Well, I finally did it... i went and bought that wagon. Thankfully, I have a nice elderly neighbor with a few acres, that will let me park it there (my wife's only real complaint was "not in front of my house")...

This IS the same wagon I have been "thinking" about since mid-August.

'66 Malibu
Aztec Bronze, two-tone Fawn interior (extremely thrashed, with '67 speedo/radio bezel/glove box trim, but its a '66 metal dash)
has a '71 400 SB, TH400 trans and a later 12-bolt, 15" Torque Thrusts (old ones, not polished), disc brakes
All trim and glass look pretty good. The body is mostly "rot free" California black plate car. Minor bubbling at the lower fender, and some pits along the driver-side rear window ledge...

So far the cowl, 1/4s, doors/tailgate, drip rails, floors, etc look clean.

Paints cracking/peeling, so some surface rust starting to form there, but not bad. A little bondo, but mostly solid and straight (i have one of those magnetic "spot-rot" gages.

Power gate window and Power steering...

It runs and drives.

I forgot to download the pictures from my camera...


Now I am debating, "Aztec Bronze" resto-fied, or two-tone "Marina Blue" bottom with silver roof/top of hood/fenders.

For comfort, I plan on clothe seats (but maybe reupholstered "stock" buckets (i have a set of cores).

Congratulations, Tony! I think the original Aztec Bronze and two tone Fawn interior would be awesome. :)

Sounds nice and rot in the usual places.

My 66 was originally Aztec Bronze, but Marina Blue on arrival. I'm headed to a darker rusty/maroon color with the 2-tone fawn.

Welcome to the "66" club :)

Congratulations, Tony! I think the original Aztec Bronze and two tone Fawn interior would be awesome. :)

One of those "ironic" twists of fate???

1) The car was purchased new(it came with the POP), at a dealer about 1/2 mile from where I grew up for 22+ years (and 130+ miles from where I got it). My parents also purchased a few cars from that same dealer (it was a smaller dealer that went out of business).

2) The "registered owner's" address (on the Pink Slip, dated 1994) was the SAME City AND Street as where I bought my convertible (back in 1988). And about 10+ miles from the dealer/original owners. My convertible was originally Aztec Bronze with the Fawn interior...


Still debating what I want to do... I think I will pick up a few of those "66 Malibu Wagon models and try some different paint schemes... Still try to see IF this is something I really want... Also thinking about making a 2-door wagon out of it...


Kind of bummed... The "Torque Thrust" wheels might not be "American" (I don't really care). They are NOT uni-lug, but I don't see "American Racing" anywhere. My Vintage Wheel Works caps will fit (I put different caps on my convertible) and they are just sitting around...

One had a slow leak, and the tire shop said its due to a corroded bead seat area... They left the tire off, and I am going to try to fix that...

I do have my Rallys from my convertible, but not sure I want to go back (I have a potential buyer for those too).

thats great cant wait to see more pics of it when you get it home

thats great cant wait to see more pics of it when you get it home

Got it home, took lots of pictures so far... Just haven't had time to down-load them from the camera...

Congratulations, Tony! I think the original Aztec Bronze and two tone Fawn interior would be awesome. :)


Tony, What AZ said !!!! Keep the bench seat

BTW a friend in Buffalo area with a concours 999 point Aztec Bronze SS ( he's original owner) is working on a 66 Aztec Bronze wagon right now , you dont happen to have or know of a original roof rack do you ?? Also if you find you need a dash harness I have an original almost perfect bench seat std dash harness

Bill

Tony, What AZ said !!!! Keep the bench seat

BTW a friend in Buffalo area with a concours 999 point Aztec Bronze SS ( he's original owner) is working on a 66 Aztec Bronze wagon right now , you dont happen to have or know of a original roof rack do you ?? Also if you find you need a dash harness I have an original almost perfect bench seat std dash harness

Bill

Sorry Bill, Don't have any leads on a roof rack... I thought I'd want one too, but not sure...


As for the "bench" seat. Not sure what I will do... This car is already pretty far from stock, and the original bench is broken (the back doesn't offer ANY support)...

The color too... I spent some time on Sunday rubbing out/polishing the paint. With it nice and shiny, I am beginning to like the Aztec more and more...


Of course, polishing the paint shows all the blemishes (its a crappy repaint, but I knew that)...

Added a new cap/rotor/wires/plugs, rewired the distributor (its an HEI, and was using the factory "resistor" wire for power), and swapped on a rebuilt carb. I need to check the timing. Runs okay, and pulls pretty well (I think they are 3.31 gears).

I also removed a bunch of "extra" wiring. Apparently, a previous owner hooked up an aftermarket cruise control setup. When I first saw all the wires I was worried. Not, I see the engine compartment wiring is pretty nice. The oil Pressure wire was cut, new "crimped" connectors on the alternator, and the started wires were spliced, but otherwise looks good.

Under the dash, not as nice, but mostly from an aftermarket stereo installation...

PO drilled some 1/2" holes in the trans tunnel (mounts for something, with rubber plugs)...

Hey Tony cool project regardless of how you do it .......everyone seems to be getting a 66 wagon these days .....also Aztec Bronze seems to making a comeback more guys thinking orf returning their cars to that color , actually I'd be just as happy if they did not would make mine a litle more unique .but done right it's a great color .

.....everyone seems to be getting a 66 wagon these days ......

Yeah Bill, you're right. I just picked up a '66 last Saturday...Artisian Turqouise.

Nice score Tony...welcome to the wagon "club"! :thumbsup: