In 1968 when I was a young boy my dad and mom and me were driving down Garden Grove Blvd in Garden Grove Ca in our 1958 Chevy wagon that was smoking like crazy. My dad got pulled over and the police officer wanted to give him a pollution ticket. We had gotten pulled over in front of Eddie Hopper Chevrolet, and my dad explained we were going to that dealer to look for another car. The officer folded up his ticket book and said he would wait and watch us drive into the dealer and let a salesman show us around. My mom and dad bought a beautiful '68 Caprice Estate Wagon in this same color combo that day - and it my dad drove it for more than 20 years. Ours was the premium fuel 327 275 HP, it was the car I would use on my driver's license test. If anyone is driving this car with California plates XOB 227, that is my old family wagon.
.....HOW would someone be driving any car on the road with your old family's license plates?.....that statement makes me think that possibly your story is just some "made-up s--t".....
In California does the license plate stay with the vehicle it's whole life? Here in British Columbia the license plate is replaced with a new plate when the ownership is changed.
@@oldmancigars1869my 68 impala still has the original plates, I’m third owner. As another stated California cars keep the plates. I also have a 71 olds from Nebraska (3rd owner as well) that retained its plate number but they put it on a California plate when the car switched states and even gave it to me in the blue and yellow coloring the car would have had originally for California in 71. I have all the original paperwork so I was able to confirm it. This was in the late 90s early 2000s tho so that may not be possible anymore or at least not without some crazy fee.
Aside from the ‘61 Chevy wagon I rode home from the hospital in, my family never owned wagons, so I never got to experience riding in the “back back” - a “generational ripoff” if there ever was one…….😕
In 1968, my Boy Scout, Scout Master bought a brand new impala wagon of the same color with the same Rallly Wheels and a 427 under the hood. SO COOL !!!!
I still have my Grandmother's '68 Impala Custom Coupe with the huge trunk. She loved to travel with her 4 large Samsonite suitcases. It is tired, but spent it's life in the southern states, so fairly rust free. It has the 250 HP 327, and still drives very well without any major rebuilds. These were great cars-thank you!
Couldn't agree more on the '68 big Chevys. I recall an Impala Custom coupe growing up in the 70s which unfortunately I only drove in the driveway. Red it was with black vinyl roof and black cloth/vinyl interior. Had the 307 V8 under hood and automatic.
Yes - my grandmother had the same car. She ordered it new from Melchiorre Chevrolet in Norristown, PA. It was identical to the car on the cover of the brochure. Gold 327-250 horse Custom Coupe with a black vinyl top and A/C. Served the family well into the early '80s.
My dad got my mom a new 69 Kingswood Estate Wagon w/the 427. I was just 16 and LOVED driving that wagon! There were 7 of us in our family and we had 3 station wagons!! My second car was a 62 Ford Country Squire w/ Faux wood grain. It was a 9-seater and was the school bus for my friends and family! Good Times!!
As far as wagons go I must agree, the Caprice was a graceful and elegant looking example. I like the interior details, an aspect of design that is pretty much absent across the board in today's drab and soulless looking interiors. I was never much of a Chevy fan in the past but am much more of one now and they made some really beautiful cars back in the day, especially for a budget level brand. Pontiac has always been my favorite but for the late 60's Chevy styling beat all other GM brands in my view.
My brother in law had a 1969 Kingswood. Ordered it new-with a 427. Used it to pull his 19 foot Mandala jet boat-it had a Poncho 389 driving a Berkley jet . He & my sis would head out to the Colorado River to water ski in that era-late 60's. It had the COLDEST a/c ! And POWER.
My family had one of these back in the late 60s to early 70s. Dad, mom and we four kids traveled from California back to Pennsylvania after Dad retired from the Air Force in 1972. Dad remarked that he saw the old wagon some 15-20 years or so later. Would love to have the old station wagons back again.
