Before Minivans and SUVs: Family Road Trips in the Station Wagon Era — 1960s-1970s

Text by Patrick Bell.

Station wagons are the feature today, the family cars that have all but disappeared from the roads.  We have many that were very common, and a few that were not as common.  Take a look and see if any trigger some memories.

Our lead shot was a family with four kids that were stopped for a lunch break.  They were traveling in a two tone 1960 Plymouth Custom Suburban. The step on the bumper indicates it had the optional rear facing 3rd seat, and it appeared that it and the 2nd row seats were both folded down.

New for the 1960 Plymouth was the Dura-Quiet Unibody construction, and the 30-D Economy Six.  That was the early name for the Slant Six, which was slanted 30 degrees, hence 30-D.

Here were two images of the same 1960 Ford Country Sedan that was towing an Avion travel trailer.  Plus the lady in the upper image was also in the lower image on the left side.  They were parked on the highway shoulder in the upper image, possibly for a rest stop and photo opportunity.  The car appeared to have a Michigan license plate that was used from 1962-1964.  The lower photo was at a campsite and looked to be earlier, as the license plate looks like a Michigan plate that was used from 1959-1961, and was issued in Genesee County, where the seat is Flint.  That is if I am reading the first two letters correctly as “KM”.

The Country Sedan had a heavy duty (for the day) trailer hitch, and likely some heavy duty bits in the rear suspension for it to sit level as it did with the trailer hitched.  The only visible option I see were the back up lights.  Engine choices began with the 223 cubic inch Mileage Maker Six, but I am sure it had one of the three Thunderbird V8’s; a 292 ci, or two versions of the 352 ci.  The Avion looked to be at least a twenty footer, so the more power the better for comfortable cruising.

A lady was relaxing in the back of a 1960 Studebaker Lark 4 door that had a mattress on the floor.  She had a sock or bandage on her left hand, and an unopened present was next to her.

The 4 door wagon was a new model for 1960 on the Lark that had debuted for the 1959 model year.  This one was optioned with full wheel covers, appeared to have white wall tires, and had a California license plate used from 1956-1962.

Everyone appeared to be having fun in the sun on a warm day.  Some of the folks got there by way of a close to new looking V8 equipped, maroon 1962 Chevrolet Biscayne.  And the couple on the right likely belonged to the 1961 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 or Super 88 Holiday Sedan.

The Biscayne was the entry level full size Chevrolet, and this one looked very basic with the standard hubcaps and black wall tires.

Several people were visiting in a small parking area.  In the center was a 1964 Ford Country Squire from California, with the optional roof luggage rack.  To the left was a 1957 Chevrolet 3100 Suburban Carryall, a utility vehicle before they were sporty.  And on the right edge was a 1964 Ford Thunderbird.

The Country Squire was the top of the line Ford wagon, and was a favorite for many years.

This family was posing for someone who was looking down from above.  They were with a 1963 Dodge 330 9 passenger wagon with full wheel covers and what appeared to be a full width mud flap in the rear.

This was Dodge’s mid size series that was situated between the compact Dart and the full size 880.  It had a wide range of engine choices including the 225 ci Slant Six, and V8’s in a 318 ci, and two versions of a 383 ci.  Plus they offered a special option 426 ci, but I doubt many made their way into a wagon.

A tall woman and two girls were posing with a 1965 Pontiac Catalina 9 passenger Safari that was travel ready.  There was someone at the wheel and a load secured on the luggage rack.  It also had factory air conditioning, maybe power windows, deluxe wheel covers, white wall tires, and a 1965 Georgia license plate that was issued in Houston County, where the seat is Perry.

In the left background was a 1965 Chevrolet Caprice Custom Sedan, and a white 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 4 door sedan.  Seen through the Catalina’s back windows was the nose of a 1963-1966 Dodge D100 Town Panel or Wagon.

Here was a 1966 Ford Country Sedan with a lady waiting patiently behind the wheel.  The setting looks like a motel parking lot.  From what we can see, the wagon was optioned with a luggage rack, tinted glass, radio, deluxe wheel covers, and white walls.

The news for 1966 wagons was the Magic Doorgate, the tailgate that lowered as usual, or opened as a door.  It was one of Ford’s better ideas that was standard on full size and Fairlanes, and optional on the Falcon.  In the background was a 1965 Ford Custom 500.

It was a cool day on the lake when this 1966 Buick Custom Sportwagon was there with a pop up camper trailer.  They may have had the use of the boat to go fishing.  The wagon was equipped with a luggage rack, tinted glass, deluxe wheel covers, and white wall tires.

The Sportwagon’s unique feature was the raised glass skyroof.  Standard power came from a 340 ci Wildcat V8 with 220 horsepower, and the only option was a 260 hp version of the same engine.

A two tone 1966 Chevrolet Bel Air was parked in a roadside picnic area while its occupants were chowing down.  It looks like they had also been collecting some tree life.  The manual tailgate window handle was open and ready to crank.  And it had a trailer hitch to go along with the Nevada license plate that was issued in Clark County, the home of Las Vegas.

The full size wagons were available with a choice of seven engines, and five transmissions, per the original sales brochure.

The lady of the house was posing at the campsite where a fire was smoldering away in the rock fire pit.  The campers had a 1968 Ford Country Sedan to tow their 16′? camp trailer, which was small but more than adequate for two people who liked each other.

Ford billed themselves as the “Wagonmaster” during this era, with good reason.  They consistently had the best selling wagons, even when their sedan companions were not the best sellers.  Over 210,000 full size wagons found new homes in 1968.

Fill her up and check the oil, please.  The gas nozzle was stretched out to reach the tank, while the attendant was under the hood.  He was working on a 1966 Plymouth Fury III that was towing a camp trailer.  The rusty color blended well with the rusty rocker panels.  The image notes place this in Sweetwater, Tennessee, on December 18, 1969.  They were headed to Florida to spend Christmas with the grandparents.

The lack of an engine callout, and the style of the air cleaner points to a 318 ci V8 for power, which was one step above the standard 225 ci Slant Six. Even better for that much weight would have been one of the two Commando 383 V8’s, or for some real fun the Commando 440 V8 was a new addition that year.

A 1970 Plymouth Belvedere Satellite with a pop up tent close behind was the ride for perhaps two couples that were from two generations.  They may have been scouting for a camping spot along the river.

The Satellite was the mid range trim on the mid sized Belvedere series that year.  This one had the optional remote control outside mirror and front bumper guards, but standard hubcaps and black wall tires.  Engine choices were very similar to the Dodge in the previous image; the Slant Six, 318 V8, and two versions of the 383 V8.

We close today at a riverside campground where we have two Ford wagons, plus a few others to view.  In the foreground was a 1973 LTD Country Squire with a Deluxe Luggage Rack, Tinted Glass, dual mirrors, Deluxe Bumper Group, and Deluxe Wheel covers.  It likely belonged to the trailer on the left.  A white or light blue 1969 Fairlane wagon was to the right.

In between the two was a 1968 Dodge Monaco 500 2 door hardtop with a white vinyl roof and some missing trim.  It had a large hitch and was color coded to the trailer on the right, so we will put those two together.  On the far right was a 1971 or 1972 Chevrolet C series pickup with a camper shell.

Thanks for joining us and to all good day!

More Vintage Photos Here