“You’ve changed, we’ve changed” is the tagline that Chevrolet used when they introduced their completely redesigned full-size B-body cars for the ’71 model year. One way that Chevy changed was by getting bigger – no word if they thought the same about their customers. And when it comes to station wagons, bigger was better still as they incorporated a longer wheelbase than their passenger siblings – these are big cars for entry-level Chevrolet. I rarely encounter a first-year, fifth-gen (’71-’76) Chevy B-body, much less a station wagon version, so I’m looking forward to reviewing this car. This one is located in Falls Church, Virginia and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $12,600, reserve not yet met, or a BIN price of $23,000. Thanks to Larry D for this tip!
Referred to as a “Kingswood”, this wagon is really an Impala as the Kingswood moniker was used on Impala wagons starting in ’69 before reverting back to “Impala” in ’73. Built on a 125″ wheelbase (as opposed to the sedan/hardtop’s 121″), steel perimeter frame, the rear suspension was leaf-spring hung as opposed to the sedan/hardtop’s traditional four-link coil set-up. But the most interesting feature of this fifth-gen station wagon is its clamshell tailgate whereby the tailgate opens by dropping down between the rear bumper and body of the car while the rear window retracts up into the roof. This feature was also utilized on Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick station wagons produced during the same years.
The exterior presentation of this Kingswood is strong. The seller refers to it as “solid” and notably, this generation of the B-body was less inclined to rust compared to its fourth-gen (’65-’70) predecessor. The rear clamshell is reported to be working and that’s good to know as it’s a complicated mechanism. As I recall from my dealership days, the entire shebang makes use of a specialized motor/transmission that controls the gate and window action simultaneously (or just raises the window) and it is probably a difficult part to source today. The mileage is listed as 51K miles but there is no supporting documentation or claim to originality. Regardless, this wagon shows well enough that the mileage could be a genuine reading.
There is no underhood image and that’s a bit frustrating – such an image can help with verifying mileage claims. Anyway, the engine is listed as a 350 CI V8 so that would mean a 245 gross HP version working through a Turbo-Hydramatic, three-speed automatic transmission. The seller claims that this Chevy, “runs and drives great“. As I recall from experience, that base 350 CI motor was a bit taxed moving 4,700 lbs. of Kingswood around. Generally, the 402 or 454 CI big-block engines were preferable motivators due to their prodigious torque-producing capabilities.
Inside is like the state of Montana – huge and seems to go on forever. The blue vinyl upholstery has held up surprisingly well – both GM and Chevrolet were still using high-quality interior materials in those days. The old-style nylon-loop carpet, other than being typically discolored, has withstood the test of a half-century of time and use. The lower half of the upholstery panels are showing some plastic delamination (they can be resprayed) and the dash pad is starting to reveal some troubles.
The next owner of this wagon could rent it out as a hearse with this much carrying capacity! As with the rest of this station wagon, the cargo area is only showing a few traces of wear though the plasticized paint finish is marred by some minor surface rust.
We cover lots of Ford Country Squires and fourth-gen Chevrolet wagons, but these fifth-gen subjects are harder to find. The seller refers to it by stating, “Very rare car, not many left“. These weren’t rare at all years ago, thousands and thousands were produced, but agreed there probably aren’t many left today. That, however, is a surmise based on observation and not factual documentation. I like it, it’s a nice alternative to the usual station wagon discovery, how about you?
I have a strong love for old land yachts, and this one does it for me!
A friend had the ratty, beat to hell twin of this back in the mid 1980’s, but his I think was the Bel Air version. Still, very similar. I wish I had the money for this, just to relive those days. I would take it over to his house & show it to him, then drive it until it looked like his old one lol.
I know wagons are hot now, but 23K ?
Already sold.
Just like the dinosaurs, these creatures once roamed the planet, well, the US. All but gone.