I believe that 1967 and 1968 Chevys were the best looking station wagons of all time. When I was a kid, there was an elderly couple who lived next-door to us in Studio City, California, who had a ‘67 caprice wagon, the same color as the one in Adam’s video, with the rally wheels as well. I noticed that the Caprice wagons of that time had the same interiors as the Impalas, not the plusher interiors you found in the Caprice sedans and coupes.
I owned a '68 Caprice Estate, white with a blue interior, three seat wagon, with a 327 under the hood. Bought it in '82 from Carpenter Chevrolet in Durham, North Carolina with 66K on it; it had been the personal car of Mr. Stanley Carpenter Sr. and had never been titled. He had passed away a couple of weeks before I bought it; I had it for a year until a woman ran a red light in Raleigh, hit me in the left front fender and totaled it. The only difference I could see from the one you showed in the video, besides the engine, was the back seat courtesy light; mine didn't have them. Wonderful car!
As a youngster I found the 1969 Chevrolet Station Wagon a head turner especially if it had the hideaway headlights. That front end looked like it meant business.
And I just love the greenish hue of the Chevrolet instruments of that era - even with the illumination off you can still see it. And that Tonawanda decal on the passenger side valve cover is icing on the cake! Yes, the bumper refinishing shops are probably all gone, kind of like how radiator shops and even machine shops have been dealt the fatal blow of obsolescence - transmission shops too.
We still have a place locally "Herb Brittner's Smokehouse and Radiator Repair Shop". I kid you not. Get your radiator remanufactured and pick up smoked bacon and cheese all in one stop.
My parents bought a leftover 1968 Impala in 69. It didn't have the rear seat but that area was my home on long vacation trips. Sadly it started to rust as it was being made so by around 76ish after my older brother and sister used it through high school it was put to rest. But all was not lost the engine, a 327 4b, found it's way into a split window Corvette that belonged to my sister's friend's brother.
I remember going with my Dad shopping for a wagon in 1968. This was a beautiful wagon, but Dad didn't like the fake bolt heads on the side moldings, so he went with a new Country Squire. He also liked the Ford's 2 way tailgate. It served the family well for 14 years.
Brings back memories. My families first new card was a 68 Caprice Estate Wagon! Black with a black vinyl interior with the wood grain. Really beautiful car. No AC, Mom hated it. 307 with the 3 spd on the column, and the last year with overdrive (handle under the dash for that, i don't remember it being used). It had stereo, i heard Dad wanted 8 track, it had a space for it with the bowtie on it, but no player. No idea why it didn't have it. It was the last car the dealership in our town sold before going out of business.
If the memory serves correctly, the color of this car is called Tahitian Turquoise. My grandpa bought a new Impala that model year. That is an Impala interior, except for the use of fake wood and the fleur de lis on the steering wheel. My grandfather's car had a cloth interior, some sort of brocade cloth. It is lovely, and thanks for doing a video on this car.
I remember driving to the Chevrolet dealer with my family to look at new cars. It was 1966. I was 11. My parents were looking at a dark green Caprice Estate Wagon. I was ecstatic. Sadly. They didn't buy one. We couldn't afford it. Somehow, our 1963 Bel-Air Sedan didn't measure up anymore. A year later, we got a 1966 Catalina Sedan. I loved that car
I've always thought the '68 Ford Country Squire was the best-looking American station wagon, but I've gotta' say that the car in the video is drop-dead gorgeous. I particularly LOVE the rally wheels, and who wouldn't go crazy for a 396 under the hood!
Chevy was playing catch-up to Ford, with the Caprice model, to compete with the Ford LTD. I still think Ford's LTD was superior to the Caprice in ride and overall quality.
Adam, in October 1967 I was car spotting with my classmates at the student drop-off area of my elementary school, when a 1968 Chevrolet Caprice Estate eased into position to drop-off a student. That wagon had the optional two-piece hidden headlights that were unique to 1968 Chevys and the "427" was clearly visible next to the side-marker lights. That Caprice Estate Wagon really stood out among all the Ford Country Squire Wagons. But the "Wagon Wars" only heated up for 1969 with Chrysler ready to show how to do fake wood trim properly.
