Adam, you are crushing it lately! Dropping new videos left and right, love it! Especially love anything wagon-related.
@rightlanehog3151
9 ай бұрын
I think wagons must be the hardest classic cars to find as they generally had such tough lives.
@giantrobot9000
9 ай бұрын
And demolition derby attrition too
@aldenconsolver3428
9 ай бұрын
I find myself thinking a older wagon could be a good thing for me, I am a pretty hard working gardener and DIY guy, I got 3 big dogs and like to do a little camping. The Yukons and 'stuff like that I doubt are even as useful as a full size wagon and that Yukon or whatever costs sixty thousand!!!! bucks and by consumer reports they are not even that dependable, for half that you can get a perfectly restored wagon that will appreciate not fall apart (course you will have to take care of it).
@radudeATL
9 ай бұрын
Just here to 🐖 back off your comment. Loving all these uploads!
@stormythelowcountrykitty7147
9 ай бұрын
I love so many uploads. But don’t burn out!!!
@mickeydogtubemickeydogtube6856
9 ай бұрын
Always loved the 1967/68 and 1971/72 Impala/Caprice models. Particularly the 4 door hardtop and station wagons. Sure miss the days when new model years were different each year. September roll outs were always part of the years look forward to events, including new TV shows too.
@TomSnyder-gx5ru
9 ай бұрын
You're right, I couldn't wait for September to roll around to see what the usually totally new cars looked like! There was a 'carnival like' atmosphere at the dealerships with ballons everywhere and most of them also having refreshments and drawings for prizes and packed with fellow 'gawkers' - add to that the new TV shows debuting also in September, it was truly a great time to be alive in this country!
@Next_Cruise_Please
9 ай бұрын
The clamshell was an innovative feature that is still recognizable at the car shows.
@Primus54
9 ай бұрын
The downside of those clamshell wagons would be negated today through remote, key fob operated window and tailgate. And you are correct… many a camper and boat trailer were hauled by wagons back then.
@SHO1989
9 ай бұрын
My dad had a 1971 Kingswood Estate with the 400ci V8 and that thing was HUGE! My main take aways when I started driving it when I turned 16 were the AC was very strong and ice cold and the power steering was very well assisted where one could drive and turn it with their index finger only . And boy did it float. Rode very well but it was not a great handling machine around corners. I was very happy when he bought a Datsun 260z to replace it and often left it to me to drive to school when he had to drive his work car pool in the wagon . I was a very lucky 16 year old😁
@bsquared4604
9 ай бұрын
There were also issues with the power ones breaking and getting stuck. My parents bought a 73 impala wagon with the non power tailgate. It was so unique, she spent a lot of time demo-ing it to the neighbors.
@roger628
9 ай бұрын
Some people in my neighborhood had a Pontiac with the power gate. At about 9 years old, it broke, and it sat parked in their driveway for years with about a ten inch gap between the gate and the glass.
@ttocselbag5054
9 ай бұрын
I’m an old-school wagon guy, and I’ve always loved those clamshells! ❤️
@adamsneidelmann8976
9 ай бұрын
Getting really hard to find them now.
@ttocselbag5054
9 ай бұрын
@@adamsneidelmann8976- Yeah, most guys want muscle cars and don’t appreciate these beautiful old sleds. 😒
@tford1601
9 ай бұрын
I had never noticed these before! From now on I’ll be on the lookout.
@charlesb7019
9 ай бұрын
Our neighbors had the Oldsmobile version - the Custom Cruiser. Bright orange metallic with the wood grain. It was an amazing car. The thing I remember most, aside from the looks, was riding it the back listening to the gasoline sloshing around in the tank. 🤣😂.
@maxr4448
9 ай бұрын
The town I grew up in, all the teenagers and 20 year olds hung around the local Burger joint on Friday nights. One of the guys with a hotrod'65 Chevelle. He bought a new '73 Chevy Belair wagon with a 454 4-v. It was yellow. He rodded it as well. Had black stripes put down the middle of the hood and roof and tail gate. He kept the POV hub caps. Removed the 454 emblems for 400. Added a hotter cam, daul exhausts, retimed the ignition, and changed out the stock carb and intake. Car surprised many of us. He painted in script on the lower corner of the Clam shell. "Heavy Duty". He was a big guy, 300+lbs. Probably 6' or 4'. Everyone called him Heavy Duty. Or just Heavy for short. Those were the good days. Chevy Belair wagon with a 454-4V. He hot rodded it up as well.
