During two brief periods between 1959 and 1972, Chevrolet chose to brand its full-size station wagons separate from the corresponding automobiles. In the case of the 1969-72 Kingswood, it was the equivalent of the Impala while the Kingswood Estate was akin to the more luxurious Caprice. This nice 1971 edition of the Kingswood is a one-owner vehicle that may only have 60,000 miles on the odometer. It’s rather tidy and can be found in Corpus Christi, Texas, while also available here on craigslist for $19,000 OBO. Our thanks to PRA4SNW for this cool tip!
GM redesigned its full-size product lines in 1971 which also applied to Chevrolet’s offerings. The entry-level big wagon was the Brookwood (aka Biscayne), which was only sold with two seats, and found just 5,300 buyers. Next up was the Townsman (Bel Air) which saw 19,800 takers with two or three seats. The Kingswood (Impala) was the most popular at 59,000 units, followed by the KW Estate (Caprice) at 30,900. We understand that full-size wagon demand (at least at Chevy) would decline as the decade wore on.
With decent production numbers, these wagons – at least in this condition – don’t pop up too often. They were mostly used up by the 1980s and began to find their way to the salvage yard. But not this one, which has stayed in the same troop for 52 years. It spent much of its time in the garage, which would explain no apparent rust and shiny paint (we don’t know if it’s a redo). The seller says the paint color is “custom” and the hue doesn’t appear in the standard Chevy paint charts for 1971.
We assume this wagon runs well and it’s said to have a V8 engine, but no photos are provided to help determine what’s under the hood. A likely pairing would be a 350 motor with a TH-350 automatic transmission. The interior looks nice although the pics offered aren’t good ones and we can’t quite tell if there’s a third seat hanging out in the back. If you’re into vintage station wagons, does this example float your boat?
Nice car, I remember these of course. It seems wonky that the far rear side glass is higher that the rear door glass.
The whole rear part of the roof is higher to hold taller cargo, i’m guessing.
This gen IMO was just too big & heavy. I’d rather have a lighter smaller outside prev gen with a ford style 2 way tailgate – the motorized tailgate on this gen could be trouble down the road.
I’m guessing these gargantuan wagons were not available with bucket seats, let alone floor shift or manual trans.
Odd that most people back in the day never adjusted those headrests upwards – maybe they were not aware they lift up?
EZ to tell it’s a ’71 with those vents on the tailgate.
Correction; the Kingswood Estate used the Caprice grille and emblems along with woodgrain side trim, but it had the same Impala-grade interior seen here. That was true of the ’73-6 Caprice Estates too, only with the all-new ’77s did the Caprice Estate get a full Caprice interior (and a non-Estate Caprice wagon was added with all the trimmings except the fake wood).
Really nice, i’m guessing a/c because of the vents. 350/350 combo wont be quick but at least reliable. With luck a 400/400 or 454/400 would be nice
Nice ride. But man those dog dish hubcaps and painted white wheels are are so wrong for this higher end trim level.
That body molding and trim package did not come with white painted rims or dog dish caps. Should have full wheelcovers. Looks odd with the moldings and those white rims. The base model had silver painted rims anyway.
Wrong. Only the Kingswood Estate came standard with full wheelcovers.
I am convinced people don’t have a clue about taking proper photos of their selling vehicle. The outside was good inside. Not really… I would sat in the second row to shoot the dash area. Then jump into the front facing rear to photo the back of the wagon. And no engine compartment photos? Do you want to sell it? I would be very surprised if this was a 350/350 set up. It’s a big wagon should be 454 …did they put a 402 in this model? I love the color and the wheels. Very cool looking. The tailgate did it split open? Glass goes into the roof the door went downstairs? My mind is a little fuzzy on it. Well good luck to the seller. 🐻🇺🇸
Chevrolet full size wagons from 71-74 had 400 small block as standard. 402 (71/72 only) or 454 big blocks were optional. 75/76 Wagons were 350/400 standard and 454 was optional.