My Mom had a 1966 Caprice Estate wagon. The car was white with the same color blue interior as this 68 model. Her car also had the 396, luggage rack, spinner hubcaps, and factory A/C. Very cool car !
My family had a ‘68 Caprice two door with the hideaway headlights and the “astro ventilation. It was light green with a black vinyl roof. Really cool car. I was six at that time, and so many memories.
My first car in 1976, I was 16 years old.1968 impala wagon 327 v8. Red with the woodgrain contact paper sides. Loved it then so did ALL my friends all at once. Burned oil and rusted out. I'll never forget that car. Thanks for the memories.
We had a 68 Chev wagon in Verdoro green. It came with an absolutely beautiful paint job - smooth as glass everywhere. Even the wheels! I still have one of the wheels and the 56 year old paint is still amazing. The cars of this era were beautifully sculpted. We also owned a 65 Corvair which was also beautifully styled.
My grandparents had one of these. It was white instead of blue, but I still remember the wood trim panels. My aunts would tell stories about how bad granny was a driving.
My Grandfather had a unique 67 Impala he ordered special! It was a 4 door (same blue) with a black vinyl top. It actually had climate control AC with a dial thermostat! It had the 396/325hp engine but the most unique item was the 3 on the tree transmission! He had a bad leg from diabetes and wanted a clutch to exercise his leg. My older brother drove but I was too young. Unfortunately it was totaled in the rear by a truck in 1972 ! I think it was one of a kind!
I go wild for full-size American cars of the 60's and early 70's that came from the factory with 3-on-the-tree. They were more common than you might think. We had a neighbor who ordered his new '69 Ford Country Sedan wagon with all sorts of extra equipment, plus a 390 and a 3-speed. A friend had a neighbor who had a '68 Caprice 4-door hardtop with a 327 and a 3-speed. A couple of years ago, I found on the Internet a '70 Chrysler Newport convertible that came from the factory with power windows and a power seat, but with no power steering or brakes, and had a 3-on-the-tree backing up the 383. It was so awesome that "back in the day" you could order all sorts of bizarre combinations on your new car.
WOW !! When I was in high school back in the 1980's, one of my classmates parents had the absolute twin to this car, beautiful color combo and all, except for one detail...... it had the 427 ! Being a car crazy teenager at the peak of the malaise era, I was jealous ! Glad to have grown up on the west coast where these cars had a long useful life right into the 80's.
Around 1973 my dad picked up a slightly used 68 Caprice, 4 door hardtop, Cortez Silver with a black vinyl top - black vinyl interior. tilt, power seat, AM/FM and Comfortron A/C, 396 Turbo 400 That one really rode nice, as I recall. Love your channel sir! Cheers
One of the coolest wagons I was ever in was my mom' cousins' family car, which was a 1968 Mercury with the 390 and 3-on-the-tree. I went to visit those cousins in 1984 and they still had that car, and the father let me drive it. That was the last time I ever drove that type of transmission. Unfortunately in the late 80s they got rid of that car because the frame was rotting out. As for that Chevy, it's in amazing condition. But I will always be partial to 1974-77 Chrysler Town and Country wagons, because the last wagon my parents ever owned was a `75 Town and Country, and they sold it the year before I started driving.😭I always thought it was a great looking car, and enjoyed just looking at it after I washed it for my dad.
Beautiful old car. My Dad bought the opposite end of the spectrum from this car. A 1968 Biscayne wagon. 6 cyl and three speed manual. No power anything. It was sequoia green with a tan interior. Lived a hard life and ended up bent around a tree 8 years and over 100K miles later. May Dad sold it to a kid next door for the engine which had been rebuilt at 80K and was destined for a van.
