Well…I’m late and I’m sorry! Things have been a little crazy at home and at work these last two weeks!
This is probably waaay to much verbiage…but once I start writing…I can’t stop. Not as interesting as a
Bewbz thread though.
Just wrapped up some travels that racked up around 3,500miles on the OCC in two weeks! Went up to WI (wife had a seminar) and then I headed up to VA Mike's place for some wagon work last weekend.
OCC turned 220K somewhere in IL on the way home from WI too. WHOO!
That is really how my love of wagons started too. Racking up the miles….long trips or quick weekend
getaways. My family was (and still is) addicted to the road. Growing up, we would wake up early (like
6am) on a Sat morning to the smell of bacon, eggs and biscuits. We knew Mom and Dad and plans for
a road trip. At that time we had a 77 Malibu wagon. Still love that body style to this date. Dad’s was
the ‘Nanna Yellow with tan interior. I remember staring at the headliner and the dotted pattern would
play tricks on your eyes if you didn’t blink. I also remember how flaky the rear cargo area plastic was
and got swatted a few times after drawing pictures with my fingernails in those panels. Whoops.
You can see my Mom in the front seat, I am in the back on this first pic. I remember that camper well!!
When that wagon retired, we had a Ford Granada (Fox body) Wagon for a spell. That only lasted a
couple years because Mom kinda had the front end sliced off by a truck. No one was hurt though. I
really didn’t like that wagon anyhow. Was too small!! Don't have a pic of this one...
As more siblings arrived, we went through a Minivan phase. My Dad switched from being a Chevy
Service Manager to a Chrysler Service Manager. So he brought home many a demo Van and I thought
they were “ok”. I always claimed the seat in the middle row, behind the driver. That way I had dibbs on
the climate control for the rear. Lol I'm the one in the hat...my little sister is dressed as a grape for Halloween. Lol
As Dad left Chrysler and moved back to GM, we needed a new family wagon. So in came a 1988 Caprice
Wagon. Light Blue, Wood, cloth interior and the Olds V8. Oh and it had Posi too I was nearing driving
age, so this is what I took my test in and did all my permit work in. I was in love.
I drove this in High School when I could pry it from Dad. If I had a reason (like an afterschool rehearsal)
to bring my Cello to school…I got to take the wagon. So, I made sure I got involved with every ensemble
I could. LOL!
As some of you know, I am a Cellist. So if you are familiar with that instrument, it takes up some room
in the car. (Especially when in a hard case) Well, with the wagon…I could easily fit a whole quartet with
stands in the cargo area and haul the players with ease. I became the “transporter” for many a gig.
When I left for college freshman year (University of Evansville) I was not able to take the wagon as it
needed to stay in KY with the family. My parents did partially gift me with a ’87 Cavalier (I only had
to come up with a couple hundred and ins funds) to get around school and to Symphony gigs in the
surrounding areas.
Yeah, it was small….and used more oil than gas…but I loved that little car. Was not the best “gig
transporter” or road trip car though. You felt every mile. Engine has 240k on it when I got it, so I was
rooting for it to hit 300K. Nearly did that before I sold it too...about 6k shy.
Freshman year was over, and it found me moving back to Louisville. I started attending the University
of Louisville School of Music. Since I was back in my hometown, I starting playing all the usual gigs again
and quickly found I needed to transport additional players and equipment.
I always had a longing for a 90’s B-body wagons. I wanted a tan one, with the Vista roof and it HAD to have wood. Well, after a
couple of weeks…one was traded in at my Father’s workplace. Elderly couple traded it in for a Tahoe
and if I wanted it, I had to move fast before it went to the Buy Here Pay Here Lot.
I sold my Cavalier, walked up to the Dealership and bought my first Roadmaster Wagon. 1992 / 350 / 102k miles/ LDM and Tan Leather/ Towpack and Posi. Oh and WOOD! I literally bought the wagon and drove it off the lot straight on a music trip to Chapel Hill, NC. Didn’t have money for a hotel room, so I slept in it at a rest area. It was perfect! (Took Baroque cello lessons @ Chapel Hill once a month, so this was my pattern for quite some time.) These wagons are good sleepers.
Then I really started the traveling. Drove this wagon to every state in the US except for Washington,
Idaho, Oregon and Montana. I still had my lead foot in those years and went through 2 Transmissions
and one set of rear gears. Was not afraid to tow anything or load up anything. The wagon kinda
identified me. They all knew I had the “Roadmaster”. To go for a ride, was to open yours elf up to a
whole new world. Haha.
I even put it to work one year during the KY Derby….I was living in Old Louisville (near the track) and
drove up and down 4th street offering to drive walkers to Churchill Downs for $1. Met some really
interesting people and did have enough cash for some beer and steak that night for my roommates and
myself.
