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Wikipedia

Station wagon

March 08, 2023

A station wagon (US, also wagon) or estate car (UK, also estate), is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door (the liftgate or tailgate), instead of a trunk/boot lid.[1] The body style transforms a standard three-box design into a two-box design — to include an A, B, and C-pillar, as well as a D-pillar. Station wagons can flexibly reconfigure their interior volume via fold-down rear seats to prioritize either passenger or cargo volume.

2018 Volvo V60 Estate
2016 Ford Mondeo Estate
1984 Mercury Colony Park Station Wagon

The American Heritage Dictionary defines a station wagon as "an automobile with one or more rows of folding or removable seats behind the driver and no luggage compartment but an area behind the seats into which suitcases, parcels, etc., can be loaded through a tailgate."[2]

When a model range includes multiple body styles, such as sedan, hatchback, and station wagon, the models typically share their platform, drivetrain and bodywork forward of the A-pillar, and usually the B-pillar as well. In 1969, Popular Mechanics said, "Station wagon-style ... follows that of the production sedan of which it is the counterpart. Most are on the same wheelbase, offer the same transmission and engine options, and the same comfort and convenience options."[3]

Station wagons have evolved from their early use as specialized vehicles to carry people and luggage to and from a train station, especially to estates, and have been marketed worldwide.[citation needed] However, the demand for the station wagon body style has faded since the 2010s.[4][5][6]

Name

Reflecting the original purpose of transporting people and luggage between country estates and train stations,[7] the body style is called an "estate car" or "estate" in the United Kingdom or a "wagon" in Australia and New Zealand.

The depot hackney or taxi, often on a Model T chassis with an exposed wood body, most often found around railroad stations was the predecessor of the station wagon body style in the United States.[8] These early models with exposed wooden bodies became known as woodies.[9][10][11]

In Germany, the term "Kombi" is used, short for Kombinationskraftwagen ("combination motor vehicle").[citation needed]

Station wagons have been marketed using the French term "break de chasse"[citation needed] (sometimes abbreviated to "break"), which translates as "hunting break", due to shared ancestry with the shooting-brake body style.

Manufacturers may designate station wagons across various model lines with a proprietary nameplate for marketing and advertising differentiation. Examples include "Avant", "Caravan", "Kombi", "Sports Tourer", "Sports Wagon", "Tourer", "Touring", and "Variant".

Design characteristics

Comparison with hatchbacks

 
Typical pillar configurations of a sedan (three box), station wagon (two box) and hatchback (two box) from the same model range

Station wagons and hatchbacks have in common a two-box design configuration, a shared interior volume for passengers and cargo[12][13] and a rear door (often called a tailgate in the case of a wagon) that is hinged at roof level.[14][15] Folding rear seats (to create a larger space for cargo) are also common on both station wagons and hatchbacks.[2]

Distinguishing features between hatchbacks and station wagons include:

  • D-pillar: Station wagons are more likely to have a D-pillar (hatchbacks and station wagons both have A-, B-, and C-pillars).
  • Cargo volume: Station wagons prioritize passenger and cargo volume — with windows beside the cargo volume. Of the two body styles, a station wagon roof (viewed in profile) more likely extends to the very rearmost of the vehicle, enclosing a full-height cargo volume[13] — a hatchback roof (especially a liftback roof) is likely rake down steeply behind the C-Pillar, prioritizing style[1] over interior volume or cargo capacity, sometimes having a shorter rear overhang and including smaller side windows (or no windows).

Other differences are more variable and can potentially include:

  • Cargo floor contour: A station wagon often has a fold-flat floor (for increased cargo capacity), whereas a hatchback is more likely to have a cargo floor with a pronounced contour.[citation needed]
  • Seating: Some station wagons have three rows of seats, whereas a hatchback will have two at most.[12] The rearmost row of seating in a station wagon is often located in the cargo area and can be front-facing, rear-facing, or side-facing.
  • Rear suspension: A station wagon may include reconfigured rear suspension for additional load capacity[1] and to minimize intrusion in the cargo volume.
  • Rear Door: Hatchbacks usually feature a top-hinged liftgate for cargo access, with variations ranging from a two-part liftgate to a complex tailgate that can function either as a full tailgate or as a trunk/boot lid. Station wagons have also been equipped with numerous tailgate configurations. Hatchbacks may be called Liftbacks when the opening area is very sloped and the door is lifted up to open.[12] A design director from General Motors has described the difference as "Where you break the roofline, at what angle, defines the spirit of the vehicle", he said. "You could have a 90-degree break in the back and have a station wagon."[16]

It has become common for station wagons to use a platform shared with other body styles, resulting in many shared components (such as chassis, engine, transmission, bodywork forward of the A-pillar, interior features, and optional features) being used for the wagon, sedan and hatchback variants of the model range.[3]

Tailgate designs

Many modern station wagons have an upward-swinging, full-width, full-height rear door supported on gas springs — often where the rear window can swing up independently. A variety of other designs have been employed in the past.

Split gate

The split-gate features an upward-swinging window combined with a downward-swinging tailgate, both manually operated. This configuration was common in the 1920s through the 1940s, and remained common on many models into the 1960s.

Retractable window

In the early 1950s, tailgates with hand-cranked roll-down rear windows began to appear. Later in the decade, electric power was applied to the tailgate window so it could be operated from the driver's seat as well as by the key in the tailgate. By the early 1970s, this arrangement was available on full-size, intermediate, and compact wagons. The lowered bottom hinged tailgate extended the cargo area floor and could also serve as a picnic table for "tailgating."[17]

  • Side hinge: A side-hinged tailgate that opened like a door was offered on some three-seat station wagons to make it easier for the back row passengers to enter and exit their rear-facing seats.
 
Split tailgate
 
rear roof retracted and tailgate hinged down

Retractable roof

These have a retractable rear roof section, as well as a conventional rear tailgate that opened down, to carry tall objects upright. The configuration appeared on the Studebaker Wagonaire station wagon and the GMC Envoy XUV.[18]

Dual and tri-operating gates

 
Side-hinged tailgate
 
Tailgate folded down
A dual tailgate on a Ford Country Squire

In the United States, Ford's full-size station wagons for 1966 introduced a system marketed as "Magic Doorgate" — a conventional tailgate with retracting rear glass, where the tailgate could either fold down or pivot open on a side hinge — with the rear window retracted in either case. Competitors marketed their versions as a Drop and Swing or Dual Action Tailgate.[3] For 1969, Ford incorporated a design that allowed the rear glass to remain up or down when the door pivoted open on its side hinge, marketing the system, which had been engineered by Donald N. Frey[19] as the "Three-Way Magic Doorgate".

Similar configurations became the standard on full-size and intermediate station wagons from GM, Ford, Chrysler, and American Motors (AMC). GM added a notch in the rear bumper that acted as a step plate; to fill the gap, a small portion of the bumper was attached to the tailgate. When opened as a swinging door, this part of the bumper moved away, allowing the depression in the bumper to provide a "step" to ease entry; when the gate was opened by being lowered or raised to a closed position, the chrome section remained in place making the bumper "whole".

Clam shell

 
Closed tailgate
 
Tailgate folded open
1971 Buick Estate Wagon with a "clam shell" tailgate

Full-size General Motors, from 1971 through 1976 station wagons (Chevrolet Kingswood, Townsman, Brookwood, Bel Air, Impala, and Caprice Estates; Pontiac Safari and Grand Safari; Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, and the Buick Estate models) featured a 'clam shell' design marketed as the Glide-away tailgate, also called a "disappearing" tailgate because when open, the tailgate was completely out of view.[20] On the clamshell design, the rear power-operated glass slid up into the roof and the lower tailgate (with either manual or optional power operation), lowered completely below the load floor. Where manually operated, the lower tailgate was counterbalanced by a torque rod similar to the torque rods used in holding a trunk lid open, requiring a 35-pound (16 kg) push to fully lower the gate. Raising the manual gate required a 5 lb pull via a handhold integral to the top edge of the retractable gate.[21] The power operation of both upper glass and lower tailgate became standard equipment in later model years. Station wagons with the design were available with an optional third row of forward-facing seats accessed by the rear side doors and a folding second-row seat. They could accommodate 4-by-8-foot (1.2 m × 2.4 m) sheets of plywood or other panels with the rear seats folded. The clamshell design required no increased footprint or operational area to open, allowing a user to stand at the cargo opening without the impediment of a door — for example, in a closed garage.

The GM design, as used in a Pontiac Grand Safari, with a forward-facing third-row seat and the clamshell tailgate was less popular with consumers and was described as the "least convenient of all wagon arrangements" with difficult passenger egress and problematic tailgate operation in comparison to the 1974 AMC Ambassador, Dodge Monaco, and Mercury Colony Park, full-size station wagons conducted by Popular Science magazine.[22] Subsequent GM full-size wagons reverted to the door/gate system for its full-size wagons.

Lift-gate

 
A lift-gate on a Volkswagen Passat Variant

A simplified, one-piece lift-gate on smaller wagons. The AMC Hornet Sportabout was introduced for the 1972 model year featuring a "liftgate-style hatchback instead of swing-out or fold-down tailgate ... would set a precedent for liftgates in modern SUVs."[23] The 1978-1996 GM's mid-size station wagons also returned to the upward-lifting rear window/gate as had been used in the 1940s.

  • Swing-up window: An upward-lifting, full-height, full-width rear door, where the window on the rear door can be opened independently from the rear door itself. The window is also opened upwards and is held on pneumatic struts. The Renault Laguna II station wagon and Ford Taurus wagon featured this arrangement.
  • Fold-up license plate: Wagons (including the Volvo Amazon wagon, early models of the Range Rover, and the Subaru Baja) had an upward folding hinged license plate attached to the lower tailgate of the split rear door. When the tailgate was folded down, the plate hung down and remained readable. The wagon versions of the Citroën DS, variously called the Break, Familiale, or Safari, had a different solution: two number plates were fitted to the tailgate at right angles to each other so one would be visible in either position.

Safety equipment

Cargo barriers may be used to prevent unsecured cargo from causing injuries in the event of sudden deceleration, collision, or a rollover.[24]

Performance models

Performance models of station wagons have included the 1970 Ford Falcon (XY) 'Grand Sport' pack,[25] the 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS-454 and the 1992 BMW M5 (E34).

The 1994 Audi RS2, developed in conjunction with Porsche, has been described as the world's first performance station wagon.[26] This was followed by the Audi RS4 and Audi RS6.

The 2006-2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 model brought together power and performance in a roomy station wagon.[27][28][29]

Other German manufacturers have produced station wagon versions of their performance models, such as the Mercedes-AMG C63, Mercedes-AMG E63, BMW M5 (E60/E61), Volkswagen Golf R and Volkswagen Passat R36 wagons.[30][31][32]

The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon introduced for the 2011 model year was considered the most powerful production station wagon offered with a manual transmission and the Corvette-engined version continued until 2014.[33][34]

History by country

United States

1910 to 1940: Origins and woodie wagons

See also: Woodie (car body style)
 
1914 Ford Model T
 
1934 Buick Series 50 station wagon
 
1940 Pontiac Special Series 25

The first station wagons were built in around 1910, by independent manufacturers producing wooden custom bodies for the Ford Model T chassis.[35] They were originally called "depot hacks" because they worked around train depots as hacks (short for hackney carriage, as taxicabs were then known).[36] They also came to be known as "carryalls" and "suburbans".[35] Station wagons were initially considered commercial vehicles (rather than consumer automobiles) and the framing of the early[when?] station wagons was left unsheathed, due to the commercial nature of the vehicles. Early[when?] station wagons were fixed-roof vehicles, but lacked the glass that would normally enclose the passenger compartment, and had only bench seats.[37][page needed] In lieu of glass, side curtains of canvas could be unrolled. More rigid curtains could be snapped in place to protect passengers from the elements outside. The roofs of "woodie" wagons were usually made of stretched canvas that was treated with a waterproofing dressing. The framing of the wooden bodies was sheathed in steel[citation needed] and coated with tinted lacquer for protection. These wooden bodies required constant maintenance: varnishes required re-coating and expansion/contraction of the wood meant that bolts and screws required periodic re-tightening.