@johnsullivan4858
9 ай бұрын
My father had a new one of these every year from '72- '76. They were beautiful and we loved them.
@flashg67
9 ай бұрын
I had a 1973 Impala wagon from 1999-2004. It was maroon with a black interior.
@hiitsstillme
9 ай бұрын
We never thought much about wagons back in the day, but now we appreciate them, possibly because of their absence. Thanks for the review, Adam!
@gerardcousineau3478
9 ай бұрын
American cars were the way to go, between 45 and 73 this station proves it. Simple reliable and beautiful. 👍
@brians9508
9 ай бұрын
simple - yes. beautiful - yes. reliable - not so much
@mzaccagnini7179
9 ай бұрын
Those were the best wagons. We had a 76 Caprice wagon with the 400.😊😊
@bobcoats2708
9 ай бұрын
One neighbor had a Buick clamshell wagon. We carpool kids always had fun clambering into the back and pinballing around in the massive cargo area on the way to school. Then, of course, we’d all jump into the back of one of the other mom’s Datsun pickup for rides home. Unthinkable now, but somehow we survived. Those were the days….
@edwardpate6128
9 ай бұрын
Great video Adam on one of my favorite GM models! My dad had two different Clamshell wagons, a 1971 Pontiac Safari with a 400 engine and a 1973 Grand Safari with a 455, both of them company cars. He loved those Pontiac wagons and had many of them the last being a 1986 Pontiac Parisienne.
@adamsneidelmann8976
9 ай бұрын
The olds custom cruiser had the premier styling in the clamshells. Especially’76. Been looking for one for years. Would love to snatch one up.
@tombrown1898
9 ай бұрын
In summer, 1971, some of our cousins came for a short visit. My aunt and uncle had just gotten a Kingswood clamshell wagon. It was the biggest car anyone had ever seen! My cousin David still refers to it as "The Family Truckster."
@mistert7958
9 ай бұрын
They were designed to carry a 4x8 sheet of plywood inside, just like the first mini-vans were. Sometimes just one sheet, with the front seat all the way forward, though... but, still got bragging rights.
@MNBluestater
9 ай бұрын
Dad had a ‘72 Grand Safari, in “Springfield Green”-I remember that tailgate-no power and it really was a monster to lift and latch. (The rear window of course was power). No wood applique but, in true Pontiac fashion, that 8-passenger beast could move. Mom yelled at me once from the passenger seat for not slowing down for an exit ramp. Great for hauling anything including sheetrock, which fit perfectly.
@selkiemaine
9 ай бұрын
My first car - oh I miss it to this day. I had the 454 and the towing package. That car was downright quick for its time. White - no wood - blue interior. Full electric tailgate. We called it "Moby Car". We had it in my family for 14 years, and I know the next owner kept it at least a year. What a workhorse! You DID have to baby that tailgate though - after the first few years, if it broke, nobody was willing to fix it. All the glass leaked, by the end, too. LOL There was a compartment under the floor, about where a 3rd row seat would be - the last couple of years I had the car, that was full of ice mid winter. Honestly, if I had the budget, and if I could find one, I'd have it back in a heartbeat. 7mpg city, 12 highway and all. I suspect they're awfully hard to find, though. That electric tailgate just sent 'em to the scrapyard when it wore out.
@silvermikeGA
9 ай бұрын
The problem with the clamshell is that any dirt or damage would leave the tailgate stuck down and it was very difficult to get them unstuck! The glass also had a habit of shattering but I cannot remember the reason.
@philhamilton8731
7 ай бұрын
Dad bought a new '74 Impala wagon to haul me and my six siblings around. It had the third seat in the back and the second row passenger seat was split 70/30 to allow people to get back to the rearmost seat. Dad treated that thing like a pickup, and would fold all the seats down to haul all manner of things. I can still hear the sound of the manual tailgate dropping and the whine of the motor on the rear window. Dad loved to floor the accelerator to hear the secondaries kick in on the 4bbl carb. Great memories. Great car. It was 10 years old with over 100k on the odometer when they traded it in, with hardly any rust and it still ran great.
@bennetfox
9 ай бұрын
Grandparents had a 1976 Buick Grand Estate wagon and I was always so fascinated with how that glass would get sucked up into the roof and the tailgate would get swallowed up by the car!!!