I kept this wagon for about 5 years. It was approaching 250k but still ran like a top. Heck, most of
the mechanics were nearly new. What did it in was a certain ’96 Fleetwood Brougham spotted at
the lot. Had 37k on it and also had the infamous “LT1” I kept hearing about. Well, I test drove that
Fleetwood…and it was all over for my LO5. Looking back now, I wish I would have kept that wagon. Not
a spot of rust on it…and Id invested so much in parts at that point. But anyhow, I got the LT1 bug.
I don’t have a picture of the Fleetwood…as I lost a lot of pictures after a nasty divorce (those of you that
know me know the story). Anyhow, I loved the LT1…but missed the functionality of the Wagon. This is a '93...but mine was the same color combo and top.
Ended up selling that Caddy for more than I bought it for (to a guy who flew from LA to KY with $9,500
CASH taped to his thigh with duct tape. (Seriously)
Saw an ad on E-bay for a ’95 LDM RMW Limited that was local. Bid on it, but it did not hit the reserve.
Ended up talking to the owner and coming by his house. After some negotiation, I bought my first LT1
wagon!! I was again in heaven This was the Average Gold Woody (AGW)
At this point, I discovered the SS forum. Then I started with the whole “mods” thing. Intake, suspension
stuff, exhaust….I did get a bit carried away. I forgot about the joy of just driving a wagon….and got
obsessed with going faster and buying more goodies.
Then I decided I needed to buy a “daily driver” wagon so I could keep a project wagon for modding.
Fred hooked me up with a couple. A ’95 Caprice Wagon (which led me to know I am only a Roadmasterguy) and a ’95 Roadmaster WWW (which now belongs to my Dad and is his DD)
Here is a shot of it (Dad's wagon) when we passed through on the way home from WI a couple weeks ago. Up to 222k and running strong
He is planning a repaint for the front bumper and SS grille (took it off for now) Cara, Mom and Dad are in the pic.
__
I also owned a '95 RMS for a year...(another Fred find) Nice car, just not a wagon
At this point, I had been to WagonFest in NY and also visited Fred a few times for various other reasons.
He knew that my “dream” wagon would be a LDM WB4. Well, I got a call at work that he needed me
to inspect an auction car for him. Right up the street too. I’d done this before for him…so I said no
problem. Little did I know that he located my dream wagon! LOL! Needless to say, I bought it from him
as soon as the auction ended. ’96 LDM WB4 with cloth. Needed some work as it was used as a “farm
truck” in IN.
After lots of sweat and parts, it became my dream ride indeed.
Well, life gets really crazy and I am suddenly moving to SC. I knew this wagon would get torn up where
I would live at that time….needed cash in the bank since I really didn’t have a fulltime job yet. Lots of
uncertainty on the horizon. I put it up for sale. Guy who bought it actually turned around a few weeks
later and sold it again for twice the price he paid for it too. That was interesting. It does currently live
in LA with a LS7 and 6 speed in it. Sits in a garage next to the Hilton’s old Roadmaster Wagon. So, it has
the easy life now. I miss it a lot, but know I will have a wagon quite like that again.
Bought a little S10 truck and headed South to my new home. As soon as I could, I ditch that thing (sorry
Bill and TX Mike) I hated that S10.
I straight up traded a guy in town for his Dad’s 1992 Lincoln Town
Car. Much more my speed. I really liked this Lincoln honestly…but once again I lacked space to haul my
music life. I did work around this with some creative seat removal and packing. LOL!
Well it was time for a wagon again and VA Mike hooked me up. I was able to obtain my OCC (current
DD) from him a couple years ago. LO3, Tow pack and Posi…really nice wagon. I was done with the led
foot at this point. Really appreciated the cruising aspect again. Since we bought the wagon from him,
I’ve put about 45k on it. Replaced parts as I needed to and some just as preventative maintenance. My
wife and I love this wagon It will be with us for quite some time. Many memories have already been
made in it through our trips across the Southeast/East and Midwest so far. Plans are in the works for a
Grand Canyon or CA trip with it too.
You guys know about the Sedan Nosed Woody project from NDakota. Learned a good bit from it, and
also learned a lot about myself at the same time. It’s currently in storage and will show itself again one
day, but it is not the wagon I want to pour a lot more money into right now.
Jade was the wagon I should have held out for honestly. I was a bit impatient with getting another LT1
wagon project. We picked this one up last fall in Atlanta dirt cheap from a family that really loved it.
I’ve been moving all my good parts over to it from the other wagon. Engine, interior and other go fast
parts. 99% of you will hate the interior/exterior color combo. I like it and I think most of you might end
up liking it once you see it finished and in person someday. Keeping the wood (likely redoing it too),
polishing the trim…OCC front bumper, SS grille with billet insert and Buick emblem in the center, smooth
hood ornament and antenna hole….gotta figure out the wheels too.
Anyhow, that is it. If you read all that, you know a bit more about me...if not…I hope you liked the pics!
Wagons till death I say! WHOO!
Chris
Home 
Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:59 am
Got all that oil right off! 