Manufacture of the wooden bodies was initially outsourced to custom coachbuilders,[38][39] because the production of the all-wood bodies was very time-consuming. Eventually, car manufacturers began producing their own station wagon designs. In 1922, the Essex Closed Coach became the first mass-produced car to use a steel body (in this case, a fully enclosed sedan body style).[40] In 1923, Star (a division of Durant Motors) became the first car company to offer a station wagon assembled on its production line (using a wooden wagon body shipped in from an outside supplier).[41][42][43] One of the first builders of wagon bodies was the Stoughton Wagon Company from Wisconsin, which began putting custom wagon bodies on the Ford Model T chassis in 1919[37][page needed] and by 1929 the Ford Motor Company was the biggest producer of chassis' for station wagons.[citation needed] Since Ford owned its own hardwood forest and mills (at the Ford Iron Mountain Plant in what is today Kingsford, Michigan in Michigan's Upper Peninsula) it began supplying the wood components for the Model A station wagon.[37][page needed] Also in 1929, J.T. Cantrell began supplying woodie bodies for Chrysler vehicles, which continued until 1931.[37][page needed]

By the 1930s, station wagons had become expensive and well-equipped vehicles.[42] When it was introduced in 1941 the Chrysler Town & Country was the most expensive car in the company's model range. The first all-steel station wagon body style was the 1935 Chevrolet Suburban.[35] As part of the overall trend in the automotive industry, wooden bodies were superseded by all-steel bodies due to their strength, cost, and durability.[37] The commercial vehicle status was also reflected on those vehicles' registrations For example, there were special "Suburban" license plates in Pennsylvania used well into the 1960s, long after station wagons became car-based.

1945 to 1970: Steel-bodied station wagons

 
1954 Studebaker Conestoga
 
1954 Plymouth Savoy Station Wagon
 
1958 AMC Ambassador 4-door pillarless hardtop station wagon

The first all-steel station wagon was the 1935 Chevrolet Suburban, which was built on the chassis of a panel truck.[35] However, most station wagons were produced with wooden bodies until after World War II.

When automobile production resumed after World War II, advances in production techniques made all-steel station wagon bodies more practical, eliminating the cost, noise, and maintenance associated with wood bodies.[44] The first mass-produced steel-bodied station wagon was the 1946 Willys Station Wagon, based on the chassis of the Jeep CJ-2A.[35][45][46] In 1947, Crosley introduced a steel-bodied station wagon version of the Crosley CC Four.

The first postwar station wagon to be based on a passenger car chassis was the 1949 Plymouth Suburban, which used a two-door body style. Several manufacturers produced steel and wooden-bodied station wagons concurrently for several years. For example, Plymouth continued the production of wooden-bodied station wagons until 1950. The final wooden-bodied station produced in the United States was the 1953 Buick Super Estate.

By 1951, most station wagons were being produced with all-steel bodies.[35] Station wagons experienced the highest production levels in the United States from the 1950s through the 1970s as a result of the American Mid-20th century baby boom.

The late 1950s through the mid-1960s was also the period of greatest variation in body styles, with models available without a B-pillar (called hardtop or pillarless models) or with a B-pillar, both in 2-door and 4-door variants.[47]

The 1956 Rambler was an all-new design and the 4-door "Cross Country" featured the industry's first station wagon hardtop.[48] However, the pillarless models could be expensive to produce, added wind noise, and created structural issues with body torque.[49] GM eliminated the pillarless wagon from its lineup in 1959, while AMC and Ford exited the field beginning with their 1960 and 1961 vehicles, leaving Chrysler and Dodge with the body style through the 1964 model year.

1970 to 1990: Competition from minivans

 
1986-1988 Plymouth Reliant station wagon

The popularity of the station wagon - particularly full-size station wagons - in the United States was blunted by increased fuel prices caused by the 1973 oil crisis.[35][42] Then in 1983, the market for station wagons was further eroded by the Chrysler minivans, based on the K platform.[36][50] While the K platform was also used for station wagon models (such as the Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries), the minivan would soon eclipse them in popularity.

The US CAFE standards provided an advantage to minivans (and later SUVs) over station wagons, because the minivans and SUVs were classified as trucks in the United States, and therefore subject to less stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations. Station wagons remained popular in Europe[51] and in locations where emissions and efficiency regulations did not distinguish between cars and light trucks.[52]

1990 to present: Competition from SUVs

 
1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Limited station wagon

The emergence and popularity of SUVs which closely approximate the traditional station wagon body style was a further blow. After struggling sales, the Chevrolet Caprice and the Buick Roadmaster, the last American full-size wagons, were discontinued in 1996. Smaller station wagons were marketed as lower-priced alternatives to SUVs and minivans. Domestic wagons also remained in the Ford, Mercury, and Saturn lines. However, after 2004 these compact station wagons also began to be phased out in the United States. The Ford Taurus wagon was discontinued in 2005 and the Ford Focus station wagon was discontinued in 2008. An exception to this trend was the Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback station wagon models, which continue to be produced at the Subaru of Indiana plant. With other brands, the niche previously occupied by station wagons is now primarily filled with a similar style of Crossover SUV, which generally has a car underpinning and a wagon body.

Imported station wagons, despite remaining popular in other countries,[53] struggled in the United States. European car manufacturers such as Audi, Volvo, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz continued to offer station wagons in their North American product ranges (marketed using the labels "Avant", "Touring", and "Estate" respectively). However, these vehicles had fewer trim and power train levels than their sedan counterparts.[50] The Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG in Estate trim is a performance station wagon offered in the U.S. market. The station wagon variants of the smaller Mercedes-Benz C-Class line-up were dropped in 2007 and the BMW 5 Series Touring models were discontinued in 2010, due to slow sales in the United States with only 400 wagons sold in 2009.[54] In 2012, the Volvo V50 compact station wagon was withdrawn from the U.S. market due to poor sales.

