Crapwagon Outtake: 1967 Pontiac Stageway Airporter

Chris Tonn
by Chris Tonn

When I think of limousines, I think of high school and those classmates, who actually had dates to prom, enjoying a hired Lincoln or Cadillac. Dateless Chris worked on prom night, slinging hot doughnuts to hungry stoners and peace officers alike. I can perhaps stretch my perception of a limo to the lengthened sport utilities so often seen lately, as I’m sure body-on-frame trucks are easier to lengthen than unibody front-drive sedans.

However, if I see a stretched Porsche Macan hauling sweaty teens this May, I’ll likely throw my keyboard in disgust.

I struggle to imagine the typical use of today’s featured ride — a 1967 Pontiac Stageway Airporter. Horny high-schoolers in the “Summer of Love” were unlikely to enjoy four bench seats, though the station wagon cargo area could yield results.

I’m sure the answer to this cars purpose is in its name — Airporter — a ’60s shuttle bus for the jet age. I love the massive rooftop luggage rack, and wonder how much weight it could support as a parade float. Another option is as a professional car for funerals, so grieving family can take one last ride with the deceased.

I love that this eBay seller has included the original list price sheet. This 12-passenger wagon would have cost $8,000 when new, but only offered seatbelts for two front-seat occupants. Each additional belt was $8.12. The rear air conditioner was another $709.63.

The Armbruster-Stageway company is still building professional cars in Arkansas, primarily based on the customary Cadillac rather than some dead brand. Thank goodness for that, as nobody wants their loved one’s casket loaded into a stretched Pontiac G6.

Chris Tonn is a broke classic car enthusiast that writes about old cars, since he can’t afford to buy them. Commiserate with him on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Chris Tonn
Chris Tonn

Some enthusiasts say they were born with gasoline in their veins. Chris Tonn, on the other hand, had rust flakes in his eyes nearly since birth. Living in salty Ohio and being hopelessly addicted to vintage British and Japanese steel will do that to you. His work has appeared in eBay Motors, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars, Reader's Digest, AutoGuide, Family Handyman, and Jalopnik. He is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and he's currently looking for the safety glasses he just set down somewhere.

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  • Slave2anMG Slave2anMG on Feb 29, 2016

    Those of us Of A Certain Age will remember these "Airport Limo" beasts...the ones I recall seeing most in the metro NYC area were stretched Checker Marathon wagons. About 15 yards long with a turning circle just a bit better than that of the USS Missouri....

  • APaGttH APaGttH on Feb 29, 2016

    There is a silver one up for sale also - a '66. What are the odds!

  • THX1136 While reading the article a thought crossed my mind. Does Mexico have a fairly good charging infrastructure in place? Knowing that it is a bit poorer economy than the US relatively speaking, that thought along with who's buying came to mind.
  • Lou_BC Maybe if I ever buy a new car or CUV
  • Lou_BC How about telling China and Mexico, we'll accept 1 EV for every illegal you take off our hands ;)
  • Analoggrotto The original Tassos was likely conceived in one of these.
  • Lorenzo The unspoken killer is that batteries can't be repaired after a fender-bender and the cars are totaled by insurance companies. Very quickly, insurance premiums will be bigger than the the monthly payment, killing all sales. People will be snapping up all the clunkers Tim Healey can find.
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