@pott213
9 ай бұрын
We had a 1974 Caprice Classic Estate Station Wagon, it was blue on blue and it had power everything. Ahhh... the memories.
@dsteele27
9 ай бұрын
I bought one of these new in 1972. It was a great car. The optional power tailgate did break down twice, but other than that, only normal maintenance was every required on it. My only real complaint was that if it was raining and i wanted to put something in back, things did tend to get a bit wet back there, thanks to the steep tumblehome of the rear window.
@dsteele27
9 ай бұрын
The seat belt buckles changed mid-'72. I bought mine in the fall of '71, actually, and it came with the older dual buckle seat and shoulder belt system.
@sargefreedom1578
9 ай бұрын
We had a 9 passenger Kingswood in the mid 70’s. It was a really nice car
@volktales7005
9 ай бұрын
A friend's Dad had a tired old '72 Pontiac Laurentian back in the mid '80's. We spent a lot of time goofing around in that car as teens and it took all the abuse in stride. Four wheel drifts in the snow in the Canadian Tire parking lot were epic!
@steves9905
9 ай бұрын
Love the clamshells. Great technology and style. Along with these fullsize wagons, GM also hit a home run at the same time with the full size scissor top convertibles. Would live to see a clamshell and a scissor top together in my garage.
@misterwhipple2870
9 ай бұрын
God help you if the damned thing ever broke, and a broken rear window was raaaaaaaaaaather expensive to replace.
@illbebad
9 ай бұрын
@@misterwhipple2870 truth! We had a 1973 Caprice convertible, and it broke (not the window thank God) this was in the 80s, lucky to find a place that could fix it, but had to drive 20 miles with the top half up!
@Shockedbywater
8 ай бұрын
As a 18-19 year old in 1982 I owned one of these in blue. I got it well used but still very drivable. It was a beast! I took that car so deep into the woods for weekend parties but it just kept trucking. Those bumpers would clear heavy brush and small trees out of the way with ease. I can also say that the roof could hold quite a few dancing drunks. Eventually I drove it to the junkyard, broken rear leaf springs welded and patched up, entire front suspension so worn that I expected a tie rod or ball joint to break and the trans was going. But it did make the final drive on its own!
@larryclark6113
9 ай бұрын
My parents had a '72 Kingswood. It was the fanciest car to date for our family. First car with A/C. It did have the manual tailgate, crank windows, manual locks, and all the other goodies that a standard full size Chevrolet had at the time. Loved that car. My Dad did minor customizing on occasion. The Kingswood got crossed flag emblems installed on each front fender. We did frequent the junkyard for this and that, and he liked those. We didn't have it long, I loved it just the same.
@shiftfocus1
9 ай бұрын
These have always struck me as an answer to a question nobody was asking. Complication for its own sake. And the fact that GM bailed on these with the 77 redesign, and for a straight copy of the double-acting door-gate, suggests they came to a similar conclusion.
@TaylorZ2
9 ай бұрын
That clamshell set up must've taken a lot of engineering and components to make it work! I think it's awesome.
@bobhenry6159
9 ай бұрын
Not really. A rack hinged at the tailgate and a pinion gear on an electric motor would do the trick.
@Johnnycdrums
9 ай бұрын
Competition is a beautiful thing. Imagine if the government were designing tailgates.
@jimmacmurdo355
9 ай бұрын
I owned a '75 Pontiac Grand Safari. One of the best vehicles I ever had. Had every option available except a rear defroster and cornering lamps. The 455 motor was exceptional, tons of power. The power tailgate worked perfectly. Had the rear auto level control which also worked well. Wish I could buy another one.
@MrTPF1
9 ай бұрын
In the 80's, I was the third owner of a '72 Kingswood Estate. That 400 engine was a monster, but man did it suck down the gas! When people saw me coming in their rearview mirror, they just got out of the way because of the size of this beast. Good times!
@gregoryward93
9 ай бұрын
My dad had the Chevy version of a clam shell waqon as his company car. I loved it. Thanks Adam.
@votingcitizen
9 ай бұрын
I remember many nights sleeping in the back of our family wagons. And playing cards on rainy days while the adults were commuing inside.
