A 1970 Chevy station wagon (finished in Green Mist Metallic) would’ve looked perfectly at home on The Brady Bunch, in the parking lot of a local hardware or grocery store, or in the middle-class suburban neighborhood I lived in at the time (where you parked your cars in the driveway and on the street because homes in our subdivision didn’t have garages). And based on the faded paint of this long roof, it has probably spent more time in a driveway or carport than in a garage. This 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Concours Station Wagon, warts and all, is currently residing in Ocoee, Florida, and is for sale here on eBay. As of this writing, the highest bid sits at $11,170, but hasn’t met the sellers reserve.
This Chevelle wagon, offered through a Florida Dealer, has the word “original” thrown around quite a bit in the ad, but doesn’t give us any history or background. Chevelles could be ordered in 15 Magic-Mirror acrylic lacquer paint options in 1970, 12 of which were new colors. Light green metallic and lime gold metallic were popular paint options back in the 1970’s and looking at the supplied photos, the Code 45 Green Mist Metallic is original as it is faded overall and thin in some areas. You can also see a number of dents and other parking lot battle scars which aren’t unusual for a 53-year-old non-pampered, kid-hauling grocery-getter. It has the optional roof luggage carrier as is was called in the Chevelle sales brochure, but I’m guessing the current Rally Wheels weren’t on it when it left the factory. There’s a few small rust spots visible, a piece of trim is missing from the dented tailgate, but the chrome bumpers look good as does the glass. All Chevy wagons had the dual-action tailgate that can “swing down for cargo and swing wide for people,” plus the built-in rear bumper step. Chevelle wagons were available as two-seat or three-seat models, and this one is a two-seater.
Although it’s being advertised as an “original survivor,” I’m thinking the vinyl saddle-colored seat upholstery and dark brown carpeting aren’t original. I mean, considering its age and that it’s a station wagon, the front and rear bench seats look like they haven’t been sat on. And maybe it’s the lighting in the photos, but the seat upholstery also appears to be a slightly different shade of color than the door panels. The dash, instrument panel, and steering wheel look very good, but there are no photos of the headliner.
The cargo area, which is cavernous with the back seat folded down, has probably hauled a ton of camping gear, lumber, luggage, groceries, and everything else in between. All those years of hauling stuff has left its share of scratches and chips and imperfections, but it give this Chevelle an authentic look. After all, that’s what station wagons were for. Hauling stuff.
Chevelles in 1970 came standard with a choice of a Turbo-Thrift 250-cubic inch 6-cylinder or a Turbo-Fire 307 cubic-inch V8. Bigger powerplants were available as options, and this Chevelle has one with its original Turbo-Fire 350-cubic inch V8 nestled in a rather clean engine bay. The mileage is listed at 69,008 but there’s no mention if that’s the original mileage or if it has the numeral one in front of it. The 350 is paired to its original automatic transmission. The seller doesn’t tell us how the Chevelle runs or drives or what work has been performed on it recently or through the years. Chevelle offered four station wagon trim levels in 1970: the entry-level Nomad, the Chevelle-level Greenbrier, the Malibu-level Concours, and the upscale Concours Estate. Although this wagon is being advertised as the top-of-the-line Concours Estate, I believe it’s actually the Concours trim level. Photos I found online show “Concours Estate” badging on the rear fenders of that trim level and this Chevelle is showing “Concours” badging. So, what do you think of this faded green grocery getter?
Concourse Estate would have “wood”paneling. We had a ‘69 concourse with a 307 & powerglide I took my drivers test in ‘72 with it
The steering wheel is wrong for a 1970 Chevy.
Steering wheel is correct for this year Chevelle. I had a ‘69 Concours Estate wagon with the same steering wheel. Same interior also. The Concours Estate wagons had vinyl wood trim on the sides and tailgate with a power tailgate window.
My dad had a new 1968 impala station.wagon.with a 2 bbl.396 motor in it…it was frost green too..great old car..we drove the wheels off it.r
What’s up with the New barnfinds subscription pop-up, it’s B/S
Nice car, not perfect but a good buy.
Just wonder what is the part on the driver’s inner fender? Looks like it have a level signal.
An old Kelsey-Hayes trailer brake controller, S/B mounted below the steering column inside; these tapped into the hydraulic system to “sense” fluid pressure & convert it to current for the trailer brakes.
