Text by Patrick Bell.
We have another round of wagons for today, with a good variety of high end, low end, and mid range offerings. They were still quite common during this time, so let’s take a peek.
To begin we have a brand new 1974 Pontiac Grand Safari that the new owner was proudly showing off. This was the grandest wagon of the Pontiac line and was equipped with the 455 cubic inch V8 and Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission as standard equipment. The options I can see were a rooftop luggage carrier, Soft-Ray tinted glass, Dual Sports Mirrors, whitewall tires and Rally II wheels.
And here was the other end of the spectrum, Oldsmobile’s least expensive wagon; a 1961 F-85. This was their new compact model and used a 215 cubic inch aluminum V8 as the only available engine. This gentleman and his dog were patiently waiting for the photographer while the car was warming up on a cool winter day.
A V8 powered 1960 Chevrolet Brookwood 4 door was the choice for the Fire Chief of Reading, Ohio. It was logically parked in front of the Fire Station, and in the background you can see the left headlamps of a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Town Sedan, and most of the left side of a 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne 2 door sedan.
Hanging out in the neighborhood with a 1961 Plymouth Deluxe Suburban 4 door that was purchased at Monte Peters Plymouth in Santa Ana, California. Parked in the driveway to the left was a 1954 Mercury Monterey Special Custom 4 door sedan and what appears to be a 1949-1951 Ford on the other side. In the street was a 1954 Plymouth.
The photographer was stretching his or her legs and checking out the snow while the passengers stayed in the warm car. It was a 1961 Chevrolet Parkwood with an aftermarket roof luggage carrier. The Parkwood was the Bel Air version of the wagon and was the middle of three trim levels.
It never fails; the eyes close just as the shutter opens. The lady was standing next to a 1963 Dodge 440 from California. The ‘440’ was the upper trim level of two in what they called the “standard size Dodge”, and it did not refer to the engine size. Next to it was a 1959 Buick 2 door hardtop with a damaged door, and behind it was a 1964 full size Ford.
Here was a happy looking bunch that was posing by a newish 1964 Chrysler Newport Town & Country registered in Kent County, Michigan, where the seat is Grand Rapids. Parked behind it was a 1963 or 1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia with two tone paint and a German license plate for a car to be exported. And the residents of this home were readers of the “Detroit Free Press”.
This may have been a restricted parking area where a professional lady (nameplate on shirt) was posing with a 1966 Dodge Coronet Deluxe that was equipped with a V8. On the left edge was a gold 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 with a red 1960 or 1961 Plymouth Valiant above it. In the center was a white 1960 or 1961 Comet, and the yellow 2 door hardtop looks like a 1965 or 1966 Chrysler Newport.
Dodge’s top of the line wagon for 1965 was the Custom 880 and this one was equipped with Cragar S/S Super Sport Chrome Wheels as well. The story with the photo, uploaded at the Cohort by jadelesells, reports this was a 3-seat model, and the image was taken after an amateur restoration that included extensive rust repair. The red wagon in the background may have been a 1973 Chevrolet Impala.
Speaking of top of the line, here was Mercury’s Colony Park from 1967. This one appears to have the optional Oxford (vinyl) Roof to go along with the luggage carrier and was from California. To the left was a white 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 or 500/XL 2 door hardtop with one of the big block motors, a red 1964ish Volkswagen Type 1, and in the right background the tail end of a 1964 Chevrolet Impala, possibly a convertible.
The sub compact market was expanding rapidly in the early 70’s and the Vega was Chevrolet’s entry for 1971. This one could have been any in the 1971-1973 range, and was the Kammback body style with the GT trim.
Sport utility vehicle is the term that is used for modern station wagons. There is some difference between the two; mainly the availability of four wheel drive. This 1967 Chevrolet C/K10 Suburban was a bare bones basic utility vehicle, no sport about it. I can’t confirm it was a 4WD, but the height leads me to believe it was. It may have been a company or government truck, and was rough around the edges. Parked alongside was a Honda motorcycle; I will have someone else ID it further.
Three Chevrolets were parked in a row in this image. On the left was a 1969-1972 K5 Blazer CST, the Vega Panel could have been a 1971-1973 model, and the El Camino SS definitely was a 1971. So we will average them out to 1971 and call this a promotional shot of some sort. They were all gold tone in color. So maybe it was someone’s golden anniversary.
Let’s stick with gold on this 1975 Buick Estate Wagon from California. This was also a top of the line model and was equipped with a vinyl roof, luggage rack, and power windows. It was packed with gear, and the building in the background may have been a camp laundry facility.
A 1978 Dodge Diplomat from Minnesota was accompanied by two Colonnade style Chevrolet Monte Carlos. The green one on the left was a 1976 or 1977 model, while the silver one on the right was a 1976. And behind the Diplomat was a 1975-1978 Ford LTD 4 door pillared hardtop.
The final shot today was a 1975 or 1976 Mercury Bobcat Villager, Mercury’s version of the Ford Pinto produced so they would have a sub compact offering. Small car sales fluctuated along with gas prices during this time period, and they were harder to predict than the weather. So all the car makets wanted their own economy cars to sell. And through the wonders of badge engineering all of them got one.
Thanks for joining us, and to all good day!
It is hard to believe that only 13 years elapsed between those first two cars. The Olds F-85 jogs lots of memories, though our Maroon version with whitewalls looked nicer.
