Buying my dream wagon.....

Those pictures look like they were taken in 1981 !

 

In response to uncle Dave's post, I'll explain a bit more about my thinking on this.......

I was born in 1951, so cars of the 60's are what really get my juices flowing. Except for a few, cars of the 50's don't interest me all that much.

I know quite a bit about cars, but my knowledge doesn't translate so well when it comes to fixing them. I can do a few things, but a complete engine rebuild or a floor pan replacement would be way out of my comfort zone.

I'm semi-retired, so money is limited. I'd love to be able to buy one of those beautifully restored (or original) mid 60's wagons that are going for 5 digits or more, but that isn't going to happen. For my budget, if I was looking at say a '65 Impala wagon, I would have been able to buy a 'driver', but it would have needed quite a bit of work - which usually means more money as well as labor.

Did a lot of thinking on this, and in line with what I like in station wagons, a later-model one in better condition was a better choice. I was looking at '87-'91 Mercury Colony Parks, but didn't find the right one. I've also had a 'thing' for Pontiac Bonneville Safaris, ever since I saw a gleaming white '66 on a Ford dealer used car lot back around 1969 or so....

This one has only about 2 years of use on it, and is 31 years old. It's the right wagon for me.

 

I don't think any explination was needed, A true car person can see it for what it is...... awesome!

















Cept the interiour should be red

 

I've trotted this out several times, but it's appropriate for this discussion. My Grandpa used to say "If everyone liked the same thing, everyone would want to marry your grandmother."

We all have different dreams, but this wagon has a lot of the stuff I dream about - V8, rear wheel drive, super-low miles, great condition - what's not to like? Plus, you don't see many of them. How many were made?

 

THIS is certainly a car worth dreaming about, Marshall. Enjoy her for many, many years!

 

She must have been quite the lady

I've always looked at my vehicles as being a reflection of my taste in art. I can't paint, draw, or chisel a lifelike statue out of stone, but I can take a vehicle and make it my own. I "get" what was being said, in jest is how I read it and I have to guess intended, but it did get a deeper response from KK about why he bought what he bought. I enjoyed reading that, it says a lot about each of us and why we drive what we do. We base our decisions on our abilities, financial and emotional needs, and beyond that, it becomes a crap shoot as to what appeals.

I'm really happy for KK as this car fills so many of the areas he was wanting out of his wagon purchase and he has waited mostly patiently for the right wagon to come along. The upside is that I will get the chance to see it in person. Of course the downside is that I won't be able to blast across the desert in it like Fox did according to Fannie's pictures, but I can live with that and who knows, he might accidentally leave the keys in the ignition and ............

 

I think the point here is that this is a station wagon forum. As such, all of us, each and every long time member as well as many new members, have become a tight family with respect and empathy for another member when he or she scores a wagon that he or she loves. None of us like all brands of cars but, if it's a wagon and the member is happy with his score, we remember how happy we were when we scored our own wagon and we are just as happy for the member that got his choice. Doesn't make any difference whether it's a Vega or a Volvo, a Dodge or a Daewoo the happiness the member feels when he is able to buy what he wants is shared by this close knit family.
I happen to know that KK has always had a thing for Pontiac Bonneville wagons and he was lucky enough to find and score one of the last ever built. I also know it's a very nice wagon in great shape. I'm happy that KK got what he wanted after searching for all those years. I'm also happy to be a part of this family that respects one another and feels a good and honest empathy for any member that is able to get what he wants and, at the same time, save a nice wagon and keep it on the road.

 

As always 'Fox you eloquently speak for all of us perhaps without even realizing it.

 

Well said, Fox.

 

X 2+-----^

 

Yep, Fox nailed it as usual.

 

Thanks for the kind words, all (and especially Silverfox).

In the past, I've been known to make many stupid decisions regarding vehicle acquisitions. This time I was determined to be smart about the whole thing. I didn't want to jump into anything. It was actually a good experience to drive 200+ miles up to Olympia, Washington to look at a Colony Park and know immediately that it was crap, even though it was real cheap. Another cheap one in the San Francisco bay area didn't work because I would have had to pay $250 or so for an independent inspection. It was at that point that I started thinking again about the '81 Safari. After being for sale for over a year, the asking price was now down in a very reasonable area, and 'Fox's inspection showed that it was in even better condition than we thought.

I was still not committed at this point. Was still mulling it over three days later when 'Fox nudged me in a PM. It was like a light bulb clicked on! This is THE ONE. Just too nice of a wagon and too good of a deal to pass up.

As to how many are out there, I don't really know. But I've only seen a pic of one other '80/'81 Bonneville Safari posted on this forum.

 

KK, is it home yet? :confused:

 

Well...let it be known that I really didn't push you on the car, KK. What I said was that if you didn't want it you should present it again to the forum. I felt that it was too nice of a car to let someone buy it and use it as a truck or some such thing. If you didn't want it I was hoping another member would pick it up.
Let it also be known, as a reminder, that I don't deserve all the thanks that you are giving me here. I want to call attention, once again, that a year or two ago you drove from your home in Springfield to Klamath Falls to look at a Subaru for me. You inspected that car for me and took some 30 or so pix and sent me the pix and all the info. To those that didn't know that KK did that for me....now you do.
So, KK....you did me a great favor and I have simply reciprocated.

 

KK...im just glad you finally found something that rings your bells pal
your a fussy man... so it must be pretty darn nice

congrats my friend !!!!