The Cadillac CTS gave rise to a station wagon counterpart, the 2010 CTS Sportwagon, which defied the trend by offering almost as many trim levels as its sedan counterpart.[50] The CTS wagon, particularly in the performance CTS-V trim, received positive reviews until it was discontinued in 2014.[55][56]

In 2011, the Toyota Prius V introduced hybrid power to the compact wagon market, but was discontinued in 2017 to streamline the Toyota hybrid lineup and focus on the RAV4 Hybrid Crossover SUV.[57]

The 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen[58] was marketed as a sub-compact station wagon in the North American market. This model was withdrawn from the US market after 2019.[59]

In 2016, Volvo reintroduced a large wagon to the US market with the Volvo V90, but only by special order.[60]

Simulated wood paneling

See also: Woodie (car body style) § Simulated woodgrain
 
1988 AMC Eagle Wagon with simulated wood panelling
 
1950 Plymouth Woodie Station Wagon

As the wooden bodies were replaced by steel bodies from 1945 until 1953, manufacturers applied wooden decorative trim to the steel-bodied wagons, as a visual link to the previous wooden style. By the late 1950s, the wooden trim was replaced by "simulated wood" in the form of stick-on vinyl coverings.[61] The woodgrain feature is not that the body is wood — or that it could ever be wood - rather, it is "totally honest in its artificiality."[8]

The design element was also used on cars that were not station wagons, including sedans, pickup trucks, and convertibles.[62][61]

Unique simulated wood designs included trim on the body pillars of the compact-size Nash Rambler station wagons that went up the roof's drip rail and around on the spit liftgate While the larger Cross Country was available with bodyside wood trim that went unbroken up the C and D pillars to a thin strip on the roof above the side windows.[48][8]

The Ford Country Squire is a model that was easily recognized by its simulated wood trim[63][64] and the "Squire" trim level was an available option in a few different Ford model ranges, including the Falcon Squire, Fairlane Squire, and in the 1970s the Pinto Squire. The Squire was always the highest trim level of any Ford Wagon and included the signature woodgrain applique, and usually additional exterior chrome, better interior trim, special emblems, etc. The full-size Country Squire model was produced in higher quantities than the other Ford models.

Other woodie-style wagon models produced in significant numbers include the 1984-1993 Jeep Grand Wagoneer,[65][66] 1957-1991 Mercury Colony Park, 1968-1988 Chrysler Town & Country, 1970-1990 Buick Estate, 1971-1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and 1969-1972 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate.

Full-size wagons

 
1969 Ford LTD Country Squire
 
1975 AMC Matador with third-row seat and two-way tailgate open for passenger egress

From the 1950s until the 1990s, many full-size American station wagons could be optioned with a third row of seating in the cargo area (over the rear axle) for a total of nine seats. Before 1956, the third-row seats were forward-facing.

Chrysler's 1957 models had a roof too low to permit a forward-facing seat in the cargo area,[citation needed] so a rear-facing seat was used for the third row.

General Motors adopted the rear-facing third row for most models during 1959-1971 and 1977–1996. However, the 1964–1972 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and 1964–1969 Buick Sport Wagon featured raised roof lines beginning above the second-row seat and continuing all the way to the rear tailgate, resulting in the third row of seats being forward-facing. General Motors also used forward-facing seats for the third row in the 1971 through 1976 clam shell wagons.

The Ford and Mercury full-size wagons built after 1964 were available with four rows of seats, with the rear two rows in the cargo area and facing each other. The third and fourth rows were designed for two people each (although these seats were quite narrow in later models), giving a total seating capacity of ten people.

The trend since the 1980s for smaller station wagon bodies has limited the seating to two rows, resulting in a total capacity of five people, or six people if a bench front seat is used. Since the 1990s, full-size station wagons have been largely replaced by SUVs with three-row seating, such as the Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, and Dodge Durango.[67]

 
1954 Studebaker Conestoga circa 1956

Two-door wagons

 
1958 Mercury Commuter hardtop
 
1971 Chevrolet Vega Kammback

The first two-door station wagon was the 1946 Willys Jeep Station Wagon.[68] Other early two-door station wagons were the 1951 Nash Rambler[69] and the 1954 Studebaker Conestoga.[70] In 1956, Studebaker introduced three new two-door wagons in Pelham, Parkview, and Pinehurst trims.[71]

General Motors began producing two-door station wagons in 1955 with the "Chevrolet Handyman" and the "Pontiac Chieftain".[72] General Motors also introduced the sportier Chevrolet Nomad and Pontiac Safari to their lineup in 1955. Ford began production of steel-bodied two-door station wagons in 1952 with the Ford Ranch Wagon. In 1956 Ford responded to the Nomad and Safari with its own sporty two-door wagon, The Ford Parklane. The Parklane was a one-year-only model, succeeded by the Ford Del Rio in 1957.

After the merger of Nash and Hudson, the new company, American Motors (AMC) reintroduced the two-door wagon in the "new" Rambler American line in 1958.[73] It was "recycling" with only a few modifications from the original version and targeted buyers looking for "no-frills" economy.[74] American Motors' strategy of reintroducing an old design made for two distinct model runs, one of few examples where such a strategy has been successful for an automobile manufacturer.[75]

The Chevrolet Vega Kammback, introduced in September 1970, was the first U.S.-made four-seat wagon[citation needed] and the first two-door wagon from GM in six years. It shared its wheelbase and length with Vega coupe versions and was produced in the 1971–1977 model years.

American Motors offered a two-door wagon version of the AMC Pacer from 1977 through 1980.[76][77]

The last two-door wagon available in America, the Geo Storm,[citation needed] was discontinued in 1993.

United Kingdom

1930s to 1960s

 
1954-1957 Hillman Husky

Early[when?] station wagon cars were after-market conversions, with the new bodywork using a wooden frame and either steel or wooden panels. These wooden-bodied cars, produced until the 1960s, were amongst the most expensive vehicles at the time. Since the 1930s, the term shooting-brake (originally a term for hunting vehicles) has been an alternative, if now rarely used, to the term for station wagons in the UK.

Later, station wagons were produced by vehicle manufacturers and included the 1937 Commer (based on the Hillman Minx Magnificent),[78] 1952 Morris Minor Traveller, 1952 Morris Oxford Traveller, 1954 Hillman Husky, 1954 Austin A30 Countryman and 1955 Ford Squire. The majority of these models were two-door wagons and several models were built on the chassis of relatively small cars.

