V.I.S.I.T. – In case you didn't know that it's a wagon


Last October, away before the leaves died and the snow came, I stumbled upon this car parked in the sprawling senior community that I drive through on my daily commute. It had four doors, like a sedan, but with the roof extended all the way back to the rear of the vehicle. I was wondering exactly what type of car this might be, but then I noticed that the owner very kindly provided descriptive labels on the flanks; I now know that it’s a “wagon,” which gives me great confidence in its suitability for Wagon Wednesday. I also know it’s also an “SS.” As if the wire wheel covers and whitewall tires didn’t give that away.
The remarkable thing is about a year earlier, I’d scoped — parked in the exact same spot — an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with faux-burled-wood racing stripes! Yes, really. I have photos, but I doubt you’re ready for ’em.
More pics (and a little more snark) after the jump.

I didn’t know that Chevy ever made a Wagon SS, but they must have. After all, it’s right there in black and white.


Are the graphics perhaps intended to evoke a ’57 Nomad vibe? Why not; it’s as much a Nomad as it is an SS.


The hood ornament accent stripe between the dual racing stripes captures the schizophrenic nature of this car.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

  1. LTDScott Avatar

    I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

  2. JacobDFriedman Avatar
    JacobDFriedman

    CUTLASS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

    1. Lotte Avatar
      Lotte

      We all just want to see it.

      1. dead_elvis Avatar
        dead_elvis

        It might help make up for the above.

    2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      Check back tomorrow.

  3. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

    It being Wagon Wednesday, it's appropriate for me to leave this here.
    Seen today just outside the idyllic village of Eight Ash Green.
    <img src="http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd356/rover8002000/yank1.jpg&quot; width="400/">
    I'm guessing the driver isn't the leader of the local Conservative association.

    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      That '62 is much cooler than the cheesy stripe job on the Caprice.

    2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      "leader of the local Conservative association" must mean something different over there.
      Because if I saw that in Missouri, I would lay money on it being a leading local Conservative.

      1. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

        Ah, you see, over here it means something far more in line with golfing slacks, neighbourhood watch and having a Jaaaaag on the driveway. The above splendid wagon seems far more of a Liberal machine.

  4. Age_of_Aerostar Avatar
    Age_of_Aerostar

    Hey, at least the "Wagon" script on the subject vehicle does bear a resemblance to the "Hooniverse" logo… you know, like if you squint and it's been a long day, and you need a drink, and……..

  5. mad_science Avatar
    mad_science

    I have a really hard time getting excited about the manatee-inspired styling of this era of GMs.
    Sure, they're the last wagons and the Impala SS was kinda cool, but they just look so damn fat and bloated. It doesn't help that their biggest claim to fame is a 250ish hp LT1. Unimpressively powerful by today's standards and a terrible quasi-modern patch on an ancient motor that mostly serves to ruin parts interchangeability.
    Personally, I'd back it up a generation to the box-bodies:
    <img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/07/30/16/10/1990_chevrolet_caprice_4_dr_classic_wagon-pic-135.jpeg&quot; width=600>
    Source: http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/garage/viewGarage.ac

    1. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

      Might well have to find some white lettered T/As for my Rover….

    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      "quasi-modern patch on an ancient motor that mostly serves to ruin parts interchangeability"
      You have a gift, my friend.

    3. Black Steelies Avatar

      Looooove those damn wheels. If i didn't have 9C1 wheels on the hearse this is what I would look for. With white letter tires of course.

  6. muthalovin Avatar

    I thought it said Wagon 55! I do believe that would make much more sense.

    1. Black Steelies Avatar

      Though the side stripes are more reminiscent of a '57 Chevy.

  7. Pol Pot Pie Avatar
    Pol Pot Pie

    and nice spacing between the 'o' and the 'n' in wagon.

    1. Black Steelies Avatar

      wag on, wag off

  8. Novaload Avatar
    Novaload

    The spear down the side is reminiscent of the trim on the sides of the 55-57, most noticeably.
    I'm going to believe that they are in the process of murdering this out and it will be all matte black…because right now it looks like an ice cream truck or something equally bland. Oh, and the "SS" looks like double fives.
    Whew. Big wagon, big complaints.

  9. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    I was going to snark about customers making up trim levels that don't exist, like this car's owner or the guy where I used to live who had a "RAM 2500 5.9L R/T" (longbox, extended cab, 4×4).
    Then I realized that the carmakers also make up things that ought not to be.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Chevrolet_Malibu_SS.jpg/800px-Chevrolet_Malibu_SS.jpg&quot; width="500"/>

  10. facelvega Avatar
    facelvega

    I was thinking of repainting my LeSabre black gold and etching "GRAND PA NATIONAL" on the sides. Do y'all think it would be more tasteful with or without Shelby stripes?

    1. SSurfer321 Avatar
      SSurfer321

      so long as there is enough metal-flake in the stripes to out shine a fishing boat, you should be good.

      1. FЯeeMan Avatar
        FЯeeMan

        Ohhhh… I think I like that idea!

  11. Black Steelies Avatar

    Yup. A pic of me and Rose is posted about a quarter of the way down a previous article, regrettably before I knew about the whole 'width=500' shebang.

    1. citroen67 Avatar

      AWESOME! Even better that it's a Buick! Not very many of those are seen out in the wild these days! Nice ride!!!

      1. Black Steelies Avatar

        Thanks a lot. We really need a thread on here in which people just post pictures of their current machines. They all get mentioned here and there, sometimes with pics. But one specific Hooniverse Asks or even just a separate gallery section to the site we can refer to would be fantastic. Come to think of it, maybe there already was one[?]