What turned you on to Wagons?

Why wagons?

There is of course a common thread to many of the replies to this question: childhood memories and experiences. Mine is no exception.

I grew up in the '70s. My dad always bought Chevy wagons; right up until the kids graduated college (then he bought his first sedan in nearly two decades). As a family of four, we took many a road trip across the NE. If I had half a penny for every mile I've traversed on the NYS Thruway or route 81 or the MA Turnpike....well, I'd be a wealthy man. My clearest memories are of our '76 Caprice Estate wagon. Either on the way to or returning home from a vacation, camping trip or just a weekend jaunt to visit cousins, that wagon was every part of our family. If I was awake, I would be sitting on top of the rear seat (folded down) with my legs over the edge and my chin on the back of the front seat, watching everything my dad did as he navigated us through thunderstorms and blizzards; often asking questions or making suggestions to the point where he would have to remind me just who was driving and who wasn't. One time I recall becoming mesmerized by the accelerator as it moved up and down by itself, wondering at the age of 7 what the heck "cruise control" meant. At night, I would be half-asleep in my sleeping bag, lulled by the rhythmic sound of the seams in the concrete highway passing under the wheels beneath me. Once every so often I'd open my eyes to see the blinking green reflection of the directional cast across the ceiling as dad would change lanes; and I recall hearing the "click-click" of the floor switch when dad would engage the hi-beams.

Back towards the tailgate was our "play area" where our road trip games were. Perhaps someone here remembers those flimsy aluminum little checker boards with the magnet pieces?

Anyway, for me it must be the countless hours I spent traveling in and subsequently caring for our '76 Caprice Estate that sparked my affinity for wagons. Dad is NOT a car guy, so where I got that gene from remains a mystery. But he always made sure it ran at its best. I recall the rainy day in 1983 when he traded it in for his '83 Caprice Estate (on which I later learned how to drive). I was sad to see it go, but glad he bought another.

In 2006, while surfing through classic car classifieds, I stumbled upon a '75 Caprice Estate wagon about 2k miles from where I now live. Long story short, my dad went with me to go see it and I now own it. About a month later, it dawned on me. I purchase my '75 Caprice wagon thirty years to the year after my dad had purchased his '76.....and at the same age he was.

Why wagons? Their practicality? For sure. Their style? I'd say "YES!" Their place in automotive and societal history? Priceless.

 

Don't get up yet, I guess you hate me too In my defence though at least our (Wifes drive) Mini van is a REAL min van GMC Saffari Van, Full frame, and rear wheel drive not like those wana be mini front wheel drive things out there...not a wagon and not a van.

Back in 99 we could aford it new but could'nt aford a new full size wagon But we still had our Fox Marqius.

As a kid I always wished we had a wagon but never did. My first wagon a free bee Fairmont gave me the bug. Wagons are just so darn practical!

 

Two of the memories that linger,from the family moving from Georgia to California,in our 1960 Country Squire,are(1)sleeping in the back-back of the wagon,under the sloped rear windshield(an anomaly on Ford wagons)and looking up thru the glass to the starry sky.And(2),looking back thru that window,as the rain stopped.A gap opened up between the bottoms of the clouds and the top of the rain falling.And,from the top of the small hill we had just topped,we could see across countless miles of Texas.

 

Here, Taranau - just for you......

 

Great pics, Marshall. That's a heck of a site!
http://www.hubcapcafe.com/

 

Yup!..That's the kind.Even have a few photos of the one we used to have.I'll see if I can get them on site.

 

That car was at DD'z not that long ago.

As for love of wagons, My dads . It will be mine.

 

the thing that turned me onto WAGONS?

well when i was 16 i realized that it was like having your own Hotel/Motel..
...thats probably where it started

just never wore off...neither did the wagons...badooomp tchshshs

 

Yeah - the black one is owned by a guy named Dave Harkey - big 60's Ford collector, active in the Fabulous Fords club.