Manufacturers often chose a specific model name to apply to all their station wagon cars as a marketing exercise — for example Austin used the Countryman name and Morris used the name Travellers. Some station wagons were closely derived from existing commercial van models, such as the Austin A30/35 Countryman and the Hillman Husky. Others, such as the Morris Travellers, the Austin Cambridge Countryman and the Standard Ten Companion were bespoke.

Rover and Austin produced 4×4 canvas-topped utility vehicles in the 1950s that were available in station wagon body styles that were sold as "Station Wagons". They incorporated better seating and trim than standard editions with options such as heaters. Early advertising for the Land Rover version took the name literally, showing the vehicle collecting people and goods from a railway station.

Despite the popularity of station wagons in America, station wagon offerings in the U.K. from Ford and Vauxhall were limited to factory-approved aftermarket conversions of the Ford Consul and Vauxhall Cresta, until the factory-built Vauxhall Victor wagon was introduced in 1958.

1960s to present

 
Ford Granada L Estate

One of the smallest station wagons ever produced was the Morris Mini Traveller / Austin Mini Countryman, introduced in 1960.

Ford's first factory-built wagon was the 1963 Ford Cortina.

The 1967 Hillman Husky station wagon version of the Hillman Imp was unusual in being a rear-engined station wagon.

Ford and Vauxhall produced factory-built station wagon variants of all three of their respective core models (small-, mid-, and large-size cars) by the 1970s. The FD- and FE-Series Vauxhall Victors, built between 1966 and 1978, were very large cars by British standards and featured station wagon models in the style of an American station wagon with front and rear bench seats and large-capacity petrol engines.

Other station wagons sold in the United Kingdom included the Morris 1100 (introduced in 1966), Vauxhall Viva (introduced 1967), Ford Escort (introduced in 1968), and Vauxhall Chevette (introduced 1976).

Germany

 
2014 Mercedes-Benz C Class station wagon

Germany is the largest market for station wagons in the world, with around 600,000 to 700,000 vehicles sold each year - amounting to 20% of all car sales.[79] German-designed station wagons have been produced by Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, and Volkswagen. Some larger station wagon models are available with a third row of seats, such as the rear-facing jump seat for two passengers in the cargo area of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon.[80]

In 1961, Volkswagen introduced the two-door "Variant" body style of the Volkswagen Type 3 (also known as the Volkswagen 1500 - later the Volkswagen 1600). The Type 3's rear-engine layout was retained for the station wagon models, but the engine profile was flattened, resulting in a small car offering interior room, as well as trunk space in the front. The model was offered through the 1973 model year.

Station wagons produced in East Germany include the 1956–1965 Wartburg 311/312/313, the 1963–1990 Trabant 601 Universal, and the 1966–1988 Wartburg 353 Tourist.

France

 
1963 Peugeot 404 Break
 
1972 Citroën DS Break

In France, almost all station wagon models are called a "Break", although the spelling is different from the English shooting brake.

The first station wagon produced by a French manufacturer was the Citroën Traction Avant Familiale model introduced in 1935.[81] The first Peugeot station wagon was the Peugeot 203, introduced in 1950.[82]

In 1958, the Citroën ID Break (known as the Safari in English-speaking countries) was introduced, being larger than other French station wagon models and of similar size to the contemporary full-size station wagons from the United States. It had a seating capacity of eight people, consisting of two front-facing bench seats and two folding inward-facing seats in the cargo area. The 'Familiale' version had a front bench seat, a forward-facing three-space bench seat in the middle, and a folding forward-facing three-seat bench in the rear, providing a versatile nine-seat car. The Citroën ID also had a two-part tailgate and a hydropneumatic suspension that allowed a self-leveling ride height and automatic brake biasing regardless of the load carried. The car could also 'kneel' to the ground for easy loading of heavy or large items. The successors to the ID, the Citroën CX and Citroën XM continued to be amongst the largest station wagon cars produced in Europe, but the model was discontinued in 2000 and a station wagon version was not available for its Citroën C6 successor.

The Peugeot 404, introduced in 1960, offered a conventional large station wagon alternative to the innovative Citroëns. Its replacement, the 505 was available in both five-seat and seven-seat 'Familiale' versions. As with the Citroëns, changing demands in the French car market led to the end of the large Peugeot station wagon models in the mid-1990s, with the smaller Peugeot 406 becoming the largest station wagon model in the range from 1995. In a similar situation to the United States, the decline of traditional Break and Familiale models in France was in no small part due to the introduction of the minivan in the form of the Renault Espace in 1984.

Sweden

 
Volvo Duett
 
1974-1993 Volvo 240 wagon

The first station wagon produced in Sweden was the Volvo Duett, introduced in 1953.[83] The Duett two-door wagon was conceived as a dual-function delivery van and people-carrier and is based on the chassis of the PV444 and PV544 sedans.

In 1962, the Volvo Duett was supplemented by a larger but lower Amazon, which has a four-door body and a horizontal split tailgate. Volvo continued production of station wagons through the Volvo 145 (introduced in 1967), then the Volvo 200 Series (introduced in 1974), and the Volvo 700 Series (introduced in 1985). In many markets, the station wagon models of the 700 Series significantly outsold the sedan models.[citation needed] In 1990, the 700 Series was replaced by the Volvo 900 Series, which was sold alongside the smaller Volvo 850 wagon that was introduced one year later. The 900 Series ended production in 1998 and its successor (the Volvo S80) did not include any wagon models. Volvo station wagons produced since the mid-1990s are the Volvo V40, Volvo V50, Volvo V60, Volvo V70, and Volvo V90, with the V40, V60, and V90 models currently in production.[84]

Saab began producing station wagons in 1959, in the form of the Saab 95 two-door wagon, which was based on the Saab 93 sedan.[85] Following a hiatus in station wagon production since the Saab 95 ended production in 1978, the company introduced the four-door Saab 9-5 station wagon in 1997, which was produced until 2010.[86] In 2005 a 'Sportwagon' version of the Saab 9-3 was introduced and produced until 2011.[87]

In 2017 station wagons accounted for 31% of all sold cars.[88]

Switzerland

In 1983, station wagons represented 15% of the passenger car market,[89] reflecting a trend throughout Europe of increasing popularity through the 1980s, with the vehicles becoming less cargo-oriented.

