Swanny454 here with my 1974 Buick Estate Wagon

It's beautiful! How lucky to come across it on CL...imagine if one of those LOCALS had found it first...that's not go there.

Congratulations, it's great when it falls together like that.

to the forum hope to see you around.

 

I'm so glad you rescued that wagon from what otherwise could have been a tragic fate. It sounds like this was a reunion made to happen.
My wagon originally came from IL and it seems I've stumbled across other clamshell wagon owners there too. Is there something about IL that has attracted clamshells there?
The '76 Caprice IS pretty awesome in design. Love the square headlights!

 

There is a guy by the name of Mike McCoy here in IL and he has the nicest wagons you will ever see. I am sure he is a member here. My friends have a 76 Caprice Estate, 76 Grand Safari, 75 Impala Wagon, and a 76 Catalina Wagon. Us IL bos believe in saving these classics

 

Very nice! These were giants in an era of giants!

 

Beautiful car. I'm jealous.

 

What do I think??? I think I love it! to the wagon train, swanny. Great story on that wagon, too. You will fit in nicely with our wagon family so I hope to see a lot of you around here.

 

Does anyone know how big of a back tire I can get under my wagon? I found a set of sweet used wheels that I might buy instead of my new ones. Problem is the rear wheels are 15x10 with 5 inch backspace and have 295/50R15's on them that are 12.2 inches wide. Smoking deal on them but I can't test fit them on my car. So I have to buy them and take the chance, and I really don't want to do that

 

Nice car!

Sweet wagon Swanny! I have a 285 40R 19 on the back of my 74 wagon, the backspace is about 4 1/2" and I have plenty of clearance until I lay it out ha ha ha! If the lug pattern matches I would think you would have room assuming the cars have similar wheel well construction. Seems like all the 70's automakers copied eachothers wagons.

 

Well I decided to go traditional and ordered 15x7 wheels and 255/60R15 BF Goodrich radials. I will get pictures once they are installed.

 

Swanny....youve been cleared for docking......

that is one fine looking land yacht there pal...great find

to the joint

 

Just a quick mock up on the wheels. I have to pull the brake drums and sandblast them and clean the front rotors and calipers for paint. The wheels let everything show so I need to address these before final install

 

Here is the wagon wearing its new wheel-tire combo and after 6 hours with the buffer and rubbing compound

 

Woah, man, sweet! Those wheels were meant for that car, it looks!

 

Nice!! Real nice!!

 

Beautiful combination... must say I'm a really big fan of Buick ralley wheels, but these really do look great.

Overall it is a good combination with the chrome (and stainless) moldings on the wagon. Especially the wide rocker panel trim