Who would have thought a station wagon would be so beautiful. We always had Pontiac Catalina station wagons when I was a child. Huge, luxurious, wide and long. four boys fit quite comfortably in it. Dad always got them with an olive green exterior. The engine was huge and those cars went like a bat out of hell!
You sure do come up with so many real fine examples of automobiles. Almost makes me want to find the same car for myself. I see you live up north, and yet the cars you find, it's really something.
My parents had a 64 Impala 9 passenger wagon with the factory luggage rack, factory air, and the 327 4 barrel with Powerglide. It was a really nice wagon and had lots of power. They factory ordered it desert sand exterior and saddle brown vinyl interior.
When the new 68’s arrived on the truck the front and rear of the cars were covered till release the release date. I remember watching them come in and they let me see them inside the building. I would tour the showrooms as a kid saw so many cool cars.
I used to do the same thing! The dealers would store the new models in the back of their lots until the official release date (usually in early-to-mid-September), and occasionally I'd get the chance to sneak back there to take a look. For me, that was pure nirvana!!! It got to the point where I knew every new car on every dealer's lot within a couple of miles of our house. Too bad I wasn't nearly as interested in learning math, history, English, etc. 🙂
I remember my grandpa taking me to the 1968 model year unveiling party (after hours!) thrown by our our local Chevrolet dealer. Seeing the car covers coming off in the showroom was pure magic.
You are correct, truly a stunning wagon! It's already painted in what is arguably GM's best color, and the rally wheels and 396 are icing on the cake. The only way this car could be any cooler? Disc brakes and their accompanying specific rally wheel hubcaps, and hideaway headlights. Chef's kiss!
Yes! 1968 Chevrolet Caprices with hideaway headlights are the ultimate models. In 1965, Chevy made a show car that was a variant of the standard 1965 full-size models and that had hideaway headlights too. (the Concours). BTW, in the late-1970's my family bought a '68 Chevy full-size station wagon, but it was a Bel Air. We took that sucker to Southwestern Vermont, Niagara Falls, Northeastern Ohio and back to Long Island.
Love the color. I had Pontiacs version of that color in 1968. Talk about buttoned seats, the 66 Caprice coupe had one of the best looking bucket seats ever made. My family never had a wagon but looking at this one makes you wish you had one.
This car was the one that we had when we got into an accident on the way to Niagra Falls when we were little. My dad was taking us on vacation, towing a small camper trailer behind. The trailer decided to opt out, while we were on the thruway. Started wagging like a dog's tail, then let loose and flipped. We ended up going down a dip and crashed. not badly though. I got a bloody nose, that's all. We all faired fine, but we couldn't say so much for the camper trailer.
Stunning car, absolutely gorgeous! Must be the best one in the world! We had a Ford Country Squire, and then a Plymouth Fury Suburban wagon. The 68 Impala my father had was a coupe with the sport roof, in red, with a white interior. So many great memories in these classic cars! If I could get just one of those......
I had one of these Beauties and loved it! Eventually after so many years of use it was used as a Winter replacement for my classic cars. She was a real plow beast in the snow!
Nice post... i had for 15yrs 1978 chevy caprice wagon .auto rear back window..3rd row back facing seat n front bench..my fav kind... wagon was easy 2 work on.. i no mech.but i could n did change myself radiator. Starter...points etc all was very accesable ..great n my fav still till this day ..wagons were great
Everyone remembers the Olds Vista Cruiser, but forgot its sister Buick Skylark Sport Wagon. It had the Vista Roof too!!!! And by 1967 you could get the optional GS400 engine in the Sport Wagon too.
I always liked the seats that faced each other in the Fords. My mother had an 80-something Mercury Colony Park and I have a lot of fond memories in the way back as a kid.
