Time to celebrate once more the station wagons of yore. This time, in a collection that features them more or less in action as they used to appear on the roads back in the day. It’s a mix of photos that contain at least one station wagon per shot, sometimes with a pair or more, in images dating to the 1950s and 1960s. And for those interested in the first installment of this series, the link is here.
We start with the ’56 Chevy wagon above, no longer pristine in a shot dated to 1964.
Gotta love that third shot of the Ford wagons at the beach.
The dueling two-tone paint schemes really defy the odds.
Is the tarp ((pic #1)) an aquisition to match the “primered door”, or is the door “primered” to match the tarp?
Nice ! .
These being memories flooding back .
-Nate
Dad had a ’57 COuntry Sedan, I’ll take the ’58 Plymouth.
1960 Ford for me, never seen one before but it really works. I know the 1960 design is not for everybody but I’ve always been sold on it, with the caveat I’ve only seen photos may change my mind in the metal.
The ‘58 Buick Cabellero hardtop wagon is the cream of the bunch. Was there a more luxurious (and expensive) wagon made in 1958?
The one in front of the high school, CPJ? If so, that’s a `57 and it’s gorgeous!
I’ve told this before, but in 1956 my dad was looking for a station wagon. He first came home with a red/ivory Chevy Nomad, but over my objections, chose a light green Ford. “A 2-dr station wagon just isn’t practical!”
That’s a 57 Buick Cabellero, not a 58. The side styling was significantly different with the 58 having the huge chrome panels on the side.
The first photo of the worn Chevrolet station wagon is slightly reminiscent of the coming of age movie “The Great Santini”.
Love the styling and various colors of the different cars. So very different today. With a few exceptions, we are surrounded by soulless transportation appliances. Miss the stylish cars of the past.
I think the Mercury wagon in the 4th pic was taken in Cuba. If so, I wouldn’t be surprised if the car, or at least part of it, lives on today.
Thanks for the pictures as I recall the trips we made in my father’s 62 Comet across Canada and the US (twice).
So many interesting places, American Wide-Trac Pontiacs first wowed me at age 10. And those Dodge and Plymouth models we didn’t have on our side of the border. Oh and those cute American girls. The downside, plastic seat covers in summer, ugh.
The second picture isn’t a 56 Chevy wagon, it’s either a 53 or 54.
The second picture is a Plymouth. The first picture is of a ’56 Chevy.
Picture #11 is wild, 4 Ramblers and at least 3 of them wagons. A Rambler dealer that stocked them deep and sold them cheap locally?
Blue was popular every brand, I have my white over blue Hillman wagon as xmas transport, should be fun.
I miss station wagons. Back in the day ‘cool’ people wouldn’t be seen in one. Today we have gotten rid of the cars and all the ‘cool’ people drive a SUV or crossover, which to me are just station wagons. The only real difference is you can get four wheel drive on many of them.
#1 A V8 powered ’56 Chevrolet Two-Ten Townsman or Beauville (hard to tell if it is a six or nine passenger) with some dent repair in process and a full load. It is wearing a California plate and that could very well be the location of this photo.
#2 A ’51 Plymouth Concord Suburban with an Oregon plate that was issued form ’55-’59. Behind it is a ’56 Ford Fairlane Victoria, and the one trying to hide behind the bushes is a ’52 or ’53 Mercury Monterey Special Custom 4 door sedan. The young lady is either done with her work or is just posing with the mower to make it look like she has been working.
#3 This must be the Ford Overlook somewhere, perhaps the Grand Canyon? Three Fords in a row, the tail light of a ’55 on the left edge, and two ’56 Country Sedans with the same color of two tone but opposing style. The one on the left has standard hub caps and whitewalls while the one on the right has full wheel covers and blackwalls. I can’t read either license plate or the decal in the back window, but I do see a State Farm bumper decal.
#4 A newish looking ’54 Mercury Monterey with a California plate. It is followed by a ’49 Buick Super Sedanet, and a ’54 Plymouth. Across the street is the tail of a ’42-’48 Mercury Club Convertible. (Re)Tiredoldmechanic has suggested this is in Cuba and I agree. Between the ‘Buick’ sign and the roof of the wagon is a temporary sign that says ‘Hotel Habana Hilton’ that was apparently completed in ’58.
#5 Someone looks pleased to be in the driver’s seat of a new looking V8 powered ’58 Plymouth Custom Suburban 4 door with a California plate. They are in a nice mid-century neighborhood.
#6 It looks like a lunch break at a busy campground. In the lower left corner is a ’53 Lincoln, and a ’57 Ford Country Sedan parked sideways with a boat rack and a California plate. In front of it is a ’54 Buick Roadmaster.
#7 A nice positive send off, unless they are talking about the opposing team. On the left is a ’58 Chevrolet Biscayne 2 door sedan, followed by a sweet looking ’57 Buick Century Caballero Estate Wagon.
#8 A family outing in a V8 powered ’58 Chevrolet Brookwood with a ’56 or ’57 Rambler Custom Cross Country parked nearby.
