Anybody miss old school rear drive wagons? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Dave McFly · 10-02-2008, 11:45 PM

I was crusing the 'Bay and i found a nice clean and straight late 80s Chevy Caprice wagon. My dad had 3 of these wagons from that generation (78-90).

79 Pontiac Bonneville Safari wagon, the car had VINYL seats and NO AC. my dad and mom loved this car as if me and my 7 year younger brother ever spilled anything we could just hose it out

1987 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon this was my dad's second one and the newest had the coldest AC we ever had in a car to date. and with a throttlebody injected 305 V8 it was plenty powerfull too. we took many trips from NY to Daytona FL in this car.

84 Buick LaSabere wagon, this one was my favorite. my dad bought it from a buddy of ours who had a body shop. it was clipped in the front and was missing the front fascia and lights/grille etc and had damaged hood and front fenders but otherwise intact and it started and ran and all the stuff worked. my dad picked up a beat up but rust free LeSabere sedan for a few hundred bucks and me and him with socket wrenches and screwdrivers pulled the front clip off and had it attached to the wagon. and the body guy repainted the front clip (dark red/silver 2 tone which looked bad ass on this car) and we put the Buick Regal T-Type looking rims/tires on the car too. the reason why this car was my favorite it was the only one of the 3 that had the rear facing fold away rear seat. and unlike all GM cars of the era that had slider controls for the climate control this car had a smooth membrane covered pad that had LEDs in the 'buttons', think the face of a calculator watch the ones with no buttons.

this is the style we had, my dad was gonna get the revised body style (91-96) but he did not like the styling mostly the half rear wheel wells and the fact that the rear glass swung up instead of retracting into the tailgate. but now he would not mind one as the more aero bodied wagons get better MPG than most if not all full size rear drive V8 powered SUVs. to this day when I see one of those old RWD GM wagons i

.

Kyle2k · 10-02-2008, 11:50 PM

All's I have to say is I'm glad the crossover market has relieved us of those monstrosities.

stovt001 · 10-03-2008, 12:06 AM

Wagons are the best. They hold just as much (if not more) than a crossover but are more fuel efficient. Our old 92 Taurus wagon fit a couch, table, 4 chairs and cushions from Ikea, seats 7, and gets high 20s MPG combined with the V6.

I'm not so much for RWD wagons. Really for a wagon you need ease of driving and maximum space efficiency, so I think FWD is the way to go there. Oh if they made a wagon for the new Malibu I would be all over that for our second car.

playhard67 · 10-03-2008, 06:17 AM

Nothing like taking a family vacation in the wagon as a kid... toured the US for six weeks. lots of fun.

MLL67RSSS · 10-03-2008, 06:42 AM

That's funny Mcfly. I was doing just that yesterday. Had a couple of buddies who had station wagon hand-me-downs in our high school days. PARTY ON WHEELS!!! Every now and then you see a cool looking hot rodded wagon. Just thinking yesterday that an old wagon like my families fixed up with some nice wheels would be pretty cool.
Picture of one like ours below, except it was blue inside and out and had a 400 engine.

Mike L.

P.S. Are we there yet?

bouncertime · 10-03-2008, 10:31 AM

Everyone loves the family truckster.

Kyle2k · 10-03-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovt001

Wagons are the best. They hold just as much (if not more) than a crossover but are more fuel efficient. Our old 92 Taurus wagon fit a couch, table, 4 chairs and cushions from Ikea, seats 7, and gets high 20s MPG combined with the V6.

I'm not so much for RWD wagons. Really for a wagon you need ease of driving and maximum space efficiency, so I think FWD is the way to go there. Oh if they made a wagon for the new Malibu I would be all over that for our second car.

It's not that wagons aren't up to par with space, etc...It's just that I find them extremely ugly...and that's saying something because I passionately hate the look of most SUV's too.

BigRigMike · 10-03-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovt001

I'm not so much for RWD wagons. Really for a wagon you need ease of driving and maximum space efficiency, so I think FWD is the way to go there. Oh if they made a wagon for the new Malibu I would be all over that for our second car.

My wife currently drives a Malibu Maxx and i really like it. It has tons of interior room and four adults can sit comfortably. I am not sure what we are going to do when it needs to get traded because i love the new Malibu but the wagon is just to handy.

On the way home from work someone is selling a Caprice Wagon but i can't convince my wife to sto pand look at it.

Dave McFly · 10-03-2008, 01:05 PM

yup I love em, the one wagon i would not mid at all is the 78-84 Chevrolet Malibu wagons.

they had full frame and came in V6 or V8 levels. I liked them because the styling mainly the back was cool, they put the taillights in the back bumper (same back bumper as the elcamino of that generation). take one of them, remove the roof rack, put some nice wheels and a good paint job and you have a pretty sweet cruiser.

The_Stache · 10-03-2008, 01:56 PM

Magnum... catered to the market.... and was terminated because there is no market. You can get just as much into a well designed crossover or suv.

The wagon is dead until there is a market for it.

headpunter · 10-03-2008, 02:26 PM

man i loved 66-67 nova wagons....

JaysonAych · 10-03-2008, 02:54 PM

I love wagons. Early-70s Vista Cruisers are probably my favorites.

When I was in college, I almost bought an 80's Caprice wagon like the one pictured in the OP, except with the wood paneling. It was a great driving car, and I would have bought it if it didn't have a complete electrical failure during the test-drive

z28collection · 10-03-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bouncertime

Everyone loves the family truckster.

you think you hate it now, wait till you drive it.

bouncertime · 10-03-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by headpunter

man i loved 66-67 nova wagons....

Love them old Novas, my first car was a '62 two door hardtop all original. I wish I still had that car.

