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Cheap Project: 1966 Buick Sport Wagon

While this 1966 Buick Sport Wagon is complete, it will need a lot of restoration work. Given the ongoing popularity of classic station wagons, it is a car that could be well worth a serious look. I have to thank Barn Finder local_sheriff for referring the Buick through to us. It is located in Pembina, North Dakota, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the listing to open at $1,375 in a No Reserve auction. There have been no bids to this point, but there is a BIN option available at $1,800.

The Sport Wagon, which is finished in a combination of Cream and Gunmetal Poly, is certainly going to need some work to return it to its best. Ignoring the rust for a moment, it is obvious that the car has suffered some accident damage at some point in the past. This is a worry, because when you look at the alignment of both rear doors, things don’t look that promising. The fact that the tailgate is also jammed closed is also a cause for concern. However, a personal inspection may reveal that things are not as grim with the wagon as the photos might suggest. There is rust around the glass in the car’s top, and this will need to be addressed. This has apparently allowed water to enter the car, so the floors will also need to be inspected for potential rust problems. All up, I can see a lot of work will be required to bring the Buick back to life.

Under the hood of the Sport Wagon, you will find the Wildcat 340ci V8, a 2-speed Super Turbine automatic transmission, along with power steering and power brakes. There is some good news here because the owner does confirm that the engine starts and runs. He has used an external fuel source, as the gas in the tank is bad. As is the case with the rest of the car, there will undoubtedly be some work required before the car could be considered to be roadworthy. However, once restored, this has the potential to be a family wagon that would provide reasonable performance for its size and weight. If originality isn’t the end goal with this car, I’m sure that a different transmission would have a significant positive impact on vehicle performance.

With the rust that is present around the top glass, plenty of moisture has apparently managed to find its way inside the Buick. According to the owner, things don’t smell that nice inside the car. This would suggest that all of the soft items such as carpet and seat foam might be destined for the nearest rubbish skip. The rest of the interior is looking pretty shabby, so a full restoration was going to be required anyway. With the deterioration inside the car, I would be inclined to start from scratch with this one.

This Buick Sport Wagon represents a cheap project car, but it is going to require a substantial amount of work to return it to anything approaching its former glory. Classic wagons are continuing to grow in popularity, and a good example of the 1966 model can sell for figures well in excess of $30,000. So, is this a project that you would be willing to take on?

Comments

  1. Avatar JOHN Member

    This is more than an ambitious project. The rust repairs to the window channels alone is going to be staggering, costing more than the car will ever be worth. Then you have the rest of the car to deal with. Sadly, this is a parts car. I don’t think it is worth the opening bid. It doesn’t even have 4 matching wheel covers, although points for the ’58 Plymouth cover up front!

    Like 4
  2. Avatar Car Nut Tacoma

    Lovely looking car. I’ve always loved both the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and the Buick Sport Wagon. Assuming all the parts are there, I would think this would make a great restoration project, or possibly a great donor car.

    Like 4
  3. Avatar Steve Hunt

    My parents had one of these. Us kids liked laying in the back and looking out those roof windows on long road trips.

    Like 2
  4. Avatar TimM

    Get it running and drive the snot out of it!! It’s cheap enough!!!

    Like 1

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