Japan

 
1963-1968 Mazda Familia
 
2019 Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

The first Japanese station wagon was the 1961 Isuzu Bellel four-door wagon, based on a compact sedan chassis. This was followed by the 1963 Mazda Familia, 1966 Toyota Corolla, 1967 Isuzu Florian, 1969 Mitsubishi Galant, 1973 Mitsubishi Lancer and 1974 Honda Civic wagons. However, Japanese manufacturers did not build station wagons in large volumes until recently.[citation needed]

Models marketed as passenger station wagons in export markets were often sold as utilitarian "van" models in the home market. Some were not updated for consecutive generations in a model's life in Japan. For example, a sedan might have a model life of four years, but the wagon was not updated for up to eight years (such as the Toyota Corolla wagon built from 1979 until 1987) and the 1987-1996 Mazda Capella wagon). Station wagons remain popular in Japan, although they are in slow decline as the SUVs and minivans have taken over a large portion of this market.

Korea

South Korean manufacturers do not have a strong tradition in producing station wagons. The first station wagon by the South Korean manufacturer was released way back in 1995 as the Hyundai Avante Touring (Lantra Sportswagon), followed in early 1996 as the Kia Pride station wagon. Daewoo Motor followed suit a year later with the first-generation Nubira.

South Korean manufacturer Kia produce both the Cee'd and Optima station wagons designated as Sportswagons with sister company Hyundai offering station wagon versions of the i30 and i40.

Australia

 
2017 Holden Commodore (VF) Sportwagon

The first Australian-designed car was built in 1948 but locally designed station wagons did not appear until nine years later when the 1957 Holden FE was introduced. Holden's main competitor, the Ford Falcon (XK) introduced wagon models in 1960.

Ford and Holden produced wagon models based on each generation of their large sedan platforms until 2010. Other wagons produced in Australia include the smaller Toyota Camry and Mitsubishi Magna. The Ford and Holden wagons were usually built on a longer wheelbase than their sedan counterparts, until the introduction of the Holden Commodore (VE) which switched to sharing the sedan's shorter wheelbase.

Ford ceased production of wagons in Australia when the Ford Falcon (BF) ended production in 2010, largely due to the declining station wagon and large car market, but also following the 2004 introduction and sales success of the Ford Territory SUV.[90] Production of wagons in Australia ceased in 2017 when the Holden Commodore (VF) ended production.

See also

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Station wagons.

