Big-Block Project: 1969 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate Wagon
In 1969, there were four tiers of full-sized wagons, the Brookview (Biscayne), the Townsman (Bel Air). Kingswood (Impala) and Kingswood Estate (Caprice). The seller’s transport is a well-worn example of the Caprice-style wagon that may have a running 396 cubic inch V8 under the hood, but it needs a lot of mechanical and cosmetic attention. Located in Dallas, Texas, this Chevy is available here on eBay where the no reserve auction has reached $2,550 so far.
The Caprice was conceived as Chevrolet’s high-end car in mid-1965 in response to Ford’s successful LTD. It was an Impala on steroids in the luxury department. If you were looking for the dressiest station wagon that Chevy had to offer, the Kingswood Estate would be the one. Besides Caprice-like amenities and trim on the inside, the exterior wore imitation wood paneling on the side panels, doors, and tailgate. In the case of the seller’s wagon, this material has long since peeled off though the chrome trim that surrounded it is still there.
This may have been a Texas car all its life, having been purchased new at a dealer in Fort Worth. It’s been sitting on and off for years, which usually doesn’t bode well. We’re told that it starts, moves, shifts, and stops, but not without effort and some degree of doubt. So, the buyer will need to take it home via a trailer, even if in the Dallas Metroplex. The exhaust is loud because the manifold gaskets are bad as well as the mufflers. The seller is unsure if the engine is either a 396 or a 427, but the former would be more likely.
While the seller says the frame is solid, there is rust in at least the passenger side front fender and door. That’s usually a sign there’s more hiding that would require investigation. Some of the doors are stuck closed and there are scratches in some of the panes of glass. The Caprice (and thus the Kingswood Estate) could come with hideaway headlights for which the covers are disconnected on this one. Electronics are an issue, as some of the power windows go up and down slowly or not at all.
The interior of this station wagon is going to need an extreme makeover as the dash pad is cracked and the carpeting, headliner, and front seat are worn beyond what you would consider for regular use. The seller has posted additional photos on his website, which will provide additional insight as to the undercarriage. We assume one of the reasons this car is on the market is he needs to free up space. The Chevy must be gone within two weeks of the close of the deal.
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Comments
When I was a kid, the family across the street had one of these in LeMans Blue with rally wheels and the 427. 4-year-old me thought it was waaaay cooler than our Mist Blue ’65 Impala wagon with a 327. Yep. Even pre-school me knew 427 was better than 327.
Forgot to mention that Chevy offered the Brookwood wagon at the bottom of the range. It was equivalent to the Biscayne sedans. Also, hidden headlamps were optional on Caprice and Kingswood Estate, not standard.
Updated. Thanks.
From some research, this car was (or still is) a 335 horse 427. If I’m reading the dates right on the head, it’s casting is 1973? So, maybe newer heads, etc. He listed the block number – 3963512 – which is correct for a ’69 427 or ’70-’71 454. Some of those blocks were 4 bolt mains, but the 335hp was 2 bolt. My guess is the top end is “freshened”.
335hp 427 came standard with single exhaust, and by the looks of it, the rements of the left side look to be after market.
Standard with the 335hp are 2.56 gears, so this one can cruise along at 70 mph with little effort. Or, did, anyway.
I’m a sucker for these full size ’69 Chevys. Never had a wagon, though.
Lots of humidity in storage – that is what got to this car (besides other things – some use and abuse?)
This car sat on the street for a few weeks at a diesel repair shop just a little west of downtown Dallas. I kept thinking I needed to stop – but hell I need another project like a another hole in my shoe. The trim goes up around where the engine call out would be on these wood grain sided wagons – but it’s no mistaking the hide away headlights it’s wearing – same car.
Rowr. I’d bid if a contingency is I get to keep the tiger towel.
I used to detail cars in the early to mid ’70’s.
One of them was a car just like this one,only in
perfect shape.It was a yellow color,& when I jumped
on it,that wagon was a rocket ship.It had the rally wheels
also.Guy used it to tow his ski boat.
This car could be a cool cruiser/tow vehicle,if someone
had a lot of time & money.
No wait,,,THIS was Aunties car that was the donor motor for that Nova. There seems to be a slight resurgence in big wagons, that didn’t meet their demise at the local fair grounds, but they have to be nicer than this. Nice wagons come through here, you’d be a fool to stick a dime into this. Pull the motor and adios,,,
This “family truckster” needs too much for restoration to make sense. I’d take out the big block, TH400 trans, 12 bolt rear end and Hudiburg tag (was a local dealer) off the back.
Maybe even get a 69 Impala/Biscayne 2 door to transfer the drivetrain and the hide away headlight parts onto.
No need for a “restoration”, just a lot of work to get it, 1. cleaned up. 2. get it running properly. 3.rust perforation repair. 4. interior put in order. Not every desirable old car needs to be finessed to a point that one gets underwater trying to win big bucks at auction that sometimes doesn’t happen. I like it, it has potential to be an enjoyable cruiser.
The irony is, it seems like the people on this site that complain the most about high prices are the firmly in the camp that every car showing wear needs to be restored.
Steve R
I follow a site on FB called Station Wagon Lovers. For certain there is a large group of devotees that buy and fix these big wagons. Yeah I agree, not every car needs frame off restoration to be enjoyed. Way too much overthinking sometimes. Just buy what you like and have fun.
I question whether this engine came with the car. If it had a big block wouldn’t it have a badge on the front fender part of the reflector?
No one mentions this was an air conditioned vehicle and there are no mounts on the engine for the compressor.
SOLD for $7000. I wonder if it will be washed and then flipped for profit?