Just rambling on a Wednesday

I see hundreds, thousands of cars of varying makes and models each day. None of which in their usual four-door format, warrant a second glance. However, for whatever reason, if the rather dull sedan came off the line as a station wagon, I fall instantly in love.
I have a thing for convertibles as well, but not all cars that are produced as both sedan and convertible make good looking convertibles. I’ve yet to see a wagon, any wagon that I wasn’t attracted to at some level. (Wait, that didn’t sound quite right, but you know what I meant)!
Even as a kid, one of my favorite matchbox cars was a green Mercury wagon with plastic dogs in the back.
I have an old Volvo 240 wagon, it’s a brilliant looking little car, but I wouldn’t consider owning its sibling sedan. Same thing with the Colony park that I had a few years ago, she was just worn out, had the appearance of a demo derby reject, but given the choice between driving her or if available a brand new Grand Marquis sedan, I’d of taken the CP every time.
Perhaps it’s the nostalgia, seems that there’s a wagon in everyone’s past and everyone has a story that brings a smile to their face when telling. Perhaps it’s the appeal of tooling around in something that has successfully escaped Detroit’s planned obsolescence. Perhaps with the wood on the side, and the rack on the roof, it’s the easiest car to find in a parking lot. I just don’t know.
William

 

I agree with you WL. For the most part, the same nose looks better on a long-roof than a sedan, but maybe it's just because I've always loved wagons and their proportions.

 

A question I often have with myself is 2-door styling vs. 4-door styling. In the 70's particularly, and a bit in the 80's, U.S. (and some foreign) car manufacturers were especially fond of putting different front end sheet metal on their 2-door and 4-door models of the same vehicle. And quite often, the 2-door front end was obviously the more stylish of the two. Well - if the 2-door front end was so good, why didn't they just put it on the 4-door as well? Now, I know, in a lot of cases these 2-door and 4-door versions don't interchange between the two, but they could have designed them that way if they wanted to!

For example:
'82 Buick Regal (Grand National version)


4-door version
'82 Buick Regal

 

You are kind of new, wander. I wonder if you have seen this thread....

http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13904&highlight=what+a+wagon+means

Sorry about the highlights...I searched this thread and now I don't know how to get rid of the highlights.

 

I think that in a way, GM started that with the 1968 model intermediates. The two door models rode on a shorter wheelbase than the 4 door models. Then there was the growing popularity of mid size specialty models like the 70 Monte Carlo and the 69 and up Grand Prix, and over at Chrysler, the Charger. So, by the early 70's, mid size two doors were different enough from the 4 door and wagon models that it seemed as though they may as well be separate models.
At Chrysler, two door Coronets were dropped for the 71 model year and all two door mid size Dodges were Chargers. Plymouth's two door was the same platform as the Charger, so even though the 2 door Satellite shared it's name with the 4 door and wagon models, it got it;s own unique styling.
By 1970, the Chevelle line up all shared the same styling, yet even the front fenders were different depending on what body style you bought.
As the 70's and 80's continued, for most 2 door models, it became more and more apparent, that to survive, a 2 door would need to be either a Mustang/Camaro type pony car, or it would need to be in the T'bird/Grand Prix/Cordoba personal luxury styling mold.
Eventually, most American 2 door coupes or hardtops just faded into oblivion, even the Camaro and Firebird went away for a while.
Now the Mustang/Challenger/Camaro have breathed new life into the market for 2 door coupes. But if you look under the skin at the Challenger, its just a shorted Charger/300/Magnum platform. But, the Challenger wouldn't sell if it looked like a 2 door Charger, and a 4 door version of the Challenger would make the 2 door less appealing. The 2 door has become a specialty model.
Come to think of it, maybe Ford started the trend in 1964 with the Mustang as basically a rebodied Falcon.

 

well....ever since i was a kid.....(im pretty sure i was at some point)......
....I always used to say....'the only forgivable 4 door is a wagon'...

 

Said it better than I could, Jim!
Thanks...

 

An EXCELLENT statement indeed!

 

If they would have made a "Grand National" wagon, I'd have one by now
!

 

I second that. Although the older I get, the more I see some 4 doors and say I wouldn't mind owning it, just me but I like a nice, clean, stock 4 door...everything else I have to modify just a little

 

It must be age but I used to hate 4 door cars except for the hardtop models. My wife and I have always sought out 2 door cars. Here's our list of 2 doors owned:

1972 Chevy Vega
1974 Mustang II fastback
1981 Monte Carlo
1985 Cougar
1986 Thunderbird
1992 Thunderbird

Our first 4 door non-wagon is in the garage...2008 Dodge Avenger.

Like the Rev to me the only valid 4 door is a wagon. But I have to admit the 2014 Chevy Impala has style and looks good as a four door. Rumored is a rear wheel drive SS with similar styling.

Now wouldn't that look great as a wagon?
My fav convertable two door:
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15722

What I miss greatly and this is also one of the Rev's pet peeves....Where are the chrome bumpers? Cars need more chrome IMO.

 

There are some non-wagon 4 doors I like. Some of the 60's 4 door pillarless hardtops are cool and are seldom seen any more. For example , I like the 68 Chrysler 300 4 door hardtop, the 64-66 Imperial Crown 4 door hardtop (a friend of mine has a real nice '64), the 65 Buick Wildcat 4 door hardtop, and McGarrett's 68 Mercury Park Lane 4 door hardtop from Hawaii 5-0. And the Lincoln's with the suicide doors are cool too as 4 door sedans and 4 door convertibles. A friend of mine has a 65 Lincoln 4 door convertible that was originally owned by the wife of the Israeli Ambassador to the U.S.

 

Krash you are exactly right about the differenty styling on many of the same cars. The same holds true for the Cutlass sedan and Coupe, as well as the Bonneville/Grand Prix. The one exception was the Malibu, which used the same front on Sedan and Coupe.

As for 4-door non-wagon cars, I loved my '86 Caprice Classic. Now I DID wish it was a coupe, but for a sedan, I thought it was sharp!



That said, I do find most modern sedans to be boring look-alike cars too!

-Mike

 

Sharp! Tastefully done, that is what I like in 4 doors. I should have included that in my statement, if not stock tasteful mods.Nice set of rallys really bring that car out.Just my opinion