Faults:

Side mirror, gas gauge.

General Comments:

In the family since new (31 years). Always garaged and never winter driven so it has zero rust (still has the original exhaust system!). Original paint too.

On the road, the 307 Olds engine (not 305 Chev) is smooth but sluggish. You can hardly tell when the 4 speed auto shifts and it puts modern transmissions to shame. The seating position is low compared to new cars. Handling is OK, but there is a world of difference compared to the 91-96 generation.

Faults:

- New air-adjustable shocks at 132,000.

- New battery at 133,000.

- Heater switch went, replaced the blower motor and hooked it to a toggle, $30 fix total. AT 141,000.

- Power seats stopped working at 135,000.

- A/C didn't work when I got the car.

- New exhaust cat back at 137,000

- Drivers power window broke (slammed the door too hard) 138,000.

- Rear driver window stopped working, bad switch I believe. 141,000.

General Comments:

I love this car. I bought it for $500 my junior year of high school, and it's needed very little. Besides the heater switch, nothing went bad on the car that was necessary to the operation of it (need heat in Wisconsin Winters).

I won a bet that it would not start and run at -30, and it did, with a 4 bbl quadrajet on her. I drove this car every day, rain, shine, sleet, snow, it was on the road, and with the heavy rear end, could keep up with 4x4's in the snow.

The car is very comfortable as well. Rides like a caddy, has tons of room and 3 rows of seats. I've hauled 8 people, I've hauled plywood, motors, transmissions, everything with this car. It never skipped a beat.

The 307 is a good runner, but leaks and burns, as they all do. It's not built for speed, but for torque. I pulled a Honda Civic that was stuck in gear with it.

I think it's a nice looking car too, lots of wood in and out, power options galore, and an air of class you don't see much in today's cars. I could go on and on all day about how much I love my old wagon.

I've owned a 60 Bel-Air, 2 Crown Vic Interceptors, a 58 Delray, a 79 Electra, a 63 Impala and I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but no car has been like a friend to me like the Caprice has.

-Tom.

Faults:

The cruise control doesn't work.

The wipers only shut off if you shut the car off.

It leaks/uses oil, not sure which, maybe both.

The headliner is indoor/outdoor carpeting.

Power seats just stopped working earlier this week.

Power window on passenger side rolls down, but not up from driver's side control.

Power locks require much effort to use.

Mirrors do not adjust (vandalized).

Exhaust snapped when pulling into a parking lot. I bottomed out, fixed with a tin can.

Rear air-shocks were shot, replaced for cheap.

General Comments:

I love this car. All the problems are simple little fixes I can take care of at my leisure. I can haul parts, plywood, or 8 people, with the rear-facing seat.

It is a classic looking car, earth tone paint job, cloth interior, wood paneling, nice chrome trim, and the classic luggage rack. Perfect symbol of Americana.

Parts are cheap and readily available, Caprices were abundant in their day and all the GM small block parts are interchangeable for the most part, making these babies easy to work on.

If I could find another one, I'd buy another one. It floats down the road. It's geared very low, with a 200 r4 trans. It is fine if you don't want to go fast, and is great in the snow and slop.

If you have a chance for a Caprice Estate, or any vintage GM wagon, take the chance. This beautiful big wagons are getting rarer and rarer, but are more dependable then most of what is being built today.