@PeterG-m6p
9 ай бұрын
Adam, as usual, enjoyed your presentation. Growing up in the 1970's, my parents had the Buick version. Big, brown, a 455 (I think). We nicknamed it the brown turd. My parents always had American but it was a big deal when my father finally got rid of his Electra 225 2-door and got a 300D. Then a big deal when my mother got a 1977 Seville. You are so right -- a great, great driving car. I think a definite future classic. It looks stunning. (I think "square" cars will continue to go up in value). As you also comment, sadly Gm's quality was no good. One night my mother broke down on a major freeway incline. That Seville was gone replaced by the extremely reliable 300D Turbo. Wow, did GM blow out. And I'm Saab fan . . . so don't get me started on that subject . . . . I know a long comment. But I just really enjoy your videos. I subscribe. Thank you! Peter
@Al-thecarhistorian
9 ай бұрын
A stellar review of an absolutely stellar design. My all-time favorite design of the Big Three full size wagons. Besides the clamshell gate and enormous cargo capacity, these family haulers featured an optional forward facing third row seat, leaving a generous cargo area behind the third seat when in the up position. In addition, a large under floor hidden storage area existed behind the third seat whose size would embarrass many compact car's trunks. Of note also was the fact that these wagons were supported in the rear by leaf, rather than coil, springs. In 1971 I married into a strong, steadfast Chevy family. I admit, I found many Chevys of the 1970s attractive so took special note of what was availabke at the local bow tie showroom. While having my wife's (our) 1970 Malibu coupe in for service during the sumner of 1973, I took special note of a burgandy Impala wagon on the showroom floor. What an absolutely gorgeous vehicle! Equipped the way I wanted. But, alas, it did not come home with us. The following January, in the midst of the first"oil crisis", we decided to trade our 1970 Malibu. I was anxious as it was rather trouble prone and quite frankly I disliked its looks. Large vehicles were practically being given away in the St. Louis area, so we went shopping. Fell in love with a new '74 Bel Air wagon, but it was too long for our garage so we passed (boy was the salesman pissed). We ended up buying a left over loaded '73 Gran Torino wagon. UGLY car in vomit green, but the price couldn't be beat. Quality wise it wasn't any better than the Malibu had been. Fast forward to 1982. New wife. New city. Wife has a cafeteria business and we need a wagon to assist in said business. I find a 1976 Pontiac Bonbeville Grand Safari wagon. Absolutely loaded, including the third seat and power clamshell. I can assure you it was a vehicle that surpassed even the loftiest of expectations. Never failed us. Absolutely zero clamshell issues. Wonderful to drive. Stylish. Comfortable. Endless capacity when the seat were down. And the sound it made when you floored it will never be duplicated by any electric car! The clamshell was a clever and stylish design. To me, it remains one of GM's "better ideas".
@alexanderspenser4960
9 ай бұрын
Couldn't tell you how many of these wagons I've driven during my time working with my dad. I say that to say, I never knew about the glass action to open the manual gate. I just always raised it completely. Our inventory had a minimum of the manual vs power gates, 30/70. As a16 year old, to operate the tailgate from the front seat was so cool for the time. The optional custom seat belts came color matched with the brushed aluminum buckles. The standard belts were all black. That mandated seatbelt interlock came in late 73 about the same time GM was applying single pull shoulder belt. The managers preferred the Kingswood Estate, my dad took the K5 Blazer.
@sheehy933
9 ай бұрын
I had one of these when my kids were still very young. It was a great wagon for family outings. My wife drove it more than I did and she loved it.
@billblake4029
9 ай бұрын
Adam, I am seriously trying to imagine how cool Pontiac's version had to be ? Especially without the woodgrain on the outside. Thank you for all of your time and efforts Adam. I know I am not the only one who truly appreciates it.
@420031
9 ай бұрын
My parents had a 72 Pontiac Laurentian Wagon (Canadian and no wood). I’d love to find one, it looked great.....loved the Buick as well.
@SeaTravelr123
9 ай бұрын
I had a 74 Grand Safari with no wood, it was really very cool.. wish i had that storage nowadays.. you could put plywood and sheetrock in them with out a problem..
@gbriank1
9 ай бұрын
k don't think he responds here, but does read the comments.
@yossarian6799
9 ай бұрын
@@SeaTravelr123 and on one particular occassion, we squeezed 13 cub scouts and two nerve-rattled den mothers in one.
@knytrydr73
9 ай бұрын
Everything GM made, Pontiac made better.
@RaoulStankovitch
9 ай бұрын
Had 1, called it "The White Whale". Rusted out by 35,000 miles. Always enjoyed listening to the accumulated water sloshing around inside the body panels....
