Car: Chevrolet Kingswood Estate Station Wagon

Year: 1970

What makes it special: The Kingswood was a 4-door station wagon produced by Chevrolet in 1959 and 1960, built on the GM A Body platform, and again from 1969 to 1972 built on the GM B Body platform. General Motors discontinued the Chevrolet Kingswood wagon nameplate after only two years. The Kingswood name returned for the 1969 model year, based on the Impala, and was available only with a V8. It slotted above the Chevrolet Townsman, a Caprice-based Kingswood Estate model was added at the top of the range with exterior woodgrain paneling. 

What made it famous: Throughout this period, the Kingswood was available in both two- and three-seat models; a power rear window was initially standard equipment for the latter and optional for the former. Buyers could choose from a full-range of small and big-block V8’s, all the way up to the same basic 396 V8 that powered muscle coupes like the Chevelle. a few 427-equipped wagons were built, and some ’70-’71 wagons were equipped with the 454 V8, with dual-exhaust and a posi-traction rear.

Why I would want one: Wagon’s have gained popularity over the last few years, either for nostalgia purposes, surfer-customs and even have joined the ranks of street-rod material.

Fun fact: By the 1972 and final model year, the wheelbase had grown to a huge 125.1 inches.
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Car: Studebaker President Land Cruiser

Year: 1934

What makes it special: The Land Cruiser was produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from 1934-1954. The Land Cruiser debuted at the World’s Fair alongside the Silver Arrow, a product of Studebaker’s former premium make Pierce-Arrow. It was also manufactured in Vernon, California. The Land Cruiser was introduced at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair as an extensively streamlined sedan. Many of the same aerodynamic features of the car were shared with Pierce-Arrow’s Silver Arrow show car that also debuted at the fair.

What made it famous: The 1934 Studebaker Land Cruiser was one of the streamlined cars of the era, much like the Chrysler Airflow. It had a smooth trunk deck, a five-piece rear window, skirted fenders, teardrop headlamps, and horizontal hood slats. The Land Cruiser body was available as a Commander and the upscale President. The Land Cruiser body was available for the 1935 model year before being dropped. It was powered by an L-Head inline cast iron 8 cylinder engine with aluminum heads, creating 103 hp at 3,800 rpm.

Why I would want one: Again, this car goes under the heading of “something different.” It’s not often you see a Studebaker in a car show, it’s even more rare to see a streamlined version from the early 30’s.

Fun fact: The Land Cruiser name was used by Japanese automaker Toyota for the name of it’s new off-road vehicle beginning in 1957.
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Car: Plymouth Road Runner Coupe

Year: 1970

What makes it special: Plymouths Road Runner was a mid-size car with a focus on performance built between 1968 and 1980. By 1968, some of the original muscle cars were moving away from their roots as relatively cheap, fast cars as they gained features and increased in price. Plymouth developed the Road Runner to market a lower priced, basic trim model to its upscale GTX.

What made it famous: The 1970 model year brought new front and rear end looks to the basic 1968 body. Updates included a new grille, a cloth & vinyl bench seat, hood, front fenders, quarter panels, single-piston Kelsey-Hayes disc brakes improving from the small-rotor Bendix 4 piston calipers of ’68 – ’69, and even non-functional scoops in the rear quarters. The design and functionality of the Air Grabber option was changed. A switch below the dash actuated a vacuum servo to slowly raise the forward-facing scoop, exposing shark-like teeth on either side. “High Impact” colors, with names like In-Violet, Moulin Rouge, and Vitamin C, were options available for that year. The engine lineup was left unchanged although a heavy-duty 3-speed manual became the standard transmission, relegating the 4-speed to the option list along with the TorqueFlite automatic. This was to be the second and last year of the Road Runner convertible, with only 834 made. The new high-back bucket seats shared with other Chrysler products which featured built-in headrests. The 440 Six Barrel remained an option for 1970. The 1969 “M” Code Edelbrock aluminum intake was replaced by a factory-produced cast iron piece; however there were some early cars built prior to January 1, 1970 that were equipped with the left over aluminum Edelbrock intake from the year prior.

Why I would want one: It’s probably one of the most famous muscle car models of all time.

Fun fact: Plymouth paid $50,000 to Warner Bros.-Seven Arts to use the Road Runner name and likeness from their Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner cartoons, as well as a “beep, beep” horn, which Plymouth paid $10,000 to develop. The Road Runner was based on the Chrysler B platform, the same as the Belvedere and Satellite, as a back-to-basics mid-size performance car.

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