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.
V.I.S.I.T. – In case you didn't know that it's a wagon
By Peter Tanshanomi
Feb 16, 2011
By Peter Tanshanomi
Tanshanomi is Japanese [単車のみ] for "motorcycle(s) only." Though primarily tasked with creating two-wheel oriented content for Hooniverse, Pete is a lover of all sorts of motorized vehicles.
Jeff Glucker 
Kamil Kaluski
I threw up in my mouth a little bit.
CUTLASS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
We all just want to see it.
It might help make up for the above.
Check back tomorrow.
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" width="400/">
I'm guessing the driver isn't the leader of the local Conservative association.
That '62 is much cooler than the cheesy stripe job on the Caprice.
"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.
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.
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……..
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" width=600>
Source: http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/garage/viewGarage.ac…
Might well have to find some white lettered T/As for my Rover….
"quasi-modern patch on an ancient motor that mostly serves to ruin parts interchangeability"
You have a gift, my friend.
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.
I thought it said Wagon 55! I do believe that would make much more sense.
Though the side stripes are more reminiscent of a '57 Chevy.
and nice spacing between the 'o' and the 'n' in wagon.
wag on, wag off
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.
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" width="500"/>
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?
so long as there is enough metal-flake in the stripes to out shine a fishing boat, you should be good.
Ohhhh… I think I like that idea!
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.
AWESOME! Even better that it's a Buick! Not very many of those are seen out in the wild these days! Nice ride!!!
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[?]