@ellarson1
9 ай бұрын
In the mid 70s our neighbors, the Anderson family ( mom, dad, 5 girls and 1 boy), had a blue Buick clamshell wagon with the “far back” seats. They were big on camping and towed a tent trailer so the rear tailgate was a must so that the 2 youngest girls didn’t have to scramble over the seats to get in and out. At the time my family had a 1974 Caprice Classic and I remember their Buick wagon being more plush on the inside.
@MrOnemanop
9 ай бұрын
Love hearing about the wagons! As much as muscle cars dominate popular media, wagons hold a special place in many of our hearts. Thanks for being special Adam. Clearly by the number of views you gather, you're appreciated for what you do.
@pcno2832
9 ай бұрын
It's striking how many of the styling features of the 1969-1970 Cadillacs were inherited by the 1971 full-sized Chevies, including the egg-crate grille, horizontally arranged dual headlighs, "forefin" bladed front fenders and those upswept vestigial tailfins that are much more noticeable on the wagons than on the sedans. GM loved their hand-me-downs.
@smarternu
9 ай бұрын
I had a 1970 with the 400, sold it in 1992. I still miss it.
@gregrogers6886
9 ай бұрын
I had a 72 Kingswood Estate and I loved it. I bought it used and drove it for several years.
@drewwho4512
9 ай бұрын
My family had a brand new 1972 Chevy wagon without the woody trim. I believe it had the power clamshell. I was only nine at the time and the youngest child. Within a few short years, the only part that had its original light green paint was the door to the gas cap. With six brothers and sisters, the car saw plenty of action. In its first accident my oldest brother drove it through a barbed wire fence. Several accidents later my third oldest brother totalled it after driving it into a ditch. All siblings survived. Still, the result was I couldn't get my license until I was 17 and not drive a family car. My folks could no longer afford the insurance resulting from all the accidents our Chevy wagon was involved in. Thanks to my brothers and sisters I got screwed. 😢
@rjbiker66
9 ай бұрын
I am amazed no one back the thought of a lift back type door with a window that also could be opened. Like some BMW Suvs have.
@johnh2514
9 ай бұрын
Great video! I remember in the early 80s a family friend owned a ‘72 Kingswood non-Estate in dark blue. Being a small kid, I was fascinated with the clamshell tailgate and got a chance to operate it a couple times.
@jefweb5043
9 ай бұрын
I'm still on a Chevy Rally wheel kick from your earliest awesome video on the big blocks! Rally wheels make everything better. Great videos!
@jeffrobodine8579
9 ай бұрын
I recently picked up a set for my 1976 Monte Carlo.
@jefweb5043
9 ай бұрын
@@jeffrobodine8579 That's the exact year my dad has...full restoration on it. If you've got a Monte, the rallys are the only way to go. They make them look great.
@jrhalabamacustoms5673
9 ай бұрын
I had one , two tone white and rust. 350 motor, anemic, but was a trustworthy family car for a number of years. I saw one with the big block, never drove it but imagine it was better.
@kalanikaau1
9 ай бұрын
I owned several clamshell GM wagons, 2 Buicks and an Oldsmobile, admittedly the profile of them was much more handsome because of the unique design, the offerings from Chrysler and Ford at the time were downright dowdy in comparison. The design did have it's shortcomings, the sharply raked C pillar created a significant loss in useable cargo area volume, any minor rear end impact would render the lower section inoperable and GM's use of leaf springs in the rear, caused them to ride and to create interior sound levels akin to a truck. I traded in my '75 Olds Custom Cruiser for a factory ordered '78 Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park, it may have looked dowdy in comparison, however it's ride and cabin quietness was superb, truly deserving of the plaque "Ride Engineered" Ford affixed to the dashboard. It's 460 4-V motor towed my 40 foot motorhome effortlessly, the GM offerings (all big bocks) struggled in comparison...
@kellyshannon18
9 ай бұрын
Agreed on the ‘72 - the lowered grill was SO much more handsome than the horizontal of the 71 - best full size Chevy front of that 71-76 run. I marveled at the clamshell design when they came out - it is still one the coolest functional designs ever out of Detroit. My faves: 71 Pontiac and Olds, ‘72 Chevy, ‘73 Buick.
@craiglarge5925
9 ай бұрын
My Dad had a 1971 Buick Estate Wagon with 455 CID 4BBL , cinnamon brown with 3rd seat and all power options, no faux side wood panels.
