5 of the Most Influential American Station Wagons of All Time

Station wagons appeared during the first decade of the 20th century when independent American coachbuilders began developing custom wood bodies for the Ford Model T.

The name was carried over from the horse-drawn carriages used to transport people and luggage from their estates to train stations.

In less than half a century, station wagons became the most popular family cars, but as the SUV craze began during the 2000s, American station wagons rapidly disappeared.

Nevertheless, these once-popular American vehicles are still alive in the hearts and minds of many enthusiasts.

So in this article, we're going to explore five of the most influential American models that helped popularize station wagons home and abroad.

1937 Ford V8 Station Wagon

In 1936, Ford opened its own wagon manufacturing plant in Iron Mountain, Michigan. That facility was located in the state's Upper Peninsula, meaning timber - obtained from the area's vast supply - was readily available and cheap.

The wagon featured the same front end as the other 1937 Fords and rode on a 112-inch (284.48-cm) wheelbase.

It offered seating for eight in a 3-2-3 configuration and was powered by either a 60-hp or an 85-hp version of the iconic 221-ci (3.6-liter) Flathead V8.

The 1937 Station Wagon had a profound impact on the industry, influencing other carmakers to develop their own station wagons rather than rely on independent coachbuilders.

1941-1942 Chrysler Town & Country

During the 1941 model year, Chrysler introduced its first factory-built wagon based on its existing full-size passenger car line.

With a beautiful design that combined steel with traditional wood paneling, the four-door model became an instant hit among mid and upper-class families.

The first "woody" with an all-steel roof, the Town & Country was powered by a 120-hp, 250.6-ci (4.1-liter) inline-six connected to a Vacamatic semi-automatic gearbox. A 323.5-ci (5.3-liter) Chrysler straight-eight was also available on special order, but records state that only one station wagon was fitted with this engine.

With a swooping coupe-style roofline, the Town & Country predicted the shape of modern SUVs. It was available in two configurations that could transport either six or nine passengers.

The Town & Country was continually improved and lived on until 1988, becoming one of the most popular station wagon nameplates of all time.

1949 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon

For the 1949 model year, Buick's range-topping Roadmaster, like the entire full-size model line, received its first post-war redesign, becoming
more modern and elegant than ever before.

Consequently, the station wagon version, dubbed Estate Wagon, became one of the most luxurious American station wagons available on the market.

Though it was still a woody, it used fewer wood panels than its predecessors, while its interior received lavish mahogany veneer panels, fine leather upholstery, and, of course, full carpeting.

The 214.125-inch (543.87-cm) land yacht was based on the GM C-body platform and was powered by a 320-ci (5.2-liter) Fireball inline-eight that made 150 hp. The massive engine was mated to a Dynaflow two-speed automatic transmission.

Considered one of the most elegant wagons of its era and one of the pioneers of luxury wagons, the Roadmaster Estate Wagon could accommodate six passengers in a two-row layout.

1949 Plymouth Suburban

In response to Willy's Overland's Jeep Station Wagon, Chrysler's Plymouth division introduced the industry's second all-steel body station wagon in 1949.

An affordable people mover, the Suburban was also the first vehicle in its price range to offer an automatic "turn-the-key" ignition/starter feature as standard.

The massive Plymouth, which looked like a direct ancestor of today's SUVs, featured a two-door body and two vinyl-upholstered bench seats that could accommodate six people.

Power came from Chrysler's smallest inline-six, a 217.8-ci (3.56-liter ) L-head that produced 97 hp.

Though forgotten today, the 1949 Plymouth Suburban was a revolutionary station wagon in terms of all-steel construction and affordability.

1966 Ford Country Squire

The Country Squire was introduced in 1949 as part of Ford's first post-war redesign, and a decade later, it became one of the Blue Oval's most popular family-oriented passenger cars.

For the sixth generation, which debuted in 1965, Ford's entire full-size range was completely redesigned, so the Country Squire was also brand-new.

However, we selected the 1966 model for this list because it was the one that debuted the iconic Magic Doorgate. The brainchild of Donald N. Frey, the new two-way Doorgate allowed the rear door with its power window to fold down like a classic tailgate or swing open on its side like a conventional passenger door.

Apart from this game-changing feature and the distinct woodgrain side panels the 1966 Country Squire shared it front and mid sections with the conventional Ford LTD sedan.

As standard, it could fit eight passengers, but with the FoMoCo-exclusive, optional dual-facing rear seats, it could accommodate up to ten people.

Measuring 210.9 inches (535.68 cm) in length, the imposing Country Squire was powered by either a 289 (4.7-liter), a 352 (5.8-liter), a 390 (6.4-liter), or a 428 (7.0-liter) V8 with outputs ranging from 200 to 345 hp.