I remember when my dad bought a big, yellow 1973 Buick Estate Wagon. We were satisfied with the 10mpg highway we achieved in our vacation trips across Texas. Not too bad for a 455cu engine. Quick a difference from my brother-in-law's Opal.
When it comes to the family wagon, the one that sticks out for me was our baby blue 1957 Ford. For a reason I can't remember, in 1960 my father had the engine replaced - with one that came from a sporty Thunderbird. It was memorable simply for the fact that the engine overpowered the stock exhaust, so much so that starting the car in the garage was strictly verboten, as the whole house would rattle as the car thundered to life.
And that explains our family name for the baby blue beast: Thunderwagon!
Every summer from the late 60's to the late 70's my family would drive from NY to Montana every summer in a long line of Estate Wagons. There were five of us, plus whatever dogs and cats we had at the time. 12 hour driving days at 10 mpg, and lots of memories!
Submitted by wujiart (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 08:12.
Our Country Squire was big - but never big enough to keep my sisters and I from "touching each other or we'll scream" in the back seat. Our patient parents loved family road trips in our station wagon - and I'm lucky they did!
Although my folks had a decent sized family (4 kids!) my Dad steadfastly refused to buy a wagon. We had lots of big Mercury sedans, instead. Our friends & neighbors had wagons, and I guess because they were so different than our sedan, I really liked them.
I love the picture of the Pontiac wagon on the first page! The illustrators who did that work should be national heroes. They were called Van & Fitz (Arthur Fitzpatrick & Van Kaufman) worked for GM from about 1959 to 1970 or so, and did primarily Pontiac ads. Those ads were one of my inspirations to go into art as a career.
Submitted by geozinger on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:22.
In the mid 60s, I had an aunt & uncle who drove a station wagon everywhere they went, and they only had one child. The one thing I thought of when I read your article was climbing in and out the back of it through the window. I was a chuncky kid and they took Polaroid movies of everything. They took one shot of me climbing in or out of the back and every time we had family get togethers they would show show their home movies. One of the favorite things the kids would always shout out was, "Make Ronnie go forwards and backwards". So for the next minute or so I would be on the big screen climbing in and then out, in and out of the back of that station wagon. Quite hilarious really.
Submitted by rockinwag on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 05:21.
We had a 1960 Ford Falcon Station Wagon when I was about 5 years old. I remember riding down dirt roads on the tailgate while it was down. Nowadays my dad would've been arrested or something for that! Those were the days of carbeds for babies and no booster or car seats, either.
When we got married in the summer of '72, we bought a new '73 Ford Gran Torino stationwagon. It had the woody-sided look — wish I had a photo of it now! At that time we were part of the pit crew for a couple of fellows who were into racing (Formula Vee and Formula Atlantic), and we used the wagon as a sleeper when we were out at Mosport racetrack (see http://www.mosport.com/home/home.asp) overnight with them. Lots of room in the back for the two of us and our sleeping bags!
It was a great vehicle and we kept it until 1980, when the timing chain broke. Got rid of it then, but six months later I saw it parked on the street near where I worked. It was unmistakeable as it had a Shell racing sticker on one of the windows.... So someone who could tinker had fixed it up and it was back on the road.
Although it was the year of the notorious "rusty Fords", ours was undercoated and never developed a speck of rust. My dad had the same model, without the undercoating, and the difference was amazing.
In those days, our overnight home was parked in what is now the 'corporate tent' area. Our buddies, of course, overnighted beyond the pit area on the other side of the track. http://www.mosport.com/trackmap.htm
Our first "wagon" was a 1941 Dodge Sedan Delivery. It was a bright shiny green (reminds me of green M&M's) with wide whitewalls on red rims with chrome center caps. My grandfather bought it new and passed it on to my Dad around the time I was born (1967).
I have fond memories of that car. A real classic.
Submitted by Demolition on Tue, 10/21/2008 - 18:19.
I too remember those pre-dawn departures Gene mentions. In my case, it was a V-8 Ford with a disappointing two-barrel carburetor. But that vehicle took my dad and me to New York and back, and I later learned to drive with it.
