Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – or so it is said. Take this 1993 Chevrolet Caprice Classic station wagon for example. It was near the end of the run for big B-body station wagons but they were still popular too. And by all measures, they seem to have registered a workmanship and reliability improvement over earlier versions (the cheesy interiors were still along for the ride, however). No, the issue, and it’s subjective on my part, is the appearance – it looks like a whale on wheels. But, let’s not get distracted with appearances, we cover a lot of older station wagons on BF, and this one, now 30 years of age, is worthy of a review too. This big Chevy is located in Millbrae, California and is available, here on craigslist for $7,500. Thanks are due to PRA4SNW for this tip!
The redesigned Chevy Caprice wagon was not alone when it was introduced for the ’91 model year – Oldsmobile had a Custom Cruiser version, which only lasted through ’92, and Buick brought a Roadmaster model to the table. As with the Caprice, the Roadmaster lasted through the ’96 model year and then it was done – right along with GM’s B-body in totality.
The accompanying story for this car states that the seller bought it from the original owner but now wants to part with this 145K mile example because “this big boat it don’t fit it my garage lol“. I don’t think I’d be laughing out loud, or in private for that matter, if I had not considered size and garaging before I made the purchase. The seller adds, “Exterior is all Original all stock no accidents clean title few minor blemishes nothing serious, she’s always been garaged kept paint looks nice” which I guess means garaged before he bought it. It has a dent in the driver’s side of the tailgate but yes, it shows well otherwise.
The seller doesn’t detail which engine is powering this rig as there were two that were available. It could be either a 170 net HP 305 CI V8 or a 350 V8 that’s only good for an additional 10 HP. We’re told that there are no mechanical issues and the automatic transmission “shifts perfect (sic)”. Assuming proper maintenance, this wagon probably still possesses a reasonable amount of usable life.
OK, it’s the early ’90s and we have a GM car here, so what would one expect to find upholstery-wise? If you said “dark red velour”, you’d win the Kewpie doll prize. While I’m not a fan of GM interiors from this era, this example looks great! I’m surprised, the driver’s side of the front bench doesn’t look like it has been pressed upon for 145K miles. The dash may be cracked, and thus the dash topper, but maybe it’s not either. The carpet and door panels check out and the way back seat, upholstered in vinyl, not velour, and probably having experienced very limited use, appears as new.
If you like big domestic station wagons, here’s another one to consider along with earlier Caprice/Impala models, the ubiquitous Ford LTD, and the occasional Chrysler Town & Country. It’s hard to give this one any significant demerits, it seems sound all the way around. One last thought, however, this Caprice Classic is 217.3 inches in length and should fit in any standard garage, but if you’re interested and concerned, you may want to measure first, right?
This whale should go full-boat, and add skirts / spats on the rears. What a statement-maker!
Way better than any minivan of the era. Probably a 5.0 under the bonnet and will be a pleasing performer while having decent mpg’s on the highway and room for the whole family. Just make sure steering and suspension are up to snuff as if i remember well they wore out quickly.
As nice as it is, it’s not. At 145000 miles is when it starts becoming a money pit. Maybe like $3k ? But not much more. You’re definitely going to need the extra money for the ongoing repairs.
Amazing wheel covers. Some of the best looking hubcaps from the Chevrolet Motor Division.
Nice looking car even better because it doesn’t have that ugly fake wood grain
Thar she blows! The big red whale! 305 or 350 V8, at 145k miles, she’s getting tired, so a rebuild might be in order, and during the overhaul, a displacement increase is certainly possible, since they’re both small block engines. I think with a stroker crank and boring out the cylinders, you can get displacement out to 383 cubic inches in a Chevy small-block engine! Then there’s always the big-block crate engine option for the well-heeled.
Gone already
Beautiful looking wagon. I remember when this generation Chevy Caprice was intro’d to the car buying public. I found it way more attractive than the previous generation Caprice. I remember thinking “It’s about time Chevrolet changed its body style.” I felt It was long overdue for a makeover. It still looks good today, 30 yrs. later.
What John said. It’s for sale not because it won’t fit in garage. It’s for sale because things are wearing out. Mechanical things break.
The Chevy is a much more reliable choice in this platform vs. the Buick. The Buick had the LT-1 350 which was far more powerful but it came at a cost. The LT-1 used the opti-spark ingnition system. It always failed and finding new GM ones now is difficult. All that is regularly available is the cheap Chinese knock offs. It also had a terrible water pump design. When it failed, it cost a lot to fix…. whereas the Chevy had far more reliable engine choices that were easier to repair. . This wagon would look great with a set of chrome rims. A nice vintage wagon that you won’t see every day! Future collectible.
This was probably a long trip highway cruiser, that would explain the interior condition. And also if true, the mechanical condition should be up for at least another 100K before needing anything serious.