The paint color and interior color are perfect. It’s the white rims that are a huge no no! Gotta paint them black!!! Dog dish hubcaps? What a thing of the past!!! Whoever buys that station wagon, they automatically need to paint the rims black. Better yet. Add a set of custom tires and rims and that station wagon will be the talk of town at any car show.
The clamshell tailgate sure brings back lots of memories. My father owned a 1976 Impala Station Wagon with that clamshell tailgate. His was ice blue. Truly a nostalgic vehicle for the right owner.
Whoever buys this car, they need to do what they want with it. If that means keeping the rims as they are, then so be it
For ’71 only, the wheels should be painted silver. Otherwise, nice car. My favorite ’71 color too.
Love clamshells.Cmon man no engine pics? These were one of the best if not the best derby cars next to the big late 60’s early 70’s Chrysler’s and Lincoln’s/ Fords.Don’t like the white wheels imo.They should be silver like someone noted here.glwts.No callouts so it’ll most likely be a 350 2bbl/350.
In all reality. If this is all original. It is probably worth more than the last few chevelles and Corvettes that we’ve seen on here that have big motor swaps and painted and this and that. You have anything that’s over 20 years old or so and it has been altered the value goes down no matter how much you spent!!!
Seems the fool and their money thing factors in heavily where people lose their minds as soon as they see the word Chevelle or Corvette.
Much love for the clamshell wagons. These mostly went they way of the dodo bird. Rust, lack of care and demo derbies were all the banes of these babies. An up close and personal look at this car would be required, though. A lack of engine photos means the seller doesn’t care, or doesn’t know how the car runs.
Back in 1983, at the tender age of 17, I took my driver’s test in the KW Estate version of this wagon. Faded gold with peeling faux woodgrain trim. Parallel park, K-turn, and reverse in a straight line for 20 feet were all still part of the NJ test. Passed on the first try!
Same here, in 1980, Pasadena, Ca.
Unexpected, in a test of the 1971 “standard” station wagons a Popular Science report concluded that the AMC Ambassador aced out the big 3 models!
https://books.google.ca/books?id=kwAAAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA42#v=onepage&q&f=false
We had a ’71, gold with the 400. We sold it to the California smog crusher program in 2001 for $600.
A completely original unit here, and to all this one will be a 350 2bbl with a th350. The base driveline on this one. From my knowledge of these rims were white or an argent silver and those are the standard wheelcovers. I have a 4door hardtop that came with those. I would love to have this as I have 5 71s but no wagon. I have the custom coupe my mother bought new. A 454 base 2 door hardtop, and convertibles along with my 4ht. These are great cars. this one here is a basic fella that looks to only have ac as the big extra purchase option. No luggage rack and from the dash picture it only has the sliding rear glass. the gate is manual. You key the window into the roof and pull the handle and push the gate into the floor. A real cool survivor as the metal monster devoured all he could get, nice or not by the mid 90s. Lucky for this car is was a ho hum small block or it would have no doubt given its soul for a Chevelle long ago.
If the wagon came with the 400 400-402 or 454 it was badged on the fender. No badge here.
I had a 71 wagon for a short time as I wanted the 402. 300 HP M40 car was a donor for my 1970 Chevrolet C20.
No third seat here, the second row seat was split 70/30 (or so) to allow access to the forward facing third row from the rear doors. Pics clearly show a solid second row bench.
Chevrolet full size wagons from 71-74 had 400 small block as standard. 402 (71/72 only) or 454 big blocks were optional. 75/76 Wagons were 350/400 standard and 454 was optional.
When I was a kid, my parents had the same car in a light gold color. It took a beating until the timing chain slipped, and my father couldn’t get it started anymore. They wanted something newer, so off to the junkyard it went. I liked that car. The speedometer didn’t always work, so we used to go pretty fast on the highways. That’s fun to a little kid.
Yeah that wagons big enough to haul hay ! It better have a 454 especially with low lead gas & detuning of the time period for emissions China still doesn’t adhere to! Oh well even if it has a 350 a 502 is just your credit card away from making this The Dragon Wagon!
Our neighbor down the street had a ’71 Townsman in a similar color….
It’s nice to see a wagon of this era so clean, and without a roof rack.