Let's get it out in the open-wagons are cool. They don't come much more chilled than Sebastopol, California's Perry and Carie Sparkman's '60 Kingswood Estate cruiser. What makes this wagon desirable isn't just the striking Dodge Viper Red paint job or the immaculate attention to detail-it's the vision behind its creation.
It all began when the Sparkmans were expecting their first baby boy, and they realized the need for a family oriented vehicle. Not wanting to be a carbon-copy of every other parent who plunked down coin for an oversized SUV, Perry suggested building a wagon. While Carie initially cringed at the thought of cruising in a wood-paneled Brady Bunch mobile, Perry was quick to allay any fears by showing her what he had planned.
They searched the Internet, but found just what they wanted locally-a 20-foot-long Kingswood. The old-school wagon was completely intact, the body was straight, and it still ran under its own power. Although it was more than a little weathered, the miles of chrome and aluminum trim easily made it worth the $2,500 the Sparkman's traded for the pink slip.
Perry had just six months to complete the project. That meant the entire drivetrain, paint, interior, and suspension had to be working harmoniously. After all, the wagon would need to reliably transport both mom and newborn son. Unfortunately, like so many projects like this, the hours of wrenching didn't allow the project to be completed in time. Instead, it wasn't until 17 months later that the Kingswood was reborn. Despite the delay, the wagon turned out exceptional.
Powering this sled is a 283ci small-block outfitted with a 600-cfmEdelbrock carb and Edelbrock Performer manifold, while exhaust dutiesare relegated to a coated set of Hooker 15/8-inch headers that exit to21/2-inch piping and two-chamber Flowmaster mufflers.
We like that the Sparkman's elected to take a different approach for their transportation. We'd venture to say that Carie will be the coolest mom on the block.
Car Craft Q&A
Car Craft: Any particular reason you chose to build a Kingswood?
Perry Sebastopol: We looked at many different styles of wagons, but when we saw the incredible bodylines, the extended fins, and overall styling, we knew this was the one for us.
CC: Does the wagon really get driven as it was originally intended to be?
PS: We drive the car often, however since we just recently finished it, we're planning on entering several car shows throughout the summer. After that it'll become her daily driver.
CC: What car have you been using to carry the newborn around in while completing the project?
PS: We temporarily purchased a four-door, and let's just say Carie is looking forward to seeing it go.
CC: Do you have any changes in mind for the wagon?
PS: There's a chance we might install an air conditioning system. We have it in all of our other cars, but hardly use it. But, it may be different with the baby, so if it becomes a necessity then that'll be our next priority.