Back on the Forum with a new wagon

I would give serious thought to keeping that 78 with the factory towing package. That had a roughly 10% take rate, so is fairly rare, right there. Add the rear disc brakes, etc. and you really are looking at a wagon that sounds like it could be well worth some effort to save. Also, compare undersides carefully. On later cars, the tow package included an up-graded frame. If possible, drive both, and you may find the 78 drives very differently than the 'normal' 77. It may well be worth the $45 to get the basic Marti report on both cars, and if the 78 really is that rare, give more thought to keeping her going as well. There are a goodly number of 'heaps' out there that may well provide the parts you need without sacrificing a rare example.

 

I'm tending to agree with you about the '78. I bought the car from the original owner's daughter. It had been her dad's pride and joy. It was very well cared for and always garaged. It sat for 10 years, so when I got it home I carefully resurrected it. The oil was still clean and the coolant looked and smelled fresh. The coolant tested good down to -25 F. I added Mystery Oil to the cylinders, hand cranked the engine and let it sit overnight. Then I changed the oil, spark plugs, and installed a new battery. Finally, with a carburetor overhaul, new fuel pump, and fresh gasoline after a tank draining and fuel line flush, it runs great.

You're right about the way the two cars drive. The '78 is an absolute tank. I can feel the heft of it when driving. The springs are heavier duty and nothing seems to rattle this thing. Potholes are like any other bump in the road. The '77 has a softer, floatier ride and a little more pep, but I haven't registered that one so it hasn't gone very far. It has 10 or so factory HP over the '78, but I had dual exhausts installed on the '78, so this may be even now.

 

We;come back, oldsluvr!

That 78 looks sure like a keeper to me.