Longest /largest station wagon???

Discussion in 'General Station Wagon Discussions' started by markfnc, Jul 14, 2015.

  1. markfnc

    markfnc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2015
    Messages:
    4,241
    Likes Received:
    994
    Trophy Points:
    361
    Location:
    Johnston County , NC
    Always wondered and does anyone know, what was the longest station wagon ever?

    Or largest (by weight, or cargo area)?

    I'm guessing one of the early 70's versions?
     
  2. patrick80

    patrick80 Wagonista!

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2008
    Messages:
    3,083
    Likes Received:
    93
    Trophy Points:
    157
    Wagon Garage:
    3
    Location:
    OK
    Probably the Chrysler Town and Country from '76 - '77, or the full-sized Olds/Buick wagons of the same years.
     
  3. Krash Kadillak

    Krash Kadillak Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2008
    Messages:
    20,657
    Likes Received:
    1,845
    Trophy Points:
    798
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Springfield, Oregon
    Qualifying by longest STANDARD station wagon?

    '77 Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park, overall length: 227.1"

    '77 Chrysler Town & Country, overall length: 227.7"

    '76 Buick Estate Wagon, overall length: 231.8"

    I was surprised the Buick was longer. I would have guessed the Chrysler.

    I can't think of any that would be longer.
     
  4. WagonKiller

    WagonKiller Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2012
    Messages:
    1,921
    Likes Received:
    88
    Trophy Points:
    110
    Location:
    greenville pa
    How about a Caddy Fleetwood clam??
     
  5. Dan Scully

    Dan Scully Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2009
    Messages:
    589
    Likes Received:
    144
    Trophy Points:
    141
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Apple Valley Ca
    Longest station wagon ever

    These where made by Superior Coach I think in 59-60 and where 12 pass . It is a station wagon out of a hearse body but had fold down seats and cargo space but just biggier.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. dkarshuk03

    dkarshuk03 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2015
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Port Clinton, Ohio
    74 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Wagons were the heaviest, while the 76 Buick Estate Wagons were the longest. Not sure how long a Caddy Wagon would be, but that would be considered a conversion Wagon. And if we are going to count conversion Wagons then we can't count out the 71-76 GM Airport Limo Wagons. My dad owns a 72 and a 73 Pontiac Wagon Airport Limos, not sure what the length is though. I believe they have 4 doors on each side. I'll have to ask him how long they are or measure them sometime...
     
  7. Krash Kadillak

    Krash Kadillak Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2008
    Messages:
    20,657
    Likes Received:
    1,845
    Trophy Points:
    798
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Springfield, Oregon
    I don't think that would count, since it's not a factory-built wagon.
     
  8. Silvertwinkiehobo

    Silvertwinkiehobo "Everything that breaks starts with 'F.'"

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2014
    Messages:
    14,928
    Likes Received:
    2,950
    Trophy Points:
    710
    Location:
    New Braunfels, TX
    "CANYONERO!" (oh, wait. that was an SUV):biglaugh:
     
  9. WagonKiller

    WagonKiller Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2012
    Messages:
    1,921
    Likes Received:
    88
    Trophy Points:
    110
    Location:
    greenville pa
    Yes 4 on each side
     
