Wood or no wood?

Is a RMW worth more with or without the woodgrain? Mine is damaged down one side wondered if it would be worth it to try and put all new vinyl on it and attempt to restore all peeling trim or have it all removed and paint it one color. Wondering would my dollars be better spent keeping it original or just delete the wood?

I wouldn't look at worth to make that decision, it's purely a personal preference.
Wood delete Buicks are less common, but some people like the nostalgia of having a "woody".
Do what you want to do with your car.... It's your car.

Mike

These cars are not desirable collectibles to the majority of the automotive world, it does not matter. Like Mike said, personal preference.

Gastt wrote:

These cars are not desirable collectibles to the majority of the automotive world, it does not matter. Like Mike said, personal preference.

These wagons especially the woodys are quickly becoming a modern day collectible due to the hoards of baby boomers who remember growing up in the back of them.All station wagons are now collectible with these being the most appealing to those who dont want to sacrifice any of the modern options such as ABS,AC,power windows,RWD and many other comforts.The fact that they are so good looking helps too!

IF the car is in mint condition otherwise, with very low miles and great maintenance history, then it's worth it. If not, don't worry about it. Ebay buyers are only going crazy over the mint ones.

The stock trim is way too delicate to survive outside of the garage. Just take yours off, strip it and paint it. I used Rustoleum Painter's Touch "Nutmeg" color and then had a shop spray a real good satin clearcoat over it and it looks great to this day.

Take it off. Best mod that can be done to these wagons I see in your avatar pic that you have the super common white/wood combo.

On a serious note, I agree with the others, the choice is up to you.

These wagons are only popular among a small group of people that like them. The majority of wagon folk would rather have the older ones.

I am sort of on the fence about the same topic. My wood has a few areas where it's curling up a bit. I was wondering if there is any product we should/could use on it to keep it from drying out or cracking? I am not able to get it into the garage at this point, so it's outdoors for now.

I would be open to having someone paint a faux wood onto the sides if they could show me a good example of their work, but that would likely be a bit pricey for quality work...

Just to chime in here, my woody Roadmaster gets a LOT more smiles, thumbs-up, and positive comments than my woodless '92 Olds Custom Cruiser got. I loved both cars, and the OCC was actually in better shape than the Roady, but the wood just seems to make the car stand out a lot more than the woodless cars.

Like the folks have said, it's up to you. I'd still love to have a black woodless Roady someday, but as far as VALUE goes, I think the wood wagons will be easier to sell and worth more in the future, if that is the goal.

-Mike

What wood you do?


Meh. Leave it if you like it, but they don't make the original vinyl anymore. You can get other woodgrain vinyls, though.

200OZ wrote:

I wouldn't look at worth to make that decision, it's purely a personal preference.
Wood delete Buicks are less common, but some people like the nostalgia of having a "woody".
Do what you want to do with your car.... It's your car.

Mike

I couldn't say it any better.


these cars ARE NOT collectors items.

none of us will own them long enough nor will ours be in good enough shape to be a REAL collector car.

what they are is nice old fashioned cars, the last vestige of what was great about GM cars.

My car is a factory wood delete car, and that is how I like it. I waited until I could get one. I think they look cleaner, and for an everyday driver, they require less maintenance. It is my wife's driver, and she gets stopped at least once a week and asked about it. But, like everyone says, it's your car, and do what you like.

I plan on keeping mine until it is a collector car. Your wagon your choice.

I will note that of all the Chryslers cranked out on the k frame in the early 80's, only the woodgrain versions have value especially the stupid money folks shell out for the woodgrain convertible. Modern collectible already and really due to the unique wood grain applique.

Or, could the non wood be more collectible because they are rarer? Either way, they are fun, practical cars that will certainly go up in value over time. Find a nice rust free example, keep it nice, and enjoy!

dont forget if you get rid of the wood you will have some body work to do when you remove the studs that hold the trim that goes around the wood

frederickflintstone wrote:

200OZ wrote:

I wouldn't look at worth to make that decision, it's purely a personal preference.
Wood delete Buicks are less common, but some people like the nostalgia of having a "woody".
Do what you want to do with your car.... It's your car.