10-02-2008, 11:45 PM	#1
Dave McFly new car smell Drives: 2007 Ford Mustang 'Natasha' Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Jamestown, NY Posts: 2,127 View My Garage	Anybody miss old school rear drive wagons? I was crusing the 'Bay and i found a nice clean and straight late 80s Chevy Caprice wagon. My dad had 3 of these wagons from that generation (78-90). 79 Pontiac Bonneville Safari wagon, the car had VINYL seats and NO AC. my dad and mom loved this car as if me and my 7 year younger brother ever spilled anything we could just hose it out 1987 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon this was my dad's second one and the newest had the coldest AC we ever had in a car to date. and with a throttlebody injected 305 V8 it was plenty powerfull too. we took many trips from NY to Daytona FL in this car. 84 Buick LaSabere wagon, this one was my favorite. my dad bought it from a buddy of ours who had a body shop. it was clipped in the front and was missing the front fascia and lights/grille etc and had damaged hood and front fenders but otherwise intact and it started and ran and all the stuff worked. my dad picked up a beat up but rust free LeSabere sedan for a few hundred bucks and me and him with socket wrenches and screwdrivers pulled the front clip off and had it attached to the wagon. and the body guy repainted the front clip (dark red/silver 2 tone which looked bad ass on this car) and we put the Buick Regal T-Type looking rims/tires on the car too. the reason why this car was my favorite it was the only one of the 3 that had the rear facing fold away rear seat. and unlike all GM cars of the era that had slider controls for the climate control this car had a smooth membrane covered pad that had LEDs in the 'buttons', think the face of a calculator watch the ones with no buttons. this is the style we had, my dad was gonna get the revised body style (91-96) but he did not like the styling mostly the half rear wheel wells and the fact that the rear glass swung up instead of retracting into the tailgate. but now he would not mind one as the more aero bodied wagons get better MPG than most if not all full size rear drive V8 powered SUVs. to this day when I see one of those old RWD GM wagons i . __________________ "May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house." George Carlin

10-02-2008, 11:50 PM	#2
Kyle2k LVL 50 Troll Stomper Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 3,463	All's I have to say is I'm glad the crossover market has relieved us of those monstrosities. __________________

10-03-2008, 12:06 AM	#3
stovt001 Drives: 2006 Cobalt, 2004 Taurus wagon Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,812	Wagons are the best. They hold just as much (if not more) than a crossover but are more fuel efficient. Our old 92 Taurus wagon fit a couch, table, 4 chairs and cushions from Ikea, seats 7, and gets high 20s MPG combined with the V6. I'm not so much for RWD wagons. Really for a wagon you need ease of driving and maximum space efficiency, so I think FWD is the way to go there. Oh if they made a wagon for the new Malibu I would be all over that for our second car. __________________ "It's kind of fun to do the impossible" - Walt Disney There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day There's a great big beautiful tomorrow Just a dream away

10-03-2008, 06:17 AM	#4
playhard67 come to poppa Drives: 67RS,09 Harley FLHX Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,100	Nothing like taking a family vacation in the wagon as a kid... toured the US for six weeks. lots of fun. __________________ Cancelled the 2010 SS/RS (for now) and bought this instead (2009 Harley FLHX)

10-03-2008, 06:42 AM	#5
MLL67RSSS Account Suspended Drives: car Join Date: May 2008 Location: location Posts: 1,574	That's funny Mcfly. I was doing just that yesterday. Had a couple of buddies who had station wagon hand-me-downs in our high school days. PARTY ON WHEELS!!! Every now and then you see a cool looking hot rodded wagon. Just thinking yesterday that an old wagon like my families fixed up with some nice wheels would be pretty cool. Picture of one like ours below, except it was blue inside and out and had a 400 engine. Mike L. P.S. Are we there yet? Attached Images

10-03-2008, 10:31 AM	#6
bouncertime Miller High Life Drives: 2021 Camaro LT1, 2017 Colorado Z71 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,199 View My Garage	Everyone loves the family truckster. __________________ Jimmy

10-03-2008, 01:05 PM	#9
Dave McFly new car smell Drives: 2007 Ford Mustang 'Natasha' Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Jamestown, NY Posts: 2,127 View My Garage	yup I love em, the one wagon i would not mid at all is the 78-84 Chevrolet Malibu wagons. they had full frame and came in V6 or V8 levels. I liked them because the styling mainly the back was cool, they put the taillights in the back bumper (same back bumper as the elcamino of that generation). take one of them, remove the roof rack, put some nice wheels and a good paint job and you have a pretty sweet cruiser. __________________ "May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house." George Carlin

10-03-2008, 01:56 PM	#10
The_Stache SoCal Race Team #13 Drives: 2010 1SS:RS:LS3:SW Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,803 View My Garage	Magnum... catered to the market.... and was terminated because there is no market. You can get just as much into a well designed crossover or suv. The wagon is dead until there is a market for it. __________________ A.K.A - Diarmadhi (old handle) - So much to do.. So little money Owner : Fast-Stache Industries LLC

10-03-2008, 02:26 PM	#11
headpunter Not That sad..considering Drives: Man Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: the part of washington the capital forgot about. Posts: 3,747 View My Garage	man i loved 66-67 nova wagons.... __________________ Stop Whinging

10-03-2008, 02:54 PM	#12
JaysonAych Drives: 2002 Dodge Stratus Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisville Posts: 429 View My Garage	I love wagons. Early-70s Vista Cruisers are probably my favorites. When I was in college, I almost bought an 80's Caprice wagon like the one pictured in the OP, except with the wood paneling. It was a great driving car, and I would have bought it if it didn't have a complete electrical failure during the test-drive __________________ Better make sure my passing lane change blinker works...

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