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Thread Number: 82921
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
station wagons: 1957-90... |
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| Post# 1071476 5/8/2020 at 22:36 (1,438 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD) | ||
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there were wagons before and after this time frame,but I think these years were the "good old days" with big lazy v8s,fingertip steering with no "road feel",plenty of fake wood,rear-facing child seats,head freeze AC,electric everything,and could pull a 5000 lb camper behind :) | ||
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Post# 1071488 , Reply# 1 5/9/2020 at 01:02 (1,438 days old) by petek  (Ontari ari ari O ) |
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I always wished my dad would have bought an Olds Vista Cruiser with roof window. For all the camping we did, 3 kids and the dog , it would have made more sense.. But the wagon I really liked were the big Colony Parks.
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Post# 1071502 , Reply# 2 5/9/2020 at 06:11 (1,438 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA) |
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I was always partial to the Chrysler Town & Country...it was always the most expensive wagon in Popular Science. They also had the dual air conditioner which I thought was the living end! We weren't wagon people; our friends had a red 1972 Country Squire with red vinyl seats and the facing rear seats...
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Post# 1071504 , Reply# 3 5/9/2020 at 06:16 (1,438 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc) |
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Wouldn't these be considered the original "SUV's"?My parents had a Rambler when I was a young kid-the Rambler was replaced by a International Travelall-Guess this is closer to an SUV then a usual station wagon.Also cars like these could be the original "soccer Mom" cars. | ||
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Post# 1071507 , Reply# 4 5/9/2020 at 06:19 (1,438 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA) |
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| Post# 1071511 , Reply# 6 5/9/2020 at 06:40 (1,438 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod) | ||
My Favorite Two Wagons...
I owned this wagon briefly in 1973 : 1968 Caprice Estate with a 427. It got about 6 feet to the gallon but Jeez was that thing fast. Gas was also around 40-50 cents a gallon then. My best friend in High School's Mom had a 1970 Buick Electra Wagon with the 455 Wildcat. They were such Beautiful well appointed not to mention comfortable cars for a long trip. | ||
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Post# 1071512 , Reply# 7 5/9/2020 at 06:49 (1,438 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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The First Big Car I Ever Had Was A 1969 Chrysler T&C Wagon My Brother Jeff and I bought it used around 1976, it had the 440 CI engine, Dual-A/C, 5 speaker 8 track stereo, built-in rear window washer in the two-was tailgate.
It was a beautiful pale yellow color with real simulated mahogany wood siding and built in roof-rack and rear air deflector.
With the economical rear end it would stay in 2nd gear till 90 MPH and could break 20 MPG on highway trips, I panicked and sold the car when gasoline was hitting .75 a gallon for premium, wish I had kept this one.
John L. | ||
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Post# 1071535 , Reply# 8 5/9/2020 at 10:01 (1,438 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Eddie, | ||
| Post# 1071545 , Reply# 9 5/9/2020 at 10:58 (1,438 days old) by seedub (South Texas Hill Country) | ||
The 1974 to 78 Ford Country Squire was my all-time favorite, and the GMs all the way from the key-operated roll-down hatch window from 1971 to 1976 to the streamlined redesign from 1977 to mid 80s were my second fav.
But, I liked all the 1970s dreadnaughts, even Chrysler. I was partial to the 1973 Plymouth Satellite (as seen on "The Brady Bunch"), and the Chrysler 1972 Town & Country, particularly if it had concealed headlamps.
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| Post# 1071548 , Reply# 10 5/9/2020 at 11:08 (1,438 days old) by seedub (South Texas Hill Country) | ||
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Because I loved all station wagons when I was a child in the 70s, I had a brief love affair with the Pinto wagon...*very* brief.
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Post# 1071552 , Reply# 12 5/9/2020 at 11:41 (1,438 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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This thread is reminding me of how much I've always liked station wagons!
