I have a CTS wagon now, but I am looking at getting a 64 Impala wagon. Found it on marketplace and I am trying to trade my 2005 Road King even up for it. DO you think its worth it? The car is mostly complete, only missing a couple of pieces of trim. It has a 307, maybe (the guy is not sure) and 3 on the tree. Only has rust on one door. If he agrees to the trade I'll pick it up this weekend.
Welcome aboard. Was a 307 around in ‘64? Would have thought these would have been a 283, base V8. Good luck with your wagon hunt. Think the 307 was in ‘68.
Not sure what your road king is worth - the wagon looks to be in rough condition - good luck - BTW I have a 2012 CTS-V wagon and a 72 Chevelle wagon - terrible sickness we have LOL
Welcome aboard! Nice Caddy! I like the 64 as well. It does look like it needs some TLC though. But that's just part of the deal when you own a classic car. Keeps us updated on how things go.
The only thing I would add to what’s been already mentioned. Does the person you’re getting the wagon from have all the chrome and trim parts. That’s the thing that can get expensive, as well as aggravating looking for. So much of this stuff is just hard to get. Hopefully he’ll have everything that got taken off for the body work.
Yes, all the trim, bumpers and door handles are in the back. His "expert" bodyman filled all the trim holes, with bondo. lol So they'll be easy enough to open back up. It's really not as bad as it looks. he just kind of slapped some bondo on it and didn't get around to sanding it yet. It's all just a skim coat. Im going to try my hand at the body work, wish me luck. On a good day the bike might be worth $6K, the car is solid, just the one back door has rust. and a little on the left rear corner where it looks like a repair from long long ago. I looked for a V Wagon but the closest one for sale was in Shreveport LA, about 500 miles from me. The 64 will be my 5th wagon. 2 BMW 1 Audi, a Magnum and the CTS.
Welcome from the pacific northwest! lots of road kings out there but not as many Impala wagons...although the value might not be exact its pretty close in my book and it would be an excellent Restomod builder....not trying to influnce you but if it was me and there is clean paperwork personally i would do it...
I have a 454 and a slightly built LS. I’ve thought about just painting it and driving it because it runs so good now, but I love big blocks. I also would like the better mileage with the ls. Decisions decisions decisions. Speaking of paperwork, is there a website to decode the vin? I tried and came up with nothing.
As far as I know. The door panels are off and everything is that color like it’s stock. May have been a respray at some time.
I was able to decode the tag on my merc wagon by purchasing a factory shop manual...but if you keep looking the info may be on the net, i think im almost as excited about your potential trade as you might be..lots of ways to go with that wagon..an LS motor swap is tempting but personally i would go with the big block or a 383 stroker...air ride? heck yes.. my merc wagon is one of my pride and joy cars and interestingly enough i got it on a trade...I was offered it, or believe it or not, a Road King show bike formerly owned by the rock star Alice Cooper for the B body mopar i was trading...didnt take long to decide on the merc wagon...also i grew up with a neighbor who purchased his 1964 Impala wagon new in the gold color...with proper mantaince and oil changes the car made it to 205k miles on the completely original drive train when it met a telephone pole head on..everyone was fine except the wagon...be sure to let us know if you get it and start a thread on the build...Terry
Yes, the 307 debuted in 1968, I believe. However, the original engine could have been replaced with a 307. As for the wagon, I almost get the sense you have possession of it now, so did you trade for it already? If not, I think it all depends on if it's worth it to you more than anything. I think only you can answer that. Are you particularly enamoured with your Road King? Do you have other bikes that you can ride if you trade it away? More than anything though, that wagon is a project car, so I think you have to consider if owning a project is personally worth it to you. It'll require a financial investment to complete the restoration process, as well as the time and effort needed to do it. It has to be a passion and you have to really love that car to want to follow through and stick with it until it's completed, or else it may prove to be unfruitful in the end. And you have to weigh if trading away your bike is worth that. I don't ride, so it's easy for me to say I'd trade it away for a car I was interested in, but again, that's only a conclusion you can come to for yourself. However, I will say this: even in the condition it's currently in, the value of that '64 Impala wagon will only go up, but I'm not sure the same thing can be said for an '05 Road King. So, there's that to take into consideration as well. It all just comes down to your priorities, your level of sentimentality for each vehicle, and the realities of owning and restoring a project car. With that said, good luck to you if you still have the chance to get it! Cheers.
Thanks for the welcome. I do have it and I've started on it. I'm not so much doing a resto on it, but more of getting it in good driving condition. Vehicles don't really hold any sentimental value to me. I see something I like and I usually buy it. Keep it for a few years or less and move on to the next best thing. LOL. Mechanically y its pretty sound. engine runs perfectly, clutch and tranny are good, brakes work about as well as drums can. I have some electrical issues to work out, if it starts to frustrate me, I'll just get a complete wiring harness and redo the whole car. I'll get it in good enough condition to take to car shows and probably end up trading it or selling it before the summer is over. It's mainly a reassembly project, it was taken apart for paint and the guy gave up on it. I'm missing a few parts mainly small things. I'm trying to figure out what year parts are interchangeable.
