Thanks Thanks for the nice welcome! It looks like there are hundreds of interesting wagon stories to discover here. As everyone knows wagons are the best special interest autos to have. Wagon owners are the most approachable people at any cruise night or car show. My favorite part of having my car is getting to hear all of the wonderful stories and the history lessons. It seems like I meet two types of folk when I take the Chevy out. One that owned the wagons and another younger group that rode in the back of mom and dad's wagon. Oh and a third still younger group, the ones that ask "What kind of car is that?" Steve-E-D, you might want to know that a 1977 grand safari wagon lead me to buy my first wagon. I tangled with that big Pontiac while riding a motorcycle, afterward I sold the bike and bought a wagon of my own.
Excellent intro thread. Thanks for the pics and the story...:2_thumbs_up_-_anima to our little corner of the net.
David, What a great history attached to your wagon. I did notice the travel decals on the black and white photo, and of course compared them to your current picture. To be able to acquire the documentation from the family's road trip is awesome. I would think the son would've wanted to hold on to the log, etc.for posterity. In fact, I still have a log that I had taken when my wife and I went cross country over 30 yrs ago. I no longer own the vehicle, but referring back to the log brings back wonderful memories.
The son, Ralph had the picture, the atlas, post card and copious notes that his mother had taken. He recreated the travel itinerary for me, he's very nice. The car maintenance log has stayed with the car until now. Sadly the second owner left a ten year gap and so I wasn't motivated to properly continue the documentation. I just have my box of receipts. As I said, I was glad to get that picture which substantiates the decals and story. The scratches in the roof from the car top carrier also indicate original paint. It appears that it might have been sanded and buffed but it is mostly original. I have no plans to paint the car, though it has had some paint work in places, it is very solid. There is one nickel sized hole on the front fender bottom and that is it for rust damage. Having been built in Tarrytown and spending 50 years in New York the wagon is in remarkable condition. There are only about 79,000 miles on it and it wasn't ever really used in winter. I'm told it was a second car for the family. Check out the post card from the edge o' town motel in Gold Beech, Oregon where the 1964 picture was taken. Notice the cover over the parking that matches the black and white photo.