I've never owned one, but I've always liked them. My older brother owned a couple in his time, very inexpensive "beaters", but still cool. One was a 1967 Pontiac Executive, and one was a Pinto, but I don't know what year. Early '70s, before the big bumpers. I've owned two Pintos over the years, but not wagons. I thought they were fun little basic cars with decent styling. You'll never hear me put them down. I'd actually own one again, just for funzies. Barry | ||
| Post# 1071555 , Reply# 13 5/9/2020 at 11:52 (1,438 days old) by seedub (South Texas Hill Country) | ||
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One final picture: In the year 1974, a mother in the playdate club my sister and I belonged to dropped off her child one afternoon in a new marigold yellow Volvo wagon, which I liked right away, and liked them all until about 1977. I suppose it was the cuteness factor it had going for it, refreshing amidst all the American dreadnaughts; and the notion that I had never travelled internationally, and there was no internet to allow me to intimately examine another nation and culture. So, to me, Sweden was an exotic nether land, adding to the attractiveness of a car built there.
On a related topic, it has interested me how many single people drove estate wagons. Young, single people such as James Dean and the social activist Angela Davis. Montgomery Clift was driving a rented one when he had his horrific crash. Dean Martin made one cool in "The Silencers (1966)." It had a bar in the wayback, and was dubbed the "sex wagon." I have always associated wagons with suburban mothers. My cousins referred to them as Mom cars - a term of love and respect, not a pejorative. But, single people drove them also.
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Post# 1071562 , Reply# 14 5/9/2020 at 12:08 (1,438 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL) |
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Post# 1071587 , Reply# 16 5/9/2020 at 14:17 (1,438 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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| Post# 1071595 , Reply# 17 5/9/2020 at 15:06 (1,438 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT) | ||
Growing up with wagons...
was the norm for many '50s kids. Dad always had Fords: '57, '59, '63, '68, then moved on to Buick Electras when the 4 kids were gone. The '59 and '68s were Country Squires, (pictured in the same colors we had), the '57 and '63 were Country Sedans.
Wagons make great kid and boat haulers, and since my wife and I had 3 kids and a boat we too had wagons: always Mopar since I didn't get the Ford gene and preferred how torsion bars handled: '71 and '73 Plymouth Suburbans, and '72 T&C, identical to this green one pictured, 440 cu in and 11 mpg. I never could find a nice '74 to '77 Mopar C-body wagon, so we moved on to Grand Fury and Newport sedans, then finally full size Buicks while kids were home, Volvos and SAAB after that, finally Japanese SUVs. I still miss those big wagons, they were the ultimate family car. | ||
| Post# 1071599 , Reply# 18 5/9/2020 at 15:12 (1,438 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
I love station wagons and always have. Growing up I remember several kids parents having wagons and I was so jealous as we were a sedan family, the most common were Colony Park wagons, a few had Caprice Classic wagons, a few families had 1st gen Taurus/Sable wagons, and I’ve known several people with Escort wagons.
Attached are a few pics The first two, the 80s Caprice Classic Estate and Pontiac Parisienne Safari wagons ate two wagons I’ve always loved Then there is the gray 1986 Chevy Cavalier wagon grandma had from 89-92, I loved this car and what got me hooked on wagons Lastly is the 2nd and most favorite station wagon I’ve ever had, 1995 Buick Roadmaster Limited Estate One day I’d love to have another one. I’ve also owned an 00 Taurus Wagon and a 11 Audi A4 wagon | ||
| Post# 1071602 , Reply# 19 5/9/2020 at 15:14 (1,438 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT) | ||
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The classic wagon era...
really began in 1955 in my opinion. FOrd was always considered THE Wagonmaster, they even advertised as such, and we had 2 of these in our neighborhood. The advent of the ohv V8 and big '50s families made wagons the Kings of suburbia, and the "Squire" was required for families trying to keep up with the Jonses.
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Post# 1071629 , Reply# 20 5/9/2020 at 16:11 (1,438 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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You've reminded me of some that I forgot about.
