Another new member...

My wife decided I should sell my 1969 Mustang convertible that I drive every day. Says I should get something more practical, meaning: 1) something that we can take family trips in, dogs & all, so that her car doesn't rack up so much mileage. 2) something that can bring home plywood, lumber, mulch etc from Home Depot, so that her car doesn't get scratched, beat up etc. 3) something that can tow our boat, so her car doesn't strain to do it. (I'm being a little harsh, she's actually a very good sport.) Stuck in some meeting a few weeks ago, it hit me! I learned to drive on 2 vehicles, a 1960 Studebaker pickup truck (still have it, currently disassembled but the main reason I'm willing to sell the Mustang, so I can restore the truck) AND a 1969 Pontiac LeMans Safari. What better vehicle to fulfill all 3 of my wife's priorities! Not to mention the cool factor through the roof...
So finding this forum was really cool and I'm hoping I can locate either a 1968 Tempest Safari or a 1969 LeMans Safari before the Mustang sells and I have to buy a humdrum mobile like the rest of the sheep I share the highway with during my daily commute.
Any advice, direction, suggestions are greatly welcomed!
-Joey Robbins
Raleigh NC

 

Joe. Yes here's my advice. Hug your wife and tell her you love her. Tell her you are gonna buy a station wagon just to make her happy!
Get off this danged computer, or on Craigs list, and start looking for that wagon. Look in the papers and back streets. Good luck.
Whatever you do don't buy a mini-----v-----Or SU* Oh Lord, I can't even write it!

 

Welcome Joe, good luck with your search!

 

I had a Cherokee for a while

1987 Jeep Cherokee, only car I ever bought new. I put 403000 miles on it until my son overheated the engine & warped the head. Never had any major work done to the engine, just oil change every 3000. Bottom line is that I spent my time in a high center of gravity SUV and I'd rather have the superior handling that an old school wagon gives. Kinda scary to think about the fact that a wagon even does handle better than your average SUV. Never see any news stories about wagons rolling over...

 

That's at least partly because there are very few wagons on the road now to do any rolling over.

But they are low center-of-gravity vehicles, and rollover was never a problem with wagons back in the day that I ever heard.

 

Boy, if there was ever an example of viewing the past through the mists of time, this is certainly it. Station wagons of the '60s and '70s, especially those large enough to comfortably tow a trailer, were large, softly-sprung, ponderous, living-rooms-on-wheels and most definitely not known for their tight, crisp handling. You would be much better off towing a trailer with a modern pickup truck or Suburban or something similar and not with a 40 or 50-year-old passenger vehicle with yesterday's suspension and steering technology.

I love old station wagons as much as anybody, especially the one I own. But I have no illusions about its abilities versus those of today's cars.

 

Yep!

That's why I said it was kinda scary. I remember how ponderous the old Safari was compared to my friend's cars that were smaller, lighter and had suspensions sprung for handling. Going through the Mustang's suspension and upgrading to larger sway bars, firmer polygraphite bushings, disc brakes etc. made an incredible difference in handling and thus safety. I'd like to do the same on a vintage wagon if acquired. Having pulled the boat with an SUV, I agree that a modern pickup with a towing package would be ideal. Fortunately we only pull the boat any distance about once a year so it only has to be adequate, and I think it would still be better than behind any 6 cylinder SUV. Then again I could be hallucinating...again...

 

Welcome Joe !, I've just been on this site a couple of days, and am on the prowl also. I will keep an eye out for you on your hunt. Good Luck !

 

Welcome, Joe!

Well, that Mustang convertible will give you a real good head start on the wagon bank for sure. Not sure on locating a specific '69 Tempest Safari, but be patient and one will show up. In the mean time....

'65?
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4531970240.html


'66?
http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/4520371341.html


'67 Olds Cutlass flattop
http://burlington.craigslist.org/cto/4485770457.html


Good Luck with your search..

Marshall

 

Funny in an odd sort of way. This discussion about the handling capabilities of an older wagon versus a modern wagon, SUV, or pick up truck.
I guess our new 1972 Gran Torino wagon would be classified as old now. I actually traded it off on a 1975 Ford 1/2 ton pick up because the Torino was spooky towing our single axle 19' RV.
The pick up actually handled better but in reality the single axle trailer without a sway control or equalizer hitch was the problem. It was only a 19' RV but one of those older heavy ones.
If I had to do it over I'd use an equalizer hitch and sway bar on an older station wagon. That worked well for many years after retiring behind two different full sized vans with no porblems and another lighter 21' RV. Of course this one had dual axles.
Follow your dreams and make it work.

 

The Oldsmobile wagon

Amazing! The Olds wagon is what my older brother learned to drive on. It was the one we had right before the Pontiac. Don't think he's interested though, he's kinda stodgy...

I saw the other Pontiacs in my search and they are cool. My first car was a 1964 4 door Tempest so they all have appeal. Just focused on that curvy look of the Tempest/LeMans Safari.

 

Excellent intro Joe hope you find what your looking for. You have joined an excellent forum here...even the new guys are helping to part you with your money...

Thanks Jeff, you are exactly the type of forum family member that makes this great place.

 

Joe and good luck in your search! Please keep us posted!

 

Welcome Joetheflyer!

 

Keep your eyes pealed for a nice 66-72 Torino/Fairlane With an FE in it. That should be a worthy successor to the Stang me thinks. Should be able to find some handling bits for it also.

mike