#9 Looks like a ship tour of some sort. Starting in the foreground a red ’60 Valiant V-200 Suburban, white over green ’55 Oldsmobile 88 or Super 88 Holiday Coupe, black ’57 Buick Super or Roadmaster, white over blue Oldsmobile may be another ’55, white over black ’57 Ford, and the red and white wagon further down may be a ’57 or ’58 Ford.
#10 A not too happy looking lady with a sharp looking ’60 Ford Country Squire with what appears to be a Connecticut plate and a house that is a close match.
#11 A Rambler family gathering with four of them present at perhaps a fishing hole. Starting in the left foreground a blue ’60 Chevrolet Brookwood, blue ’62 Rambler Classic Custom Cross Country with what appears to be a ’62 issue Illinois plate, white ’60 Ford Falcon 4 door sedan also with an Illinois plate, white over turquoise ’60 Rambler Classic Super that looks like a sedan. Background row left side a brown ’60 Ford Ranch Wagon 4 door, black ’60 Rambler Classic Custom Cross Country, black over red ’57 DeSoto 2 door Sportsman can’t tell what trim level, white ’61 Rambler Classic Super Cross Country, white ’62 Chevrolet C series Fleetside with a cabover camper, green ’59 Chevrolet Biscayne 2 door sedan with roof racks, and I cannot tell what the one on the very edge is.
#12 A lady posing next to a ’56 Ford Country Sedan that is a twin to the one in #3, or perhaps the same car a few years later. They are at what may be a state park with cabins. To their right is a ’64 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Sedan, and in the background is a ’62 Buick 4 door hardtop that is too far away to determine the trim level.
#13 A parking lot at a large complex of some sort likely in Texas. In the lower left corner is a light green ’58-’62 VW Type 1, tan ’65 Pontiac Catalina Safari with a ’66 Texas plate and the passenger is eyeballing the photographer, ’66 Pontiac GTO Hardtop Coupe, grey ’66 Pontiac Hardtop Coupe that could be a Catalina, Ventura or Executive, and leaving is a grey ’65 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu. Second row is a white ’62 Chevrolet and a black ’64 Impala or Impala Super Sport Coupe. Across the road left to right is a blue ’65 Oldsmobile F-85 4 door sedan, white over light green ’55 or ’56 Ford Fordor in the background, gold ’65 Impala Super Sport Coupe, maroon ’66 Buick Skylark Sport Coupe, dark grey ’50 Chevrolet Styleline, black over white ’65 Buick Skylark Sport Coupe, white ’61 Mercury Meteor 800 2 door sedan, black over red ’66 Oldsmobile Cutlass Holiday Coupe, red ’66 Cutlass Holiday Coupe further back, gold ’59 Pontiac Catalina 2 door sedan, aqua ’64 Ford Galaxie 500 2 door hardtop, white ’65 Impala Sport Coupe further back, black over maroon ’66 Impala Super Sport Coupe, red ’65 or ’66 Mustang hardtop towing a U-Haul trailer, maroon ’65 Impala Sport Sedan, and the tail of a green ’64 Chevrolet. It looks like a GM town so perhaps it is Arlington.
Thanks for the photos.
#12 Is a 1955, look at the squares on the front grille. 1956 was more rectangular
Photo #3: Dual Ford Wagons
Glass hatch in Ford to the right is open. How many people hit their head on these before they learned to duck their head. Many a dad was happy when the big three adopted wagons where the rear glass receded into the tailgate.
(Re)tired Old Mechanic got #4’s Cuba location right, with “Circuito CMQ” radio-television there on the building (Google turns up plenty about it, pre- and post-Castro).
#3 with the Ford two-tone pair is really quite something—I’d have taken a picture, even if neither car was my family’s.
I grew up in 1950s-60s wagons, so today’s selection is really appealing–thanks!
I loved the wagons too much! Those pics are a very amazing gift for me!
Thank you!
That Buick wagon is a 57, not a 58. Chrome was applied with a trowel on the 58’s and they were ugly.
These pix are a good lesson for some of todays younger generation; that is, those that are of the belief that huge SUVs are the ONLY vehicles capable of hauling stuff around. Evidence seen here are the large aftermarket roof racks on the wagons AND the Chevy sedan; plus, we see a Mustang owner who’s not afraid to tow a 4×6 U-Haul with his/her ride. Sure: with today’s technology, pickups & SUVs can cruise down the hwy at 75mph (or more, often) with giant travel trailers behind them, w/o breaking a sweat. But “back in the day”, we made do with what we had!
Thanks again Patrick for the very thorough details
I’ve said this before here…in the autumn of’56 my grandparents bought a’57 Buick Caballero. They already owned a ‘50 Riveria two door hardtop.
The Caballero was what was called bittersweet – some called the color oxblood- and white. The interior was two tone. They ordered air conditioning and a roof rack.
They traded both vehicles in around the spring of’69 for a new Electra.