@Jb42996
9 ай бұрын
My Grandfather had a 73 Caprice Estate blue with the 454 , my brother was always flipping the air breather lid over on it.
@batmore1
9 ай бұрын
My parents had the Buick version of this. Both the glass and the tailgate were power operated. The Cheverolet version was much better looking than the Buick, Olds, or Pontiac in my opinion. Thanks for the great video.
@scottybrowndotca
9 ай бұрын
Hey Adam .. I loved this type of tailgate .. My grandpa had a 72 Olds Cutlass Cruiser with the fully powered version .. If I hadn't been so young and short-sighted I would have stored it, spent the time and money to properly remove the smell and hair from a couple of decades of various Keeshonds running about inside of it and kept it maintained and operating
@fraya52
6 ай бұрын
I worked at a Chevy dealer when these guys were new and I guess we must not have ordered units with this feature because I dont remember it but it is really cool. Great info.
@philipfrancis2728
9 ай бұрын
For the complex engineering, and the fact it was GM, these clamshell door gates always worked flawlessly! Nearly everyone I knew had one of these GM wagons, so I’ve ridden in at least 100 of them in grade school, high school and college. Not one complaint about their operation!
@compu85
9 ай бұрын
Jim McKay chevorlet was right near where I used to live! We used to have an F150 bought off their used lot.
@rodneybyrd9516
9 ай бұрын
We had a '71 Kingswood (louvers) with no woodgrain. 402 big block with the clamshell rear! My Daddy (RIP) was a woodworker, and he loved that loading deck, holding a whole sheet of plywood with ease. We sold the car around 1980 and had big Buick and Chrysler sedans after that and in the late 90s, they switched to Chrysler minivans.
@rightlanehog3151
9 ай бұрын
I remember our 73 Caprice wagon getting loaded with lumber as well. Nowadays most pickups can't carry a full sheet of plywood with their tailgates closed.
@stevebyrne4235
9 ай бұрын
The one we drove didnt mature well as road salt played havoc with the lower mechanism, but the pre-'73 units were very attractive and the SBC 400 CI engine was a delight
@randyfitz8310
9 ай бұрын
The finest of the big six to nine passenger wagons from 1971 through 1976. I really enjoyed these though I never owned one. My uncle had a Pontiac as did my in-laws. A friend drove a carpool in either two of them (such that he always had one to drive).
@markgraham8125
9 ай бұрын
Here in Australia we had General Motors Holden, and between the years of 1968 to 1978, all of the base model cars were named the Kingswood, but we were not lucky enough to have the fake wood panelling.. This car, in this video is a very interesting car, I like the innovative cargo door mechanism... I had to watch this because it resembles the greatest car ever, Clarke Griswalds national lampoons incredible vacation wagon ..
@wall-e3313
9 ай бұрын
My dad had a 72 Townsman that he got for around 3600 new. It had the power lower gate which you didn't see much on that model. The glass and gate always worked fine oven after a serious rear end collision.
@jonathansparks3386
9 ай бұрын
To this day, I get a case of the feels for the Chevy Caprice/Kingswood Estate wagons. Preferably the Caprice sedan.
@Steelers2841
9 ай бұрын
The 71-76 Models only. These were very unique which was awesome
@williamwarner3982
9 ай бұрын
We had a '74 big block powered one. Was pretty nice.
@throttlewatch4614
9 ай бұрын
I never knew those tailgates existed but my mom bought a new 1973 Impala that we used to tow a tandem axle Corsair camper
@Kingswood7189
9 ай бұрын
Nostalgia man. I miss my fathers '71 (hence my username). 300k+ miles on the 400 ci, lots of low end torque, but it had alot of time/wear based issues, including the clamshell didn't work and the rear window was off track. He scrapped it cause it wasn't worth the cost of repair... 😢
@chrisharper2658
9 ай бұрын
Grew up with a gold '72 Kingswood. It had the crazy third row folding seat that straddled the axle. It was thinly padded, followed the contour of the axle and to get into it there was a narrow section of the second row you had to heave forward. The tailgate had to drain all that rain water coming off the roof so that was kind of dumb. The car rusted out so fast that as a kid, I was allowed to practice doing body work on it. The manual tailgate was pretty neat but became problematic after my dad back into a pole that he couldn't have seen. Remember the tail gate has to store behind the bumper.
