Looking for Some Solid Advice.

Okay here comes a very stupid and subjective question !

I have been looking for a cool 60's-70's era station wagon to restore for some time. I am looking for something that has that cool vintage look (not just any wagon) and one that could be used as a daily driver once restored.

So my tangible requirements were: 1) A decent weight to horsepower ratio, 2) Either a existing A/C (or the wagon cheap enough to intsall an after market vintage air unit and 3) Be popular enough so that parts are being reproduced for it or enough examples exist in the graveyards that replacement parts are not a big issue!:icon_drive:

And of course it had to be low cost and don't forget COOL!

So far I have several really good prospects:
- 1964 Plymouth Valiant Wagon with a non-working A/C and a 225 I6 engine ($1280)
- 1963 Plymouth Belvedere Wagon with no A/C but a 318 V8 engine ($1500)
- 1964 Buick Skylark Wagon with a non-working A/C and a 300 V8 engine. ($3000)
- 1976 Oldsmobile Custom Crusier Wagon with a working A/C and a 400 V8 engine ($3000)
- 1969 Pontiac Safari Wagon with a non-working A/C and a 428 V8 engine. ($1500)

So in everyone's opinion what would be the best candidate. (Just so you know I like the look of the 1963 Plymouth Belvedere and 1976 Oldsmobile Custom Crusier more than the 1964 Plymouth Valiant Wagon!}

 

For engine and drive train everything you've listed has parts available the only exception would be brake drums on the Plymouths. I've heard they are getting hard to find.

None of them listed will be easy to find trim parts such as chrome moldings, headlight and tailight bezels etc. Pretty much any wagon you'll have a hard time finding bumpers and rear quarters and tailgates and the associated hardware and rubber.

If you go with any of the ones on your list get associated with a club as the members have developed sources for parts.

I hope you find what you want.

 

Go for the Olds (powered?) clamshell!!

 

oy vey...dodge olds pont buick???...not gonna be easy to find anything for any of those

as far as parts..the Olds is going to be the easiest..seeing its not really that old...

the belvdere has really strong following and is a great looking wagon..
(secretly luv them) ..so it might not be too bad!

i have a soft spot for the Valiants...but really hard to find body parts!!
(i'll take it)

the 300 in the Booick...was a crappy motor...cool body tho

and thats my 2 bits

 

I added the prices!

I just added prices that the owners are asking - in case that helps!

And just an FYI - my choices between the body styles are the Olds and the Belvedere!
But the Safari seems to be the best choice for performance!

 

Which Engine?

Is that for the aluminum or iron motor. This is supposed to have a iron 300 from a 1965 model!

 

You know I think you should buy the most complete best condition wagon you can find. I probably wouldn't not have any of those on your list.

 

Okay - So What is the Best?

Yike - I guess that was the type pf help I was after.
So honestly what is the best 60's-70's wagon to restore?:confused:

 

You said it yourself you like the 63 Belvedere and the 76 Olds the best.

Both will have issues. The Belvedere may have more rust issues and difficult to find trim and glass. It probably has single master cylinder brakes and drums that are hard to find. Probably not the safest car without major modification. But simple to work on.

The Olds will have early emissions systems that may or may not be required where you live. It probably would be easier to find replacement glass and it has a modern braking system. It's probably the safest of the two. Disc brakes in front, seat and shoulder belts. Readily available mechanical parts.

I got my Cougar wagon by chance. I didn't really go out looking for a wagon but it has disc brakes, seat and shoulder belts and all mechanical parts are readily available.

You choose.

 

I'm somewhat biased towards Oldsmobile's (OK, very biased ), but I can honestly say that I've never owned a V8-powered, rear driven Olds that disappointed me. The 76 CC has the coveted clamshell tailgate and a 455 V8. This engine was toned down by 1976 with lower compression for emissions considerations, but it'll still have plenty of low end grunt. Plus, the Olds V8's tend to run indefinitely. And, since the same basic engine configuration was produced in substantial numbers until 1990, parts should be a breeze. The A/C in the big GM's was also tops. I drive the 89 CC around in 90+ degree heat with the A/C set on Normal Low and it is plenty cool. Hope this helps.

 

im partial to fords, then chevy, anything 65 and below is dandy! id do a early impala/belair/biscaye wagon. something without a rear power winder.

 

How far are you from Laredo, TX? Monterrey, MX has some great junkyards and my in-laws are bilingual and live in Monterrey. A couple of them are pretty familiar with older cars, although they're all architects or engineers.

 

Thanks

You know Texas is a small state! :2_thumbs_up_-_anima It is only 400 miles from the city I live in!
I grew up in Texas and wouldn't live anywhere else, BUT I wish things were a bit closer!!

 

400 miles on some of the best roads in the US of A! I once had a State Trooper in Montana stop me when I was crossing from Michigan to Washington State. I had a new 1978 Mercury that I was delivering to a friend in Vancouver Washington. The Trooper was friendly and asked me if I knew how long it was from one side of Montana to the other. I said no, I didn't. He said "It's a long haul son. keep it under 90, Ok?" No ticket. When I drove up from Guadalajara, I looked at the map through Texas, and I gotta say that it was like half the trip to Canada! Man is that a big State!

Its like when you tell somebody you're from X place, and they ask you if you know their old uncle, right?

Oh, well, I thought if you needed a few parts, Mexico has a lot of good pick and pull yards. They ship a lot of parts to Cuba, to keep the old iron running.