I remember the Studebaker Lark, but not the station wagon model Gene shows. Was anyone else struck by the conservatively handsome design of that model? In some ways it looks a bit like my 2005 Forester.
As a kid in France, It was only possible to dream about those beautiful wagons,
But the concept is still alive : the fist thing I bought for my three kids was precisely a wagon (oh, by the way, we call it "break" or "estate" in France),
It would have been a Forrester if I could afford it.
Submitted by dsign4all on Thu, 10/23/2008 - 06:25.
My family had an early 70's Mercury version of the Country Squire - yellow with "wood" siding. We would travel twice a year from Northern KY to Maryland to visit relatives. The thing I remember is the packing of the luggage rack. This was only done by my father. He would have everything, to be taken, in the driveway. It was always a great production of loading and unloading until everything fit in the most areodynamic manner, covered with a tarp and tied down with rope.
My second memory is of my grandfather. He worked in construction and instead of driving the customary pickup truck, he always had a Ford Country Squire. He would keep all of his tools and supplies in the back of the wagon. It sometimes rode pretty low. He would buy a new wagon every year. By the time he traded one in, the floor would be practically covered in sawdust and dirt.
I grew up in Sao Paulo state, Brazil and my father had a Chevrolet Opala Caravan.
It was roomy enough for a family of eight (dad, mom, and 6 kids!) plus everything needed for a weekend on the beach or when visiting relatives in Goias state.
BTW, we call it "perua" in Brazil.
Buick
I remember when my dad bought a big, yellow 1973 Buick Estate Wagon. We were satisfied with the 10mpg highway we achieved in our vacation trips across Texas. Not too bad for a 455cu engine. Quick a difference from my brother-in-law's Opal.
AMC Rambler Station Wagon
In the 60s, my family had a red Rambler station wagon. Made many family vacations in it, Arkansas, Tennessee, Colorado from Louisiana.
'57 Ford Wagon
As usual, I love scanning around with Gene.
When it comes to the family wagon, the one that sticks out for me was our baby blue 1957 Ford. For a reason I can't remember, in 1960 my father had the engine replaced - with one that came from a sporty Thunderbird. It was memorable simply for the fact that the engine overpowered the stock exhaust, so much so that starting the car in the garage was strictly verboten, as the whole house would rattle as the car thundered to life.
And that explains our family name for the baby blue beast: Thunderwagon!
Estate Wagons
Every summer from the late 60's to the late 70's my family would drive from NY to Montana every summer in a long line of Estate Wagons. There were five of us, plus whatever dogs and cats we had at the time. 12 hour driving days at 10 mpg, and lots of memories!
Ford Country Squire
Our Country Squire was big - but never big enough to keep my sisters and I from "touching each other or we'll scream" in the back seat. Our patient parents loved family road trips in our station wagon - and I'm lucky they did!
Wagons and more
Although my folks had a decent sized family (4 kids!) my Dad steadfastly refused to buy a wagon. We had lots of big Mercury sedans, instead. Our friends & neighbors had wagons, and I guess because they were so different than our sedan, I really liked them.
I love the picture of the Pontiac wagon on the first page! The illustrators who did that work should be national heroes. They were called Van & Fitz (Arthur Fitzpatrick & Van Kaufman) worked for GM from about 1959 to 1970 or so, and did primarily Pontiac ads. Those ads were one of my inspirations to go into art as a career.
Van and fitz
Yes, I love their work. Has a certain Leroy Nieman quality to it, only better! Thanks all for the great comments!
Wagons Today
If only we had more wagons to choose from today in the US market.
Great article as always from Gene!
Station Wagon Memories
In the mid 60s, I had an aunt & uncle who drove a station wagon everywhere they went, and they only had one child. The one thing I thought of when I read your article was climbing in and out the back of it through the window. I was a chuncky kid and they took Polaroid movies of everything. They took one shot of me climbing in or out of the back and every time we had family get togethers they would show show their home movies. One of the favorite things the kids would always shout out was, "Make Ronnie go forwards and backwards". So for the next minute or so I would be on the big screen climbing in and then out, in and out of the back of that station wagon. Quite hilarious really.