@barbarafleece377
9 ай бұрын
My family growing up had a 1972 Chevrolet townsman station wagon. My father bought it brand new for $3700. I remember the tailgate being quite unique. It worked flawlessly. The car was very sturdy and ruggedly built. The only major issue was that the transmission failed at about 70,000 miles. In those days the turbo hydromatic 350 had a defective direct clutch seal that would not last long. Believe it or not, in 1978 a transmission shop rebuilt the transmission and reinstalled it in the car for $300.
@tomhandel9176
9 ай бұрын
We had a '76 Caprice Estate wagon with the clamshell rear, it was great. The motors moved the 2 parts pretty fast and you could reach inside further with them.
@terrypikaart4394
9 ай бұрын
Neighbors across the street has one just like that, but all in dark green. We went in and out of that clam shell opening, never a problem. I like the 71 better, cleaner less cluttered look.
@jimmyhamm6041
9 ай бұрын
My sister had this exact car with a rear facing seat out back . And the tail gate had two ways to come open .
@eyerollthereforeiam1709
9 ай бұрын
Station wagons are very dorky.. But that clamshell is so cool! I'm perilously close to wanting one.
@bigmacmach1185
9 ай бұрын
That's really nifty. I have never seen these before. Cool video.
@kazumakoga3066
9 ай бұрын
We had a mid 70s Impala 3 row clamshell. There was a section of the rear bench that flipped up and forward so access to the 3rd row was easy! Loved it!
@markbehr88
9 ай бұрын
I have a clamshell 74 Custom Cruiser. Great car but the Ford 2 way tailgate makes more sense. You can load extra long with the gate down. My Olds tailgate is electric for both functions.
@aloysiusbelisarius9992
9 ай бұрын
These GM ancestral-suvs are among my favorite cars from that time, and for all time. I don't just mean this particular model and year, but *every* version of the full-size GM wagons from '71-'76. They had the finest styling of all wagons, regardless of year or platform. That said, I think the one I'd add to my prospective collection would be the Buick version.
@martinliehs2513
9 ай бұрын
Great presentation on a topic most people would consider obscure, but I guess this channel's viewers are not "most people". 🙂 Don't have any personal experience with these, but I remember seeing them when I was growing up in the 1970's. An innovative design that despite its shortcomings in certain climates, is fascinating to see. The preponderance of cars that one sees equipped with tow hitch mounted bicycle racks today makes me think that this might be a design worth revisiting by SUV manufacturers..
@lvsqcsl
9 ай бұрын
One thing you forgot to mention, these wagons did NOT have the same rear suspension as the sedans. They had leaf springs in the rear as opposed to coils in the sedans. While the sedans were indeed on the shorter wheelbase the wagons had considerable room because they didn't have all that suspension in back. That also enabled them to have a front-facing third-row seat. We had a 1974 Impala wagon that didn't have the wood. I remember sitting in the middle of the third-row seat and realizing the floorpan curved over the rear differential directly under me. We had to overhaul the engine and it did indeed have a 400 c.i.d smallblock. IIRC I think the small block and the big block 400 officially had different displacements. Seems like one was a 402? That was the WORST car we ever had. That rear window leaked and it would run all over the inside back of the car. The dashboard cracked. It was terrible. GREAT VIDEO!
@61rampy65
9 ай бұрын
Glad I read the comments first, as I was going to post about the leaf spring suspension. One other reason for the leaf springs was that these wagons were HEAVY, pretty close to 5000lb. If you ever look closely at those leaf springs, you would see that they look like they came off of a light duty truck, with something like 6 leaves.
@lvsqcsl
9 ай бұрын
@@61rampy65 I don't know if it were 6 leaves, but it was a bunch!
@BobConnor-n2g
9 ай бұрын
We had a 1974 Kingswood Estate with the clamshell and the seat belt buzzers and even as a tween I HATED IT! One cold day the buzzer went off all the time and Dad was hard of hearing so he just drove the wagon to work all the time, the buzzing the whole time. One of those leaf springs broke and he drove it to Midas to have it fixed and the broken leaf dug into and destroyed the tire on the way there. After about a year it leaked and smelled. Finally after 5 years they traded in on an Impala Sedan. No more wagons after that.
@lvsqcsl
9 ай бұрын
@@BobConnor-n2gYes, and that '74 model had a seatbelt interlock that prevented the engine from starting unless the seatbelts were fastened. Don't ask me how I know that.
