If you read the big car magazines or watch the Speed Channel, you are probably familiar with the otherworldly classic and muscle cars bringing the six-figure money. And maybe you said to yourself, “Sheesh, I’d like to see those kinds of cars in person.”
It turns out there is a place in Bonner Springs, Kan., that specializes in those very types of cars. On any given day, Wagner’s Classic Cars will have a fresh supply of Hemi Cudas, 409 Chevys, and magazine-worthy customs.
Wagner’s is located on East Front Street in Bonner Springs at the site of an old Ford dealership. Decorated with a black and white checkered floor and plenty of neon lights, the showroom is packed from one end to the other with cars so dazzling, you’re surprised you are allowed to stand so close to them.
The selection was a little light when we visited over the weekend, because several of the cars had been shipped to a classic car auction in Texas. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t anything there to look at. Take this little yellow ’72 Pontiac convertible. They’re asking $165,000 for it, but it isn’t a GTO. This is a rare LeMans GT. Wagner’s claims it is the only one left out of five built.
Of course, my dad gravitated toward this ’50 Oldsmobile 88. He’s an Oldsmobile nut anyway, and this was a pretty nice one. It had all the stuff—303-c.i. Rocket 88 under the hood, the right body style, nice interior. There were a few things that were less than perfect, but if it was perfect, it wouldn’t be any fun anyway. This car could make a neat driver, and far more unusual than a comparable Chevy at the local cruise night. I can see why dad kept coming back to it.
We also got to see a few of the works-in-progress back in Wagner’s body shop. These guys can do everything from fix a door ding in your Chevy Cavalier to complete a high-end restoration or complete hot rod. In this case, they were putting the finishing touches on a really pretty ’69 Camaro Yenko clone, which will soon be delivered to the owner of Lucas Oil Products. They had done some nice paintwork on this car, even in places that you’ll never see again once it gets put back together.
I try and make Wagner’s a regular stop, because there always seems to be something new and different. Check out the pictures of some of the stuff that was in the showroom over the weekend in the
following slideshow, and try and make it a point to treat yourself to a personal tour sometime soon.
And for a better version of the slideshow, click this link.
Of course, my dad gravitated toward this ’50 Oldsmobile 88. He’s an Oldsmobile nut anyway, and this was a pretty nice one. It had all the stuff—303-c.i. Rocket 88 under the hood, the right body style, nice interior. There were a few things that were less than perfect, but if it was perfect, it wouldn’t be any fun anyway. This car could make a neat driver, and far more unusual than a comparable Chevy at the local cruise night. I can see why dad kept coming back to it. 
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