Remember those old station wagons?
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
October 1, 2009 4:30pm CST
This might go completely over the heads of some of the younger members here, but I'm sure that many of you remember the old station wagons with the wood paneling on the sides. Well, I saw one while I was out today. It's been a really long time since I had seen one. With the rise in popularity of the mini-van and SUV I thought they had become extinct. This brought back memories of the time when I was in school as a child. I had a best friend whose mother drove one of those station wagons. They had a really big family - eight children - so, like most large families of that time they owned a station wagon. This all got me to thinking about how many people still drive a station wagon in the twenty-first century. How often do you see someone driving a station wagon these days? Just curious.
5 people like this
12 responses
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
1 Oct 09
You got me wondering now if you were talking about those wagons they used in the Westerns? You know the wagon trains? Rawhide and when they had the Cowboys and the Indians? See now I am showing my age here! Am I wide off the mark here. Or are they like the gypsy and romany caravans? Sometimes modernization is not always a good thing and I have to agree seeing old style vehicles is a right blast from the past and as the saying goes 'they don't make em like that any more'
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
21 Nov 09
Your respose had me LMAO, wolfie!
You must indeed be from a much younger generation. The wagons I am referring to are automobiles. They were hugely popular in the U.S. during the '50s, '60s, and part of the '70s. They have four doors and capacity to seat about three more people than an ordinary car. I guess you could say they were something of a status symbol at one time.
You must indeed be from a much younger generation. The wagons I am referring to are automobiles. They were hugely popular in the U.S. during the '50s, '60s, and part of the '70s. They have four doors and capacity to seat about three more people than an ordinary car. I guess you could say they were something of a status symbol at one time.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Oct 09
What a blast from the past. I sure do remember those old-fashioned type station wagons. I tend to love the older cars anyway, as those were cars that looked like cars, not the boxy ones like today. Even the "luxury" cars have lost their once great appeal and look like the cheaper cars. One thing that made me do a double take was years ago, I was out walking around in my neighborhood and my jaw dropped...someone was driving in a vintage Model T-Ford from the 1920s! I even took pics of it since I had my camera at the time and just HAD to document somehow that I wasn't imagining things
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
21 Nov 09
[/b]I absolutely [b]love those old cars, pyewacket! There was an old man who lived in my community when I was a child who drove a couple of vintage cars - the Model T and a Model A - and they were considered antique even by the standards of that time!
@sweetashoney (3597)
• United States
1 Oct 09
I haven't seen one in a long time. That was the first type of car that I had. When I first started driving my husband at the time, bought me a station wagon. He said if he could have he would have bought a tank. Man I hated that car, I was so glad with I could get another one.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
21 Nov 09
If I remember correctly, sweetashoney, they were built to last!
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
2 Oct 09
Not very offen at all.. I remember riding in one when I was very young. My uncle had one. I like them because I could hang out in the back of the station wagon. I remember one time my sister and brother and me were going on vacation to visit my grandmother and my uncle picked us up in this station wagon. We were able to sleep in the back that was so much fun. When I go out I have to look around to see if I see one. I doubt it but you never know.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
21 Nov 09
I'm pretty sure you'll have a hard time spotting one, lelin. They didn't come equipped with a GPS or entertainment options, but back then we made our own entertainment!
@JennyMarie (366)
• United States
2 Oct 09
I sued to drive one of those station wagons It was the family vehichle and I had to drive it to school I hated that. but it sure made me hurry and save money for my own car. I don't know that I have seen one in years.
I am sure that would bring back alot of memories
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
21 Nov 09
I know how you must have felt, JennyMarie! My uncle drove an old beat-up truck, and I used to hate it when he had to pick me up from school.
@gracefuldove (1668)
• Malaysia
2 Oct 09
There is nothing wrong with a station wagon. It is the same as the SUV's today which perhaps have become higher and more fashionable in design. My friends who have dogs always stick to station wagons like Volvos and Fords.I think before long station wagons will be back or some form of it!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160998)
• United States
3 Oct 09
I am with you on that. My hubby says they are easier to work on than mini vans.
@GardenGerty (160998)
• United States
3 Oct 09
I have a station wagon, but it will not seat 8. Shoot, they do not even have a rear seat in the back compartment anymore. I have always had a station wagon as one of my cars, I think.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
2 Oct 09
The car my mom and dad got when I was 4 was a Gm station wagon.I named it Harry. It wasn't as big as the station wagon the Brady Bunch had but it was fun. I remember being told that when we got the car we took All my dolls and put them in the back and went for a ride.I would have loved to ride in the station wagon the Bradys had . It looked huge in the back.Well,I was a little girl at the time so everything looked big!
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
2 Oct 09
Hi worldwise. Yes, I remember these. My dad had one of the newer models back when I was in high school, so it wasn't too Brady bunchish. LOL I didn't see it much as my parents were already divorced when he got it, but I do remember seeing it at my high school graduation.
I don't see too many wagons on the road nowadays. Though I still see them every once in a while. Just not any with any wood paneling on the sides. LOL
Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
21 Nov 09
As I understand it, sacmom, one of the companies has a model that's coming out featuring the wood, but not a wagon.
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
2 Oct 09
If your talking about the type you said you saw, not too often. Oh yes I remember the ones you speak of, I always thought they was so ugly. I also had friends that their parents drove them. And then the fad got to be having a van, which do you think the mini van goes into the catagory of van or station wagon. Some of the ones now I think are ugly too, some look like minature hearses. I never like the PT cruisers either
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
21 Nov 09
For some reason, bdugas, I don't like the really big vehicles(except for the GReyhound bus), because I think they take up too much room on the road. I associate the minivan more with the van than the station wagon because they seem like just a scaled-down version. You are right. Some of them are ugly!
@mouseattacks (58)
• United States
2 Oct 09
My dad owned 3 of these station wagons, that I can remember. My parents had six children, so I can why the station wagon was owned by large families. It's been quite a long time since I have seen someone driving one.
@sredith (239)
• United States
1 Oct 09
I guess I never really thought about it until I read your post.
In the state that I come from a think quite a few people drive the old station wagons still, not always the ones with wood paneling but a lot are very old looking at least...
However, I moved a few months ago and I haven't seen one since!
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
21 Nov 09
I agree, sredith, that they might be more visible in certain areas of the country.
