Final Year Longroof: 1996 Toyota Camry Wagon – SOLD!

December 14th Update: We just confirmed the private seller of this ride deleted their Craigslist ad, so we’re now able to call this one “Sold!”  While this one got away, if you have your heart set on something similar, email us the details of what you’re looking for or call Rudy directly at (908)295-7330.

Years ago, the third generation Toyota Camry was seemingly everywhere. It was an incredibly popular model, and in many ways, the generation that cemented the model’s reputation as the top dog of family sedans. The Camry was also sold in wagon form, like the preceding generation, and this listing for a tired but healthy 1996 Camry wagon first appeared in November 2020 on Craigslist in northern Virginia for $3,500 or best offer.   Comparing this price against the NADA Price Guide confirms this private seller has his Camry LE wagon priced fairly, as the “Low” retail valuation rings in at a mere $3,200, and this one looks slightly better than that.

While we now live in a land awash with sport utility vehicles of both the pretend and actual varieties, there was a time when wagons reigned supreme. If you think about it, automakers have steadily responded to consumers’ demand for more space; rarely have they downsized vehicles in recent memory, aside from the malaise era when efficiency and overseas competition demanded an immediate shift to compact proportions and miserly engines. Now, as gargantuan SUVs shockingly manage to achieve respectable fuel economy, it seems the days of the wagon are certainly numbered – making the long roofs of the 80s and 90s an immensely practical emerging classic. The Camry wagon is certainly one of the foremost examples of this dying breed, along with its peer, the estate-bodied version of the Accord sedan.

Here’s MotorWeek’s Take on the final version of the Camry wagon offered in the U.S.:

The question becomes which Japanese wagon is closer to your ideal for a enormously reliable (if not slightly boring) model with an extra helping of cargo space. Unlike the wood-paneled GM wagons and the Mercedes W124 estate, third rows weren’t common in the Cam-Cord wagons, but that didn’t stop them from being the smart choice for a perfect commuter car that could haul on the weekends. As the seller of this Camry points out in his YouTube video, flip the rear seats forward and you’ve got acres of space suitable for swallowing bikes, artwork, car parts, and whatever else your heart desires. The four-cylinder is a slightly wheezy engine, and it’s bolted to a slushbox that isn’t exactly sophisticated by modern standards. Still, for a bread-and-butter wagon that always draws a smile thanks to its dual rear wipers and egg-like shape, this Camry wagon will reward its next owner with years’ of reliable motoring and interior volume that makes paying triple (or more) for a modern SUV seem like a huge waste of money. Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1996 was the last year one could buy a Toyota Camry Station Wagon in these great United States and now you have a chance to own your very own! This particular Camry Wagon has just 215,000 miles and has been meticulously cared for throughout its life with many things replaced such as the front axles, fuel tank, and brake lines among other regular maintenance throughout its life, it also currently sits on brand new Michelin Defenders.

Everything works, all the windows, the AC, the Cruise Control, the power locks, and power mirrors. She’s even YouTube Famous! Please see this link https://youtu.be/Pg5RjfuWQEM for a detailed video about my beloved CamWags:

Please call me with any questions, I’m asking $3500 OBO“

Do you have a Toyota Camry Wagon story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!