A station wagon, also called an estate car, estate or wagon, is a car body style which has a two-box design, a large cargo area and a rear tailgate that is hinged to open for access to the cargo area. The body style is similar to a hatchback car, but station wagons are longer and are more likely to have the roof-line extended to the rear of the vehicle body to provide ample space for luggage and small cargo.
The first station wagons, produced in the United States around 1910, were wood-bodied conversions of an existing passenger car. During the 1930s, car manufacturers began to produce similarly-styled models, and by the 1950s the wood rear bodywork had been replaced by an all-steel body.
Station wagon and estate models sold well from the 1950s to the 1970s, since when sales have declined somewhat as minivans and SUVs have increased in popularity.
The popularity of the station wagon, particularly full-size station wagons, in the U.S was blunted by increased fuel prices caused by the 1973 oil crisis. Then in 1983, the market for station wagons was further eroded by the Chrysler minivans, based on the K platform. While the K platform was also used for station wagon models (such as the Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries), the minivan would soon eclipse them in popularity.
Here, let’s take a look from what was hot off the assembly line 40 years ago from a sampling of American and foreign automakers.
1. Chrysler
The seventh-generation Town & Country was in its second year as the mid-sized LeBaron wagon. It had formerly been the company’s full-size station wagon.
2. Pontiac
The 1979 Safaris were available in several trim packages. This ad highlights the mid-size Grand LeMans Safari and the full-size Bonneville Safari.
3. Oldsmobile
This Cutlass Cruiser, Oldsmobile’s mid-size wagon, features a diesel engine. 1979 was the company’s second model year with a diesel engine for its wagons.
And here is the full-size Custom Cruiser:
4. Ford
All four of Ford’s wagon models for 1979 are on this beauty of an ad, including the Club Wagon van. We’ve got the Pinto, LTD, and Fairmont wagons all out for a nice day at the lake.
5. Chevrolet
1979 was the second model year for the Malibu wagon, then in its fourth generation. It was Chevy’s mid-size wagon entry.
Here’s Chevy’s full-size wagon, the Caprice Classic:
6. Dodge
Dodge offered three wagon models in 1979 — the Colt, Aspen, and Diplomat. Here is the largest of the trio, the Diplomat.
7. Volkswagen
We can’t forget our imports now can we? Here is the 1979 Volkswagen Dasher, known back home as the Passat.
8. Nissan
The subcompact Nissan Sunny (sold in North America as the Datsun 210) was in the second year of its fourth generation in 1979. In 1982 it was replaced by the Sentra.
9. Subaru
The Subaru Leone went by many names in America in the late ’70s, including the Subaru GL or L Series. Whatever you call it, it clearly stands out from the station wagon crowd of 1979.
(This original article was written by Chris Holmes, and published on The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit)
The first station wagons, produced in the United States around 1910, were wood-bodied conversions of an existing passenger car. During the 1930s, car manufacturers began to produce similarly-styled models, and by the 1950s the wood rear bodywork had been replaced by an all-steel body.
Station wagon and estate models sold well from the 1950s to the 1970s, since when sales have declined somewhat as minivans and SUVs have increased in popularity.
The popularity of the station wagon, particularly full-size station wagons, in the U.S was blunted by increased fuel prices caused by the 1973 oil crisis. Then in 1983, the market for station wagons was further eroded by the Chrysler minivans, based on the K platform. While the K platform was also used for station wagon models (such as the Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries), the minivan would soon eclipse them in popularity.
Here, let’s take a look from what was hot off the assembly line 40 years ago from a sampling of American and foreign automakers.
1. Chrysler
The seventh-generation Town & Country was in its second year as the mid-sized LeBaron wagon. It had formerly been the company’s full-size station wagon.
2. Pontiac
The 1979 Safaris were available in several trim packages. This ad highlights the mid-size Grand LeMans Safari and the full-size Bonneville Safari.
3. Oldsmobile
This Cutlass Cruiser, Oldsmobile’s mid-size wagon, features a diesel engine. 1979 was the company’s second model year with a diesel engine for its wagons.
And here is the full-size Custom Cruiser:
4. Ford
All four of Ford’s wagon models for 1979 are on this beauty of an ad, including the Club Wagon van. We’ve got the Pinto, LTD, and Fairmont wagons all out for a nice day at the lake.
5. Chevrolet
1979 was the second model year for the Malibu wagon, then in its fourth generation. It was Chevy’s mid-size wagon entry.
Here’s Chevy’s full-size wagon, the Caprice Classic:
6. Dodge
Dodge offered three wagon models in 1979 — the Colt, Aspen, and Diplomat. Here is the largest of the trio, the Diplomat.
7. Volkswagen
We can’t forget our imports now can we? Here is the 1979 Volkswagen Dasher, known back home as the Passat.
8. Nissan
The subcompact Nissan Sunny (sold in North America as the Datsun 210) was in the second year of its fourth generation in 1979. In 1982 it was replaced by the Sentra.
9. Subaru
The Subaru Leone went by many names in America in the late ’70s, including the Subaru GL or L Series. Whatever you call it, it clearly stands out from the station wagon crowd of 1979.
(This original article was written by Chris Holmes, and published on The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit)
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