Well Optioned: 1968 Chevrolet Caprice Estate
Back in the sixties and seventies, we thought of station wagons as vehicles to move a lot of people and a lot of cargo around. But who says they can’t be interesting? Station wagons have certainly enjoyed a lot of interest as classic cars in the last few years. Because of their utility nature, it’s sometimes harder to find a nice station wagon than its 2 door or 4 door counterpart. But here is a nice one, a 1968 Chevrolet Estate Wagon for sale here on eBay in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania.
The station wagon is finished in Ash Gold, and being a Caprice Estate, has the standard woodgrain finish on the sides and tailgate. The woodgrain appears to be lighter on the tailgate, so it’s possible it has been replaced at some point. However, the woodgrain on the sides is original and fading in some areas. Some of the exterior options this car has are rally wheels, front bumper guards, rooftop luggage rack, air deflector, and power front disc brakes. One thing it is missing which would be nice to have are the concealed headlights that were available on all 1968 Caprice models.
This interior is in good condition, but not perfect. It does have a couple of rips in the driver’s area of the seat. Options found inside include Comfortron temperature control which blows cold. The car also has power windows, power tailgate window, power seat, headrests, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, and stereo eight-track player, which unfortunately is not working. The station wagon has an aftermarket AM/FM radio installed in the dash.
The engine is the 396 cubic inch V-8 that originally produced 325 horsepower. It is mated with Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. The car has been driven 110,000 miles in the last 51 years. As I write this article, the car has a bid of $9,000 and the reserve has not been met. Have you been looking for a well-optioned station wagon? While not perfect this one could fill the new year wishes of many readers I’m sure.
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Comments
In the early 70’s, while in HS, my friends mom had a car exactly like this. He beat the heck out of it, and one day, while doing a burnout ( these cars were great for burnouts) a lifter stuck, and he parked it the garage without telling his mom. 2 days later, she came home with a brand new 1971 lime green Pinto.
My CA father bought the 71 Maverick Inline-6 knowing I wanted him to buy a GM. I, for one, could only do a burnout in the old Maverick if it was a really hot summer day and I stomped on the gas peddle like I had @#$% stuck to my shoe and I was turning right as I did it. Once I actually smoked the right rear tire and could smell the rubber too.
Going from a rat motor to an inline 6 Ford subcompact must have made your friend realize he had a smart mom.
RW
Cool big BB wagon with high Griswald-family factor! Absolutely love the gold/green under-the-radar color, would make a great sleeper!
The lighter wood on tailgate must be due to from a different tree…
My guess is the car spent a lot of time parked with the back end facing south and the sunlight bleached it out, the wood laminate used on these cars was well known for it’s consistency which is why it was chosen.
Its already at $9200 and not met reserve? It’s already over what it’s worth at 110,000 miles and probably needs brakes and other things replaced, it nice but it isn’t a show car. I’d say about 4500 would be a good price, this clown probably stole it from some old folks who probably needed money for medicines. He needs to take the money and run.
Dan,
Venture out into the real world & see what a 4500 dollar station wagon looks like.
I’d love to get this one into Australia. There wouldn’t be many on the roads here.
Our next-door neighbor had one just like it. Theirs had everything on it including
the hidden headlights. It also had the
big 427 V-8 as well. Would like to have
this one but I’ve got to get a new central
air unit for the house before Summer gets here. It’s really a shame that a lot
of these wonderful wagons were robbed
of their engines for other projects and
then crushed. If I could, I’d trade my ’15
Hyundai Santa Fe straight across for it.
I also recall watching Bonanza on Sunday
nights and seeing Lorne Greene standing
next to one of these as he told you to
visit your local Chevy dealer and test drive one of these fine cars. Looked
pretty strange seeing one parked in front
of the Ponderosa!
Lots of bids and its at 11 large, reserve not met. Had an identical car with a 327, great workhorse and tow vehicle. Great car for some one. Good luck to the new owner!!!
Cheers
GPC
I would rather have this than any other bodystyle of 1968 Chevrolet. Big Block, a/c, cruise, almost all the goodies. It is awesome. Apparently different people have wildly divergent ideas of its value. The writer of the largest check sets the value.
One of the guys I knew back in high school in the late 70’s parents had a red Caprice Estate with the 396/4-speed with a bench seat. What a sleeper!! Oh to be able to option cars as one wishes today!
Up to $13K and the reserve is still not met. Is it worth it? That’s up to the buyer to decide.
I’m curious about the black headlight bezels. Stock bezels were aluminum. Anybody know what cars with hidden headlights look like with the headlight doors open?
CCFisher, it looks like the headlight bezel is missing. There should be videos on YouTube of somebody opening and closing them.
With the way this one is equipped, I’d guess that it’s an old factory brass-hat car. They usually loaded them up with every available option.
up to 13 grand …. beats me
When I first looked at the engine pics, I thought that the engine had been out of the car, meaning a rebuild, but that is not mentioned.
I looked closer and it’s been rattle canned.
I guess that will get him a few more bucks, but he’s ruined the original look.
Rattle canned?
Rattle can aka spray paint, aka aerosol overhaul. Done under the theory of the more you spray the more they’ll pay.
I rattled canned the valve covers on the engine of my ’70 Corvette 350. I had intended to do more, but never got around to it.
When selling the car, I felt bad that I had done it because those covers looked so out of place on the rest of the otherwise stock looking engine.
Lot of criticism here. But I do not agree.
NADA says high retail 28 grand.
Needs brakes. Big deal.
70 plus bids and only at 13 grand.
This car is easily worth 20 grand
Take it to car shows, put a dog leash on the bumper and a dummy on the roof with some luggage.
Jake, Why?
Great condition, all original, no rust, big block, auto, A/C, well-optioned and it’s a station wagon. Plus, wagons are pretty scarce. Sure, it might need a little here and there but it’s basically turn-key. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it bid up to somewhere near $20k.
World Class Family Truckster with sporting style. This is just outside of Philadelphia. Whatever the market will bear as far as pricing, although the build sheet should have been offered in the photos.
One thing to watch out for on this one is that big blocks were notorious for flat worn camshafts in 68 and 69. If it has a miss or uneven idle, knock a few grand off the price you’re willing to pay.
I’m thinking that the cam problems were on 307s & some 327s . I worked in a Chevy dealers parts dept. back then & remember having an awful lot of small block cams on the shelf.
You’re right, the small block had it’s cam problems, too. Even 283s and 350s. Basically, 67 through 71 small blocks. But big blocks were 1968-69 (low horsepower hydraulic cams). The higher horsepower versions didn’t suffer the same frailty.
Wagons are hot right now. I guess that it’s their turn. I’d like to know what’s in the on deck circle?
Wouldn’t we all like to know that. When you run out of coupes and converts and pickups ( aka El Caminos and Rancheros) the only thing remaining is the wagon. Almost all 4 doors will always be parts cars.
Roy, I see the prices of ’60s and ’70s vans going up steadily.
You might be on to something there.
The best looking chick in my high school got to drive her father’s 68 Caprice 454 to and from school. I once got a ride home from her and I asked her what engine was in the car because I could tell it was no small block. She said it was a 454 and I was instantly smitten for life because she knew the CID and she was beauty & brains with a hot car.
I should have had a chat with her father about the car and possible sale as it was in the midst of the energy crisis and big blocks were anathema at that time due to fuel costs.
Bob
454 was not available in 1968. Some of these wagons came with a 427. Ultimate sleeper. Nice car the new owner should have a lot of fun with this one.