References

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March 08, 2023
station, wagon, station, wagon, also, wagon, estate, also, estate, automotive, body, style, variant, sedan, saloon, with, roof, extended, rearward, over, shared, passenger, cargo, volume, with, access, back, third, fifth, door, liftgate, tailgate, instead, tru. A station wagon US also wagon or estate car UK also estate is an automotive body style variant of a sedan saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door the liftgate or tailgate instead of a trunk boot lid 1 The body style transforms a standard three box design into a two box design to include an A B and C pillar as well as a D pillar Station wagons can flexibly reconfigure their interior volume via fold down rear seats to prioritize either passenger or cargo volume 2018 Volvo V60 Estate2016 Ford Mondeo Estate1984 Mercury Colony Park Station Wagon The American Heritage Dictionary defines a station wagon as an automobile with one or more rows of folding or removable seats behind the driver and no luggage compartment but an area behind the seats into which suitcases parcels etc can be loaded through a tailgate 2 When a model range includes multiple body styles such as sedan hatchback and station wagon the models typically share their platform drivetrain and bodywork forward of the A pillar and usually the B pillar as well In 1969 Popular Mechanics said Station wagon style follows that of the production sedan of which it is the counterpart Most are on the same wheelbase offer the same transmission and engine options and the same comfort and convenience options 3 Station wagons have evolved from their early use as specialized vehicles to carry people and luggage to and from a train station especially to estates and have been marketed worldwide citation needed However the demand for the station wagon body style has faded since the 2010s 4 5 6 Contents 1 Name 2 Design characteristics 2 1 Comparison with hatchbacks 2 2 Tailgate designs 2 2 1 Split gate 2 2 2 Retractable window 2 2 3 Retractable roof 2 2 4 Dual and tri operating gates 2 2 5 Clam shell 2 2 6 Lift gate 2 3 Safety equipment 2 4 Performance models 3 History by country 3 1 United States 3 1 1 1910 to 1940 Origins and woodie wagons 3 1 2 1945 to 1970 Steel bodied station wagons 3 1 3 1970 to 1990 Competition from minivans 3 1 4 1990 to present Competition from SUVs 3 1 5 Simulated wood paneling 3 1 6 Full size wagons 3 1 7 Two door wagons 3 2 United Kingdom 3 2 1 1930s to 1960s 3 2 2 1960s to present 3 3 Germany 3 4 France 3 5 Sweden 3 6 Switzerland 3 7 Japan 3 8 Korea 3 9 Australia 4 See also 5 ReferencesName EditReflecting the original purpose of transporting people and luggage between country estates and train stations 7 the body style is called an estate car or estate in the United Kingdom or a wagon in Australia and New Zealand The depot hackney or taxi often on a Model T chassis with an exposed wood body most often found around railroad stations was the predecessor of the station wagon body style in the United States 8 These early models with exposed wooden bodies became known as woodies 9 10 11 In Germany the term Kombi is used short for Kombinationskraftwagen combination motor vehicle citation needed Station wagons have been marketed using the French term break de chasse citation needed sometimes abbreviated to break which translates as hunting break due to shared ancestry with the shooting brake body style Manufacturers may designate station wagons across various model lines with a proprietary nameplate for marketing and advertising differentiation Examples include Avant Caravan Kombi Sports Tourer Sports Wagon Tourer Touring and Variant Design characteristics EditComparison with hatchbacks Edit Typical pillar configurations of a sedan three box station wagon two box and hatchback two box from the same model range Station wagons and hatchbacks have in common a two box design configuration a shared interior volume for passengers and cargo 12 13 and a rear door often called a tailgate in the case of a wagon that is hinged at roof level 14 15 Folding rear seats to create a larger space for cargo are also common on both station wagons and hatchbacks 2 Distinguishing features between hatchbacks and station wagons include D pillar Station wagons are more likely to have a D pillar hatchbacks and station wagons both have A B and C pillars Cargo volume Station wagons prioritize passenger and cargo volume with windows beside the cargo volume Of the two body styles a station wagon roof viewed in profile more likely extends to the very rearmost of the vehicle enclosing a full height cargo volume 13 a hatchback roof especially a liftback roof is likely rake down steeply behind the C Pillar prioritizing style 1 over interior volume or cargo capacity sometimes having a shorter rear overhang and including smaller side windows or no windows Other differences are more variable and can potentially include Cargo floor contour A station wagon often has a fold flat floor for increased cargo capacity whereas a hatchback is more likely to have a cargo floor with a pronounced contour citation needed Seating Some station wagons have three rows of seats whereas a hatchback will have two at most 12 The rearmost row of seating in a station wagon is often located in the cargo area and can be front facing rear facing or side facing Rear suspension A station wagon may include reconfigured rear suspension for additional load capacity 1 and to minimize intrusion in the cargo volume Rear Door Hatchbacks usually feature a top hinged liftgate for cargo access with variations ranging from a two part liftgate to a complex tailgate that can function either as a full tailgate or as a trunk boot lid Station wagons have also been equipped with numerous tailgate configurations Hatchbacks may be called Liftbacks when the opening area is very sloped and the door is lifted up to open 12 A design director from General Motors has described the difference as Where you break the roofline at what angle defines the spirit of the vehicle he said You could have a 90 degree break in the back and have a station wagon 16 It has become common for station wagons to use a platform shared with other body styles resulting in many shared components such as chassis engine transmission bodywork forward of the A pillar interior features and optional features being used for the wagon sedan and hatchback variants of the model range 3 Tailgate designs Edit Many modern station wagons have an upward swinging full width full height rear door supported on gas springs often where the rear window can swing up independently A variety of other designs have been employed in the past Split gate Edit The split gate features an upward swinging window combined with a downward swinging tailgate both manually operated This configuration was common in the 1920s through the 1940s and remained common on many models into the 1960s Retractable window Edit In the early 1950s tailgates with hand cranked roll down rear windows began to appear Later in the decade electric power was applied to the tailgate window so it could be operated from the driver s seat as well as by the key in the tailgate By the early 1970s this arrangement was available on full size intermediate and compact wagons The lowered bottom hinged tailgate extended the cargo area floor and could also serve as a picnic table for tailgating 17 Side hinge A side hinged tailgate that opened like a door was offered on some three seat station wagons to make it easier for the back row passengers to enter and exit their rear facing seats Split tailgate rear roof retracted and tailgate hinged down Retractable roof Edit These have a retractable rear roof section as well as a conventional rear tailgate that opened down to carry tall objects upright The configuration appeared on the Studebaker Wagonaire station wagon and the GMC Envoy XUV 18 Dual and tri operating gates Edit Side hinged tailgate Tailgate folded downA dual tailgate on a Ford Country Squire In the United States Ford s full size station wagons for 1966 introduced a system marketed as Magic Doorgate a conventional tailgate with retracting rear glass where the tailgate could either fold down or pivot open on a side hinge with the rear window retracted in either case Competitors marketed their versions as a Drop and Swing or Dual Action Tailgate 3 For 1969 Ford incorporated a design that allowed the rear glass to remain up or down when the door pivoted open on its side hinge marketing the system which had been engineered by Donald N Frey 19 as the Three Way Magic Doorgate Similar configurations became the standard on full size and intermediate station wagons from GM Ford Chrysler and American Motors AMC GM added a notch in the rear bumper that acted as a step plate to fill the gap a small portion of the bumper was attached to the tailgate When opened as a swinging door this part of the bumper moved away allowing the depression in the bumper to provide a step to ease entry when the gate was opened by being lowered or raised to a closed position the chrome section remained in place making the bumper whole Clam shell Edit Closed tailgate Tailgate folded open1971 Buick Estate Wagon with a clam shell tailgate Full size General Motors from 1971 through 1976 station wagons Chevrolet Kingswood Townsman Brookwood Bel Air Impala and Caprice Estates Pontiac Safari and Grand Safari Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and the Buick Estate models featured a clam shell design marketed as the Glide away tailgate also called a disappearing tailgate because when open the tailgate was completely out of view 20 On the clamshell design the rear power operated glass slid up into the roof and the lower tailgate with either manual or optional power