it!
A friend Troy Culiver had this exact wagon when I was in high school. He was an old man then in Santa Rosa California. His ex wife had a red 68 Chevrolet ss396.
My uncle had the stripped down 1968 Belaire station wagon with the lowly 307 and a powerglide. He used to haul my soap box derby car in the back with the rear seat folded down. He only had three girls but it seems he always had a huge load of kids in that car heading off somewhere.
I’d like to see the feature car make it back to the road soon. Can’t be too many of these left.
My all-time favorite wagon (along with the ’69 Vista Cruiser). My parents had a ’67 Caprice wagon with the 327 and that car would haul a$$ as well as 4×8 sheets of plywood. My ’68 would be the dark blue with this equipment.
Now picture this with a 4-speed…
This Caprice is looking good.
Drove one of these in 1969 while working at the local Chevy dealership.Owner used it as his tow car for his drag racing Camaro.No problem pulling it.
Yes the car has the power rear window. You can see the keyhole on the tailgate.
What it is missing is the covered headlights.
I wonder if they were available with the 427 with vacuum being the concern.
Had one like this back in the day. Don’t remember what year it was but it had the clamshell tailgate where the window went up into the roof and the tailgate dropped down. Great family vacation hauler.
Well if it had the clamshell tailgate it was not like this at all….71 was the first year….
Nice A real Draggin Wagon
Doesn’t dropping the kids off at the pool mean taking a $hit??
Well, I WAS enjoying the comments :|
Wagons are supposedly making a comeback, like vinyl. Cool car to have. Even better hauling a canned ham trailer
Don’t understand the vinyl comeback…why anyone would like it shocks me…leatherette in a new $40k car is a rip-off…
Pretty cars. Ten times prettier than the ugly SUV’s running around these days that look like shoeboxes on wheels. If the wood were restored with new decals this car would be stunning.
“The tail lights are some of my favorite designs on a domestic body like this one, and all the Caprice is missing is a suitable period roof rack.”
I totally agree about the tail lights but was going to cheer for the great choice of checking the “roof rack delete” checkbox.
Great car.
My dad had a 67 396 positraction Chevy wagon ruby red black interior loved that car drove it to high school in 1973 I wish l had it today more room than most SUV
My next door neighbor had one of these in the early ’70’s. Theirs was
identical to this one save for the color (Spanish Gold) and the hideaway
headlamps that really made this car look great. Theirs also had the upscale
interior with the Gold leather and brocaid upholstery, power windows, locks
seats, tilt wheel with cruise control, AM/FM radio with rear speakers, and
factory air. And yes, theirs did have the power rear window that was standard on Caprice wagons along with the 2-way tailgate too. My neighbor
also took advantage of those rally rims when he put wide oval tires on them
to make his car handle better than the average wagon of the time. And then
there was that big, beautiful 427 V-8 up front that provided a healthy little rumble that came out of those factory dual exhausts. Got to do some
basic service on it for his wife while he was away on business. the sound
of that big engine was music to a schoolboy’s ears. And getting to visit
his two oldest daughters didn’t hurt much either!
When I was growing up my dad bought a 69 Kingswood estate Chevy wagon, it was the first car I had ever seen with power steering and brakes. It was red with wood sides and had a 350 4 bbl in it and if I remember correctly that was the first year of the 350 ci small block. It had a seat all the way in the back that you faced the rear window when you sat back there. I think it was kind of fancy for back then?
I have a 1969 Kingswood in my backyard waiting its turn.
No, 1967.
The author must be a younger guy. Power tailgate windows became an option on station wagons by the late 50’s – early 60’s, and most were equipped with one by the late 60’s. Our 62 Belair wagon had one, as well as our 68 Chevelle wagon. Sometime during the late 60’s to very early 70’s they became standard on fullsize wagons, and most mid sizers came already equipped with one.
While I love the idea of a big block in anything, I wonder why buyers selected this option for a station wagon. Was it for towing or just the fun of feeling the awesome torque when you stomped your foot on the gas pedal? I am sure there must of been other reasons.
This was the family car. It had to haul all the kids and their gear.
On the weekends it had to handle DIY projects for the dad.
I can understand why a wagon would have a big block, not so much a 2 door hardtop though.
I absolutely love this car.
Looks worth every penny
Any car powered by a 427 rat gets my immediate attention, more so than the 396 or 454, six days a week and twice on Sunday.
Would have liked this big wagon better without the wood trim, never cared for that look really. But seeing how it is powered by a 427 I’ll overlook that minor detail.😎
My brother-in-law had a tricked-out ’69 Kingswood wagon. White over dark blue. My favorite extra feature was the primitive rear defogger fan built into the passenger side wheel wheel cover. It blew recycled air from the interior toward the back window. I agree this car needs a roof rack. It greatly improved the looks of my ’76 Estate Wagon. I found one in a salvage yard and moved it to my car.
My parents bought a 71 Chevy Kingswood in the late 70s. It was gold, 350 2bbl with AC that didn’t work. It had that clamshell tailgate, brocade seats and the third seat all the way in the back. My older brother called that seat “the back- back”. We had that car until the timing chain went.
My 396 Caprice did have the hideaway lamps and a big can to hold the air up on the left fender….
I think it is well worth the money. I like the (after market) AC, this could be a fun ride for the money. I would make it safe and drive it like it is.
Caprice was top of the line then and every thing on the car was power.
i had a 1968 Olds Vista Cruiser. i put a 71 Cadillac 505 C.I. 370 HP motor, 4:30 rear, turbo 400 trans. i lost very few races
Not 335 HP, but 385 HP from a 427 in a Impala or Caprice.