When Ford introduced its car-based wagon in 1929, it brought a new dimension in carrying more passengers and more loadspace with the user-friendliness and civility of a passenger car. The station wagon would become a mainstay of the American automotive landscape and beyond for decades to come and has endured in some form or another in some place or another despite the onslaught of SUVs and minivans.

As the 30s and 40s wore on, more manufacturers would introduce their own wagons as that segment grew ever more important. Whilst seen as utilitarian vehicles by some, by the mid-50s the wagon began to take on a new dimension as a "lifestyle" car and the increasing flair with which they were designed- the determination of some manufacturers to make them more distinctive, especially at the high end- reflected this. Inspite of this, wagons of years past never wavered from their true purpose of providing dependable transportation.

Whilst wagons moved from being genuine "woodies" to being all-steal, Ford retained pseudo-wood panelling for its flagship wagons, a style which was imitated by GM and Chrysler in the 1960s to signify top of the range wagons. At this time wagons also became increasingly popular elsewhere around the world.

However, the Blue Oval would remain America's "Wagonmaster" for years. Sadly the popularity and importance of the wagon declined in the 80s and 90s as SUV and minivans took over as the main providers of utility. Another unfortunate trend, in my opinion, is for many of today's "wagons" to completely detract from the original concept of a wagon and become far too lifestyle-ish. Fortunately though, there are what I consider real wagons out there- we're lucky to have Commodore and Falcon wagons here, whilst Japan has its Toyota Crown Estate.

Times may have change, but in the hearts of many, nothing ever can and ever will symbolise practical, sensible family transport like the station wagon does. Whether it's commuting to work, drag racing, taking your family out to a picnic, or your own little private space you name it the good old wagon can still do it.

"Boy, they don't make cars like that anymore!"
A purveyor of the obscure, forgotten, über-luxurious and just plain silly

No replacement for diesel displacement - for common sense real world performance

The first mass-production all-steel wagon was, BTW, the Plymouth Suburban - in 1949. This wagon marked the beginning of the end for the wood-framed wagon, and within ten years the traditional woody was dead - except for the Morris Minor Traveller. Simulated wood-grain on station wagons lasted, in the US, until 1996, when the big GM wagons, and the Cutlass Ciera Cruiser and Buick Century Wagons were dropped.

It's only recently returned on the PT Cruiser, which isn't really a station wagon at all.

I believe that the biggest station wagons you can buy in the US now are the Dodge Magnum and the Mercedes E-class.

Well how many of them, do you think, stay true to the genuine wagon concept as opposed to being merely a trendie yuppie lifestyle accessory? I wouldn't count the Mazda 3 or Protégé 5 as a wagon, more like a hatchback.

"Boy, they don't make cars like that anymore!"
A purveyor of the obscure, forgotten, über-luxurious and just plain silly

No replacement for diesel displacement - for common sense real world performance

The really big wagons are going to stay dead, most likely. You can just fit alot more in a Minivan or an SUV and in the case of the minivan, it drives just like a normal FWD car most of the time (Chevy Astros are the exception).

You can haul a hell of a lot of stuff in those old Caprices and Chrysler Town & Country's though.

Long before Chrysler came up with the Minivans, T&C was used on wagons like this.

but wasn't that what happened originally with wagons? They needed to become more distinctive. Of the ones mentioned, the Mazda3/Protege5 and the A3 could be considered hatchbacks...the Dodge Magnum seems to be a bit out there, but the rest follow the formula quite well (granted, they aren't exactly what station wagons were in the past).

Quote, originally posted by David Votoupal »

Whilst seen as utilitarian vehicles by some, by the mid-50s the wagon began to take on a new dimension as a "lifestyle" car and the increasing flair with which they were designed- the determination of some manufacturers to make them more distinctive, especially at the high end- reflected this. Inspite of this, wagons of years past never wavered from their true purpose of providing dependable transportation.

"Granny-cars."

"Kid-Haulers."

...But - I don't understand why people can't see that they're really a great mix of CAR and SUV characteristics! Performance/Economy of a car with the Utility of an SUV (as far as most people are concerned)!!

The only reasons they were replaced by the SUV, IMO, are because they lack the false sense of extended safety and they don't have the "Badass" image that everyone likes subscribing to these days.