Sam, The company I used to work for had a fleet of Cavalier wagons as salesman vehicles. I drove several of those over the years. I thought they were fun little cars. Tom, You reminded me of another one that my older brother had. A '72 Gran Torino wagon. Red with woodgrain. He didn't have it for very long, and I don't know if he ever actually drove it. I just remember it being parked in my parents' back yard. I seem to recall it looking good, but he always got his cars really cheap or free. So it may not have even run for all I know. Also, the closest thing I've ever had to a wagon is our current vehicle. An '02 Explorer that we bought in '05. It still runs and drives like new. Roger, That '59 Ford! My dad never had wagons. But, he was a Ford man back in the day. It was before my time, so I've only seen it in pictures, but he had a black '59 Galaxie sedan. Beautiful car, in black with all that chrome! I'd still love to own a real station wagon some day, but they're getting harder to find with every passing year. Barry | ||
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Post# 1071633 , Reply# 21 5/9/2020 at 16:26 (1,438 days old) by SudsMaster (SF Bay Area, California) |
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Post# 1071636 , Reply# 22 5/9/2020 at 16:31 (1,438 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O ) |
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I still see one or two of those mid 90s Roadmasters here in town. THe neighbors behind us had a 58 Chev Yeoman 4dr in tutone red and white. He kept that car mint and everyone was shocked when he traded it in on a 70 Delta 88. Our other neighbors, with a lot of kids, they had a 63 iirc Country Squire.. I always loved their wagon.
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| Post# 1071641 , Reply# 23 5/9/2020 at 16:48 (1,438 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod) | ||
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We also had when I was younger a 1966 Ford Fairlane Wagon.
Dad had a ThermoKing A/C under the dash unit installed. That car was dangerous as we used to start it in the Winter to warm up and it would jump into reverse and roll into the corner of the house. Went through a couple of Tailights even after we had the tranny repaired.
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Post# 1071642 , Reply# 24 5/9/2020 at 17:00 (1,438 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Neighbors on the next street over had a '59 Ford Country Sedan in Fawn Tan. They also had an older ('55 or '56) one that was red.
My friend Brenda had a 70's Chrysler Town & Country. That thing looked like it was 10 miles long!
The '72 Gran Torino wagon my uncle and aunt had was Bright Green Gold metallic.
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Post# 1071658 , Reply# 25 5/9/2020 at 18:11 (1,438 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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| Post# 1071666 , Reply# 26 5/9/2020 at 18:40 (1,437 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
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Growing up, in my grandparents neighborhood they were the only GM family in a neighborhood of Ford households.
Up to the early 2000s two neighbors had 80s wagons. Woody had a gold Ford Escort Wagon, then Another neighbor Ruth had a Mercury Marquis wagon. 3rd is one of my most favorite classic wagons, the 1959 Buick LeSabre hardtop wagon | ||
| Post# 1071670 , Reply# 27 5/9/2020 at 18:44 (1,437 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
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Here’s an odd wagon, I knew 3 families with these Toyota Tercel 4WD wagons,
Oddly every one of them were white.
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Post# 1071795 , Reply# 28 5/10/2020 at 14:21 (1,437 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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 1983 Colony Park
pop out that gas guzzler engine and slide in a smooth Tesla Electric motor and batteries and I'm happy as a Halloween pumpkin with a toothy grin.
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This post was last edited 05/10/2020 at 16:08 | ||
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Post# 1071796 , Reply# 29 5/10/2020 at 14:29 (1,437 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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The ultimate Family Wagon Though I don't approve at all what the crew of the Vacation movie did to the Ford LTD Country Squire wagon.
But apparently it's got a growing cult following.
They should have used a gaudy 1970s chrysler s.w. They wouldn't have had to do all the mods. as the cars then really were heavier looking and had more chrome and adornments. But, in 1983 it wouldn't have fit the story line because you'd know it wasn't a new car.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO bradfordwhite's LINK This post was last edited 05/10/2020 at 16:10 | ||
| Post# 1071801 , Reply# 30 5/10/2020 at 14:57 (1,437 days old) by fan-of-fans (Florida) | ||
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Sam, we had one of those Tercel wagons growing up. Not the 4 wheel drive though. It was a good little runabout car and had probably 200,000 miles on it when my parents sold it. It was still going after that. | ||
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Post# 1071808 , Reply# 31 5/10/2020 at 15:26 (1,437 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Keith,
I couldn't agree more. I was always appalled by the mess they made of an LTD wagon/Country Squire.
