I hope this one does not get derbied!

LOL, I know it. Back when I was looking for a "clamshell" wagon, there were none to be found, especially at this price/condition. My search was limited to a 1971-73 Caprice Estate wagon, 1971-73 Pontiac Grand Safari wagon, or a 1971-73 Buick Estate wagon. A/C, woodgrain, tilt wheel and 3rd seat was a must. I looked for what seemed like years, then the local 72' Caprice Estate wagon that I had tried to buy for years became available so I snatched it up. When I told the lady that had it called me and said she would sell, I said I wanted it. I had no idea of the condition or the options, because when I seen the car, all I could see for years was it backed into her garage (that was always open). When she invited me over to look at it, I was very happy to see that it had not only the 3rd seat, A/C and tilt wheel options, but when I raised the hood, I discovered it also had the 402 big block engine option (which I unfortunately had to rebuild), but I finally got the car I vowed to some day own for 10 years.

I tell you though, I would have loved to have had this 71' Caprice wagon, especially at that price. I had to pay much more for mine and then rebuild the engine as well. I guess what makes it easier to take is that this 71' does not have the tilt wheel option, but that would not have mattered. I love that green with woodgrain on a 70s wagon!

 

green and woodie

The GM wagons seem to do green and woodie better than the Ford/Mercury wagons.It also depends on the model.Late 60's/early 70's Vista Cruisers are the penultimate green woodies,but I once saw an early 70's Regency 98 wagon in green and woodie,and it was almost stomach turning.

 

One of my favorites is the light green 1973 Country Squire wagon. These normally had a dark green interior. There are actually several ads out with this car. I actually have one of those in an 8X12.

It looks more yellow in this photo, but its light green... this is not the same ad I have though...



Here is a light green 72' Caprice Estate wagon - notice the "misprint" - they have Impala hubcaps on it!

 

greenies

Yeah,that light speckley green every car maker put on some of their cars.I don't think any American car maker didn't have light speckley green cars.Even a few foreign car makers used it.And that Ford does look awfully yellow.I've seen some that were about that shade of yellow,on purpose.Even worse than light speckley green...On a tangent,my one peeve about the 73 Ford products,was the superbumper up front and regular old bumper out back.They were breaking it to us easy about superbumpers that way...My family had a 74 Ford LTD Brougham,for a while.Brown,in and out,and top and bottom.A 400 V8 with pointless ignition.We used to joke it got gallons per mile,not miles per gallon.A big bodacious floaterboat.Plenty of room and zoom...On the "to do list" is getting a mid-70's wagon,like that Ford,and putting in a much younger turbo-diesel drivetrain.Maybe even running it on Bio-Willie.See how much better the mpg's get.If they(turbo-diesels)can make Excursions go,they should be able to move a wagon that weighs almost a ton less.And,at a better clip and on less fuel...And look way better doing it.

 

Good point.... a diesel in a old wagon! If gas prices go back up, I may have to do that with my wagon!

My peeve with the 71-76 Chevrolet wagons is that they never offered the cornering lights option, as they did on EVERY other 71-76 GM full-size wagon. I think it should have at least been optional on the Caprice wagons. Ford offered it I think as early as 1969 on their wagons and sedans! Chevy finally offered it as an option on the "77-up" body style, but not sure if it was initially available the the late 70s, but my 85' Caprice Estate had the optional cornering lights. Its a neat option and one I liked on my old 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille, 1971 Oldsmobile Toronado and 1972 Buick Electra. It was an option for the 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville, but mine does not have the option, but I wish it did.

 

cornering lights

My Colony Park came with them,as they're standard equipment on the TownCar.I used to see them and think "what a waste" or "how silly",and the first few times I used them at night,I was trying to figure out what the heck was going on---but,here in L.A.(land of record breaking potholes)they are definitely a plus.