1960s Station Wagons In Vintage Photos

Text by Patrick Bell .

Station wagons were the prime people movers of the mid twentieth century era, especially the 1960’s, our focus today.  Trucks and vans did not become civilized until the 1970’s, and the SUV term had not entered the lexicon yet.  Family’s were larger, and nearly everyone had a wagon.  Take a look at these and see what you think.

It was prom night when this photo was shot, and the couple’s transportation was likely the 1966 Pontiac they were standing by.  It had a novelty license plate that read (as best as I can see) “_____ Providence Bull Dogs”, which likely referred to their school.

Pontiac offered their full size wagons in two trim series that year; Catalina and Bonneville.  This one was the base Catalina, and base it was with no roof rack, standard hub caps, and blackwall tires.  I do see a radio antenna, so they did spend a few extra dollars.

Another special occasion day was shown here, with a couple posing with a 1962 Ford Falcon Fordor with a luggage rack.  This was the base model, and also offered was a Tudor model, and both in Deluxe trim.  If that was not enough luxury for your Falcon you could always step up to the new for 1962 Squire model with faux wood.

Parked behind it was a 1961 Falcon, and the heavily accessorized travel trailer/mobile home was someone’s home sweet home.

The Country Squire was at the top Ford’s wagon lineup for over forty years.  Featured above was a 1960 model that looked close to new.  All Squire’s were 9 passenger that year, and as you can see the third row faced forward, actually for the last time.  Beginning in 1961 they faced to the rear until 1965, when the dual facing seats were introduced.  And another low option car with no luggage rack, plain hub caps and blackwalls.

At the curb was a 1956 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Starfire Convertible, and in the driveway across the street were a 1958-1960 Thunderbird, and a 1960 Lincoln 4 door.

A gentleman was about to enter a 1960 Chevrolet Brookwood 4 door, the entry level Biscayne series wagon.  It was also available in a 2 door model, which was the last one offered in the full size line.  The two extra doors cost him $67, and that may have been the only extra he bought as I see no options on the exterior beyond the aftermarket dual fender mirrors.

On the right edge was a 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 or Ninety-Eight 4 door.

Here was another Country Squire, a 1962 model with a luggage rack, radio, outside mirror, and whitewalls.  It looks like they were defrosting the windshield before heading out after possibly the first snow of the season.

Along the right edge appeared to be the open red passenger door of a first generation International Scout.

Chevrolet’s Chevy II was their new “conventional compact” (as opposed to the “unconventional” Corvair) that arrived for the 1962 model year.  The one above was a 1963 Chevy II 100 model, which was the entry level series, and looked new with the window sticker still attached.  It was a low option car, but the badge on the lower fender indicated it was equipped with the Hi-Thrift 194 cubic inch 6 cylinder, which was a $59 premium over the standard Super-Thrift 153 4 cylinder.
Parked behind it was a 1958 Rambler.

A well optioned and close to new looking 1963 Buick Special Deluxe was parked in a inner city area somewhere in New York.  It had a 1962 New York license plate, and even had the optional Soft-Ray tinted glass.  In 1964 the restyled Special grew from a compact to an intermediate size.

Behind it was a blue 1959 Oldsmobile, black 1958 Lincoln or Continental, black 1960 Oldsmobile, and I will leave the fire engine for someone else.

A working man was posing with what likely was his car and his house.  The car was a 1963 Ford Country Sedan with snow tires on the rear.  In 1963 and 1964 the entry level Ranch Wagon name was moved to the intermediate size Fairlane line, leaving the Country Sedan as the entry level full size wagon.  It returned in 1965, and the full size line was back to three series.

A quick guess on the bus chassis is a 1941-1947 Chevrolet or GMC.  If anyone can narrow it down further please chime in.

Ramblers were common sense vehicles that were ahead of their time with compact and intermediate sized cars in the 1950’s.  Shown above was a 1962 Classic Custom or 400 Cross Country.  Only six cylinder engines were available on the 1962 Classic, if you wanted V8 power you had to step up to the Ambassador, which for the first time was the same size as the Classic.  This one looked nicely equipped and had a New Jersey license plate.

To the right was a 1961 Plymouth Belvedere.

The full size Fords were completely restyled for the 1965 model year.  The one above was a 1965 Country Sedan, which had a 1966 Michigan license plate issued in Genesee County, the home of Flint.  The lower fender badge indicates one of the big block motors, a good choice for trailer towing.  The bumper sticker said “Explore Florida’s Silver Springs”, so a simple deduction is they were doing exactly that with their Avion travel trailer.

Chevrolet’s full size wagons were plentiful during this era as well.  Shown here was a 1966 Bel Air 6 passenger that had at least a decade under its belt at the time of the photo.  It wore a Michigan Bicentennial license plate that was in use from 1976-1978.  It had a few bumps and bruises, plus some rust around the edges.  V8 power was under the hood, non original wheel covers on the wheels, but few other options were visible. Parked ahead was a 1975-1980 MG B.

Modern serpentine drive belts really have improved reliability and lessened one area of maintenance.  Fan belt issues on the road were/are no fun, especially if you did not have a spare belt or two.

The car above was a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere II that seemed reasonably new.  It looked well equipped other than the basic hub caps.  It appeared to have air conditioning as well, which was especially hard on belts.

This was a 1969 Ford Country Sedan showing the new reskin and the first year 3-way Magic Doorgate, the tailgate that could be opened like a door with the window up or down.  It was nicely equipped including an Adjustable Deluxe Luggage Rack with integral air deflector.  And there were a couple of way back passengers that were keeping their eyes on the photographer.

And another red Chevrolet Bel Air, this one a 1967 model with a load in the back and a missing center piece on the front wheel cover.  It had V8 power as most of them did, and also had the typical equipment for the day.  The two youngsters on the tailgate appeared to have their Easter baskets.

In the foreground was a Honda Mini Trail that appears to say “50”, but it looks more like a CT70.  And in the distance was a 1964-1966 Chevrolet C series Fleetside long bed or it’s GMC equivalent.

For 1968 and 1969 Buick’s largest wagon was based on the intermediate Special/Skylark, but had a five inch longer wheelbase and a raised “Skyroof” with sky lights.  It was called the Custom Sportwagon, and was available with a forward facing third row.

The featured car was a 1969 model that appeared new, and had a Waters Buick license filler and frame.  Waters was located on South Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco.

Other cars on the lot were from the right a 1963 Chevrolet Impala or Impala SS convertible, a white 1963 Pontiac Tempest, and a black 1961 Oldsmobile F-85 De Luxe 4 door sedan with a black 1965 or 1966 Ford Mustang in front of it.

Pontiac had three series of full size wagons available in the restyled 1969 model year.  The Bonneville was the top of the line, while the Executive was the wood grain model and the middle series.  And the Catalina was the price leader and most popular.

The one above was a 1969 Bonneville that had a California license plate with an unreadable dealer frame.  Above it in the background was a 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV, and above it was a 1973 or 1974 Chevrolet C series Fleetside.  To the left was another C series Fleetside, a 1964-1966 model.

The Rambler Classic series was replaced by the reskinned and renamed Rebel for the 1967 model year.  Above was a 1967 Rebel 770, the top of the line wagon for the year.  It had a New Jersey license plate, and was parked on the lawn in an older middle class neighborhood.

Thanks for joining us and have a great day!

 

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