A Nostalgic History of the Station Wagon by The History Guy

[Jim B]

Thought people here would find this short video from The History Guy about station wagons interesting:

I remember when my family moved from East Texas to Miami that we did it in the early 1970s that we did it in a gold Chevrolet station wagon, and my dad ran his farrier service from a Ford Pinto station wagon (a 1975 I think, red with a black interior).  I currently own a 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTi station wagon.  I don't even think Volkswagen makes it anymore.

Let's hear your station wagon stories.

Edited February 4, 2023 by Jim B

[Raoul Ross]

The only Ford I've ever owned was a '59 station wagon that I bought for one purpose. I folded down the rear seat, bought a thin mattress and some pillows and would back into the local drive-in parking spot, open the clam-shell rear and watch a movie (sometimes :P) with my then GF. I hated it otherwise, when she went so did the Ford!

[iamsuperdan]

There's a documentary on Prime Video called "Wagonmasters" which is all about the wagon. I enjoyed it. Wifey thought it was dumb.

I grew up with a 1978 Plymouth Fury Sport Suburban. It's what I learned to drive on.

Was replaced by an 89 Subaru DL wagon, then a 93 Subaru DL wagon. Then an 02 Focus wagon.

[espo]

At the time that I owned a station wagon, they just weren't cool for someone in my age group. The first one was a '59 Impala Wagon that a guy traded to me along with a few hundred in cash for a cherry '57 Ford Customline two-door. While the cars was in excellent shape and no rust, this was in 1966, I just couldn't appreciate the thing.  I sold it and bought back that '57 Ford. A couple of years later I bought a new '68 Chevy needed to sell the '57 to help with the down payment. This time I toke a one owner '58 Chevy Yoeman two door wagon in trade again with some cash. At the time I again did some "horse trading" to git rid of the wagon. Looking back now this was a big mistake on my part. The '58 Chevy had the 283 with a 4bbl. carb. and a 3-speed Overdrive. To soon old to late smart, I guess.  

[Little Timmy]

This was my daily driver for 12 years. 

Hated  to get rid of her .... I could haul myself, and 8 other people from bar to bar.

Don't know why I was always the " designated driver" 

 

[Gramps46]

My dad bought a 1958 Dodge wagon and after 2 speeding tickets decided he had better trade it for something a little more docile.

 

[tbill]

I’ve only owned one wagon, and it was a Vega of all things, lol. Paid $50 for it, needed a water pump ( which came with the purchase of the car), drove it for about 6 months, sold it for $250, amazingly enough, I got more chicks with that pile of a car….., it helped that the back seat folded down and made for a nice ‘lounge’ area…..

[vincen47]

Oh I watched that a couple days ago. Maybe yesterday. Thought about posting it here. Good video.

[Horrorshow]

On 2/4/2023 at 1:33 PM, Little Timmy said:

This was my daily driver for 12 years. 

Hated  to get rid of her .... I could haul myself, and 8 other people from bar to bar.

Don't know why I was always the " designated driver" 

 

Much better to be the driver than a “passenger” in that beast 

[TarheelRick]

Only wagon memories I have is our '57 Chevy Wagon.  In the summertime Dad would take a weeks vacation. Our next-door neighbor and their two daughters and our family of five would pile into that wagon with luggage and the obligatory cooler for picnics along the parkway. We would traverse the Blue Ridge mountains for four or five days, my seat was always in the very back.  Saw plenty of nice views outside that big back glass.

[thatz4u]

My first car....nuff said

[GRiN]

The first wagon I can remember is the 1959 Desoto that my dad had. It was tu-tone green. I personnal owned a 1981 Chevy Malibu and a 1982 Cutlas Cieara.

[Jon Haigwood]

Traveled many miles riding in back of a 60 Ford Country sedan. In my teen years I drove  54 Ford Wagon and later drove a 59 Chevy Wagon. Traveling in the back of that 60 Ford was a lot more comfortable than trying sleep while laying on the package tray or worse try to lay down over the driveline hump.

[webestang]

My family did not have a wagon when I was little but I have always liked them.

Here is a pic of my $400 wonder with 400 V8 and 12mpg I bought in 1987. Over the 2 years I owned this I made about $1000 hauling stuff for people.