1970 Caprice sedan - not a wagon, but had to share!

I have seen some more oddly optioned however. I once seen a '71 Caprice sedan with a 3-speed manual... and a '73 Bel-Air, loaded to the max.

 

Those were the days of going down and ordering your vehicle. I guess some items weren't important enough to pay for.

Your 72 is a nice looking wagon. I see you have put a lot of time and money into bringing it up to snuff.

My dad is a former GM dealership technician, he started working in a Chevy dealership in the late 70s. From what he recalled he wasn't a fan of those engines.

I need to dig out the photo but, I think I have one of my great grandparents in front of a 72 Kingswood wagon. Probably more of a butter cream type color with woodgrain. They used it to pull their camper trailer.

 

Auction ended at $9900 -reserve not met.

 

Oh yeah, so unique and cool cars. When I first got my 1972 Buick Electra 225 Custom 4dr back in 2001 after selling my 1971 Caprice, we had not had the internet long and I started researching other old cars online. All I had before were the books and not the photos and websites like I have now. I started seeing how all differently optioned the '72 Buick Electras were... then it went on for me to see how all 60s-70s cars were like that, especially GM cars. Then in '03 when I got my '73 Grand Ville sedan, I started seeing others so differently optioned as well. My Grand Ville is optioned nicer than my wagon. My Grand Ville has power windows and power locks and also tilt, A/C, etc, which my wagon have. I have however seen some Grand Villes like mine with crank windows, so yeah, there were a lot of variables back then.

Yeah, it is ok, but still needs attention. The interior is in very good shape actually, but the carpeting needs replaced and outside, some rust work needed around back windows and lower rear areas. The engine needed a cam when I got it, but then again so did my '69 Caprice 396. I was told that the 402 in my wagon is basically a 396, but I don't know. I know I wasn't a fan of it, all of the trouble I had but turns out it was the transmission (turbo 400) giving me problems, so I had it completely rebuilt... that set me back $750.00. Smooth as silk now. I love it and tried to buy it for years and finally got it, but at times I think I may want to move on with something else, but I know if/when I sell or trade it, I will regret it like I always do when I get shed of one of my classics. lol.

Oh yeah, I know that color you speak of... probably like the '72 Kingswood Estate wagons below?







Anyway if I keep mine, I hope to have it looking as nice as this one...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/11248169@N00/10815197636/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11248169@N00/10815200606/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11248169@N00/10815200606/in/photostream/

Thanks for the update. I didn't even think to check it. IMO, it is well worth more than $9900. It is basically a like new car. Where else can you buy a "new" '70 Caprice?

 

I miss my wagon...after reading more of this thread and seeing all of these photos, I miss it even more lol.

 

Yes, those photos look about right. I will have to dig the photo out. I wonder if that car is anywhere. It would be nice to find one similar to what they had.

I learned to drive on my family's 87 Pontiac Safari wagon, it was white with wood grain.

I think my interest lies more in wagons prior to the mid seventies.

 

I agree. I know that if I ever sell/trade mine, I would sorely miss it. Especially since it took me 6 years to buy it from the lady that owned it. lol.

You never know... it may have ended up a car that has since been made into two cars during recycling, but it could be tucked away in a garage like my '72 was. You could always do a repaint if you found a '72.

I liked those Safari wagons with wood-grain. I actually had a 1989 Safari, it was dark blue with wood-grain. I too am more of a fan of cars from about 1974 and older... sedans and wagons.

Well time to head to the doctor for my yearly physical... only reason I am home early from work and on here posting in the middle of the afternoon. - killing a little time. lol.

 

Yeah, I guess a little paint would make it work. I look forward to finding something, maybe the forum will help.

