Last week, we covered a very clean, low-mileage, first-year downsized 1977 Chevrolet Impala sedan. Today, we have a station wagon version to review. It’s actually a Caprice, but as stated in the Impala post, the difference between the two is really nothing more than some trim. This wagon has a few more miles on it but it’s still a low mileage example when you consider its age. Located in Tacoma, Washington, this Chevy wagon is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $5,200 with twenty-two bids tendered so far.
There is an assumption that a Caprice wagon should be slathered in faux wood grain to separate it from the hoi polloi but that’s not the case as the forest treatment was a Caprice wagon option; in standard mode, it was wood-free. Our subject car is claimed to have an original vinyl top covering (option RPO C09) but GM’s vehicle information kit is explicit that this option was not available on a wagon so it must be a later addition. The finish, which looks like “Brown Metallic”, still shows quite well and shows no deficiencies i.e. fade, peel scrapes, etc. The top is a nice contrast to the brown finish and it appears to be in sound shape – it’s clean and not letting loose at the edges. Included in the listing are numerous images of this car’s underside, and it is as clean as a whistle!
Under the hood is a 170 net HP 350 CI, V8 engine that is described by claiming, “This wagon runs and drives excellent is a dependable vehicle always starts up on first turn…” The mileage recording is 68K miles so this Chevy is just about broken in. The sole transmission available was a Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic and that’s what’s in place here.
The interior is in nice shape but the seats have definitely been reupholstered in a non-original style fabric and vinyl covering, but that said, it looks fine. And the condition extends to the dash pad, carpet, and door panels, though the headliner is a bit billowy. Moving on to the way back, we find a cargo compartment that reveals some faded plastic side pieces and a scrape or two in the deck but it looks sound overall. It has seen some expected intended use but nothing too abusive. Two observations, this wagon has intermittent windshield wipers, definitely an option in ’77 and no A/C – a testament to its Pacific Northwest locale?
We cover lots of station wagons here on Barn Finds but not many GM B-bodies from the downsized ’77-’90 generation and this example is a fine discovery owing to its mileage and condition. Also, the optional 350 CI engine (a 305 V8 was standard) is a welcome upgrade too. The bidding has moved up since I started this post so there’s interest in this car and it’s not hard to see why. It’s a nice alternative to today’s “pig on stilts” CUV craze, wouldn’t you agree?
Throw the 205cm skis ⛷️ on the roof , and head for Mt Baker.
Someone in Oregon please buy this beauty. I wish I could living near Mt Hood. The 350 is a major upgrade from the pathetically underpowered 305.
Try taking your $65,000 Jeep Cherokee to home Depot for plywood. Ha. American car buyers the dumbest in the world. I would take this over any new car. I work at at a Jeep dealer. Oh, the problems.
Yeah, but how many people today would even know what to do with a piece of plywood ?
I bet a sheet of plywood and a sheet of drywall will fit into the back of my 2018 Ford Flex.
George, not everyone wants to buy a 30 – 50 year old car like you seem to prefer.
Oh, and thanks for calling almost every American “dumbest in the world”. What is wrong with you?
Nice wagon. Look at the black mark below the radio and above the ashtray – was this a cigar smoker’s ride? I’d want to inspect this in person to ensure not a smoke-laden interior smell.
I have had very good success removing smoke odors by using an ozone air generator. It also does a good job on wide range of other odors. Removing cigarette odors from cars that been smoked in for many years, that have that nasty yellow crud all over is another story!
Jim ODonnell, I don’t believe the seats were recovered for 2 reasons. First, if you look at the upper portion of the door panels, it appears to have the same type of inlay & color of the material. Second, I think that due to this particular color, and not the best lighting, it gives the false impression of a non-factory replacement seat cover. I’ve never seen this particular color combo, nor have I ever seen a vinyl roof on this generation of Chevy wagon.
70SuperSport, definitely a smoker’s car.
Note the attached from the station wagon brochure, the upholstery should be buckskin, black, or Firethorn (red) vinyl.
I had a ’77 Caprice (new) and don’t recall anything like this being offered. Mine had buckskin vinyl upholstery but the fabric available was a custom interior, more like velour, and I believe it was only available in the sedan, not the wagon.
JO
JO, I see the brochure and understand that the tweed & vinyl combo is not a listed option, but how would you explain the door panels with the lower section matching the floor carpeting and the upper section matching the tweed of the seat cushion and the remaining vinyl matching the sides of the seat covers? In the big picture I find it hard to believe that someone would customize both the seat covers and the door panels. And then there’s the vinyl roof on a wagon. I think this was done by the factory as a special order by the original purchaser.
I don’t think that’s unusual at all. As someone who had to redo the interior of a ’66 Impala, upholstery panels and all, it looked nothing like it was supposed to when I was finished with it. And that included the lower dash pads too.
As for the roof, I already covered that, the option wasn’t available on a wagon. It seems more likely that a trim shop added that one later on. That said, there’s really no way to know – and it really doesn’t matter, it is what it is.
JO
My family bought a new 77 caprice estate wagon, loaded
Wood vinyl siding. 350 engine
Power everything!
Every option, great wagon!
It was in the family for years, later known as the war wagon!
Interior was tweed upholstery
I remember vividly. Same as this one. Material was extremely durable.
The waging stood the test of time!
Previous wagon was a 73 Chrysler town n country with a 440
Wagons rule!
I have never, ever seen one of these wagons with a vinyl top. That said, it looks good on this particular car. The seat material, if not original, is in the original style with the buttons on the right places. It actually looks good as well!
My dad bought one of these new in ’77.Two-tone blue with a black interior and almost every available option. The car was a pleasure to drive and we put almost 250K miles on it before it was scrapped. Very few problems to repair. The northeastern climate eventually rusted it away…..