If the GM B-Body in general is hallowed chassis here at CC, then the B-Body wagon must be even more sacred. After all, what vehicle was ever made worse by being available in wagon form? Certainly not these in the days before the ubiquity of the modern minivan or three-row SUV.
This particular one from smack-dab in the middle of the production run of this generation is a fairly well-equipped sample as well as being fairly well used up without any single major evident issue, just lots of little things that one by one eventually pushed it over the edge.
1983 was a bit of a grim year for the Caprice Classic line as there were no 2-door models built. Only the sedan and the wagon were available and even the wagon, which previously was also available in 6-passenger form, was only offered with the third row seat this year. Could it be that Chevrolet was looking at discontinuing the model? As we know now, it ended up getting refreshed again in 1986 and stuck around until 1990 but it’s strange to eliminate models in the middle of the run and then bring them back as they did end up doing with the 2-door being available again for 1984.
The wagon in 1983 was equipped as standard with the 305 (5.0l) V8 coupled with the overdrive-equipped automatic, both were options on the sedan. Producing 150hp at 3800rpm and 240lb-ft of torque at 2400rpm, the 4-barrel carb equipped V8 was likely a smooth and decent powerplant, capable of running well for many miles and then perhaps poorly for just as many more. The whole wagon weighed just under 4000 pounds in this configuration, but there was also a diesel engine available, which presumably would have been heavier. I don’t believe I have ever seen a diesel in one of these although there surely did exist a few besides just the one in the brochure.
Chevrolet sold 53,028 of these wagons in 1983, with a starting sticker price of $9,518 apiece. So before options, these represented over half a billion dollars in revenue. The sedan version sold over 122,000 examples with a sticker of around $600 less which is interesting as I didn’t realize the model split was split so far towards the wagons with around 30% of production. Options, as we’ll see further in this post, likely drove the price of these up significantly. (Try to keep track of which options would even be available as extra-cost items in today’s market.) Every 1983 dollar is worth $2.58 today (so a base version would sticker at $24,556) and Chevrolet was offering generous 11.9% financing at that time to help you get the most out of your money.
Opening the back door/gate reveals a very generous cargo area with storage cubbies in the sides. The ability to use the tailgate as a side-hinged door is nice to be able to grab stuff that has rolled toward the back seat but could easily clobber someone if parked parallel on a road with camber. Of course twisting the handle the other way converted it into a regular fold-down tailgate. The rear window was power operated and while I’m not positive on this car, if it’s like my old Chevelle wagon and I remember it correctly, I believe the key could be used to lower it from the outside.
After donning my gloves, I held my breath, entered the chamber and figured out how to get the seat erected without reading the manual, just like the average owner in 1983. It turned out to be quite easy and I can imagine the average suburbanite not having any trouble doing so. In some circles this is billed as a nine-passenger wagon, however if one takes into account seatbelts, then it’s really only good for eight. And once people are in the back there is very little cargo area left besides around the footwell area.
Working our way towards the front, the back seat area is quite spacious and that cushion looks higher off the floor than many GM vehicles I can remember being in. Also, this wagon is equipped with the $289 cloth seat option in Sand Gray along with power windows that cost $255 as well as power locks if I am not mistaken at a further $170.
The front looks just as spacious as the rest of the vehicle, and could easily hold three abreast, especially since there is no console to get in the way.
Viewed from the driver’s side, this one is equipped with the tilt wheel ($105), rear defogger (also $105) and I think cruise control at $170 on the stalk that’s held together with tape along with intermittent wipers on the dash for $49. Wood grain was still standard this year, it didn’t change to silver and black until after the next interior refresh in 1985.
While so far very well equipped, this car notably did not receive the gauge package with trip odometer, a curious omission to save a measly $64 when you’re going to staring at the poverty-spec gauges otherwise. Speedo, fuel gauge and a whole lot of reminder space as to what isn’t there. The odometer ready 38,994 but no clues as to whether there is likely to be a 1, 2, or even a 3 ahead of it if it was a 6-digit version.
Air conditioning with the full crotch vent package for $725(!) and an AM/FM Cassette unit for $295 (if that’s an original GM Delco unit, I can’t tell) round out the interior. The Quartz clock was standard but there was an option listed for an electric version.
Droopy headliner was also included here as a no-cost option along with what is perhaps the spare riding shotgun in the 50/50 split front bench. It’s remarkable how often a spare wheel is found in the passenger seat by the way, likely put there by a shopper doing layaway.
Let’s see, what else? Oh yes, the paint is White over Silver Metallic two tone at $141 and this one has the $66 rubber bumper strips and the bodyside moldings.
As I’ve mentioned before, due to this site I’ve become significantly more appreciative of the Caprice Classic and all B-Bodies in general, growing up I had no attraction to them whatsoever and this one looks like it would have been quite nice back in its day.
I found it kind of interesting that the fuel flap was top-hinged. I suppose it then provided a handy place to put the cap but would cringe at the thought of people just tossing that metal cap onto the painted surface.
Looking at the number of rockchips in the front, also evident in the closer-up photo of the hood ornament from near the beginning of this post, I’m thinking this one has at least a 2 at the front of the odometer number. The little fender bender at the front may be what finally brought it here in the end but it may well have sat around the homestead for a while first.
Looking at the VIN revealed an “X” in the 11th position, indicating Fairfax, Kansas as the assembly plant out of a total of eleven possibilities which shows just what a long running (1977-1990) and popular line this was. Taking into account the options that I was able to figure out were included but omitting any that I likely missed, after inflation this wagon would have stickered for at least $30,000 or likely a little more if sold today and notably virtually every one of those options would be standard today with the exception of the two-tone paint.
