Nothing screams land-yacht quite like the 1970 Impala Kingswood wagon that was recently available on eBay Motors. The 17-and-a-half-foot, nine-passenger Chevy Kingswood wagon was introduced in 1959. The ultra-long Chevy looks glorious.
The modded muscular wagon now also boasts a whopping 461-horsepower engine. But how do you improve the way it steers and handles?
item 1 of 9
Station wagons in the 1960s and 1970s were family-haulers extraordinaire. They offered two or three rows of bench seats. The cavernous trunk space is accessible from a fold-down tailgate.
These wagons were mostly based on similar four-door car models. Automakers reshaped the sheet metal by stretching the side slabs and elongating the roof. The station wagons were surrounded by miles of window glass.
However, maneuvering a Kingswood wagon can be a chore. Parking? Fugetaboutit.
It Rides on Air
A GM dealership master tech used this Kingswood wagon as his personal ride. That put him in a great position to see how suspension technology has dramatically improved over the past 50 years. After all, this Chevrolet Impala Kingswood is 50 years old.
With its new Ridetech air suspension - opens in new window or tab., a pilot of this wagon can adjust the ride height on the fly. The restomod features a dashboard controller for the four-corner air suspension. There are also switches for the fuel pump and two electric cooling fans.
The new tech makes a big difference with handling varied road surfaces. The seller states:
The result is a car that handles like something half of its size and still has excellent highway manners.
When loading up the back on a hauling run, you can pump up the height of the Kingswood wagon's rear end. After arriving to a car show, the wagon can drop down into the weeds.
A Kingswood Wagon with Size, Control and Power
The Ridetech gear combines with a new Hotchkis suspension - opens in new window or tab. for improved lateral control. And Wilwood disc brakes - opens in new window or tab. (with drilled and crosscut rotors) enable more precise stopping for the muscular wagon.
Raw power was never the issue for Chevrolet Impala Kingswood wagons. They all came with V-8 engines. Displacement ranged between 350 cubic inches, 400 ci, and 454 cubic inches.
The example on eBay was upgraded to a 502 big block with fuel injection. The listing indicates the wagon’s output at an insane 461 horsepower and 558 pound-feet of torque. The engine hooks up to a traditional 700R4 automatic transmission.
A 502 big block moves this beast down the road.
The seller testifies:
Push the right foot all the way down, and you will have plenty of reserves to burn the tires or frighten your passengers. This beast will get up and go!
Classic Wagons Over Modern SUVs
The wagon for sale on eBay is nearly all original. So it has the expected nicks from five decades’ worth of family hauling on Indiana roads.
Back in the day, passengers sat next to each other on bench seats.
The Kingswood wagon's original butterscotch paint has a glowing patina. Glass, chrome, and aluminum are still in top shape. A new hood with an aggressive cowl - opens in new window or tab. and a gleaming new white roof complete the look. The interior is a well-preserved 1970 time capsule.
The cowl hood helps accent the station wagon’s long lines.
SUVs have since displaced station wagons - opens in new window or tab. (and cars) as the family mode for transportation. But this wagon harkens back to a time when folks sat side-by-side on vinyl bench seats. Big families could stretch out while mom or dad stomped on the accelerator.
An Impala Kingswood wagon can be enhanced in countless ways. eBay offers an endless supply of Kingswood parts and accessories to make it happen. And there are hundreds of other wagons available on eBay - opens in new window or tab. to help revive the era of the wagon.
About the author
Share your feedback
This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.