@MrPoinzee
9 ай бұрын
My mom had a 1973 impala clam shell that doubled as a hearse and the family car in her early days of business. I really do miss that vehicle, in my humble opinion it's the prettiest 70's car chevy ever made.
@Roosterbate44
9 ай бұрын
I remember my dad buying this wagon for my mom. Great memories 😊
@jeffrobodine8579
9 ай бұрын
The same wagon Francis rode in for the movie Better Off Dead.
@chrissamios4368
9 ай бұрын
Thank you for all your videos, excellent content and love you presentation. I grew up riding in a 71 Kingswood, one thing I really liked was the third sear was forward facing. Merry Christmas.
@rightlanehog3151
9 ай бұрын
Adam, It has taken about a thousand videos but I can finally say I have owned a car you have not - a GM 'Clamshell' Wagon. In our case it was a 1973 Caprice Estate. Good luck in your search for one. 😁🤞🤞
@danielleclare2938
9 ай бұрын
My neighbour had the Pontiac Version with the 455. I drove it to the bone yard for him so I got to push it pretty hard the Wreckers was just out of town on a speedy road. Those pre smog big blocks really were something.
@Chitwn81
9 ай бұрын
Dope as always Adam!!! Wagons I'd assume would have totally been a soccer mom's or family car back then but man how cool one of those behemoths would be in today's market. Buick was the last American automaker to make a wagon sort of with the Regal Sportback from a few years ago. Cadillac had the awesome CTS wagon and Dodge briefly had the awesome SRT based Magnum....which they never should have discontinued.
@alabamas1373
9 ай бұрын
I had an identical Kingswood Estate wagon to the gold one although mine was a '73 back when I was in college. And I hated the clamshell tailgate. Mine had the powered version and it rarely worked as it should. I fought getting it down and getting back up was even worse. Other than that, it was a great car. Had a lotta great times in it although I won't elaborate about that part.
@machpodfan
9 ай бұрын
In middle school we carpooled with a '71 Buick Estate wagon clamshell vs. a '72 Country Sedan. The Ford was obviously less complex to deploy that rear entrance, but the Buick had the edge for sheer fascination! I loved watching the door and window power down and up, very James Bond, I thought as a 13-year-old.❤❤❤
@edroosa2958
9 ай бұрын
Nice video of a really nice car. The power clamshells from what I have read were maintenance nightmares for garages and dealerships. The winter weather with salt and grit damaged many of them as well.
@overshoe6361
9 ай бұрын
I love these too, from a design standpoint, and would love to have one. As I l remember when they were on the road, the problems were rust in the rear quarters and tailgate well as well as failure of the glass motor, usually with the window partially open.
@greensocks4507
9 ай бұрын
The '72 Mercury Marquis wagon would be my choice. Thanks for posting.
@cjdesign5700
9 ай бұрын
@ Ironic things in this great video...I had a 72 Kingswood (lt Yellow) when I was living in Fairfax Va...AND my Dad bought a 71 Kamback Vega at Jim Mckay Chevrolet which was in Fairfax Va, and that is where your feature Wagon was sold!
@LawrenceMarkFearon
9 ай бұрын
My Dad bought a new '73 Impala Station Wagon. Had it for 25 years. As durable as a truck and built like it. Manual Clamshell hatch never failed but we did replace the motor. Blue on blue no woodgrain with 2bbl 350ci 250hp [advertised] engine. That really wasn't enough and the 454 would be ideal on the interstates with the weight. Tough. Tough. Tough.
@LakeNipissing
9 ай бұрын
Another downside to the clamshell beyond the complexity of the motors and tracks, is the significant addition to curb weight. These wagons were likely 500 to 1,000 pounds heavier than a Mopar or Ford full size wagon = Slower acceleration and huge appetite for fuel. But I still think these wagons are super-cool. Neighbors had one when I was a kid in the 1970s, and it was always an event to stop and watch them open the clamshell back to unload groceries, etc. while riding my bike.
@alanmar5511
9 ай бұрын
Wow wow wow. How and where do you get these pristine 70s cars to profile. Love it.
@duaneknap3334
9 ай бұрын
I don't remember any manually operated clamshell wagons. My parents had a '73 Caprice Estate in very similar colors to this Kingswood, and they special ordered a well equipped '76 Custom Cruiser to get it without woodgrain. The '73 was their 1st wagon and the only one with woodgrain sides.
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