Station Wagon Memories
We had a 1960 Ford Falcon Station Wagon when I was about 5 years old. I remember riding down dirt roads on the tailgate while it was down. Nowadays my dad would've been arrested or something for that! Those were the days of carbeds for babies and no booster or car seats, either.
'73 Ford Gan Torino stationwagon...
When we got married in the summer of '72, we bought a new '73 Ford Gran Torino stationwagon. It had the woody-sided look — wish I had a photo of it now! At that time we were part of the pit crew for a couple of fellows who were into racing (Formula Vee and Formula Atlantic), and we used the wagon as a sleeper when we were out at Mosport racetrack (see http://www.mosport.com/home/home.asp) overnight with them. Lots of room in the back for the two of us and our sleeping bags!
It was a great vehicle and we kept it until 1980, when the timing chain broke. Got rid of it then, but six months later I saw it parked on the street near where I worked. It was unmistakeable as it had a Shell racing sticker on one of the windows.... So someone who could tinker had fixed it up and it was back on the road.
Although it was the year of the notorious "rusty Fords", ours was undercoated and never developed a speck of rust. My dad had the same model, without the undercoating, and the difference was amazing.
We have really fond memories of that wagon!
Lesley & Hal
Edmonton, Alberta
PS: re '73 Gran Torino...
In those days, our overnight home was parked in what is now the 'corporate tent' area. Our buddies, of course, overnighted beyond the pit area on the other side of the track.
http://www.mosport.com/trackmap.htm
Lesley & Hal
Edmonton, Alberta
ahh - the land yachts!
I was pleased when page 2 came up and there was the Jeep Wagoneer. Mine (as well as Gov. Schwartzeneger's) is a blue 1987 Grand Wagoneer woodie!
mark scantling New West Pop Art www.mscantling.com
'1941 Dodge Sedan Delivery
Our first "wagon" was a 1941 Dodge Sedan Delivery. It was a bright shiny green (reminds me of green M&M's) with wide whitewalls on red rims with chrome center caps. My grandfather bought it new and passed it on to my Dad around the time I was born (1967).
I have fond memories of that car. A real classic.
'54 Ford Wagon--red
I too remember those pre-dawn departures Gene mentions. In my case, it was a V-8 Ford with a disappointing two-barrel carburetor. But that vehicle took my dad and me to New York and back, and I later learned to drive with it.
I remember the Studebaker Lark, but not the station wagon model Gene shows. Was anyone else struck by the conservatively handsome design of that model? In some ways it looks a bit like my 2005 Forester.
Thanks once again, Gene.
Wagons in France
As a kid in France, It was only possible to dream about those beautiful wagons,
But the concept is still alive : the fist thing I bought for my three kids was precisely a wagon (oh, by the way, we call it "break" or "estate" in France),
It would have been a Forrester if I could afford it.
2 memories
My family had an early 70's Mercury version of the Country Squire - yellow with "wood" siding. We would travel twice a year from Northern KY to Maryland to visit relatives. The thing I remember is the packing of the luggage rack. This was only done by my father. He would have everything, to be taken, in the driveway. It was always a great production of loading and unloading until everything fit in the most areodynamic manner, covered with a tarp and tied down with rope.
My second memory is of my grandfather. He worked in construction and instead of driving the customary pickup truck, he always had a Ford Country Squire. He would keep all of his tools and supplies in the back of the wagon. It sometimes rode pretty low. He would buy a new wagon every year. By the time he traded one in, the floor would be practically covered in sawdust and dirt.
Opala Caravan
I grew up in Sao Paulo state, Brazil and my father had a Chevrolet Opala Caravan.
It was roomy enough for a family of eight (dad, mom, and 6 kids!) plus everything needed for a weekend on the beach or when visiting relatives in Goias state.
BTW, we call it "perua" in Brazil.
1988 Ford Country Squire
Looking at an 88 Squire. Sweet ride, especially interior. Could anyone get close on an est.mpg. highway use?