Text by Patrick Bell.
The wonderful world of wagons is our feature today with a good selection from the fifties and one from the sixties for good measure. They were popular for practical reasons, but to some degree carried an “uncool” flavor like today’s minivans. It’s funny how time changes things; the “work” vehicles of the past are now “cool”, while the traditional car is fading away.
On our first shot, a young man was standing with a ’56 Ford Country Sedan with a 292 “Thunderbird” V8 and a roof rack. It was at least three years old in this shot, as I see a tan ’59 Ford through the trees. It was apparently from a state that did not issue front license plates, and was parked in a neighborhood with some nice shade trees.
Here were two couples traveling in a ’50 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 from California with a visor, roof rack, and a 15 or so foot camp trailer close behind. The Olds was equipped with a 303 cubic inch “Rocket” V8, and available in standard or Deluxe trim. These wagons were also offered in the 76 series, and were not very popular with just 2750 built in total. I am sure that was a big part of the reason why Oldsmobile took a break from the wagon business until model year ’57.
This youngster looks like he was not sure what to think about that ’55 Nash Rambler Custom Cross Country. It was from Illinois and was at least seven years old in this image. Overall it looked pretty good, with a piece of trim missing on the rear door and likely some damage as well.
The only wagon available from Mercury in ’53 was this Monterey 8-passenger model. It had a California license plate and that looks like the location as well. It blended in with the house very well, and was in a no parking zone per the red curb.
Now we have a delivery wagon, better known as a sedan delivery. They generally were based on a two door station wagon body, with the obvious solid panels in place of the quarter windows. The interiors were built for carrying cargo, with only a seat for the driver and a flat floor in the cargo area. While this six cylinder ’53 Ford Courier had a side hinged rear door in place of the tailgate, other brands had a liftgate, and some used the conventional tailgate. This image was a Ford promotional, as it was used with some variation on the cover of the sales brochure.
Mom and son with a ’53 Plymouth Cranbrook Savoy, possibly from Illinois. It has a pair of chrome Half Moon headlamp shields, and it looks like they were on a country drive.
A gentleman leaning on what appears to be a new ’55 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad with a spotlight, at least on the right side. It had a California license plate, but still had the buyer’s tag in the back window. The ’55 was the most popular of the three year unique body style Nomad.
Another likely mother and child posing, this time with a ’56 Ford Country Squire dressed up with a visor, dual spotlight mirror combos, fender skirts, full wheel covers and whitewall tires. They were at a waterfront gathering place of some sort.
Another traveler, this one a ’56 Chevrolet Two-Ten with a load on top and in the back. It also had a CB style whip antenna. The neighborhood looked fairly new, with young trees and shrubs, as well as tall TV antennas.
This ’57 Ford Ranch Wagon from New Jersey looked new in a shot taken in the fall. It was a nice day for a country drive.
Here was one with a load and equipped for traveling. A V8 powered ’58 Plymouth Custom Suburban 4 door with a well protected and secured load on the roof rack and a bug shield up front.
Per the original sales brochure; “From the rear, the ’58 Packard Station Wagon is as distinguished and distinctive as it is from the front”. I can agree with the “distinctive” part. This was the last year for Packard, and with a $3384 base list there weren’t many orders placed. 159 was the final unit count for the wagon, so don’t expect one at your local car show.
The final year of the Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad with the unique body style, this ’57 model was also the least popular. The featured one from California was a looker in solid black with bumper guards and a spotlight/mirror combination. On the other side of it must have been the work truck, a ’52-’54 Ford Courier.
The whole gang had gathered around to see this family leave on a trip in a six cylinder powered ’59 Chevrolet Parkwood possibly from New York. There was a load of stuff plus three visible people aboard, with perhaps a baby as well since a baby buggy appears to be what was in the roof rack. In the background was another wagon, a ’60 Dodge Matador or Polara 9-passenger.
Thanks for joining us and to all good day!
I know the pace of driving was slower then, but I have trouble imagining taking a road trip in a packed-to-the-gills 1959 6-cylinder (135 gross hp) Chevy wagon. 0-60 in 25 seconds when loaded, perhaps?
A ’59 six kept up with traffic pretty well. The problem was handling and parking, not highway driving.
