Some craigslist ads barely hide their enthusiasm, and this seller leans all the way in. Their 1988 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon is pitched as the right wagon for anyone who grew up in the era—or simply appreciates the charm of a longroof that can haul the family, the dog, and half a hardware store without ever breaking a sweat. This one comes with the right mix of originality, upgrades, and honest needs, making it a fun and workable project for someone who wants a big-body GM wagon without the usual rust nightmares. Thanks for the tip, Curvette!
The seller reports 96,500 miles, a clean title, and a blue exterior that has faded enough to show some surface rust but no structural rust. That’s a big plus for any 1980s wagon, especially one that has spent years sitting. Under the hood is the expected 307 V8 paired with a 700R4 automatic, and both have seen recent attention. The engine benefits from a new four-barrel carburetor, and the car also received a new windshield, battery, and starter. According to the seller, it “runs and drives great,” which is exactly what you want from a project-friendly cruiser.
Inside, the wagon is described as “amazing” aside from one common old-car issue: the missing cloth headliner. Anyone who has owned a GM product from this era probably isn’t surprised. The platform itself offers a ton of potential—whether someone wants to preserve the stock flavor or lean into modernization with an LS swap and upgraded suspension and brakes. The seller even calls out this option specifically, clearly understanding where many enthusiasts’ imaginations will go.
There are some electrical issues stemming from the firewall connector, where voltage is getting through but amperage isn’t. As a result, the power windows, seats, and locks are slow or inoperable after years of sitting. For many project seekers, though, this is the kind of problem that can be tackled with patience and contact cleaner rather than major component replacement.
Would you restore this longroof back to its original glory, or would you go all-in on a modern drivetrain swap?
WOW are those corvette rims or some other GM rims there. It’s a 307 Olds engine and one of the last years for a carb. To bad it does not have a GM 305 or 350 engine here. I owned a 1986, 1977 and a 1990 all 4 door Caprices back in the 1990’s and all were good cars and one was a 35o and the other 2 were 305s. My 1986 was a Brougham model and mad it from NJ to Nevada in 1996. This wagon here is ok and can be saved, Heck it looks to still have the original radio in it.
I am 72 years old. I got stuck driving station wagons occasionally as a teen ager. Sometimes i would drive the farm truck instead of tge station wagon. A station wagon does not interest me at all. More power to the people that want them.
I will leave another comment. My 1986 Caprice Brougham had the front header panel around the left headlamp damaged when I got it. What I replaced it with was a 1987 header panel with the full headlamps this car has since the 1986 had 4 old style headlamps.