The third-generation Chevrolet Caprice is an iconic machine these days, a reputation it wholly deserves for putting wagons on the map. The massive estate-bodied variant became embedded in American culture for its ability to haul families and all of their gear along with its trademark woodgrain trim doing down the sides. And, now we know that they even served as mini school buses in areas where standard bus transportation wasn’t an option. This survivor-grade Caprice is listed here on eBay with bids to $11,600 and the reserve unmet.
These were simple machines, prized for their durability and put through grueling daily stress tests as taxi cabs and police cars. The blue-and-white NYPD Caprice is about as iconic as it gets for a cop car, and there’s still a few hanging out in museums. Given they were employed in some of the most taxing fleets in the world, it’s of little surprise that a school department would find it a fitting stand-in for a Blue Bird bus. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn it was utilized to serve a rural school district where only a handful of kids resided, and that rear-facing back seat could be good to use if a passenger came along.
Bench seating, crank windows, and functioning air conditioning – what more do you need? The white paint and hubcaps is a classic municipal / fleet spec, and I’m actually surprised to see a butterscotch interior as opposed to a blue cloth. The seller notes the air conditioning system was recently overhauled with a new fan clutch and A/C compressor, and mechanically, it’s undergone a fair amount of reconditioning. New plugs and leads, a fresh water pump, and fluid changes round out the list round out the list of services. The powered rear window still works, too.
Looking out the dash and seeing the miles-long hood is a view like no other. The Caprice is powered by a 5.0L V8 that generates 170 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque, and the seller notes it drives well with smooth transmission changes. The listing’s best detail is the anecdote about finding children’s drawings and pencils under the seats, lending more credibility to the school bus claims (or it was just used as a family road trip machine.) While there is a temptation to modify this Caprice slightly with Flowmasters and different wheels, I personally wouldn’t change a thing – what about you?
wrong engine. The wagon had the Olds 307 with 140 hp. I’ll never understand why Chevy didn’t use their FI 305 in the wagon. Heavier vehicle with less power I am in….said no one ever!
The Chevy 305 and the Olds 307 are both 5.0L engines, are they not?
They are both 5.0 engines, but a lot of people think that the Chevrolet (and Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile) wagons had their divisions engines in them. The bean counters at GM though that to save money (undoubtedly for their shareholders), they would just use “corporate” engines, meaning with the full-size models, all sedans had the Chevrolet based 305 V8, while the wagons all carried the Oldsmobile 307 V8. There is a definite difference in them, with the Chevy engine putting out 40 more HP than the Olds block. The wagons could have definitely used the Chevy block, with the fuel injection over the carb/throttle body Olds. I had an ’88 Caprice Estate wagon with the Olds engine, and it was a dog! The torque band may have been slightly better, but it had no oomph. I also encountered issues with excessive oil consumption and freeze plug issues. They should have kept them all with the Chevy block. Another thing you will notice is that the engine compartments in the sedans and wagons were different – the battery was mounted on the opposite side as the sedans, along with other items. If you were so inclined, you could try to find a 307 HO engine that was in the Cutlass Hurst and 4-4-2 models that had significantly more HP (up to 195), and at least you would have something to move all of that bulk with!
$11+/- k is the bid take the money and run that odometer has rolled at least once if it was purchased using federal dollars for a school district federal law requires them to keep it 6+ years or 300k miles for this type of vehicle
It may have timed rather than mileage’d out since 6 years from 1987 would’ve been 1992 or 93.
Wow. 11k and climbing? Reserve not met?? There’s a few spenders out there, for a car I consider to be ho-hum. As a “school bus” it’s a good choice with those rear-facing seats. The little angels wouldn’t be so tempted to shoot spit wads at the driver.
Hall of Fame Hubcaps 🤌
Jeff Lavery, where is it?
It’s in Tucson, Arizona.
lot of money for a stripper wagon.
Do you mean basic when you said stripper wagon or a wagon to carry around a few strippers? If it’s the last thing, then I’ll buy it. The car would pay for itself in short order.
Oil burner. We had an 88 Caprice wagon. Good car except that boat anchor Olds 307. Went through a GM oil consumption test. Failed miserably. Fred Beans in Doylestown, PA replaced long block with a NEW, not rebuilt one. Kept that car 10 years.
Looks well maintained and equipped about how a school might specify, but I don’t buy the story. The car appears too nice to have carted around school children. Air and cruise are enough for me.
I’m actually surprised Blue Bird a well known school bus manufacturer had anything to do with this. I’ve been by their yard several times. It was kind of interesting observing the busses they had just finished for whatever province or state. Some weren’t the stereo-typical chrome yellow you’d associate with a school bus.
Blue Bird had absolutely nothing to do with this. Where did you come up with that idea?
Had one this year that was better equipped, wood grain on the sides, wire wheel hub caps. a cream puff when I got it. Got good service out of it, only problem I never had with the Olds 307 was had to replace intake gaskets once, also had to upgrade the radiator to one with a 2″ core. Before that in hot weather it would get hot enough that the AC would stop working. My 4 sons still remember that car fondly, they all loved sitting in the rear facing seat. Last “family” car before we started with SUVs. Took lots of trips in it, good to travel in! Don’t think I’d pay anything close to 11k for one now, though.
A good friend who collected and raced Corvettes. Bought one of these in a 2 door sedan version. His kids were young at the time and he decided that the wife and children deserved “THE PAPER PLATE” of automobiles. He didn’t have to worry about the car or what they were going to/had done to it.
If “Barn Finds” had more stories like this, what would I have to complain about? This is a kick-ass wagon.
A real plane jane and one of the lease stylish wagons Chevy ever made. A cheap come-down down from beautiful wagons of the 60s and 70s.
12,400. now and past the reserve.
Last of the carbureted chevys? Find a generic, warmed over 350 sbc to slip between the front fenders and call it a day. Wagons are my all time favorite do anything vehicle. It helps to have some proper motivation under the hood.
This one looks solid and ready for more, of anything.
SOLD for $12,500.
4 bids.
Sounds about right.