Hideaway Peepers! 1969 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate
The Kingswood would be the top-of-the-line full-size Chevrolet wagon on two occasions. From 1959 and 1960 it was based on the Impala and again in 1969 through 1972 as part of either the Impala or Caprice lineups. With the latter, the wagon would be known as the Kingswood Estate and often came with hidden headlights and imitation wood paneling. Located in Richmond, Virginia, this Kingswood Estate is a roller that may need a fair amount of bodywork. It’s available here on craigslist for $7,500. Our thanks to Rocco B. for being on the lookout for tips like this!
As was the case with the Caprice, all 1969 Kingswood Estate wagons only came with V8 engines. Seven choices were available, starting with the 327 (in its last year) all the way through a hot 427. We don’t know which engine was in the seller’s wagon at one time and you can’t make it out from the script on the fronts of the fenders. A Turbo-Hydramatic was the likely automatic transmission.
This Caprice was likely a sharp-looking wagon when new, but it’s spent so much time out in the sun that the car’s original color and the fake woodgrain materials are hard to make out. There appears to be rust around the bottoms of the doors, which means more may be lurking elsewhere. On the plus side, all the chrome trim is present, and the rear bumper has been re-chromed. We’re told that the hideaway headlights are complete, but we don’t know if they work.
For whatever reason, this car has been separated from its powertrain, which the seller suggests may serve as an opening for a cool LS swap. It was a 9-passenger wagon, but no photos of the passenger compartment are provided. So, we don’t know the condition of the living quarters. We’re told the vehicle comes with some new parts, but we’re not told what they are or how much value they may add. If you were to acquire this transport, what would be your vision for it?
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Comments
This is in Richmond, California – hopefully that means not too much hidden rust.
Good news is that all wagons in 1969, (and I believe ’65-’70) have 12 bolt rear ends.
I would like to see under hood, under body (could’ve taken those on the trailer) and interior pictures. A/C likely, but not guaranteed being northern CA. I bought a Caprice coupe sold new in Monterey, and was a big block with no A/C.
Could be a good start to a fun project! With a lower price, that is!
Agree that no underside or interior pics makes it tough. Hideaway headlights are so cool. I hope it gets saved.
Article says Richmond, Virginia.
Look at the map in the Craigslist ad. California.
This would be very nice if the body were brought back to original maybe buckets and floor shift console in front some nice wheels and an ls swap making some nice hp but dependable
Way cool looking as is! Drop in a 350 4sp aod from a mid 80’s wagon, get the brakes working properly and go Cruzin!
(If the interior is there that is🤣)
I would resto-mod the he11 outta this. Restore the body and interior, and mount it on a lowered chassis with a pronounced rake, an LS-whatever hooked up to a 6-speed manual, and tasteful, 18″ chrome wheels.
Agree with almost everything. I would add a matching automatic trans to the LS and Air Ride. This way you can really cruise in style with a nice rumble coming out of the back. No need for a radio, the exhaust is all the music I need.
Terrible pics and lack of them. If I was going the restomod route I’d re chassis it to a 91-96 b body wagon chassis.Soooo much better driving and handling then the old strut rod chassis from 65-70. Hard to price it with pics provided.My buddy is doing that now with a 66 caprice on top of a 95 9c1 chassis and a lt1 6 speed drivetrain out a wrecked 04 gto.
In 1959 and 1960 the Nomad was the top dog in Chevy station wagons, and the Kingswood and Parkwood were based off the lesser trim models. My parents had a ’59 Nomad when I was small.
I bought a company test car for my uncle from Kelsey Hayes where I was an auditor. It was a 1973 Ford Torino Squire 9 pass wagon. It was full power and a 351 Cleveland engine, AC and a leather like cowboy interior, called “brougham”. I never even saw a County Squire loaded like this one was. We often had company cars fully loaded at this company. I remember a 1970 Caprice 4 door sedan with the 454 engine in it. 1969 Ford Galaxie with a 460 engine, blue 4 door sedan. If I remember, I only paid $1,200.00 for this wagon in 1975. My uncle worked as a fireman at the GM Lordstown assembly plant.
I realize that inflation is getting worse but come on, this might be a rare find but it ain’t worth $7,500 considering it could cost 20 grand to restore…
$750.00 they had the decimal in the wrong place!
Just like you rode in when you were a kid.
Yeah, well the one I rode in had an engine and a transmission.
In 1973, I was attending a drag race at Island Dragway in NJ as a 17 year old car crazy teen. Wandering through the pits, I see this beautiful dark blue, wood trim Kingswood Estate. Hideaways, 427 emblems and a factory 4 speed. I have seen some pretty rare cars in my 50 years in this hobby and during my stint at Hemmings Motor News saw even more and got to drive them. But this barn find is only the second one I have seen. I hope someone saves this car. Today, everything is boring with a capital B.
Growing up in the mid seventies my friends family had a brown kingswood 9 passenger wagon with the hideaway headlights and a 427 with console shifted T-400 had a saddle bucket seat interior they were big campers and had a Shasta travel trailer which the wagon pulled effortlessly
At Kelsey Hayes we had a salesman, Don Barber. He was allowed to order his company car with the compay paying for it. He was assigned to Checker Motors and other small customers. He ordered a 1970 Caprice 4 door sedan, not a 4 door HT) with the 454 engine and the full list of options. I wanted so much to buy this car from the company later on. It never did come up. I did buy a 1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 brougham, loaded for $700.00. Was a great car and two years old but only 8 MPG with the 455 engine and positraction rear end.