Hey guys, just bought a 1971 Chevrolet Kingwood Wagon thats a real ugly lime green lol its an original 396/402 car A/C, PB,PS car, its got probably 8 leafs on the spring in the back, this car needs some work though such as possible 2 new fenders or patches at the doglegs, then it needs something for the rear tailgate i dont know whats wrong with it but it doesnt go down but the rear window works and goes in the roof really nice its an automatic, this car has 160,000 miles how rare are they can someone let me know cause im either gonna sell it, part it out, derby it and save the engine and trans, or just save the engine and trans and sell it can someone let me know i would love to fix this thing up cause its so cool thanks alot guys Ryan:thumbsup:

lots and lots of good parts on that thing, should have a 12-bolt rear also, gears would be good for something.

Those things came standard with a power rear window that went up into the roof, but the tailgate could either be a counterbalanced manual tailgate that goes into the floor, or an optional power tailgate. When you turn the outside tailgate key the window goes into the roof, by turning one more click the tailgate is unlocked, drops down part way and needs to be pushed down manually the rest of the way (if a manual version). Perhaps your car has the tailgate off it's tracks. The tailgates normally were not hard to push or pull.

Those things are heavy but pretty tough. They came with a 125" wheelbase and were about 80" wide.

The dash pads all crack.

It has a variable ratio power steering box.

The rear ends I thought were not the bonafide 12-bolt rears, but rather the odd 8.75" 10-bolt that used 12-bolt parts inside. Fairly tough, though pretty wide, and in this case uses leaf spring mounts.

The bolt circle on the wheels is larger than what was typically used on passenger cars, but Chevy truck wheels work well (the Chevy truck Rally Wheels)

Those big wagons became the darling of the smashup derbys. There may be a small following for those wagons, and good ones are getting scarce. I just don't think that it makes sense for the average person to restore one. Still if it's not too bad overall, it would be a shame to junk it for parts (that's what happened to probably 750,000 of them already).

Here's a link to a GM brochure (http://oldcarbrochures.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=26743&g2_serialNumber=2)pic of a '71 Kingswood Estate & oddly enough a '70 Chevelle Concours wagon being passed off as a '71

In 1971 when I was 15 1/2 and getting ready to get my license my dad sold his 65 Olds 442 with the bucket seats, console tach, full gauges, police suspension, th400, 3.55 posi and 400 ci motor.(His secretary's dad had an Olds dealership) I wanted that car real bad.

He bought a 1971 Kingswood Estate family truckster with the 365 hp 454.

Boy was I pissed....Now that I'm a father I understand...lol.

That wagon did surprise a few as from 30 to 80 it pulled like a train...while weighing only a bit less.

I got something eventually as he drove that car for 20 years and when it dropped I got the motor and tranny...rebuilt both up a bit and dropped them into my Chevelle. Ran them for years until I scored the LS6 w/3000 miles for $1200 in 93 from my ex father in law.

There's demand for them. People overlooked these cars and have only recently realized how cool they are. I'd try to sell it complete. I own a '72 Olds Vista Cruiser and people freak when they see it.

Keep the poor car. It's special.

It's been a looong time, but if i recall correctly there is an electric motor, similar to a power window motor that drives the tailgate with a cable. I think it is down in the lower 1/4 panel.
Paul

thanks guys the guy that owned it said it operated through the key on the outside both the window and tailgate then he said he started having trouble with it ill have to figure it out when we git r home i think it has a 10 bolt cause i looked down under it and the way the bolts on the rear end were spaced it looked like a 10 bolt but it has to be a heavy duty rear end being a big block full sized wagon i cant wait i hope my dad decides to keep it and fix it up i like it but its the ugliest color you can get its like a puke green or lime green i think were gonna paint it white or maybe a red or blue or even ash gold:thumbsup: this is one of my favorite body styles i like 68 first, then 67 then 71, then 73-75

I think the Impala bolt pattern was still the same 5 4 3/4 bolt spacing. Didnt they go to 5x5 pattern in the mid to late 70s?

70's had the 5x4.75-pattern
71 got the 5x5-pattern

Maybe you should also get a new computer keyword - one that has punctuation marks on it.

Ryan, that sounds like it will be a fun ride when you finish. Good luck.

Thanks for your input guys i really apprieciate it, oh and clark were you talkin to me man about punctuation because i like to get the the point quick without any frickin periods and commas getting in the way of speed