Great car! This gives me very fond memories of my childhood , growing up in the ‘60’s. My father’s first car was a beautiful 2-door red Impala , our next door neighbor had his favorite Ford Fairlane, neighbors across the street had a blue 4 door Chevrolet Caprice. Back then everyone held on to their car for years. Even then I admired these cars (:
I remember vividly my parents cross-shopping the Caprice wagon against the Ford Country Squire. These were not cheap cars. Fully loaded they were about $1000 less than a Cadillac or Lincoln Continental. We needed to buy out of stock so we went with the Ford that had all the options: Tinted windows, Electric windows and seats, am/fm radio, 390 V8, luggage rack, A/C and the Magic two-way tailgate. The MSRP of both was around $6500.
Beautiful blue wagon, Adam! Looks like it had the extra lights at the top edge of the front bumper ends. Not sure if they were standard on Caprice but on lesser models they were just stainless steel caps with ridges that looked like lights but weren’t. I remember as a kid in 1968 always looking to see if the Chevy had those optional lights. Made the car look classy! 💡
I can remember driving up to Sheboygan Wisconsin to visit my aunt and uncle in our 1971 Chevy Kingswood estate station wagon. What great times they were.
What a beauty! Very good competition for the Country Squire. One thing I never understood about GM cars of this era, especially Chevrolets: they rarely have a left-hand remote control mirror. I guess dealers just didn't think buyers would like this convenience feature, which was seen quite frequently on FoMoCo cars, and often on Chrysler products of the era.
Damn...your powers of observation are impressive!!! I, too, was always amazed that so few Chevrolets from the 60's (and even early 70's) were equipped with remote mirrors while so many cars from Ford and Mopar did have them.
Growing up with five siblings we had several station wagons the first 3 seat wagon was 1962 Olds F-85. On long trips the third seat passengers would get car sick in that rear facing seat. The F-85 was replaced with a 1968 Buick Sport wagon. The front facing rear seat virtually eliminated the car sickness. The raised roof also allowed the rear seat the be elevated above the first two rows giving the third seat passengers a view of the road. The sport wagon and the Vista cruiser were great wagons for the time
My buddy’s dad had a ‘68 Caprice sedan in this color with the same interior. We rode with his dad driving it many times, and then got to drive it starting in 1970. His father always took great care of it, so it still looked brand new for years and years until he eventually sold it in the mid to late 70s. It was a great car, gave a lovely ride, and was very comfortable.
I can recall riding in a 1968 Impala wagon that belonged to a neighbor in the late 60s and early 70s, so I believe they bought it brand new. It was a very pretty pale yellow with black interior, which really suited this vehicle. I think the last time I rode in it there were five adults and six kids, and there was still room to spare. These late 60s Chevy wagons were so cool with their two-way tailgates that could be opened like a car door or drop down like a truck tail gate, which were so much better than what came later known as the clamshell tailgates.
This car is yet another fine example of what I consider GM’s Golden Age (the mid sixties). The surprising value this car offered the consumer puts it approximately light years ahead of what a buyer gets today. The style is gorgeous and seemingly has only gotten better over time. When this car was new, I took it for granted. This car is a reminder that the past should be remembered for all the lessons it can teach us. Oh Lord, let us learn from our shared history, the good and the bad.
Love the old wagon reviews! Grew up with a 1970 Pontiac Catalina 400 Wagon! My parents drove it until 1985 and then passed it on to others in the family.
I remember riding in my aunt’s 1968 Caprice back in the summer of 1970: a run from Tonganoxie KS to KC to hit Sears and K-Mart, what else? Aunt Jackie knew just how much to crack that back window so that my cousins and I were semi-carbon monoxide sedated. It was one way to calm us down and shut us up😎
👍🏻Excellent presentation of the 68 Caprice Wagon. Dad had a 69 Caprice Kingswood Estate w/ 396 engine. Beautiful wagon as well. Much better design cues done in the interior.
Beautiful wagon bringing back lots of youthful memories. One of my favorite Chevy wagons was the ‘56 Nomad, a 2-door with its gorgeous sliding side windows.
