1972 Estate Wagon Limited Coupe

Yeah, the coupe part I kept to myself. When I bought my wagon, I knew I wanted it to be a hardtop, but it really didn't matter to me if it was 2 or 4 door. I just happened to find the right Limited coupe parts car, and went for it. Pure chance.

I knew this wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. Original vehicles are wonderful, and preserve the history of how each looked when new. I usually do a car back to totally original condition, changing only safety-related things like dual brake lines and such.

But this hardtop thing has been cooking in my feverish little mind for many years, and there was no way I could not do it.

Tony, I know you are going to like it. Royal blue with Sandalwood top and interior. It will have cornering lamps, but no light monitors. Wish I could find the finger-tip wiper control, but no luck yet.

And Tony, if I come your way to do some bodywork for you, just make sure I leave my sawzall at home!

David

 

LOL!

That color combo will be amazing!

 

Wixom, I wish I knew you in Dallas. Now I am in Houston, and working hard, when I can, to find good car guys. We have a two year old and my wife is 7 months pregnant. Right now my wagon is gettin the long side windows taken out so the minor rust here can be addressed. I bet you could do that in your sleep. Thank you so much for sharing your kick butt project with us. That is one of the coolest things I have ever seen.

 

Thanks Tsynek.

Congratulations on the kiddos!

Wish we lived closer, I would give you a hand with your rust situation.

These wagons all seem to get rust behind their glass. I found rust under my windshield and rear side windows. Right now all of my glass is out, and I am addressing the rust. It is fairly minor rust , but would have become a big problem someday.

In stripping the paint, I discovered that there was thin black paint applied to the glass mounting flanges, and this was masked off, and then the body color was applied. So all that is under the windows is a very thin layer of paint! No wonder rust is in strange places on an otherwise rust-free vehicle! :banghead3:

Luckily for me, my rust is very minor, and can just be treated with scraping, wire brushing, and metal conditioner, then POR-15. If I had ignored this situation, I would have to eventually cut it out and weld in new steel.

We may have very similar rust...my wagon is from California, and yours is a Texan, yes?

I bumped up an exellent thread -Clamshell rust!- showing rust repair for a wagon with rust that was a little more severe. Aornest does wonderful work on his Buick, and gets excellent results.

David

 

The Sika windshield sealant site has a very good DIY on prepping window frames. Clean it off, sand the non-visible part with 100 or so grit, primer, then paint, then the sealant tape and final sealant. It seems that a cavity behind the sealant tape is a perfect rust nest.

 

Thanks Norm,

I will check it out!

I want to make sure this doesn't happen again.

David

 

You have to wonder if the rear quarter panel is long enough for the name.

 

LOL at TB!

 

baddooomp tshshshsh

 

And kudos to you too, David! Fantastic work. I've always loved the idea of customization in the form of "phantoms"... what shoudl have been, but wasn't. I'm more than a little jealous at the lack of rust, but oh well. I would love to see some more distant pics to get the full effect, and can't wait to see a finished product (I shoud talk!). Keep up the good work!!!!!
Adam

PS: What're you doing with the power window guts from the original wagon doors?

 

Hey Adam,
Thanks bud. You do great metal work...I want to see more of your wagon.

I do have a little rust under my glass...windshield and rear side. Not too bad. Thankfully an easy fix.

I have all the power window guts, regualtors and motors, minus the front door switches. It is all yours for the taking. PM me.

David

 

very cool can't wait to see more!!

 

.....
Arrgh!
Progress is slow on my wagon project. I am working on this outside, and winter (just cold rain) has finally hit Dallas.
My wagon is in bare metal!!! and I am waiting for a stretch of nice days to get it epoxy primer. I am using a PPG metal cleaner and PPG metal conditioner. I love this stuff! This keeps my steel clean and in great condition. Plastic tarps keep it dry.

Today, I worked on my tailgate panel.
I took it off weeks ago, and it needed some repair on the lower corner where the LH bottom mount had pulled away. This was caused by poor lubrication of the rollers and tracks.
After some welding, it is good to go. I had tried to align it months ago, and couldn't figure out why it never lined up right. Now, hopefully it will line up just fine.

I will have better pics maybe next week, if I can get a break from the rain.

David

PS. If any clamsheller wants my old trailer hitch, let me know. It bolts up to the lower side of the bumper, and to 3 holes drilled in the lower trunk floor. It is just for lightweight towing. Yours for the asking.

 

DAYUMMM!! That is just too, too COOL!
You are a good man, wix. Keep it up. And...this is one wagon I want to follow through the build!!

 

That 4th pic gives a nice overall view of the 2 door effect. Looks great!