Howdy! I am checking in from Rexburg, Idaho. I've never owned a wagon, but am in the market for an older 4 door model as my next project (turn a ~58-60 4 door wagon into a 4x4). I ran across your site and figured it would be a great place to start. I ride motorcycles and have always found motorcycle/riding answers from the motorcycle forum I've been on for 19 years. My only experiences with wagons are 1) a guy at my high school had a ~57? Plymouth wagon that I always liked the look of and 2) my step-grandfather had a blue ~80's Pontiac? wagon Woodie that he had me go out with glue and brown shoe polish several times a year (for too many years) to touch up the fading/peeling vinyl.
Welcome to the forums! Hope you find one that fits the bill. I looked for five years for the "right" one. Joined this forum and found what I wanted right here! Again welcome and good luck......Longroofs Rule!
Thanks all! I understand it's not going to be an easy task and a waste of money, but I it'll be hoot to plow through snow and sling mud around with. Finding a decent mid-50's to early 60's 4 door won't be too hard. I've seen a couple dozen in various places on the net. I think I'll avoid makes/models that are impossible (or nearly) so to find parts for. I was eye-balling a local 1958 Chevy Brookwood 4 door sitting in a field with an obliterated windshield, but I could not find any who makes a replacement windshield for it. I don't mind one beat up a bit and I absolutely refuse to take a really nice one to tear it apart and turn it into a 4x4 monstrosity.
Biscayne/Impala/Del Ray should fit - https://www.lategreatchevy.com/full-size-chevy-windshield-clear-bel-air-biscayne-delray-1958.html
I missed that in my searches. I forgot the half dozen+ different subclass names they had back then. Evidently, it's been sitting for a number of unspecified years and I am a little concerned with that as Idaho weather is not kind to metal. However, I did just run across this a moment ago: 1959 Pontiac Catalina Wagon and, according to https://www.automobile-catalog.com/, it's a 214 in long, 80 in wide, ~4,600 lb BEAST! It's been up for sale for 7+ months and bet I could swing a decent deal on it. Now, I need to find a later model 4x4 donor to match the 122 in wheelbase.
OrthmannJ, Ya, I have a pet peeve with that. If it's been thrashed enough over the years, I don't mind 're-purposing' old metal to make something unique and get it back on the road. But, my heart sinks every time I see an original, or nearly so, car/truck (especially an irreplaceable classic) transformed into something different. They are only original once.
Does some rust spots, missing headliner and aftermarket wheels count as bastardized? Asking for a friend... Las Vegas Craigs
I don't know... That 59 looks pretty solid. If money were no object I'd buy it and fix it up to match my Father-in-laws 59 convertible.
My vote is no. Paint and original wheels and headliner replaced will get you back to nearly original condition. Bastardized is when they chop the top, shrink the wheelbase to clown car status, or do something to it that is irreparable as far as simple repairs are concerned. In my opinion if you can take a car like this and put it in original condition without the need for one or two additional parts cars for stuff that got redone to somebody’s tastes that’s not a bastardized car. In many cases the owner kept the original wheels and covers. That would be nice, but ‘59 stuff is pretty easy to come by.
60Mercman, ya might want to start at the top of the page and read down... I plan on bastardizing one to some degree- at least the frame/drive-train. The body will stay original.
