There are certain types of collector cars that have taken a different route to their current sought-after status, one which didn’t involve being celebrated in automobile magazines over the decades since their production.  These vehicles by their very nature flew under the radar, enjoyed by only a select group of hobbyists until a particular set of circumstances combined to bring them into the spotlight.

 

Station wagons are a perfect example.  To most growing up during the 1950’s and 60’s, station wagons were quite simply family transportation, designed to get from point A to point B carrying as much luggage and kids as could possibly be crammed into their cavernous interiors.  Wagons lead a hard life, logging tens of thousands of road trip miles wherein abuse was inflicted upon them at the level only children are capable of achieving.  When it was time for these loyal beasts of burden to be retired, they were most often worn out and used up, destined for scrap yard duty or perhaps one more turn around the used car circuit.

 

The important thing to keep in mind about the rough tour of duty served by most station wagons is that it means good examples are much rarer than their sedan counterparts in the marketplace.  With so many having been driven into the ground, a well-preserved example has become somewhat of an uncommon discovery at car shows and auction blocks across the country.  This is combined with the fact that some wagons have become very desirable due to the unique features or low production numbers associated with the model.

 

 

 

 

A prime example is the Studebaker Wagonaire.  In the early 1960’s Studebaker was searching for a way to expand its small car lineup without spending a ton of cash.  The idea of building a wagon on the existing Studebaker Lark platform was appealing, but in order to differentiate the car from the competition, designer Brooks Stevens decided to incorporate a retractable steel rear roof that could be slid open to transform the wagon’s cargo area into something resembling a pickup truck bed.  It was even possible to specify a Wagonaire with a third row of seating that faced out the back, enabling children to ride under the stars with the rear roof in the open position.  This unique piece of wagon history was available between 1963 and 1965, and was heavily advertised by Studebaker with images of families pitching camping tents in the cargo area and even fishing out of the back.  A little known fact is that the Wagonaire could also be dressed up with special R-series performance parts sourced from the Avanti sports car, which had the potential to turn it into a potent power wagon.

 

My father picked up his own Studebaker Wagonaire this past summer, almost by accident.  While traveling to Maine from Quebec to check out a 1962 Studebaker Hawk that had been advertised by the Goldenrod Garage, he was disappointed to discover that the pictures he had seen on the internet hadn’t been detailed enough to show the massive rust holes throughout the vehicle’s entire floor.  However, parked right beside the Hawk sat a Sea Mist Green 1963 Studebaker Wagonaire with a V8 engine and a three-speed with overdrive transmission.  My father fell in love with the unusual wagon on the spot, and loaded it up on the trailer to take it home.  Like all Wagonaires it does leak a bit in the rain (Studebaker introduced a fixed-roof option to combat this tendency), but the car has been a hit at regional shows, as well as a practical and fun vehicle for long distance travel.

 

There are a few other classic wagons out there that have caught the eye of collectors thanks to their innovative designs that set them apart from the rest of the pack. 

 

 

 

 

The long lived Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser (1964-1977) was so named due to its glass panel roof that gave second and even third row passengers an unimpeded view of the sky overhead.  Popularized by the sitcom “That 70’s Show”, the Vista Cruiser is today a relative bargain for wagon-hungry antique car fans. 

 

 

 

 

Far more rare is the Willys Jeep Wagon, coincidentally also designed by Brooks Stevens long before he was tapped by Studebaker to helm their efforts.  The Willys combined the rugged four-wheel drive platform of the standard Jeep with a wood or steel wagon body that was like nothing else available at the time.  Production started in 1946 and continued on until 1965 when the much more modern Jeep Wagoneer (which had debuted in 1962) took over the reigns.

 

The decision to walk a different path when it comes to a classic automobile can often be quite rewarding.  Being able to attend a local event in a unique wagon and know that it is unlikely that you will encounter anyone else there with the same exact vehicle can be a great feeling.  Your vehicle’s presence will more than likely to trigger a flood of family-related memories from anyone who happens to catch a glimpse.

 

By Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin is a professional, published writer living in Montreal, Canada. He has a deep background in three industries: medical, music and automotive. 

He is President of an independent record label for close to a decade, and also spent over eight years as a musical promoter and touring musician.

He has restored and raced automobiles for 15 years, and writes for a number of automotive publications on the web.

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