And, as we've learned from the Dukes of Hazzard, that flying through the air scene was the end of the road for that particular car. I can't say that I would have felt any better if they had used a '70s Chrysler either though. I tend to just appreciate all cars. They're all different, they all have their own personalities. I don't like to see any of them abused. Barry | ||
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Post# 1071818 , Reply# 32 5/10/2020 at 16:28 (1,437 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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Barry I do not condone automotive abuse either. Its just that during the 70s cars were being fitted with as much chrome and heavy metal to weigh them down, I think on purpose to make them use more gasoline.
It was during the late 70s and early 80s the auto manufacturers had to scale down and make vehicles more efficient. The intro. of the newly designed colony parks, and LTD in '79 was a big step. These models shed about 1000 pounds, lost about 18" in length yet actually gained interior space, and became safer and more efficient. When the producers made the Wagon queen it was kind of inaccurate of what was going on.
I saw some "The Making of _____________" videos about the Dukes of Hazzard also Smokey and the Bandit and they were talking about how many cars they went through in order to make those air borne car scenes. On the Dukes John Schneider confirmed that they used like 250 to 370 cars during the entire shows run. That's a car per episode. Either number is outrageos imo.
On Smokey and the Bandit I think they said they used up 4 transams for the movie. And of course on each set they had stunt doubles and drivers as they wouldn't have the stars lives put in danger for those risky shots. | ||
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Post# 1071822 , Reply# 33 5/10/2020 at 17:03 (1,437 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Sorry, Keith.
I didn't mean to sound like you were condoning "car abuse". I just meant that I would have felt bad no matter what kind of vehicle they used. As a kid, I even hated when the "bad guy's" cars or police cars got wrecked in Dukes. But, we liked the show in general, (unintended pun), so we never used to miss it. Barry | ||
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Post# 1071839 , Reply# 34 5/10/2020 at 17:51 (1,437 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose) |
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I Love Wagons
My family had only one wagon while I was growing up and there is a picture of it included here.
It was a Plymouth - not sure of the year - and it met it's fate when broadsided in an intersection. Thankfully, my mother, brother and I survived with minor injuries. Now, I own TWO wagons - a 2003 Passat GLX with 5 speed manual transmission and a 2018 Buick Regal TourX Essence with all the option packages. You European and U.K. members will recognize the Buick as the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia Country Tourer. I have yet to see another Buick Regal TourX on the road. Americans just don't buy wagons and 2020 will be the last year for the TourX. I will NEVER buy an SUV, CUV or "cross-over". LONG LIVE THE WAGON! This post was last edited 05/10/2020 at 21:53 | ||
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Post# 1071851 , Reply# 35 5/10/2020 at 18:58 (1,436 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay) |
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 Hey Bill, that is a very Willow Glen-ish looking street scene. When I was a little kid, neighbors had a similar Plymouth wagon (early '50s, I'm guessing) in dark forest blue-green. They replaced it with a metallic sandy beige '60 Chevy wagon.
I loved our '97 Passat GLX wagon with 5-speed. It was fun to drive when not commuting in stop & go traffic on I-680/280/SR 17 from San Ramon to Los Gatos.
Sam, the neighbor around the corner from our previous home is still driving one of those Tercel wagons. I remember when they were new, a friend of mine said the rear hatch looked like an ATM. Friends a few blocks over had a white '60 Buick wagon until around 1972. The kids had all grown by then and they got a bathtub of a POS Plymouth sedan, a '70 or so in copper with black vinyl top, that had been a driver's education car with an extra brake pedal on the passenger's side.
Eddie, we fell victim to the FOMOCO transmission flaw too. My dad's '69 Continental Mark III was in a fast idle on the driveway after a cold start and suddenly took off backwards, swung across the front lawn and struck the Mulberry tree in the parking strip. If not for that tree, it would have made it into the street and to who knows where from there, backwards and on wheels, to paraphrase Ginger Rogers.
We never had a wagon growing up. My sister and I were the only kids. Neighbors had them, though. A beige (Fawn Tan?) '62 Country Sedan, a beige '66 Country Squire, a light green '59 Plymouth, and a white/wood paneled '57 Mercury with red interior to name a few.
I remember the '55-56 Ford as being the most common wagon for transporting nuns back in the day. At St. Leo's, their two-tone blue & white wagon was replaced by a new beige/fawn '62 Country Sedan, courtesy of the Dad's Club.
