Clean Estate Body: 1984 Chevrolet Caprice Classic – SOLD!

March 8, 2022, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar

Will we ever tire of seeing well-preserved GM wagons from the 1980s? Probably not, but it’s especially enjoyable when the estate wagon wears a paint color we don’t often see and it doesn’t have the trademark wood paneling. This 1984 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon appeared in March 2022 on Craigslist in Leesburg, Virginia for $8,000 with unconfirmed mileage of under 80,000 and a clean interior. Comparing that price against the NADA Price Guide doesn’t really tell the full story in terms of the collectors who are bringing these big-bodied station wagons back to life, as the “High” retail value is pegged at a paltry $3,975.

The Caprice wagon was a regular fixture in Chevrolet’s lineup over the years, but it seems like the third-generation models remain the most widely recognized. The Caprice wagon is a hallmark of Americana, whether on the movie screen or simply at your best friend’s house. Everyone can recall spending time in or around some member of GM’s estate wagon family, which is likely a big reason behind the rush to preserve and collect the remaining survivors. Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, and it doesn’t get more nostalgic than recalling the memories made at family drive-in movie nights or using the wagon to move to your first apartment. Of course, it helps that parts remain dirt cheap and you can still find carcasses in boneyards across the U.S., making spares sourcing far easier than you might expect.

The MotorWeek Retro Review YouTube Channel features this test drive from 1984 of the Chevrolet Caprice Classic sedan:

The seller’s Caprice wagon is an interesting specimen largely for the color combo. It wears silver paint with a chocolate leather interior, which seems like it had to have been special-ordered by the first owner. If nothing else, most of the none-Woody models we see are in typical Grandma colors like baby blue or maroon – to order one in this particular scheme had to make it stand out in the sea of estate wagons that was typical in the pre-SUV era. The seller can’t confirm whether the miles are accurate, but the odometer could be correct given the clean cosmetics on display. The seller has addressed some recent maintenance, including the valve cover gaskets, muffler, and gas tank, with that last item suggesting it’s been sitting for a while with old gas and a dead fuel pump. The interior leather and fake wood trim still look quite good as well, so reach out to the seller if you want to make some new memories with this handsome long roof.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“$8000.00 OBO, Please read the entire ad. Car was garaged for most of its life and is original to the best of my knowledge. Great full-size cruiser [ more bus-like] and it is in very good condition in and out. Must see !! A/C and heat work well. I recently replaced the valve cover gaskets, muffler, and gas tank sending unit along with other normal maintenance. It has the classic rear-facing seat that some of us grew up riding in because it was simply COOL….. and still is !! The car has a clean title and is in my name and I am a private seller. Cash person to person. If you would like to make a reasonable offer close to the asking price once you have seen the car in person I would consider it. I will delete it once sold. Please include a contact # if you would like a reply. Thanks [ Speedometer shows 79K but I can’t verify the mileage due to its age and the fact it was an out of state car ]

Memory machine: did you ride in one of GM’s classic estate wagons growing up?