Keep in mind the Interstate system we take for granted was in its infancy. Except for a few limited access highways most travel was on 2 or worse yet 3 lane roads at 50mph or 25 and 35 through a million small towns.
My current station wagon keeps up with modern traffic quite well 70+ hp 0-60 same day.
The Ford courier promo pic was emphasizing the utility value of a sedan delivery. It has a left side mirror and no interior mirror, and appears to have a partition behind the seat. Outside mirrors were rarely seen in promo pics in the ’50s, except for trucks and a few expensive cars.
The picture was in a fancy neighborhood. Some cities had laws forbidding “real” trucks in the nicer parts of town, which was a main selling point for sedan deliveries.
I had a ‘59 Biscayne 6/PG. It certainly wouldn’t win many drag races but I never considered it dangerously slow either.
Just this past weekend, I was driving with my 15-year-old daughter and said something like “Did you see that silver station wagon?”
She responded by saying “I’m not sure what a station wagon is.”
It occurred to me that the term has almost entirely left modern language. Now, my daughter’s not a car person – I’m sure teens who like cars would know this term, but still I bet that for a lot of young people, “station wagon” bears as much relevance as something like “phaeton” did to older generations.
That prompted me to look up “station wagon” in Google’s Ngram Viewer – which searches for the frequency of certain terms in material printed by year. The chart below shows how the term has plummeted in usage in the past decade or two.
I’m still hoping that station wagons make a comeback!
Likely they will. One of the “billion dollar” a ride, electric car makers will come up with a “s/w”.
If you want to confuse your daughter, show her a car with a window crank. 🙂
What’s that third pedal for?
My daughter learned to drive in a turbo diesel manual car, she still prefers manual cars and has taught some of her friends how to drive stick shift, I had to talk her into accepting a free automatic Toyota Corolla.
I’m pretty sure the only car my kids have been in that has manual windows is my in-laws’ F-150. They thought the window cranks were neat. Kind of like how people think rotary telephones are neat.
I actually like station wagons and have owner many of them, still have one and would have bought my daily in wagon if one had been for sale at the time, they never disappeared over here, currently considering a Peugeot Allure 508 in wagon same powertrain as my C5 but steel suspension.
Very “Levvitown”, looking neighborhood in the “Chevy 210” pic.
We had a ’59 Chevy Brookwood two door, bottom of the line, but still looked good in metallic blue. Dad had to have a V-8. Powerglide was his first automatic. That got us over the US 99 “Grapevine” with no trouble at speed.
Many miles logged in various station wagons back in the day, happy memories for the most part .
-Nate
Top Photo:
Looks like summer time based on how the young man is dress and the color of the trees. However, the important things in life (a football to the bottom left) was always carried for a pick up game in the middle of the street with the other kids in the neighborhood, even if you were in your Sunday best.
How about a 57 Chevy Bel Air wagon with the 220 horsepower power pack 283 it got around good until it ran out of gas. It happened to my mom a few times at the stoplight. She was heavy on the gas pedal. Wish I had it now my dad would have saved it for me but I was only five.
The two Nomads are very cool, but the green ’56 Country Squire really speaks to me. I just love those mid Fifties Ford wagons, The one in the first picture sports a nice two tone paint job. My affection for those wagons led me to buy my Flex. Though I never refer to it as a wagon to my Wife, she likes to think of it as an SUV. The Flex IS a great wagon, just came back from a 1,800 mile trip up to Oregon. Lot’s of room for cargo/luggage, very spacious and comfortable, and it returned over 23 mpg.
I love old wagons, especially Fords. In some makes and models, I actually prefer the wagons over the sedans
All great pics! My favorites are the ’50 Olds and the ’53 Mercury. I always liked these models, and seeing them as wagons is a special treat.
I certainly agree about the 56 Country Squire. Must be what’s up front that counts! 😁
You said there was one from the ’60s.
Where is it?
It’s behind the ’59 Chevy in the last picture. A 1960 Dodge.
I live in Los Angeles and when I was a little kid,these people who lived behind us had a 58 Packard station wagon.It was turquoise and black.I didn’t know what it was at the time.
High heels at the beach women sure knew how to dress them! 😜