Note: a rerun of an older post.
Related Reading:
1986 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Brougham by Paul Niedermeyer
Sad to see it just sitting here in it’s rust free glory…..
I remember America’s highways full of full size wagons, I even had a few .
-Nate
Yup. a shame indeed.
I see one of these every week at a McDonald’s in town.
I believe it’s either grey or 2 tone grey. Decent condition for its age, dog dish hubcaps, raised a little higher in the rear, not sure if it’s different springs or ‘air shocks’ (if he’s from the 80’s).
I really should snap a pic one of these days.
I had many Caprice Classics. A 75 that was a great car, a 74 that was left to me, a 79 that also just kept going, and an 82 coupe with the very powerful 229 V6!
In addition my dad drove a new 1973, a far better car than either of his two Cadillacs.
I have a soft spot for these. It’s the one time that GM got it right immediately out of the gate, and didn’t spend years trying to perfect what they messed up…. Think Vega, Citation, diesel’s
Great article.
My grandpa had 2 of these. A 77 Impala wagon, and a 86 Caprice wagon. I always liked the taillights on the Impala, absent of the chrome dividers. In between he had a Mercury Zephyr wagon. I was too young to ride in the front of the Impala, he always had the rear seat folded down as a big play area for my sister and I as he puttered down back roads to trout fish. Good times back then. After riding in the front of the Zephyr, the Caprice felt like I was sitting on the ground and could barely see over the dash. Grandma always called it a 9 passenger wagon, though I don’t think I ever saw the 3rd seat to see how many seatbelts. He was always hauling something or other. Taking things to the dump, coming back with just as much stuff to tinker with.
I wonder if the spare tire compartment only fit a donut and not a full size tire. My GM A body wagons have a similar side compartment and are that way.
Looks like this is one of the model years where GM moved the gas filler access to the driver’s side, where it belonged.
Price adjusted of $30K seems modest in these times. Were these being sold new today, being a top of the line Caprice, it would easily ask in the $50-$60K range, at least in Canada. Perhaps $40K plus in the U.S.
This one looks well worn, except for the chrome tip (?) on the exhaust.
The fuel filler remained behind the rear license plate for GM B-body sedans all the way to the end in 1996. The side fuel filler was only for wagons, since the bumper mounted license plate is located too close to the ground on wagons.
I have fond memories of these being everywhere. Sturdy and roomy. A friend in high school had one, fell asleep on the way to school and took out a telephone pole. He said it was like a Bugs Bunny cartoon: went straight through the pole, which then sat back down on its base, suspended by the wires. He was fine.
Almost bought one for a cross-country camping trip but went with a Civic wagon. Less space but better mileage.
The top-hinged fuel filler flap is a very sensible solution.
With the standard right-hinged fuel filler flaps of other manufacturers, this can easily lead to mishaps. This can happen if you hastily pull the pump nozzle out of the opening and, with your grasping hand, inadvertently push the fuel filler cap past the stop. Depending on the quality of the hinge, it might – CRACK – be broken, or even come off.
This can’t happen with the top-hinged flap, as the cap never interferes the way of your hand.
Goodbye Jumbo was also the title of a top shelf album by World Party….
Yes, yes it was, I was wondering if anyone would note that when I titled it ….Karl Wallinger’s band (one of them) with the late, great Sinead O’Connor as an occasional backup singer, in a video even.
That brought back some memories of out 1981 Impala:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/coal-1981-chevrolet-impala-b-is-for-broomhandle/
Droopy headliner, that stupid wiper motor driven washer pump, lots of vacuum hoses.
As I recall the seemingly empty right hand gauge contained a bunch of warning lights.
Good size wagon. Too uniform in overall color. Not a fan of the dash with all the woodgrain on black although I shouldn’t complain myself.
Wish we could buy one today, even for $50k. The post ’79s were considerably flimsier due to weight cuts, we didn’t like our ’84 Parisienne wagon, it felt cheap in a number of ways. The SBC V8 was a great engine for a long time, but what were the years for soft cams and other significant Chevy V8 engine faults? Our ’77 to ’79 Olds and Buicks didn’t have any of those problems.
I had a cousin to this model. I had the 4 door sedan impala. It must have been ordered with the police package because even though it had a vinyl bench seats front & back. It had a 4 speed automatic transmission & a 4 barrel carburetor. It could get up & go. The first owner had it in NYC & must have been involved in a bad accident? The front clip was replaced & it didn’t match the color of the car. The second owner was the sister in the suburbs. They bought it for their daughter who didn’t want it? Imagine that? I would have said absolutely! The second owner was side swiped in Bridgepit, CT. The used a body tool to pull out the panels. Every piece of sheet metal had a dent in it. I didn’t care as I used it as basic commuter car. It served me well for over 6 years. I like it a lot. My wife hated it because it looked like a ghetto cruiser. It eventually developed too many leaks & it had the title of Exxon Valdez at work. They told me to not park it at work anymore. That’s when I donated it to American Lung Association.
My buddy’s folks had a dark brown 88 4 door Caprice, which he ended up with for awhile in his late teens. Had about 180k on the 4.3. Leaked and burned oil. It’s name was the turd. I only drove it around town and I expected it to be slower than it was. He hit a deer with it and only knocked out one of the composite headlights. My other buddy screwed some sealed beams in place, wired them up, and called it good.
I miss cars(AND PICKUPS) with no center console.