How we KILLED the Greatest Kind of Vehicle

Today we're looking at the history of the Station wagon, its rise through the 40s and 50s, peak in the 60s and ultimate death in the past 40 years.

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Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

[arliemoses]

I think losing mini-pickups is the greatest tragedy.

[JoJoJoker]

You failed to mention CAFE standards. They exempt SUVs from fuel economy regulations.

[AK.]

Now everyone drives a huge pickup just to get their morning latte.

[char]

For 3 months, back in 1977, my parents dragged my 3 siblings and me 3, 000 miles across the United States - from PA to CA - in an Ambassador Station Wagon with a roof rack strapped full of suitcases, towing a Scotty Trailer behind, so we could view every National Monument and visit every National Park between the East and the West.
That wood-paneled wagon climbed mountains, forded small streams, and traversed dessert sands, albeit with the aid of a rebuilt second transmission.
It later masqueraded as a school bus, a caravan for Girl Scout Troops (and their cookies), a delivery van for Wedding cakes, and a sleigh for Santa and his four elves.
Christmas gifts would pile high on the roof rack; so did the tree, the toboggan, skis, plastic sleds, and skids of plywood and two by fours to be transformed into a playhouse shed for those 4 little girls who traveled cross-country in their parent’s amazing Ambassador Wagon.

[michaelmechex]

Wagons are still extremely popular here in Europe. VW Passat and Skoda Octavia combi are probably the most popular cars where I live, and it's for a good reason. An average person with a family never needs more car than that.

[imacmill]

Back in 1971, after an ugly divorce, my mother packed up our white-with-wood-panelling stationwagon, me and my 3 siblings, two siamese cats and a dog, and a pot-head, female hippie that had been bordering at our house, and drove us all the way across Canada, from Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island, just to 'stick it to' my dad. It was a shit-show of a trip, and the hippie woman literally disappeared two days after we arrived at our destination.

So Marg, if you're out there and still alive, I hope you had a good life!

[WilliamHaisch]

My friend had a 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon. It was front wheel drive (it could handle winter weather with ease), had a ton of space (for both passengers and cargo), and got great gas mileage. She would always say with pride that it was the least stolen car in America! 😂

[AlexPriceMusician]

Still driving my first car, a 2004 Volvo XC70 closing in on 300, 000 miles. The back seats are permanently down and it’s a massive rectangle inside. Perfection.

[corywithout]

I love station wagons (and wish they were more popular in the US), but I also can't believe I NEVER thought about them originating as _train_ station wagons! Great video, so glad it was recommended to me.

[matthewhealy]

You know I used to hate station wagons, but as I get older they're totally practical for many things, they're basically a low profile van or truck. I would basically want a station wagon nowadays so when I go camping I can just sleep in my car and forgo the tent.

[Starfoxfan-rgiz]

The early 2000s subaru outback is honestly one of my favorites

[norbertcara]

As a wagon loving European guy, I really feel sorry that in the land of 'Murica, you guys lost this treasure of a car. I am at my second wagon and will only own these beauties. The practicality that these bring in "suburbia" is, in my opinion, unmatched. Great video

[Pantherx]

One feature of a wagon that can be an advantage over SUVs, crossovers, and even minivans that you overlooked is that the lower roofline means that the roof itself is useful for hauling stuff. I have hauled 4'x8' sheets of plywood, 8' long tables, bicycles, and furniture that would not fit inside even a large SUV with just the roof rails and some ratchet straps in my Buick Regal TourX. It also AWD standard as most of the remaining wagons seem to be.

[xero]

My family had an old 61 Falcon wagon back in the 60’s. This car went through half a dozen family members and was around until the late 80s. Such a solid work horse.

[ImAnEmergency]

station wagons are elite. the Volvo 1800ES looks so good even today

[percentSNAFU]

My family had a '91 Volvo 240 Estate, in white. As it looked like a refrigerator on wheels, we nicknamed it "the Fridge" 😂

[charlesb]

Personally, while I love a big wagon with the wood trim, I also miss the large sedans they were based on. Not everyone wants a gigantic truck or a they-all-look-the-same crossover!

[dinahpatt]

What a fantastic car. We have a black 1992 Mercedes station wagon (300TE for those interested!). We’ve had that car since I was a few weeks old. I spent my childhood sitting in the rear facing seats, making funny faces at the drivers behind us. My friends would fight over who sat back there. We had a roof rack for our bikes, and countless sleepovers in the back of the car with the seats folded down. I learned to drive in that car— “It’s built like a tank, the safest thing on the road!”, my mom would always say. I’m 22 now, and our beautiful black steed (nicknamed Chitty Chitty for as long as I can remember!) has outlived our other cars by an almost comical amount. Her AC doesn’t work too well anymore, some of the windows get stuck, and the power steering fluid leaks like a faucet. But that turning radius is as miraculous as ever, and she gets you wherever you need to go, and even if it takes a little longer than in a new-fangled fast paced road racer, she reminds us all to slow down and appreciate what we have and how lucky we are to be here. I’m so grateful for that car and am so proud anytime I get to be back home driving her!

[WiccanChicken]

My girlfriend was looking for an suv for her "new" used car until I convinced her to go take a look at an 08 Saab 9-5 wagon nearby us. She literaly used to never pay attention to cars but that car even she does the look back after parking it 😂, what a gorgeous car and super fun too

[mattcannon]

I went from driving hatchbacks and sedans to a Saab twin-turbo sportwagon and never looked back. You get the performance of a car with the practicality of a small van. It's a win-win.