78 Sunbird Wagon, woodie

78 Sunbird Safari, fairly high options. Base engine 2.5 Iron Duke, Pw Steering, Pwr Brakes, Automatic, A/C, Gauge Package, Delux Interior, Wood Exterior, RTS Suspension, Ralley Wheels, Sport Mirrors, rear window air deflector , had a roof rack but it is missing.

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/3927216348.html





A little rough, but would be a great gas milage car, should get 30+ on the highway, my stock 231 V-6 wagon got 28.5 Highway.

 

I'd love to pick one of these up someday.

 

Here's the text from the ad:

78 Pontiac Sunbird
original owner car.
no rust
runs & drives.
car is dusty..was sitting in garage for 2 years.
has clean title.
NOT SURE WHAT ITS WORTH SO MAKE US AN OFFER...cash only..no trades..
AC works
No Emails..I won't reply.
located at Edwins Towing Inc.
34 Vista Place Upland Ca
7605956628 Blu

• Location: Upland
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

I love it; "not sure what its worth so make us an offer"


Neat little car!

 

oh man

wish I had the where with all for this one ... looks mighty fine.

 

would love to have this! and it has TILT!

 

My knees would be in my chin while driving a car that small.
The cars aren't real wagons in my book , they're kammbacks or sedan deliveries.
It violates the wagon rule of thirds, 1/3 of the car should be from the front to the A pillar, 2/3 from A-C pillar, 3/3 from the C pillar to the back, slightly more or less.

 

BlueVista,

I will argue with you over the 1st part of your statement, unless you are significantly taller than my 6' 1" height you would be suprized at the front seat room and driving position of these little H-bodies. Vega/Astres have many flaws but driving position is not one of them.

I was actually shocked the 1st time I drove my Sunbird Wagon, more than adequate leg room for me, good driving position, and if equipped with the Delux interior (as this example is) they actually have the same seats that a Base Model Trans Am of the same year would get! They are actually Comfy and have good side and back padding for the era. I was also shocked by how well they handle, and if equipped with V-6 they get Vented Disc Brakes up front, and the same Power steering box the Trans Am's got. they are actually fun to drive.

Base model Vega seat are not nearly as good though.

I can see your point on the second issue thou, they are alittle small for a wagon, and the rear seat room is almost useless if you are older than 12 years of age. That is one of the reasons that mine stays folded down, that and to cover up the terrible looking rear seat carpet!!!!!!

 

I have the real sedandelivery panels for it too lol, they ARE comfy to drive. Only small car I was ever comfy in period. That and putting in an aluminum topped 300 buick V-8 on the V-6 mounts it's a corvette eating screaming mother!

 

I bet the V-8 is fun to drive, mine just has a 245hp 231 V-6 with 3.73 posi and a 200R4 Trans, it likes to eat Ricers on both stop light runs, and thru the twisties. It is a lot of fun to drive. The built V-6 is torque just not the smoothest of engines with the cam installed. I still have fun bating my neibors kid in his late 80's Plelude!!!! He still cant believe it beats his Honda. I keep telling him it must be the driver because if I read the Auto mags correctly there is no way anything can beat his Honda!!!!!!!

 

These are definitely neat little cars. There is a surprising amount of leg room in them. I am actually more comfortable driving one of these than I am one of the much bigger whales from the 90s. As for whether they are true wagons or not, they cost certainly are. The proportions are straight out of the play book written in the late 40s for the 2 door wagons of the time. Compared to the compact wagon competition of the time, there is nothing untoward about them, either. After all, nobody complains that the Pinto wagon is not a wagon. Nor do they have that debate about the Opel or Vauxhall wagons of the time, and no one tries to say the Volkswagen Squareback is not a wagon either.

 

Mike,

I see both sides of this issue when it comes to the Vega/Astre/Monza/Sunbird wagons. At least the Pinto wagons had an extended body compared to the regular Pinto's while the Vega wagons use the same wheel base, and are the same length as a Vega HB.

But I still Consider them Wagons.

 

The Pinto wagons had the same wheelbase as the other Pinto models - just an 'extended' back end.

 

290 HP with the 2bbl carb 320 with the 4bbl and 11 to 1 compression! and 2 of us can pick it up and set it
in a pick-up without straining.