 

Yeah, you never know... these sometimes pop up out of nowhere. Maybe mine may be for sale one of these days... sometimes I think it is time ot move on and I really want to find another Caprice sedan, somewhere between a 1965-70 model. I have nearly $6000.00 invested in my wagon (paid $4000 for it, then had engine rebuilt, transmission rebuilt, complete exhaust system, etc), and it really needs another $2000 invested to be a stunning car (with some body/paint work). Just trying to decide if I want to go the $2000 more. I love the car, very unique and it took me 7 years to get the old lady to sell it to me. Definitely a head-turner on the road. I know I could never get $6000 cash out of it, but maybe one day a trade will come along that I am interested in like a Caprice sedan or a 71-73 Cadillac sedan... my #2 favorite car... then after that a 70s Country Squire wagon.

I noticed your other cars there... seems like we like the same cars. I love the 60s Buicks. I would love to find a '60 Electra Riviera 225 hardtop sedan. I also noticed the '62 Skylark convertible... now that is one of my dads favorite cars... he used to have a '62 hardtop with the 215... we had another one a couple of years ago, but no engine/tranny and it was rough, so we sold it.

 

Yeah, some times the numbers can be tough to make work. Although, if it is only 2K more that may be enough to get your money out of it. Depends on how much you think you can get out of it now versus how much you think you can get for it after doing the work. Although it may make it tougher to part with.

I really like the 60 Buicks. I like that you just don't see that many of them around. My dream car is a 60 Buick convertible.

I picked up the Skylark this past fall. It is pretty much all original except for a repaint. I am the 4th owner, the guy I bought it from purchased it from the original owner's son. It needs some interior work, a few minor mechanical items and a new top. I attached a photo of it. It has the 215 aluminum block.

 

I found a pic of my 60 as well.

 

Yeah, after I do get the work done on it, you are probably right and I will not want to get rid of it... I really do not want to now, so it will probably stay for another 7 years or more, lol.

I like the 59-60 Buicks, but have a soft spot for the Electra 225 Riviera with the round top. My mom took her driving test in a '60 LeSabre 4dr sedan back in '71. It was my grandfathers car.

Neat little Skylark. I wish we had of kept ours. We sold it super cheap. Below is a few photos of it taken when we had it about 3 or 4 summers ago. As you can see, it needed total restoration.

Then the photo below that was taken in 1976... that is my mom holding me in front of our '62 Skylark 2dr hardtop.









... and here is me and my mom in front of our Skylark in 1976... our other car was a 1966 Plymouth Fury III 4dr sedan and a 1969 Camaro. My mom would kill me if she knew I posted this of her. lol.

 

That's neat that you have photos like that.

Well, if you come across any good wagons, send the info my way. I plan to spend my winter working on the Skylark and my LeSabre. I will probably sell the Skylark and Caprice in the spring to make room for something else.

I don't have a huge attachment to the Skylark, but the Caprice will be a little tougher. It is in such good condition, you just don't come across cars like that too often.

 

Yeah, luckily we still have alot of old photos like that, but not as sure as many people I am sure. lol.

I said those pics were in the summer when we had it (the pics of the 62 Skylark that we had a few years ago), but those first few pics were taken in the winter, so we had a car a little longer than I remembered... maybe 7 or 8 months? We sold it for $200. Way too cheap IMO.

Same here. I have an attachment to my '72 wagon and even more of one to my '73 Grand Ville. I may never get rid of it. The rational thing to do would be to sell the wagon and take the money and completely restore the Grand Ville. It was a nice car when I got it, but setting outside, the past 11 years have taken an toll on that old car.

I understand about the Caprice. That is why I was so hesitant to sell my '69 back in '08. I wish I had of kept it, but if I had of, I would not have my '72 Estate wagon now. lol. I hope the guy that bought mine restored it and didnt end up using it for parts for his '69 Impala coupe.

If/when you decide to sell your '69 Caprice, let me know and throw me a price you have in mind. I may be interested in it if it will fit in my budget. It depends on what I could sell my wagon for if I decide to sell. I would give it a good home.

 

Sitting outside definitely takes a toll on cars. I have a two car garage and a barn that I have out into winter storage for a third car. I worry about it being in the barn so I go overboard with stuff to keep the mice and animals away.

I will keep you in mind on the Caprice.