Getting back to more modern times, Dave got a green '76 Audi Fox wagon shortly after I met him. I ended up with that car, which got totaled in 1989 (easily accomplished at almost 14 years old, not my fault, no serious injuries). We got a silver '84 Audi 5000S wagon in 1988 when they were cheap due to the acceleration issues Audi was having. That one got rear-ended and totaled fairly quickly (whiplash for both of us even though seat/shoulder belted) because the roof buckled. It was replaced with a darker silver '85 5000S, which got driven until there were over 160K miles on it. The next wagon was a silver '96 Passat GLX. Dave stupidly leased that one. He returned it and that's when we ended up with the black '97 Passat GLX with 5-speed, which had been a company car and only had 12K miles on it. I ended up with that one because Dave was murdering the clutch and transmission. He traded it in at 140K for a dark silver 2006 Audi Allroad. That thing was a huge gas hog, barely breaking 17 MPG on the highway. We dumped it as a trade-in on a brand new 2011 MBZ GLK 350, which is sort of a wagon. It got better mileage than the Allroad and was a pleasure to drive.
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Post# 1071857 , Reply# 36 5/10/2020 at 19:22 (1,436 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA) |
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I've got a 2019 TourX as well...as well as my 2009 Saab 9-3 wagon. I am not in love with the TourX as much as I'd hoped---it's longer and wider than the 9-3, also a little softer and smoother...got the white as well. GM actually targeted the vehicle at the LGBT community, and had a rainbow-wrapped one at 2018 Motor City Pride. They were successful--the vehicle indexed about 2.25x what would normally be expected (if it appealed the same to the LGBT community it would index at 1.0x)
CLICK HERE TO GO TO jamiel's LINK | ||
| Post# 1071863 , Reply# 38 5/10/2020 at 19:46 (1,436 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod) | ||
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Ralph...
"Eddie, we fell victim to the FOMOCO transmission flaw too. My dad's '69 Continental Mark III was in a fast idle on the driveway after a cold start and suddenly took off backwards, swung across the front lawn and struck the Mulberry tree in the parking strip. "
1968-69 were always my favorite Mark III years. So Classy and Beautiful detailed inside and out. "I remember the '55-56 Ford as being the most common wagon for transporting nuns back in the day. At St. Leo's, their two-tone blue & white wagon was replaced by a new beige/fawn '62 Country Sedan, courtesy of the Dad's Club." OMG Ralph. Thanks for the Memory Jog. The basis of so many Nun in a Station Wagon Jokes. Yeah, Our Wagon was a high idler too. Great recall. It had the Drop Down or Swing Door Tailgate. That was about the best feature of that Wagon. We always had Oldsmobiles and Chevys. The Ford was a "deal" from a friend. We all know how those go... Then the year before my Mom passed, my Dad bought her a 1968 DeVille Convertible. | ||
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Post# 1071887 , Reply# 39 5/10/2020 at 21:50 (1,436 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose) |
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Wagons Ho!
Hey, Ralph - I couldn't afford to live in Willow Glen! I'm in Blossom Valley.
Hey, Jamie - YES - the TourX feels VERY large compared to my Passat (and it IS bigger in every dimension). The TourX gets better mpg (32 highway compared to 28 with the Passat) and the TourX has WAY more horsepower and torque. I only wish the TourX had some of the features my Passat has like rain sensing wipers, "puddle lights" on all the doors, a locking and air conditioned glove compartment, and a full-size spare (the TourX has no spare). Of course, the TourX has a lot of "safety" features the Passat doesn't have like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, etc. I was motivated to buy the TourX as affordable wagons are becoming very rare and Buick was heavily discounting them! I consider the Subaru Outback to be more of a cross-over since it's so high off the ground. The Buick Regal Sportback has more features available than the TourX wagon such as ventilated seats, front parking assist and a few other things. GM "bean counters" strike again! | ||
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Post# 1071931 , Reply# 40 5/11/2020 at 09:07 (1,436 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Bill,
Love the Plymouth! What a great color. I believe I also see a little Falcon in front of it. I've always had a fondness for those first generation Falcons.
