Station wagons were the quintessential family-haulers before the sport-utility vehicle boom – and even before minivans got much of a foothold in the market. One of the wagon offerings from General Motors in the 1980s was a rear-wheel-drive Pontiac, like today’s Pick of the Day: a 1984 Pontiac Parisienne Wagon listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Lenoir City, Tennessee.
“This car has a clean Carfax with no history of accidents or damage,” the listing begins. “The odometer reading has been documented over the years, and it’s a 64k-original-mile car.” Exterior upgrades include two-tone green and silver paint, new beltline moldings, and staggered 18-inch front and 20-inch rear Ridler wheels.
The Parisienne (a word that refers to a Parisian woman) rode on the General Motors full-sized B-platform when it was sold in the United States from 1983 through 1986. Under its skin (and let’s be honest, even on the surface), it was nearly identical to the Chevrolet Caprice. The car was available as a coupe, sedan, and station wagon — and it could be optioned with a variety of V6 or V8 engines throughout its model run.
One of the magazine advertisements from the era said, “Few cars today can offer you the size, the luxury, and the confidence of the Parisienne.” It went on to say, “The Parisienne is expressly for those who prefer a full-sized formal sedan. It’s luxury, the way Pontiac defines it — distinctively styled, richly detailed, and gracefully confident on the open road.”
With that kind of description, it’s no wonder Pontiac chose an elegant name like Parisienne for the car. In line with the luxurious objective, the interior of this example is upholstered in gray cloth and looks to be clean for the car’s age. Both of the rear rows of seating are capable of folding flat for maximum cargo space. Niceties for the time include woodgrain trim, power windows, power door locks, a tilt wheel, and factory air conditioning. The selling dealer notes that the carpet and headliner are in good shape.
Power for the car comes from a four-barrel-carbureted 5.0-liter V8 mated to an automatic transmission. The seller says, “The steering is responsive, the engine runs excellently, and the transmission shifts smoothly. If you’re in the market for a nice cruiser wagon, then you don’t want to miss this one.”
Few people bought station wagons with the intent of preserving them long-term, but somehow, this Parisienne Wagon looks fabulous at age 42.
The asking price is $15,995.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
