He won’t stop. I don’t know how the hell he does it, but he just won’t stop. I don’t know if he’s paying me back for a Vegas adventure from a few years ago, or if this was some long-overdue hazing thing…but he is like a damn snapping turtle. Once he clamps onto something he isn’t gonna let go, it’s got to be you, otherwise he will remain there until death. So I’m going to fire the final shot in this wagon war, but first I should explain my motivations a little. Honestly, what I was doing was waiting for one of two “right wagons” to come along…either a 1969 Chevy Kingswood Estate or a 1970 Plymouth Sport Suburban:

And the reasons for both cars are virtually the same: Big block, full-size wagons with my opinion of the best look, and I’ve got experience with both. In fact, when I was just starting out with cars I missed my chance on a big-block Kingswood. I didn’t see it for anything other than a pea-green station wagon at the moment…I didn’t even check under the hood…but I learned later that the 396-powered Chevy only needed some maintenance and a fuel tank flush to have been a driver. Unfortunately, both Craigslist and eBay weren’t kind to me, as the closest car available was a ’73 Kingswood that looked way too much like the Gas Monkey Caprice for my taste.

When it came to this wagon war, there was certain criteria that I felt had to be met:

1. It had to be a full-size car on a frame. The point of having a wagon over an SUV is that it has to be able to work like one if need be. That’s why certain cars, like Malibus, Fairmonts, and the  Diplomat-based Town and Country were never chosen on my end.
2. It had to be comfortable. Wagons are road-trip cars, whether you fold down the seats and sleep in comfort or you, the family and Aunt Bethany are hauling ass to Walley World.
3. It wasn’t an all-out race car. See items 1 and 2 above. If it couldn’t be plated, it didn’t get posted on my end.

Now, as for my final strike, I’m going all-in. Brian decided to pull out a woody for his “secret weapon”, but as for mine, well, if you’re looking for a good station wagon the best place to start is at vintage drag races, where they serve as push-cars. The 1966 Impala I located doesn’t have woodgrain like the clamshell GMs we’ve shown, it doesn’t have the plushness of the Roadmaster I showed off yesterday, and it won’t haul as much ass as that Savoy. It’s also not a hybridized trar of a Ford that would set off heart attacks with the purists, either.

Is it used? Yes, and it shows. Is it so rough that the first thing you should do is run? Nope. The 327/’Glide combination is solid and clean…not show-worthy, but nothing to be embarrassed about either. The suspension, however, is something to be damn proud of, as this thing has RideTech Air Ride suspension all the way around with Shockwaves at all four corners and a front disc conversion.

Inside, this car sports the factory bucket seat option with floor shifter and gauge pack, and yes, this is a third-row car as well. It’s not show-ready, but I wouldn’t hesitate to park this car at any show. If you want perfection there’s tons of restored and over-restored pieces for sale. I would drive this sucker from anywhere to the Southern California coast, park on the beach, and camp under the stars. That’s what a wagon is to me. So with that, I’m done with the wagons for a bit. Let’s see what new thing Brian wants to have a war with me over next…

eBay Link: 1966 Chevrolet Impala Push Car