I love those Regal wagons! I can honestly say that I've never seen one on the road around here, but they certainly caught my eye when I saw them at the local Buick dealership. Too bad they're being discontinued. 🙁 Is the Sportback a wagon too? I'm not sure if that's what I've seen, or if it's the TourX. Barry | ||
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Post# 1071932 , Reply# 41 5/11/2020 at 09:14 (1,436 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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1969 Chrysler T & C Here's a web photo of the Chrysler John and I had.
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Post# 1071934 , Reply# 42 5/11/2020 at 09:33 (1,436 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Jeff, | ||
| Post# 1071975 , Reply# 43 5/11/2020 at 14:13 (1,436 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
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Being an almost exclusive Buick owner, I too fell in love when I saw the Regal TourX at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, it was in dark moon blue metallic, the color I wanted,
After test driving I felt it was just a tad too small for me, being 6’5” I found the head room to be a bit lacking. Instead if the TourX I ended up in an Enclave Once I get the Enclave I’ll consider getting a second car again, if I do it’ll either be a used TourX or a used LaCrosse. I really like having the cargo ability, but I really miss the ride of a car | ||
| Post# 1072019 , Reply# 45 5/11/2020 at 19:54 (1,435 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts) | ||
1960
International Harvester Travelall. Not quite in the same class as the other wagons pictured here, but this one could easily carry a refrigerator. Very low tailgate, since the gas tank was under the second row of seats. My father bought it in 1960, and kept it for 30 years.
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Post# 1072092 , Reply# 46 5/12/2020 at 07:37 (1,435 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA) |
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The Regal Sportback is actually a hatchback--big rear door. Same platform as the Chevrolet Malibu, albeit was made in Russelsheim, Germany. The Regal is also built in China, where they also have a 4D sedan (China-only) version. I worked for GM during the planning/launch period for the vehicle--they made some unusual European-based content decisions. The main one that everyone shakes their head at is limiting the availability of remote hatch release (no one understands that) and of remote start (understandable, as it's illegal in much of the EU). They needed to limit build versions (i.e. options) to make things more efficient which further led to some weird content decisions. They made some late adjustments to the color availability (one of the original proposed colors was called "Carrageen" which was a greenish-yellow color...it was a really "European" looking color that I don't think it ever made it here) It wasn't a roaring success, but as mentioned earlier, far exceeded their expectation in the LGBT community after a concerted marketing effort (I was a part of it--we did a photo shoot with the RenCen behind us; and wrapped one in rainbow colors for Motor City Pride). Had it been a more robust success, they would have made room for it at the Kansas City plant (where the Malibu is assembled), but here we are. They're still available at dealers (Buick.com will let you configure and locate them) so get one while they're hot!
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Post# 1072108 , Reply# 47 5/12/2020 at 09:59 (1,435 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose) |
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Buick Regal Colors
When I set out to buy my Tour X, I wanted one in "Rioja Red" with the shale interior. My local dealers didn't have any in that combo. I did not want a black interior so I found the "Frost White Tricoat" with shale interior that I purchased at a dealer 100 miles from my home. GM did some odd things with the shale interior during the 2018 production run. The cargo area in my car is shale to match the seats and door panels and other trim. Later in the run, they changed it to be black. I really wanted a car with the shale cargo area because the cargo cover roller shade was also that lighter color which reflects the heat more than black would. I wish the carpet was also shale. I bought aftermarket carpet mats in shale just to brighten things up. No worries about soiling my light colored cargo area - my car came with a full complement of mats - all-weather rubber mats, cargo area mat, carpeted mats (black). The other "oddity" is that the rear seatbelts are shale to match the seats but the front seatbelts are black. Why, GM? Seatbelts should match the seat color in my opinion.