Modified by rx7racr at 7:47 AM 7-7-2004

Now for me, this "false sense of extended safety" thing is something I never get. SUVs only give the average person (read: usually a non-car person) a feeling of being über, and yet a lot of the traditional big station wagons are in fact larger and more spacious than your average SUV* these days. It's a psychological thing, because they're higher up people think SUVs are bigger and offer more "utility" plus the completely BS notion of them being "safer".

* SUV as opposed to what I consider real off-roaders, i.e. Land Cruisers, Patrols, Pajeros, G-Wagens, Range Rovers, Land Rovers, etc.

"Boy, they don't make cars like that anymore!"
A purveyor of the obscure, forgotten, über-luxurious and just plain silly

No replacement for diesel displacement - for common sense real world performance

Too big to post.

David, I do not see the Passat wagon as a "lifestyle" vehicle. I do see it as the only medium-large wagon (same class as V70 and EClass) that has an attractive price point and a stick shift. In other words, it has the cargo volume I need without the luxury crap I don't.

Considering that we take the name "station wagon" from depot hacks, the goal of the vehicle is to haul some people and their luggage around. It is not to swaddle them in luxury for the 24hr at LeMans. TBH, anything having less than 90 cubes in the back is not a wagon.

Passatworld Mrs 1.8T
CarDomain Blog
Bolt. Recaro recovery, bow headliners, Cabriolet fixin's and other misc hard and soft goods for VWs

It's the first car my wife and I bought, in reality it replaced my '72 Pinto Wagon (laugh if you like)

Wagons are great, they can go to the store, they can go camping, they can go to the dumps, they can haul your friends and their luggage to/from the airport and dogs love 'em. Just ask Tasha and Daisy (oh, forgot, you can't they're dead now).

Problem is nobody builds a "real" size wagon anymore. At least not one I will afford anytime soon. Have not seen the new Dodge wagon. What? ~$35K

In '86, before we bought "Whitey Ford", we test droveand were not impressed with the Mopar minivan. Though minivans have certainly improved in the mean time.

My LTD wagon is nearing a crossroad. I either need to spend some money to restore functioning sub-systems or scrap it.

One area I consider addressing is the rather anemic 3.8L V6 motor, possibly in favor of a modern injected 302/5.0 (4.9 really)

The LTD's immediate predecesor, the Fairmont was available with the 302. (LTD = reskinned and slightly upgraded Fairmont)

Sometimes it's good to have a Fox as your first cousin (the Mustang). What to do, what to do...

fat biker

A 302 or a 351 will drop in. But I would stick to the 302.

Quote, originally posted by _REMUS 13 »

Honda engineering > VW engineering. Period.

As for luxury wagons, the concept more or less emerged in the 1950s when Chrysler had its New Yorker Town & Country flagship, which was America's most expensive station wagon for some time. Sadly, Chrysler wagons were never built in very large numbers compared to Ford and GM, but perhaps because of this they can be perceived as something quite special

At GM though, the concept began to take hold when the Chevy Nomad and Pontiac Safari came out in '55, but there was also the four-door Bel Air Beauville wagon (and the Impala Nomad and Caprice wagons which displaced it over the next decade), and Pontiac had its four-door Star Chief and Bonneville Custom Safari wagons which furthered the concept of a posh wagon. They- at least the flagship Poncho load-carriers- weren't exactly built in enormous numbers and were marketed somewhat distinctly from their sedan counterparts. In fact, the absence of full-size Olds and Buick wagons in the years 1965-70 meant that the Bonneville Safari was effectively GM's flagship wagon.

"Boy, they don't make cars like that anymore!"
A purveyor of the obscure, forgotten, über-luxurious and just plain silly

No replacement for diesel displacement - for common sense real world performance

Odd. I did not recall the 302 being available, so I dug out my 1984 Car Shop Manual - Powertrain Lubrication Maintenance - All Models...

In Section 21-21 5.0L/5.8L V-8 Engines, under Vehicle Application it lists
Lincoln Town Car, Mark VII/Continental, Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis, Thunderbird/Cougar, Mustang/Capri.

But no LTD/Marquis, which is the designation for my car.

That said, the 302 would be quite adequate for my needs (more torque). A modern mass air motor with headers would scoot nicely. Possibly the strongest motivation for the 302 though is the tremendous aftermarket support. 350 horsepower (fuel injected/normally aspirated) as documented in various publications is quite doable.

fat biker

big back seat?