Mike

I couldn't say it any better.


these cars ARE NOT collectors items.

none of us will own them long enough nor will ours be in good enough shape to be a REAL collector car.

what they are is nice old fashioned cars, the last vestige of what was great about GM cars.

Speak for yourself,plan on keeping my wagon forever and to us and many others they are already collectible.Watch all of the Mecum and Barrett Jackson auctions and the american made wagons always have very active bidding!The performance cars being built today are superior in every way compared to any of the "old fashion" cars from their past.Today is the golden era of american performance cars.As far as the "shape"of these wagons go,many are in superb condition and better than knew.They ride,run and handle MUCH better than new and are anything BUT "old fashion".

Flasheroo wrote:

frederickflintstone wrote:

200OZ wrote:

I wouldn't look at worth to make that decision, it's purely a personal preference.
Wood delete Buicks are less common, but some people like the nostalgia of having a "woody".
Do what you want to do with your car.... It's your car.

Mike

I couldn't say it any better.


these cars ARE NOT collectors items.

none of us will own them long enough nor will ours be in good enough shape to be a REAL collector car.

what they are is nice old fashioned cars, the last vestige of what was great about GM cars.

Speak for yourself,plan on keeping my wagon forever and to us and many others they are already collectible.Watch all of the Mecum and Barrett Jackson auctions and the american made wagons always have very active bidding!The performance cars being built today are superior in every way compared to any of the "old fashion" cars from their past.Today is the golden era of american performance cars.As far as the "shape"of these wagons go,many are in superb condition and better than knew.They ride,run and handle MUCH better than new and are anything BUT "old fashion".

Having owned a few mildly collectable cars in the past I stand behind everything I write. Most people do not keep cars forever. I do not have any of the collector cars I once had, and because like many here I like to make my car my own none of my cars would command high dollar due to their lack of originality.

Life gets in the way of what you plan to do. I planned on being retired by now. 911 happened and my income has done nothing but go down ever since. I now make what I did in 1984. My net worth is half what it was pre 911.

Would a sub 50k mile all original RMW be worth some coin at some point in time? Yes. Will it be worth more than a similar condition corvette of the same vintage? Unlikely.

My entire life I have wanted a 65 vette convertible. When a driver quality car was 5K I had 4K, when I had 8k to blow they were 10K. I spent less than 3k on my RMW. 3k won’t even buy you the world’s worst 1984 vette.

They are nice cars, they ride nice, and they can be modded to be awesome cars. Will they cost more in the future? Yes. Are they collectable? No, they are not limited production collectable autos.

Look at the original window sticker on your wagon, how may years do you think it will take before it is worth what it cost new? By then what will that money get you? A compact kia?

Almost traded my 1972 750 kawasaki for a 65 corvette convertible with a 396 as I recall EVEN UP until his wife came home.That was back in 1974 when everything was cheap.Vette was rough but had the factory sidepipes and ran good.Probably was for the best since I was 18 and I would have gotten into trouble with the vette.Those were the days,maybe I should have said Affordable Collectibles.

Flasheroo wrote:

Almost traded my 1972 750 kawasaki for a 65 corvette convertible with a 396 as I recall EVEN UP until his wife came home.That was back in 1974 when everything was cheap.Vette was rough but had the factory sidepipes and ran good.Probably was for the best since I was 18 and I would have gotten into trouble with the vette.Those were the days,maybe I should have said Affordable Collectibles.

yeah affordable collectable would be more accurate.
if that 750 was the 2 stroke triple that would be worth some coin now. although the vette would be 5-10 times more.
your just a few years older than me but I remember in my freshman year of collage lusting over an immaculate 69 Chevelle SS for $1,500 thinking I could never get that much money together.

I was drawn to the LT1 RMW for both its practicality and affordability. I thought it represented a great value in a what I call "old school" V8 RWD car.  