  10. markfnc

    markfnc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2015
    Messages:
    4,241
    Likes Received:
    994
    Trophy Points:
    361
    Location:
    Johnston County , NC
    I found this:
    12. What was the biggest station wagon ever made?
    The best answer to this question came from Mark Sadowski, so I've quoted it here:
    "In the days of custom coach work wheelbase length was the accepted way of judging the size of a car. Now that automobiles are built with considerable front and rear end overhang this is no longer a sufficient category. The 1951 Chrysler New Yorker Town and Country, at 131.5", had the largest wheelbase ever used on a station wagon. Close runners up include the 1947-1948 Buick Roadmaster Estate (129"), the 1939-1941 Packard 120 (127"), and the 1971-1976 Buick Estate, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, and Pontiac Safari (also 127").
    Weight is also a good indicator of station wagon size, but now that we live in the days of weight saving materials this too must be considered in light of other evidence. The following figures are for the three seat wagons. The heaviest wagons of all would seem to be the 1971-1976 Buick Estate, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, and Pontiac Safari, with the 1974 Buick and Oldsmobile taking the honors at 5182 lbs. shipping weight each. Other contenders include the 1974-1977 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Polara/Monaco ( the 1975 Chrysler Town and Country weighing 5050 lbs.), the big GM wagon's slightly smaller sister, the 1971-1976 full-size Chevrolet (125" wheelbase), with the 1975 Kingswood weighing 5036 lbs., and finally, the 1969-1978 Ford and Mercury full-size wagons (the 1975 Mercury Colony Park weighing 4878 lbs.).
    Overall body length has become more of a factor in judging car size only since the 1950's when "longer, lower, wider" became the mantra of the day. The longest station wagons of all time would seem to be the 1971-1976 Buick Estate, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, and Pontiac Safari, with the 1975-1976 Buick nosing out her shorter triplets at 231.8". Other noteworthy vehicles include the 1967-1973 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Polara/Monaco ( the 1973 Town and Country measuring 229.6"), the 1974-1977 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Polara Monaco ( the 1976 Dodge Royal Monaco measuring 229.5") and the 1971-1976 full-size Chevrolet station wagons with the 1974-1976 models measuring 229".
    Interior volume has become the prime determinant of automobile size only since the E.P.A. began publishing its nifty consumer guides in 1982. But therein lies a problem. Most of the truly huge station wagons seem to have been built before 1982 ( in fact up until 1978). However, the E.P.A.'s figures are largely derived from the product of headroom, legroom, and interior width (shoulder room, I think!?!). This knowledge, combined with the figures derived from a 1976 consumer guide which I examined at the local public library shortly before they threw it away has enabled me to come up with the following interior volume estimates. The station wagons with the greatest interior volume (passenger volume plus cargo volume) would seem to be the 1971-1976 full-size GM wagons with approximately 184 cubic feet of volume. Other leading wagons are the 1974-1977 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Polara/Monaco (177 cubic feet), the 1991-1996 full-size GM station wagons (170 cubic feet according to the E.P.A.) and the 1969-1978 full-size Ford and Mercury station wagons (169 cubic feet).
    The preponderance of information suggests that the largest station wagons of all time were the 1971-1976 Buick Estate, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser , and Pontiac Safari, with the slight edge given to the 1974-1976 Buicks."
    If you think you have some documented evidence that shows the "biggest" wagon you can find in any category, e-mail us and let us know; we'll post it here for everyone to see.
    On a related note, what is the smallest station wagon? My best guess is the Austin Mini wagon (for sale in the USA starting in 1959-1960). Wheelbase was 80 inches; overall length was 130 inches. Height was 53 inches. In person, they are tiny....I saw the one that the Eastwood Company owns in a parking lot Maine.
     
  11. ModelT1

    ModelT1 Still Lost in the 50's

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    22,124
    Likes Received:
    1,435
    Trophy Points:
    808
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Central Illinois
    Thanks markfnc:clap::thumbs2:
     
  12. The Stickman

    The Stickman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2008
    Messages:
    1,316
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    111
    Wagon Garage:
    3
    Location:
    Lehigh Valley pa
    I cheat. Mine has a 28 inch stretch on a Fleetwood chassis.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Krash Kadillak

    Krash Kadillak Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2008
    Messages:
    20,657
    Likes Received:
    1,845
    Trophy Points:
    798
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Springfield, Oregon
    Makes a stock RMW look like a Mini-Cooper.....
     
  14. ModelT1

    ModelT1 Still Lost in the 50's

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    22,124
    Likes Received:
    1,435
    Trophy Points:
    808
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Central Illinois
    You get to the cemetery ten minutes before the body!:rofl2:
     
  15. unkldave

    unkldave Cockroach Dave

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2012
    Messages:
    299
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    82
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Lincoln City Oregon
    [​IMG]
    I know its not a standard wagon but I remember the army had a bunch of these all painted green. We used to call them "Pickle Wagons!"
     

Share This Page