I think people just don't appreciate 70's up wagons....

It seems that 70's and up wagons don't get the appreciation they deserve. Especially for the post 77 Downsize GM's. For all brands, the boxy style ones seem to be seen as the stodgiest old man cars I guess. It just kinda grinds my gears. They're great cars, very reliable, very stylish and classy, not to mention that they are a nostalgic piece of americana that is vanishing from our roads.

On the bright side, my friend is talking about getting married and having a famliy. But we're all kinda cut from the same cloth and the new cars won't do for us. He currently drives a 68 Chevy C30 dually. His girl wants him to get a family car, which he picked a 80 Camaro, but she says she wants a 4-door. I suggested to him a wagon, to which he laughed. He says a big, brown, wood-panelled ride is not his style. (I was offended)

I told him to go with a 57 Chevy 210 wagon. I told him it was identical to a Nomad, but a 4-door which would make Nicole happy. Of course, he warmed right up to that idea. Dont' get me wrong, I love wagons from the 50's adn 60's very much. I just feel that the later wagons are given that respect. And it's just a crying shame.

 

the only reason the 90's models get any is the LT1

 

I really liked the early 80s Chevy Malabus and Olds Cutlass Cruisers. Too bad you can't get rides that anymore.

 

I like the 90's Bubble Wagons too, but you don't hear much about them either. I can only think of one in town here, there's a 92 Custom Cruiser. Other than that, them things used to be everywhere, now I never see any. But the LT1 is the only reason anyone really goes Wow about 'em.

I just hate the degrading the Box ones get and even the more curvacious 70's models aren't getting the respect they deserve. It just ain't fair.

 

I think one has to be a wagon person to appreciate the longroofs as we do, Henry.

 

That's not true for me. My wagons gets looks and thumbs up where ever I go. We were at an Arby's on night when it was real cold out and saw this girl walking around my car when we noticed she was talking pics with her cellphone. Then when we took a trip to get my MSD distributor we had three different people pull up along side to give us thumbs.

 

Wish people had that mentality here, I mean some people do. And the people that are my friends and pick on it, do appreciate it's hauling capacities and comfort. But overall, I just get laughed at and passed like I'm an old grandpa.

 

im right there with ya. however, i do get some thumbs up! they may not be close to my genertation (senior citizens who had their licenses taken away from age) but i still get some! on the other hand i get called names for driving a "gass hog" or a "faggot wagon" (please excuse me if the last name offended anyone)

 

Yeah, one of my best friends, who drives an 89 GMC truck and is buying an 81 Scottsdale, had the nerve to tell me my gas hog should only be used for recreational uses. To which I replied, but aren't you getting the same mileage with your GMC? And that Scottsdale does worse than mine! He quickly shut his big yapper.

 

I actually think my gasmileage is getting much better. It was around 15mpg with long waits for it to warm up. But now it's hasn't needed it as much. And this last weekend I switched to a Mallory distributor which I think helped make my timing better. And now I can run a better hotter coil to get a better more efficient burn. I will see after I fill it up and check the next tankfull. I also increased the spark plug gap today. I think I may be able to get well over 20mpg if I can keep my foot out of it. Which may be hard as it has a bunch more power due to the distributor and coil.

 

I feel ya on that CapriceEstate...i was riding around town this past weekend had the windows down just enjoyin the 70+ degree weather...and it seemed that everytime i actually paid attention to someone passin by or goin threw a intersection ppl seemed to be laughin and pointing...i dont get it, i kno the thing needs alil tlc but cmon the car has great potenial...but maybe they were jus laughin at the driver, i was wearin my toboggan and shades with my headphones in my ears blaring and possibly singing along to a song noone else could hear...HAHA..na but seriously my own "stepmom" so to say passed me on the road in town just yesterday and she jus quickly put her hand up and looked the other way as if ashamed to know the guy drivin the wagon...o' well...im really enjoyin it and thats all that matters...i dont think anyone will be laughin once i get her lookin the way i have planned...lol...just thought id add in my 2cent

 

Yeah, I go through a lot of that. But the people who know me, don't snub me. I live in a town of about 9000 people, and it seems as though half the town knows me in one way or another. I'm usually the friendly K-Mart guy or the guy helping old people getting their cars started in the K-Mart lot.

I have people honking and waving to me when I'm driving all the time, as I'm not tough to miss!

 

It was 62 deg out here in the burbs of Chicago today and I could not help my self to bring out my '78 CS. Popped in the battery, pumped the petal twice, and "Clark" was happy to go out today.

While I was driven down a major road today, I noticed people looking at the wagon. I got a mixed reaction from folks. There where older people that remember these cars and seem to smile as I drove by. There was also a family in a Ford Expidition at the stop light, you could see the dad explaining to his kids how the third seat works (by the way he was looking and moving his hands).

The other people where somewhat negitive, mostly driving in imports. I had one guy in a Element that was just being an ass. He kept tailgating me, lookin at me all funny. I guess he was jelious that a 31 year old car has more aerodinamics than his modern Honda.

Then there was the guy in the Smart car

I pulled up to the light, there where three lanes and one turning lane. There was a Honda Accord, his "Smart" car, and my '78. The guy was about in his mid 50s, dressed like he was 20s (American Eagle shirt) and had a "Obama" bumper tag. He pulls up next to me, looks at my wagon with a look of discust. I lost it, I just started to laugh. It just looks so stupid, a guy tryin to be "young" with his car and clothing.

To make this moment in time even odder, he reved his Smart and pointed at the light. My mind did a barin fart, my head could NOT process what just happend. The left turn gets the green and he gased it....then backs up. I was laughing even harder. But I watched the light too, stuck Clark in 1st gear, and looked at the other street for cross traffic. As soon as it turned green, I punched it. For a heavy weight and a 2bbl I wasnt really expecting much of a chance, but good'ol Clark did. No tire squeel, no big production, just a nice rapid but quiet escape.

And yep, the Smart was well behind......

 

yeah, i think we should get every greenie a smart car, then every truck driver gets a set of kangaroo bars on thier tractor!
i havent seen it happen yet, but i just picture one of those getting punted like a football when hit with a Kenworth!

my buddy came up last night to buy my system (baby on the way, 12" subs gotta go) and he drives a civic that looks exactly like one of the black civics from "fast and the furious" fart can and all....but, its fast as hell. well he looked my wagon over and proclaimed it to be "bad A$$". well that made me smile!

 

That's the real luxury of a wagon driven by a real wagon lover. Both sleepers for the eye, but lots of oomph under the hood!