In May, 1998, an entire issue of Custom Rodder was devoted to station wagons. The May, 1998 issue of Car Craft had an article in it about the "Top Station Wagons Of All Time." The same month's issue of Chevy High Performance had two articles about a total of seven station wagons. Any magazine in the old car hobby worth its salt has run an article on station wagons recently. Why?

The station wagon was almost always the top car in an automakers line. A station wagon was a more expensive car than a two-door hardtop or a convertable. Recently, however, American automakers have ceased production of station wagons (at least the car-based ones). The car was the top of the line and it is no longer being produced. Like the Woody, before it, the station wagon is now popular. The station wagon is practical as well. Not only does it hold more people/cargo than a two-door hardtop or a convertible, but, unlike the Woody, which was very heavy, it can be fast. Enlightened drag racers have known for years that the wagon's rearward weight bias allows it to hook-up better than other body styles. For examples of people who are in the know, go to Long Roof Racing

I would blame my love of station wagons on living around surfers in Southern California if I could, but it wouldn't be true. I loved station wagons long before I lived in So. Cal. Besides, most of the surfers I knew were too young to appreciate American Iron. They drove lowered Japanese Mini-Trucks. After I got married and had my first child my affliction with station wagons relapsed. I remember being in the parking lot of Pep Boys and thinking that what I really needed was a `60's era station wagon. A few years later I found the wagon I drive today.

When I was a kid we took cross-country trips at night. When we had a station wagon, my dad would lay down the back seats so that my brother and I could sleep in the back while he drove. When I wasn't asleep, I would lay there and look at the stars. At one time we had an Olds Vista Cruiser and I can remember watching the stars through the window in the roof. I called it my "interstellar observation port."

As a kid, when I was asked what my favorite car was I would reply; "a station wagon." I enjoyed riding in the two-door hardtops we had, but I liked the roominess and the adapatability of station wagons -- It wasn't until later that I discovered that a station wagon's rear weight bias helps it handle well when pushed hard and "hook-up" well when drag raced. I am partial to Intermediate sized station wagons.

Here is our station wagon. I bought it for $5. It is our only car and we have taken two vacations in it.

Check out this wagon! It has a 4-speed manual transmission from the factory! In addition, this original owner `64 Chevelle only has 88,000 original miles!
 

Truck-based Station Waogns

Links

National Woodie Club

The Land Yacht Marina's Station Wagon Page

Column about station wagons

Nomad Page

`66 Impala Wagon Page

Model A Station Wagon

Nova Wagon Page -- Did you know that some of them had third seats?

Chevelle Wagon Page

Vista Cruiser Online

A very interesting paper about station wagons

Truck-Based Station Wagons.

The original Station Wagons were trucks. It wasn't until about 1939 that the automobile manufacturers started producing car based station wagons. In addition, these were woodies. There were no all-steel car-based station wagons until 1948. American car-based station wagons are no longer produced. If you want to buy a new American station wagon today, you have to buy a truck. If you want an American 9-passenger station wagon, you have only one choice: The Chevrolet/GMC Suburban (if you can settle for an 8-passenger, there is the Dodge Durango as well).

Thanks to David Miller I have finally found a page for Old Chevrolet Suburbans.  Does anyone know of any others? The Chevrolet Suburban has been in continuous prodution as an all-steel wagon since 1935!

David Miller's Truck-based Woodie Wagon Page

Dodge Town Wagon and Panel Page

The Unofficial Dodge Town Wagon and Panel Page

1968 International Harvester Travelall 1200

1973 International Harvester Travelall

Dodge Durango page?

Land Rover Web The short-wheelbase Land Rover Station Wagon holds 7 people and the long-wheelbase Station Wagon holds 10-12! These British Station Wagons (as well as Hard Tops, Soft Tops, and Pick-Ups) are amazing utility vehicles. 

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