I still want one of those Diplomat wagons!
The Suburban is a K10 since there are 6 lug nuts on that right rear wheel. Don’t know why GM used 5 studs on their 1/2 ton 2wd and 6 on the 4wd, but they did.
Good catch on the lug nuts. Exactly correct.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and venture an educated guess on the Honda parked alongside. Based on what looks to be a vertical twin engine, lack of exhaust pipe on right side, skinny road tires and tank shape I believe this to be a 1970-72 SL175 or SL125. Although I’m a bit puzzled by the stripes on tank with that upside down shark fin. Hondas of this size and vintage usually had a single horizontal stripe but —Hondas often did have multiple colors and striping available.
Believe it’s a 1971 Honda CL350.
I am going to disagree, gentleman. The C10’s used 6 lugs until the disc brakes arrived in ’71.
Thanks for your comments.
I had a ’71 GMC Vandura G20 that had 6 lug wheels but 2 wheel drive.
Some good imagined stories in these.
F-85, the man and dog are equally impatient to start a hunting trip.
Suburban, the house next door is either being built by the owner, or it lost its roof in a fall windstorm, and the shingling was interrupted by snow. (Note the different gable edges.)
Love that Pontiac, and am also drawn to the Diplomat. I had a thing for the Dodge Diplomat back in high school, particularly the facelifted models with the under-headlight grills that looked so menacing as cop cars. I almost bought an ex-police unmarked model with dog dishes and a spotlight, just so I could pull up to house parties and shine the light into the living room and watch my friends jump out of the windows.
That little Vega GT wagon sure is a looker. Such a shame…
Nice series of long roofs .
I wish I had pictures of the many wagons I’ve had over the decades .
My Sweet’s 1985 graymarket Mercedes 300TD wagon lies nestled in her garage, every time we / she / I take it anywhere someone wants to buy it .
-Nate
Ah memories……my dad, a bit of a tightwad, bought a new 1957 Ford Ranchwagon. Black with some kind of interior. The complete option list consisted of…..a heater. In the summer, I sat in the wayback and the A/C consisted of, raising the back hatch window.
As much as I dislike vinyl roofs on passenger cars, somehow putting a vinyl roof on a station wagon is even worse.
Yes, with the roof and the wooden sides, the Colony Park is pretty much vinyl wrapped before that was even a thing.
Like the lil “Bobcat”! The “F85”, is belching a fair bit of exhaust.
…or condensation on such a winter’s day.
I was never much of a wagon guy, but have really come to appreciate them on the pages of CC.
Our family car was never a wagon, as my Dad wasn’t a fan either back then.
But now? I like them, because you don’t see them that much any more. My pick of this lot would have to be the one in the lede photo. Something about that Pontiac is just SO right, even in its boring beige and the ’74 big bumpers on both ends. Somehow, combined, all of these attributes really look good.
My favorite wagon is also that ’74 Pontiac Grandville in the “lede” photo. The beige might be boring but its better than the sick green and brown colors so popular then.
Definitely, 74 Pontiac for the win. Personally, I would prefer NO “woodgrain” stickers if I had my way. (Which I don’t, Of course).
Thanks (I think) for reminding me of the days when one could get a vinyl roof on a station wagon. Oh man…something that I’d blocked from memory pretty much entirely.
I had to look twice at that 61 Plymouth to make sure that wasn’t my uncle standing next to it. Somewhere in the archives over here there’s a very similar photo (but taken in FL vs. CA). That guy has a pretty uncanny resemblance to a relative of mine.
Great pics!
I had an adventure in a Mercury Bobcat Villager.
My friend Dave was driving us up to Mount Baker (Wash.) for a day of skiing, but ended up doing a “helicopter” on the way there.
The rear wheels let loose on some compact snow and we started spinning. Not quite 360 degrees, but close!
I used to think the front of a ’61 Plymouth could scare away the kids. Now it just looks like a recent Lexus…
The GM clamshell wagons look so crazy big to me now, but in their day they were just normal full-size wagons. I was used to them and when I first saw them the downsized ’77s looked puny.
I hadn’t realized that the Buick Estate wagon could be had with a vinyl roof! It was the ’70s, though, so I realize that much was possible. I’m sure that others have said it here at CC before, but the Bobcat wagon looks good with that grille – moreso than the coupe.
Love these articles!
The actual 1965 Dodge Custom 880 wagon in the photo was ordered by my Dad at Bob Buell Dodge in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in April 1965. It was loaded except for A/C. He ordered the 413 V8 but it was built out by that time and he had to settle for the 383 4-barrell with single exhaust. He ordered the Dodge Light Blue metallic; the car as pictured had been repainted a budget medium bright blue metallic by a local body shop in 1972. Those wheels were actually Rocket brand wheels, a less expensive Cragar SS copy, wearing H-78 and J-78 Blackwalls. My younger brother Robert did most of the Resto, and it was his high school car, later handed down to Jonathon our younger brother. Thanks for running the picture! Tim Boyd
Our ’79 was outfitted with everything but the kitchen sink. The AM/FM/Quad tape + 40 channel scanning CB (that would mute the unit when receiving a signal) was cool back in the CB days. Attention to detail was very good for a wagon. It’s only downfall was the EECII. Pure unreliable garbage. Once I converted it to a DuraSpark system and the 2150 carb, no more problems. That is until a cop hit and totaled it (no injuries).