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Post# 1072170 , Reply# 49 5/12/2020 at 16:39 (1,435 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose) |
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Falcon in Picture
Hey, Barry,
Yes - that Falcon ahead of the 1954 Plymouth Wagon was my Dad's company car. Two or three years later, my Dad bought my Mom a used Falcon 2 door. She loved the Falcon because she was 4 foot 10 inches tall and it was more her size. The used Falcon had belonged to a farmer (we lived in Nebraska at the time) and it always smelled like a barnyard inside. Nothing my Dad did could get rid of that smell! Mom finally got her first new car in 1968 - a Falcon Futura Sports Coupe. | ||
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Post# 1072173 , Reply# 50 5/12/2020 at 17:04 (1,435 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA) |
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GM (Ford, Chrysler, …) analyze the buyers of their cars fifteen ways to sunday. The appeal to the LGBT community is more a psychographic activity (car X is going to appeal to urban people with high disposable income without kids, truck Y is for suburban married couples with 2.3 children, etc etc. When you hold those types of groupings against the population you can see where they intersect (and don't intersect) with any part of the population. Don't know if you filled out the post-purchase survey sent out after you bought the TourX but at GM they have an LGBT question (put in 20 years ago; as one of the chief product planners was a charter member of the LGBT employee resource group). As far as LGBT cars, they are generally smaller and more urban-feeling than the average car. Subaru (quintessentially the lesbian car) has advertised that fact for many years. While I was there the highest indexing cars (industry-wide) were Subaru, Mini, Jeep and VW. Saturn and Saab did very well for GM when they were around. The psychographic stuff, does break down a bit when you talk about hobbies and/or family makeup...IGRA (gay rodeo) folk drive very similarly to other rodeo folk, and gay couples with kids are led by the kids (rather than the LGBT-aspect), though I would speculate that the VW Atlas (SUV) and Subaru Ascent (SUV) index better within the LGBT community than, say, a Suburban or Explorer.
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| Post# 1072228 , Reply# 51 5/12/2020 at 23:26 (1,434 days old) by seedub (South Texas Hill Country) | ||
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Son, did I get the TourX wrong! I recall reading an article in a car enthusiast publication when TourX first debuted which made the claim that it was likely being pitched to older, wealthier buyers who because of the ailments which affect the elderly like bad backs, did not want to climb in and out of an SUV or crossover. And, it talked about a niche market of wealthy car owners who have purchased luxury wagons such as the Mercedes E 450 for many years.
On a similar note, the television series "Baptiste" has made it to The States, and I have been watching it on my local PBS affiliate. Julien Baptiste goes about his work in Amsterdam behind the wheel of a Jaguar X Type wagon, something I had no idea existed. That got me thinking about how interesting it is that estate wagons in Europe are executive cars. Here in the states, a business exec might tool around in a BMW 7-series sedan; in Germany, that same Bimmer is likely to be in wagon form. | ||
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Post# 1072259 , Reply# 52 5/13/2020 at 06:01 (1,434 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA) |
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Don't get me wrong--the TourX had multiple overlapping/aligning targets which aren't mutually exclusive...but the "can't climb into a SUV" crowd was probably more targeted toward the Equinox (which, as a higher unibody SUV, requires less bending down than the TourX) or the Trax. The "import wagon" intenders probably were bullseyed by the TourX--I think I know the stories you were referring to that the buyers of the TourX had a relatively high household income. I was really peripheral to that kind of marketing at GM but it was fascinating.
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| Post# 1072331 , Reply# 53 5/13/2020 at 14:42 (1,434 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan) | ||
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My uncle who was a Ford quality control person told my dad he needed a wagon. Showed up with his brand new 1973 Pinto squire. Dad asked, I thought you were getting a wagon? He had it a year, then totalled it New Years morning going to work. drove a '69 catalina until that summer, then his '74 Galaxie Country Sedan came in. | ||
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Post# 1072335 , Reply# 54 5/13/2020 at 15:05 (1,434 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Jim, I agree, the Custom Cruiser was a Ninety-Eight with a tail-gate. On a long trip was a couch-on-wheels. Considering their weight, they were pretty quick, although at 6mpg on Premium fuel you knew you weren't driving a Rambler. A 1970 Vista-Cruiser with a 455 was a ROCKET for sure! | ||
| Post# 1072340 , Reply# 55 5/13/2020 at 15:52 (1,434 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
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Here’s another uncommon wagon, there were a few of these around here, the one lady drove hers from new until she quit driving in the late 2000’s, it was a lake creamy yellow with gold two-tone
The AMC Eagle wagon
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Post# 1072361 , Reply# 56 5/13/2020 at 18:20 (1,433 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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Post# 1072379 , Reply# 57 5/13/2020 at 20:03 (1,433 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Rare wagon
I'm sorry I don't have a picture to post.