The part on the drivers fenderwell is a trailer brake
Not a Powerglide as there are three speeds on the gear selector.
“Concours”
Nice looking car. Given its condition, I’m not willing to pay $11k for it, however rare it may be. I’d pay between $5k and $10k for it. At $5k, at least there’d be enough money for inspections, insurance, upgrades as needed.
If that’s a Powerglide, then there’s 1 too many “L”s on the gear shift. GM saved a lot of dough changing only the front clips and making minor changes to the rear on the Chevelle wagons from 68-72.
Mike is correct. The steering wheel is not from a 1970 Chevelle Concours.
I owned one from 1976 to 1986. I had a 307 2 barrel with a turbo hydramatic 350…and a shift kit. The ebay ad states this one is a hydramatic 3 speed automatic as well. This is not an Estate wagon. They had the woodgrain siding. Mine was dark green with a white pinstripe. I put some Chevy SS wheels on it, painted the grille black, and put an SS emblem on the grille. Interior was same color as this one. Awesome car. Got me through high school, commuted to college, and even several years after that. I replaced a body mount several times with a hockey puck. A great daily driver. The back side windows leaked – just could not seal them no matter how hard I tried. The Boston area winters and all the salt on the roads ate it up. My brother Mopar Joe still has the 307 in his garage in Michigan!
And the turbo 350.
Oh I love wagons of all kinds! As the oldest of six, I have vivid memories of the family cars. The first wagon I remember was a 61 Olds F85 wagon, in silver with red three row interior, all the chrome all over plus Dad added chrome reverse wheels with Baby Moon caps. Small aluminum V8, with a 4 brl carb, automatic with trailer towing package that came with a lower rear end with posi traction. I remember loading up that wagon with at the time was just my sister and I with friends, off to the ice cream store! The second wagon was special ordered by Dad when he was forced to trade his 64 Imperial Crown Coupe in for a three row wagon after Mim told the family we were going to have another sibling, make that 5 in all, so we needed more room! Dad ordered a 68 Chrysler Town&Country Beach Wagon, loaded with every option he could get, from three rows in maroon leather with power everything, arm rests with Chrysler Air-Temp HVAC, AM/FM Stereo with 4 speakers, up to a honking 440/4 brl TNT with dual exhaust, plus factory towing package for the family boat, that included a 3:09 Posi rear. We all took our road tests in that car. Later on we each had a time using as a daily driver here and there as life warranted. One crazy night I had that old 440 wound up so tight the speedometer went passed 120 SL the way into the clock to the right of the speedometer! That TNT was screaming! The doors sounded like they were gonna get sucked off! But that big ol Chrysler never let the family down for just over 12 years and 130,000 hard but well cared for miles. Till Dad sold it to a big immigrant family in town, with a full tank of gas and new tires, Dad was a great man.
Oh I almost forgot, I owned a very similar wagon to the one above. A 69 Pontiac LeMans Sport Wagon, I bought off the original owner in 1982, with just about 98,000 miles. He used to tow his boat, loaded with three kids and wife. So he had ordered it with a 350/4 brl, TH350, with dual exhaust. I bought it because I had just been T boned in a 69 GTO, that honestly was a mess, but straight, till a salesman driving across a Mall diagonally slammed into my door! I broke two ribs when the arm rest hit me, luckily I had my seat belt on because I had all the windows open and when he hit my car spun completely around and everything that was n the car not held down was all over the parking lot! So with a bent frame, but good 400/4 brl TH400, bucket seats, all in the same color? Why not? I swapped the whole front clip, plus dashboard with all the gauges, bucket seats and console, turning my LeMans Sport Wagon into a GTO Sport Wagon!! I had so much fun with that wagon! Till someone stole it and I never seen it a.
Oh go on! Don’t spare us a single detail!
Love your story…I have a 1968 Chevelle Nomad wagon that mom and dad bought brand new for $2,400…
It has the 250 six banger with a three on the tree(mom drove a clutch,being from Pennsylvania)….
It’s painted Alpine Blue….
Very beautiful design back then
Again great article
Keep up the good work!
Jb
My mom and dad had a ’68 Chevelle Nomad “Custom” as well. 6-banger and 3-on-the-tree, white. No power ANYTHING – even the tailgate window you wind down with a handle. That’s how I learned to drive. Fond memories!