For Sale: 1993 Chevrolet Caprice in Lithia Springs, Georgia

What you are seeing here is the end of an era: the last of the wood-sided, rear-wheel-drive, V8-powered American station wagons. Big cars like this 1993 Chevrolet Caprice Classic station wagon were once a mainstay of our highways, but they've been replaced by minivans and SUVs, and after looking at this pretty cool wagon, that's really a shame.

OK, so GM did a lot of platform sharing to make the Caprice Classic happen - it's the same as the Buick Roadmaster wagon underneath, but that also means adequate power and that fantastic cushy ride that only body-on-frame cars can deliver. And yes, it has wood on the side, but that's definitely part of the appeal now that they're all gone, don't you think? The big, rounded bodywork wears it quite well and the remarkably well-preserved condition of this Caprice suggests that someone else thought it was cool from Day One. The factory paint is in great shape and it's a subtle color that is definitely appropriate for a wagon and reminds me of the great woodies of the 1940s. Traditionalists will love the stand-up hood ornament and chrome bumpers and that tailgate is certainly big enough to host a party at your next team event. There are a few minor signs of use and age, but this is one impressive survivor.

The tan cloth interior is first class all around, and with seven seats available, everyone can go with you. As a Buick, just about everything was standard equipment, including power windows and locks, A/C, a tilt column, cruise control, and even power seats, so you won't wont for anything out on the road. A lot of these cars got busy digital dashboards, but this one has big, friendly analog gauges that cover the basics plus the digital climate control in the center of the dash. An AM/FM/cassette stereo is the same familiar Delco unit used in GM cars for many years, but here it looks exactly right. The seats are in excellent condition with no rips or splits in the upholstery, and the two rear rows of seats look virtually unused from new. The cargo bay is cavernous and will probably swallow a stack of 4x8 sheets of plywood without complaint, so this would make an awesome retro alternative to an SUV. Plenty of useful cubbys help store your gear, and once you're inside, you'll marvel at the feeling of isolation this car delivers. You just can't find that anymore.

The Caprice used the same LT1-derived L05 5.7 liter V8 as the rest of the big sedans and with it, performance is downright impressive. As one of GM's most reliable powerplants of all time, this one seems impervious to time and mileage and still starts quickly and idles with a smooth V8 hum from the single exhaust pipe out back. Lots of torque and smart gearing in the 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission mean that it scoots around town and loafs on the highway equally well, and the V8 never feels like it's working hard, even with a full load. Thanks to only 62,130 actual miles, the chassis is shockingly clean. Factory steel wheels and wire hubcaps were the last gasp of traditional elegance and they carry 225/75/15 whitewall radials, as original.

These cars are cult favorites and for good reason. If you're a traditionalist who believes that all cars should have eight cylinders powering the rear wheels, this is your last chance. There just can't be many nicer than this. Call today!