Beautiful wagon and remember seeing a lot of those on the road back then. I always liked the '68-69 Buick Sportwagons, '70-'72 Olds Vista Cruisers and my all time favorite the '71-'76 Olds Custom Cruiser wagons. Some of the Chrysler Town and Country wagons of the '70's weren't bad either. Wagons were indeed very popular back then, if your family didn't own one you most certainly knew someone who did!
My favorite Caprice wagons are the 1969-1976 models. The '69 with concealed headlamps is particularly clean, but the 1971-76 clamshells are also super stylish, and fantastic wagons functionally, with particularly cavernous passenger and cargo areas and an impressive 1200 pound load capacity.
In the 60’s growing up, my neighbors had a Shasta dual axle camper trailer, and would go cross country every summer. He always had a newer Chevy wagon to haul it with, that he would trade every two years for a new one. The oldest one I remember was a 60 Impala. Ordered with either a 409 or 343. In 62 he did the same, and again in 64. In 66 he ordered the new Caprice, with the 396, then in 68 the same thing like the one here. He worked for GM until retirement, and probably got a nice little discount. He always got that big motor. To haul that trailer around. 😂
I really like those big GM Clamshell wagons from 1971-76, or the Ford LTD wagons through 1978. Those things were huge, had a smooth and quiet ride, effortless torque from the big blocks, and had commercial freezer grade air conditioning.
My favorite wagons are the 1966 Ford Country Squire, 1969 Mercury Colony Park (has ‘Marquis’ on the tailgate), 1969 Pontiac Executive Safari (like my aunt’s), 1964 Buick Sport Wagon. (best taillights), and the 1964-69 Pontiac Tempest Safaris. The Citroen DS or CX Safari were an incredibly handsome wagon too.
Very beautiful car!! I love those mid-to-late '60s aquas and light blues! My beloved old '68 Cougar was Caribbean Blue with the aqua interior - but with a dark green dash pad, package tray, and carpeting!
Mom had the 68 Impala wagon tow package (self leveling and 427 cu) learned to drive on. Dad had the 67 stingray so we needed the room of a wagon. Never got to drive the vette, brother 7yrs older ditched it.
To answer your question-YES, it IS the best looking wagon. For me, the ‘68 Chevys were the nicest looking version of their best looking series of all time: the ‘65 thru ‘70 full size cars. My buddy had gotten a barely used, pristine’68 Impala back in 1972, and we took it on a long road trip. It had a 327 4 barrel, lots of smooth, effortless power, and a nice ride. It got great gas mileage for the day and handled well for the time. It was one of my favorite cars of all time! A few years later I got a lightly used ‘69 Impala Sport Coupe with 4 barrel and a 350. Bone stock with a higher HP engine, it was fast. Another great car I’d love to have again.
It was a Happy looking car. All models of Chevrolet were very handsome in 1968. I remember riding my bike on Sundays to Pape Chevrolet in Huntington NY to check out All the fabulous models!!
My Mom had a '69 Olds vista cruiser with the woodgrain. I had a '68 Malibu with the same colors inside and out as this wagon, with a 327/275 hp motor, 2 speed powerglide, duals and flowmasters with '69 SS rims. It was ONE SWEET car, let me tell you!! This is quite nice for a wagon, too!!! Love the big block, the woodgrain, and the Corvette Rally rims!!!
My paternal grandmother drove the same model, same color, only different hubcaps. It was a beautiful car...for some reason I was particularly interested in the windshield wipers, which were hidden behind the hood....the first year for this car.
I had a 69 Chevrolet Kingswood wagon in the same blue color, but with a white roof but it didn’t have a luggage rack. I always thought the 69-70 Chevrolet’s were quite attractive also. I had mine from 1997-2005. It was a 79k mile “Basement” find. It took some elbow grease to clean her up, but I got to enjoy for several years.
