Man, that’s a lot of wood! This baby looks more like a cabin cruiser than a car, but no, it’s a 1994 Chevrolet Caprice station wagon – a very popular model at least in sedan form. And of course, there’s no real wood, just Di-Noc appliques. Well used with 180K miles of experience, this cruising Caprice still looks fresh. Cave Creek, Arizona, is where you’ll find it, and it’s available here on craigslist for $6,500. Thanks are due to Jack M. for this tip!
Well, we know older station wagons have become a big collectible hit, and there’s no reason to think that slightly newer examples, this one is 31 years young after all, won’t garner the same attention. This Caprice wagon is a member of the fourth generation, which spanned the model years ’91 through ’96. The total ’94 sedan production count, including the similar Impala SS, rests at 96K units, but the station wagon only amounted to 7,700 copies. The seller suggests, “Needs paint correction on the Hood and Roof, and dents on both front doors requiring paintless dent removal.” The images are taken at a distance (a twenty-footer), so any imperfections are not immediately observable, though the clear coat deterioration on the hood is pretty obvious. As for that paintless dent repair suggestion, I’m not sure about how effective that will be under the Di-Noc – I assume it will continue to stick in place. Beyond those noted items, this big Chevy still presents well. The seller mentions the “Expensive VOGUE Gold Line tires with 60,000 warranty;” they’re a matter of taste, I suppose.
The big news in ’94 was the employment of Chevrolet’s famed LT-1 Corvette powerplant that had now found its way under the hood of various Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac models. It was, however, detuned by 40 HP, registering an output of 260 net. Honestly, that doesn’t sound too impressive considering it had to lug around 4,500 lbs. of curb weight, but owners raved about the get-up-and-go this engine provided. The seller adds, “Mechanical repairs and maintenance performed within the last 8 Months of my ownership. The car runs and drives perfectly, and an absolute pleasure to drive. Work includes: Ignition system gone through with the replacement of the Opti-Spark distributor, coil, and spark plugs. Water pump and serpentine belt replaced, battery, front shock absorbers, and much more, with receipts provided.”
The interior’s condition surprises me. The color and the velour upholstery don’t, it seems most GM cars from this era were so equipped, it’s the condition, it looks spotless! GM cars from the nineties often take it on the chin for cheap interior materials, but that doesn’t appear to be an issue here. The upholstery, dashpad, carpet – all of it, actually, is amazingly fresh considering this car’s extensive mileage and 30+ years of existence. The seller tells us that the A/C system has been completely rebuilt, and he rates the innards as a nine out of ten.
We have covered a few of these big Chevy wagons here on BF, but not too many. Regardless, I’d imagine these later editions (’94-’96) will continue and grow in popularity thanks to their LT-1 powerplants and familial link to the very popular Police 9C-1 Caprice and Impala SS variants. This Caprice is certainly a sound subject, but I don’t know about that 180K mile recording – there are lots of other things besides engine and A/C components that go kaput in that mileage territory. What do you think, a good buy at $6,500?
Nice looking desert 🏜 wagon Jim.
Considering the mechanical work recently performed the price doesn’t seem bad. The first couple of years the Optispark was used they were prone to failure, the replacement of the water pump at the same time suggests it was done right, rather than for a flip where saving money is of primary concern.
These are great highway cruisers, not performance cars. It should have plenty of life left if used in that capacity.
Steve R
Maybe you could just use some wood filler on the dents, lol! But seriously, people should just stop referencing the Corvette when describing the engine. The Vette had aluminum heads and a bigger cam. Even the seller doesn’t reference the Corvette.
Blame Chevrolet; they used the same RPO code, but more importantly, referred to the engine as “Corvette Inspired LT-1 under the hood.”
JO
Thanks. Use that terminology then, Jim. Not “detuned Corvette”.
Dave:
I think you’re splitting hairs. The engine involved is an RPO LT1, same RPO as used in the ‘Vette but with 40 less HP. The reduction in HP is tantamount to “detuning”. I invite you to read this article regarding that terminology: https://www.hotcars.com/gms-forgotten-sleeper-sedan-that-outran-muscle-cars/
As the author, I determine the terminology that I think is most appropriate and run with it. Readers, such as you, are free to accept it or reject it, which obviously you have.
Thank you,
JO
“Corvette inspired”, not “detuned Corvette”. So next time you feature a ’90s LT1 Corvette, just say it has a “tuned” Chevy Caprice wagon engine. The engines are completely different. All they share is the intake and the distributor. Be better.
Way too much time being spent on a really insignificant matter.
Goodbye Dave,
JO
You are absolutely right Dave!
Nice car in beautiful Cave Creek,lots of places to eat,car and bike shows all winter and great scenery.
It’s got a lotta life left. Change the oils, stab it and steer.
Vogue tires were junk when made in the US but they now are made in China and Vietnam so more junk.
Had an 86 Chev wagon and one of best cars we ever had and excellent for trips as were two previous wagons and later Suburban. Drove each to over 250,000 miles. Only expense was an earlier one with AC compressor bearings. The 86 was a Chevrolet engineering car with all options and never a problem. Great and roomy cars!
Some of those engineering cars are ringers. Our ’72 C20 and brothers ’72 Impala were. Aunts ’74 Nova, not so much.
This is gorgeous with the light color wood tone against the black paint. The interior looks great. Maybe because the glass is blacker than the paint.
neat. not a fan of all the window tint and the crappy tires. price seems right if you want 1 of these
The good thing is that crappy tires and tinted windows are easy to fix.
Those rear vent windows are slick, wonder how they are operated?
Manually. Though some owners have used the rear window units from Dodge Caravans to upgrade them to power.