Considering it’s really a base model full-size wagon, it’s not very loaded; just the basics. You couldn’t get a manual transmission at all on these; not even a 3-on-the-tree but who would want one in this? It went for more than its worth in all honesty. I see no more than $15K in this because it’s clean. Anything more than that is just $$ down the drain.
Actually, 1971 is the last year for 3 on the tree.
Actually that was the ‘norm’ back then for the American car companies producing fullsize station wagons TO PRETTY much drop the manual trannys as it was becoming cumbersome & out-of-date for modern vehicles. By the mid seventies most dealerships were ‘pushing’ & selling auto trannys in most of their models available.
This is actually one step down from top of the line, the base (Biscayne-level) wagon was the Brookwood, then there was the Townsman which was equivalent to the Bel Air and the lowest trim you could get a third row in, this Kingswood and the top-of-the-line Kingswood Estate which had the woodgrain sides along with a Caprice grille and emblems but still an Impala-grade interior.
Nice, but not 23k nice…
Apparently someone thought so.
Neat old wagon. You are right, you don’t see many anymore. Other than the rust, more than a few of these were claimed as demolition derby vehicles and word is with that heavy gate deal in the back they were almost unbeatable. At least we know one survived.
JeffD, Yes, these probably were excellent for demo derby’s. l had the mis fortune of rear ending one when forced off the road in my 1963 Chevy short bed pickup. The pick up was destroyed, but little damage was done to the Kingswood. No one hurt, but the seat belt saved my life as the driver door of the pick up flew open. If not for the belt, I would have been thrown out on to the street where there was traffic.
Boy would I love to have this car to transport my wife and our five children somewhere nice. We have an old Ford Escort that’s too small for all of us. I got laid off so it’s tough. Someday I’ll be able to afford a beautiful car like this and take the whole family on a nice trip!
God bless and good luck!
I learned to drive in one of these but it had the bigger motor and fake wood sides. Tons of torque. The clam thing in the back was novel in the day. As a kid I liked sitting in the “way back” since you were practically a city block away from your parent driving the thing. Fond memories but I wouldn’t want one now at all.
Steve
Failed my driving test in one of these (mom’s blue 72 Kingswood).
Did the one-handed palming of the steering wheel in my 3-point turn and the officer was not impressed.
I can relate… I also almost failed in school driver training when in the turn & and turning right I let go of the wheel and waved to a friend.
Wow, what memories! My folks had a (’70? ’71?) Pontiac Catalina wagon that was Dad’s daily driver and our “family thruster” for pulling our travel trailer on family vacations and get-aways. We went coast to coast and back like that in the summer of ’71. So many of the details of that wagon I see in this Chevy wagon. Same color even! The main difference I see is the Pontiac had a pointed center beak from end/grille. Very distinctive.
Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Clamshell Chevrolets!
SOLD for a BIN of 20K.
Seller must have lowered the price.
Back in the day, Tom McHall of Popular Mechanix(?) used to have a 4x4x8 requirement for the load area of a wagon. This may have been one of the last generations to meet that criteria. That 350 would have been pretty stressed with that much acreage to motivate.
I really want to get another one of these. In 1976 I bought a used 1973 Kingswood Estate. Same color as this and I absolutely love the clamshell tailgate. The Kingswood Estate with the fake wood along the sides looks great.
I had a ’76 Buick Estate Wagon with the clamshell rear end. It never failed to work while many other things on that car did. It was very handy one night when a friend got so drunk we found him passed out on the pavement in a parking lot. Nothing in the way of tossing him in the back to get him home and to bed.
You will find it hard to believe, but at my age, I’d buy this and bag it. A big block with a hi flow fuel pump big injectors and maybe a 50 shot. Hide the compressor in the spare well, stick huge meats and BBS on the ends of the axles and off we would go. Remember Brock and his crew cab dually? My version.
Bravo for keeping this wonderful wagon stock. I can’t stand when people unnecessarily jack with the exhaust, suspension and wheels. Original is always far better.