But, in 1973, you could get the SS package on the Chevelle coupe, I believe the El Camino, and the Chevelle wagon. If I'm not mistaken, it was the only time Chevy offered the SS package on a true station wagon. I've only ever seen one in person, and it was for sale. A medium blue metallic with silver stripes, turbine rims with white lettered tires, and a 454. Granted, it was the watered down 1970s 454, but still... I was too young and broke to pay their price for it, which I think may have been $4,000. I was young and stupid, so I probably would have wrecked it if I had been able to buy it. Barry | ||
| Post# 1072455 , Reply# 58 5/14/2020 at 08:27 (1,433 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
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Used to see these cheap wagons all over the place
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| Post# 1072458 , Reply# 59 5/14/2020 at 08:33 (1,433 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan) | ||
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A loaded Aires, or Reliant K wagon listed out at about 8 grand. I did not think that was cheap for an underpowered, cheaply made car. You could get the minivan's for a grand more, two more tops. | ||
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Post# 1072471 , Reply# 60 5/14/2020 at 10:00 (1,433 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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I was trying to post an SS wagon picture that I found online, but it wouldn't let me. Sorry.
I also remembered a wagon from my childhood that I forgot to mention in my earlier post. Early in her marriage, my sister and her husband bought, I believe brand new, an AMC Hornet Sportabout wagon. Wicked sharp little car! It was metallic purple with a white stripe, almost like a Starskey and Hutch stripe, if I'm remembering correctly. Factory rally rims and white lettered tires too! Barry | ||
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Post# 1072482 , Reply# 61 5/14/2020 at 12:06 (1,433 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL) |
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In June 1973 I went to work for a firm in Atlanta that owned a 1973 Malibu Classic Estate wagon. It was a beautiful car and was driven by the firm's VP (the owner/Pres. of the company drove an early 1970's Lincoln Continental). The wagon was Gobi Beige with an all-vinyl Saddle interior, complete with bucket seats and operating console. It could have had Rally Wheels, but I just don't remember- been too long. I got to drive the wagon several times and it was a fun ride. Similar to the photo.
lawrence
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Post# 1072612 , Reply# 62 5/15/2020 at 04:01 (1,432 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN) |
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 I learned to drive in this but it was white/wood with a red interior. 1984 Mercury Lynx.....the WORST car my parents ever bought! My mother blamed my dad...he saw it on display at the Fair and he became obsessed with that car. He said "it was calling my name." It was a lemon from day one. In 1990 my mother went back to GM products and has stuck with them ever since.
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Post# 1074469 , Reply# 64 5/27/2020 at 03:27 (1,420 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN) |
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That was the first car my parents had with a timing belt. Thankfully it wasn't an interference engine. At 50k miles like clockwork the timing belt slips a cog. We were in Huntsville, Alabama going to Sam's (it was the nearest one back then) and the car just quit. There was a garage across the street and the mechanic was able to change the belt while we shopped and we drove the 70 miles back home. My sister had an '86 Escort but it had the larger engine...but same thing at 50k miles...belt broke. Hers was a bit more reliable than Mother's was though. | ||
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Post# 1074863 , Reply# 65 5/29/2020 at 12:46 (1,418 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose) |
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Vinyl Roof on a Wagon?
I have NEVER seen a vinyl roof on a station wagon until I saw THIS one on an episode from season 14 of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet". I believe the car is a 1966 Chrysler Town & Country. Interesting how they put the vinyl on the sides and left the middle painted metal. Know of any other wagons with a vinyl roof option?
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Post# 1074917 , Reply# 66 5/29/2020 at 21:43 (1,417 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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I knew some people with a '73 or '74 Buick Estate Wagon. It was gold with a beige vinyl roof. I've also seen Pontiac wagons of that the with such roofs.
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Post# 1074929 , Reply# 67 5/30/2020 at 01:31 (1,417 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Post# 1074961 , Reply# 68 5/30/2020 at 09:29 (1,417 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose) |
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Right, Tom!
I just didn't remember these wagons with a vinyl roof but here's the proof!
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