I became a dad late in life and I am trying to give my 8 year old son a piece of the childhood I remember. (maybe I will get out the "jarts")

frederickflintstone wrote:

Flasheroo wrote:

Almost traded my 1972 750 kawasaki for a 65 corvette convertible with a 396 as I recall EVEN UP until his wife came home.That was back in 1974 when everything was cheap.Vette was rough but had the factory sidepipes and ran good.Probably was for the best since I was 18 and I would have gotten into trouble with the vette.Those were the days,maybe I should have said Affordable Collectibles.

yeah affordable collectable would be more accurate.
if that 750 was the 2 stroke triple that would be worth some coin now. although the vette would be 5-10 times more.
your just a few years older than me but I remember in my freshman year of collage lusting over an immaculate 69 Chevelle SS for $1,500 thinking I could never get that much money together.

I was drawn to the LT1 RMW for both its practicality and affordability. I thought it represented a great value in a what I call "old school" V8 RWD car.  

I became a dad late in life and I am trying to give my 8 year old son a piece of the childhood I remember. (maybe I will get out the "jarts")

Yes it was a giant 2 stroke that scared me every time I rode it,really liked how the front tire never wore out since it rarely touched the road.When I was 15 I talked a friend into taking me to check out this 2 seat sports car with a small  V8 made by ford.Owner only wanted 1500 dollars for the british car with a ford engine called the Cobra,when I went back with my lawn mowing money my father drove.As soon as we pulled into the owners driveway Pop saw the car and immeidiately stuck the wagon in reverse as he yelled "No Damn Way"

frederickflintstone wrote:

Flasheroo wrote:

Almost traded my 1972 750 kawasaki for a 65 corvette convertible with a 396 as I recall EVEN UP until his wife came home.That was back in 1974 when everything was cheap.Vette was rough but had the factory sidepipes and ran good.Probably was for the best since I was 18 and I would have gotten into trouble with the vette.Those were the days,maybe I should have said Affordable Collectibles.

yeah affordable collectable would be more accurate.
if that 750 was the 2 stroke triple that would be worth some coin now. although the vette would be 5-10 times more.
your just a few years older than me but I remember in my freshman year of collage lusting over an immaculate 69 Chevelle SS for $1,500 thinking I could never get that much money together.

I was drawn to the LT1 RMW for both its practicality and affordability. I thought it represented a great value in a what I call "old school" V8 RWD car.  

I became a dad late in life and I am trying to give my 8 year old son a piece of the childhood I remember. (maybe I will get out the "jarts")

Ditto for me my son is 9...

bamalongroof wrote:

Ditto for me my son is 9...

WOW! thought I was an old codger at 52 with a 8 year old!

on the plus side my kids friends moms are pretty hot by comparison, and they all love a man who takes care of his kid.....

frederickflintstone wrote:

bamalongroof wrote:

Ditto for me my son is 9...

WOW!  thought I was an old codger at 52 with a 8 year old!

on the plus side my kids friends moms are pretty hot by comparison, and they all love a man who takes care of his kid.....

Old codger??  jeez,.  my youngest is 10 and i,m 57,...

Not too many younger guys keep up with me,. whether its with 48 ton of logs on a set of super B's coming out of some steep terrain in the middle of winter, or just cruising around the track in the wagon,..

you're only as old as you want to be,.
growing up is optional,.

and for the record we all know that woody wagons suck,. and tbi woody wagons suck worse,.



Nick
double thick flame suit on,..

I,m pretty sure my old GSX-R 1100 would run away from any two stroke joke,..

200OZ wrote:

but some people like the nostalgia of having a "woody".  

So many jokes there.. so many jokes.

 For the record, the older you get, the more nostalgic  about having a "Woody" you become, and then you forget why you wanted it.

It's your car, do with it what you want.


As far as you other guys, you really waited before you had children! I thought my old man was old, he's 55 at the end of the month and I'm 24!

200OZ wrote:
but some people like the nostalgia of having a "woody".  

Lakeffect wrote:

So many jokes there.. so many jokes.

For the record, the older you get, the more nostalgic  about having a "Woody" you become, and then you forget why you wanted it.

Dave that's pure comedic gold there

Thank you.