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History When did Wagons become Cool Customs?

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Jive-Bomber, May 19, 2020.

  1. mrspeedyt
    Joined: Sep 26, 2009
    Posts: 989

    mrspeedyt
    Member

    52250D71-11EB-499D-AAC9-FA9FFE901C61.jpeg our family car back in 54-55. (other pics posted allready on the second page.)
     
    chryslerfan55 and pprather like this.
  2. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  3. My favorite!
     
  4. How about The Pizz's wagon? I'll find a pic when I get home.
     
  5. oldsman41
    Joined: Jun 25, 2010
    Posts: 1,556

    oldsman41
    Member

    I always thought the fifties cars were the coolest wagons
     
  6. proartguy
    Joined: Apr 13, 2009
    Posts: 658

    proartguy
    Member
    from Sparks, NV

    To answer the question; I thought the George Cerney Plymouth wagon, pictured earlier in its two different versions, was pretty cool and that was mid-’50s.

    As far as popularity back in the day it may depend on where someone lived. I had a ’51 Merc woodie in ’63 and I was pretty proud of it. Unfortunately, it got totaled when hit broadside and it was a scene of splinters.

    Have had several wagons and still have two; my ’51 Plymouth and ’64 Comet. For pics they are on this thread with many pretty cool wagons:

    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/station-wagons-just-hamber-owned.1025598/

    For those who don't like wagons or four doors, my input would be anything can be cool with the right stance, wheels, etc.
     
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  7. Fordnut40
    Joined: Jul 10, 2009
    Posts: 132

    Fordnut40
    Member

    Wagons are an important part of my automotive history. Starting with the '60 Chevy 348 powered Parkwood I learned to drive on, the '65 Olds Vistacruiser that replaced it, my multiple '70s Malibu wagons, & finally my infatuation with Ford 2 door Ranch wagons. IMG_2390.JPG
     
  8. Flathead Dave
    Joined: Mar 21, 2014
    Posts: 3,959

    Flathead Dave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from So. Cal.

    Been cool since I was a kid in the 1950's.
     
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  9. Flathead Dave
    Joined: Mar 21, 2014
    Posts: 3,959

    Flathead Dave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from So. Cal.

    Not all two door cars are cool.
    4 door wagons are very cool.
     
    31hotrodguy likes this.
  10. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 9,291

    jnaki

    upload_2020-6-6_4-21-17.png
    Ektachrome color slide film, no tripod. Ashai Pentax Spotmatic Camera 50mm F 1.4

    Hello,

    Station wagons have always been part of our lives. From the time they were being used on large ranches, resort hotels, vacation homes, etc. they were also staples of the family life as there was the need to take a bunch stuff along with the family on a beach trip or a vacation just about anywhere. We know from hot rod publications that as early as 1954-55, guys started customizing station wagons. But in those early car shows, it was a rarity to see custom station wagons on display.

    As far as our local So Cal station wagon phase showed up in the late 60 and early 70s. Individuals wanted something different than a 55 Chevy or Ford as a mild to modified custom. It was rare to see custom station wagons cruising around. We usually saw them at those numerous car shows. Practical family station wagons were no longer an excuse to be an owner. It was the different aspect of a custom that was not a hot rod coupe or roadster.

    We did see a lot of mild custom station wagons later on as money was available to the working 20 somethings. For us as teenagers, station wagons were for the family or borrowed for a sneaky weekend surf trip to Baja Mexico or Santa Barbara.
    upload_2020-6-6_4-24-32.png
    Local Long Beach teenage surf transportation car and wagon with multiple boards on top. As far as a custom a paint job was concerned, how about spending the whole day and afternoon hand painting a Plymouth coupe with brushes? It was for the ultimate disguise in the South Orange County jungle at Camp Pendleton. Even the wheels and hubcaps were painted a multiple shade of green/brown. In the jungle nearest the freeway and the OC border, it was so well hidden that no one noticed it sitting in the real branches and brush, unless they saw us driving away in the late afternoon.
    upload_2020-6-6_4-26-38.png
    On the highway home, it stuck out like a sore thumb, creating a lot of laughter and finger pointing from the homeward bound surfers and tourists. (not that finger)

    Jnaki

    The idea of a custom, 1940 Ford Station Wagon had crossed my mind many times, being the owner of a Flathead version and a 327 version of a sedan delivery. So, I had the HAMB resident pro photoshop guy (@themoose) do his altering of a nice sedan delivery with windows. It turned out to be a nice custom station wagon that I am sure rankled the 1940 sedan delivery aficionados.

    I did a similar photo of HAMB’s Weasel’s, red 40 delivery and finally my simple drawing. It was a miniature Suburban for daily driving. It had all of the goodness of the smaller sedan delivery without any hindrance in vision, back in the right rear panel area. Still no drip rails for roof racks, though. Nowadays, my short board would fit inside a sedan delivery, in its protective surfboard padded bag. No more pop out rear door window situations…!
    upload_2020-6-6_4-27-27.png @themoose version thanks...
    upload_2020-6-6_4-28-12.png Thanks, HAMB's Weasel for the base model
    upload_2020-6-6_4-29-49.png
    These days, a cool station wagon from the 1960 era with mild custom approach seems to be the way most modifications are going. The station wagon is different and some will go with a completely new custom chassis and driveline for the utmost in handling and reliable power. Afterall, it is a family station wagon with other duties. The customizing or modifications have to be minimal so as not to be lumped into a full “street mod class” (with big wheels and custom door latches, etc) and not a cool cruiser from our past.
    upload_2020-6-6_4-31-48.png
    These would easily fit into our two car garage with the happy smile on my wife’s face as we drove to the gas station or granddaughter’s house. Her history with modified sedan delivery and all of the trials and worries about reliability in those early years should not be a problem. The new chassis, suspension. A/C, and reliable v8 motor should heal any wounds from those early hot rod days. (also, have a clear vision all around for the full greenhouse effect)

    So, the customizing of station wagons started in the mid 50’s and continues to be a favorite form of modifying, so as to be lumped into the custom or hot rod category. Individual tastes creates different looking cars or station wagons.
















     
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  11. AldeanFan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2014
    Posts: 892

    AldeanFan

    When I go to the car show on my wagon I’ve got the only one, there are alway lots of ‘32 fords, mustangs, chevelles, corvettes and so on, but very few wagons and even fewer woodies.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    And I’m the only one of my friends who can sleep in their racecar.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  12. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  13. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  14. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  15. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
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  16. d.j
    Joined: Oct 21, 2007
    Posts: 28

    d.j
    Member

    This is my Ranchwagon, 4” chop. 0A3B46A5-8E33-4B68-8D1E-7291FFC6C4AA.jpeg
     
  17. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  18. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
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  19. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  20. Mike
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 3,540

    Mike
    Member

  21. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  22. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
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  23. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
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  24. BlacktopScraper
    Joined: Sep 10, 2005
    Posts: 148

    BlacktopScraper
    Member

    The one I just traded... IMG_1221.jpg
     
  25. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  26. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  27. I honestly believe the Hamb had a lot to do with the popularity of wagons, at one time they were a cheaper alternative to the more expensive, more desirable cars and they made cool looking cars for a young guy with a family or a old fart with a lot of buddies to haul to the swap meet and still have room for parts.

    There have been some killer wagons built here on the hamb and there continues to be a number of guys building them as we speak. HRP
     
  28. uncleandy 65
    Joined: Jan 14, 2013
    Posts: 4,140

    uncleandy 65
    Member

  29. I thought this was supposed to be about customs? I see a lot of just 'wagons.':rolleyes:
     

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