operation lowered completely below the load floor Where manually operated the lower tailgate was counterbalanced by a torque rod similar to the torque rods used in holding a trunk lid open requiring a 35 pound 16 kg push to fully lower the gate Raising the manual gate required a 5 lb pull via a handhold integral to the top edge of the retractable gate 21 The power operation of both upper glass and lower tailgate became standard equipment in later model years Station wagons with the design were available with an optional third row of forward facing seats accessed by the rear side doors and a folding second row seat They could accommodate 4 by 8 foot 1 2 m 2 4 m sheets of plywood or other panels with the rear seats folded The clamshell design required no increased footprint or operational area to open allowing a user to stand at the cargo opening without the impediment of a door for example in a closed garage The GM design as used in a Pontiac Grand Safari with a forward facing third row seat and the clamshell tailgate was less popular with consumers and was described as the least convenient of all wagon arrangements with difficult passenger egress and problematic tailgate operation in comparison to the 1974 AMC Ambassador Dodge Monaco and Mercury Colony Park full size station wagons conducted by Popular Science magazine 22 Subsequent GM full size wagons reverted to the door gate system for its full size wagons Lift gate Edit A lift gate on a Volkswagen Passat Variant A simplified one piece lift gate on smaller wagons The AMC Hornet Sportabout was introduced for the 1972 model year featuring a liftgate style hatchback instead of swing out or fold down tailgate would set a precedent for liftgates in modern SUVs 23 The 1978 1996 GM s mid size station wagons also returned to the upward lifting rear window gate as had been used in the 1940s Swing up window An upward lifting full height full width rear door where the window on the rear door can be opened independently from the rear door itself The window is also opened upwards and is held on pneumatic struts The Renault Laguna II station wagon and Ford Taurus wagon featured this arrangement Fold up license plate Wagons including the Volvo Amazon wagon early models of the Range Rover and the Subaru Baja had an upward folding hinged license plate attached to the lower tailgate of the split rear door When the tailgate was folded down the plate hung down and remained readable The wagon versions of the Citroen DS variously called the Break Familiale or Safari had a different solution two number plates were fitted to the tailgate at right angles to each other so one would be visible in either position Safety equipment Edit Cargo barriers may be used to prevent unsecured cargo from causing injuries in the event of sudden deceleration collision or a rollover 24 Performance models Edit Performance models of station wagons have included the 1970 Ford Falcon XY Grand Sport pack 25 the 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS 454 and the 1992 BMW M5 E34 The 1994 Audi RS2 developed in conjunction with Porsche has been described as the world s first performance station wagon 26 This was followed by the Audi RS4 and Audi RS6 The 2006 2008 Dodge Magnum SRT 8 model brought together power and performance in a roomy station wagon 27 28 29 Other German manufacturers have produced station wagon versions of their performance models such as the Mercedes AMG C63 Mercedes AMG E63 BMW M5 E60 E61 Volkswagen Golf R and Volkswagen Passat R36 wagons 30 31 32 The Cadillac CTS V Wagon introduced for the 2011 model year was considered the most powerful production station wagon offered with a manual transmission and the Corvette engined version continued until 2014 33 34 History by country EditUnited States Edit 1910 to 1940 Origins and woodie wagons Edit See also Woodie car body style 1914 Ford Model T 1934 Buick Series 50 station wagon 1940 Pontiac Special Series 25 The first station wagons were built in around 1910 by independent manufacturers producing wooden custom bodies for the Ford Model T chassis 35 They were originally called depot hacks because they worked around train depots as hacks short for hackney carriage as taxicabs were then known 36 They also came to be known as carryalls and suburbans 35 Station wagons were initially considered commercial vehicles rather than consumer automobiles and the framing of the early when station wagons was left unsheathed due to the commercial nature of the vehicles Early when station wagons were fixed roof vehicles but lacked the glass that would normally enclose the passenger compartment and had only bench seats 37 page needed In lieu of glass side curtains of canvas could be unrolled More rigid curtains could be snapped in place to protect passengers from the elements outside The roofs of woodie wagons were usually made of stretched canvas that was treated with a waterproofing dressing The framing of the wooden bodies was sheathed in steel citation needed and coated with tinted lacquer for protection These wooden bodies required constant maintenance varnishes required re coating and expansion contraction of the wood meant that bolts and screws required periodic re tightening Manufacture of the wooden bodies was initially outsourced to custom coachbuilders 38 39 because the production of the all wood bodies was very time consuming Eventually car manufacturers began producing their own station wagon designs In 1922 the Essex Closed Coach became the first mass produced car to use a steel body in this case a fully enclosed sedan body style 40 In 1923 Star a division of Durant Motors became the first car company to offer a station wagon assembled on its production line using a wooden wagon body shipped in from an outside supplier 41 42 43 One of the first builders of wagon bodies was the Stoughton Wagon Company from Wisconsin which began putting custom wagon bodies on the Ford Model T chassis in 1919 37 page needed and by 1929 the Ford Motor Company was the biggest producer of chassis for station wagons citation needed Since Ford owned its own hardwood forest and mills at the Ford Iron Mountain Plant in what is today Kingsford Michigan in Michigan s Upper Peninsula it began supplying the wood components for the Model A station wagon 37 page needed Also in 1929 J T Cantrell began supplying woodie bodies for Chrysler vehicles which continued until 1931 37 page needed By the 1930s station wagons had become expensive and well equipped vehicles 42 When it was introduced in 1941 the Chrysler Town amp Country was the most expensive car in the company s model range The first all steel station wagon body style was the 1935 Chevrolet Suburban 35 As part of the overall trend in the automotive industry wooden bodies were superseded by all steel bodies due to their strength cost and durability 37 The commercial vehicle status was also reflected on those vehicles registrations For example there were special Suburban license plates in Pennsylvania used well into the 1960s long after station wagons became car based 1945 to 1970 Steel bodied station wagons Edit 1954 Studebaker Conestoga 1954 Plymouth Savoy Station Wagon 1958 AMC Ambassador 4 door pillarless hardtop station wagon The first all steel station wagon was the 1935 Chevrolet Suburban which was built on the chassis of a panel truck 35 However most station wagons were produced with wooden bodies until after World War II When automobile production resumed after World War II advances in production techniques made all steel station wagon bodies more practical eliminating the cost noise and maintenance associated with wood bodies 44 The first mass produced steel bodied station wagon was the 1946 Willys Station Wagon based on the chassis of the Jeep CJ 2A 35 45 46 In 1947 Crosley introduced a steel bodied station wagon version of the Crosley CC Four The first postwar station wagon to be based on a passenger car chassis was the 1949 Plymouth Suburban which used a two door body style Several manufacturers produced steel and wooden bodied station wagons concurrently for several years For example Plymouth continued the production of wooden bodied station wagons until 1950 The final wooden bodied station produced in the United States was the 1953 Buick Super Estate By 1951 most station wagons were being produced with all steel bodies 35 Station wagons experienced the highest production levels in the United States from the 1950s through the 1970s as a result of the American Mid 20th century baby boom The late 1950s through the mid 1960s was also the period of greatest variation in body styles with models available without a B pillar called hardtop or pillarless models or with a B pillar both in 2 door and 4 door variants 47 The 1956 Rambler was an all new design and the 4 door Cross Country featured the industry s first station wagon hardtop 48 However the pillarless models could be expensive to produce added wind noise and created structural issues with body torque 49 GM eliminated the pillarless wagon from its lineup in 1959 while AMC and Ford exited the field beginning with their 1960 and 1961 vehicles leaving Chrysler and Dodge with the body style through the 1964 model year 1970 to 1990 Competition from minivans Edit 1986 1988 Plymouth Reliant station wagon The popularity of the station wagon particularly full size station wagons in the United States was blunted by increased fuel prices caused by the 1973 oil crisis 35 42 Then in 1983 the market for station wagons was further eroded by the Chrysler minivans based on the K platform 36 50 While the K platform was also used for station wagon models such as the Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries the minivan would soon eclipse them in popularity The US CAFE standards provided an advantage to minivans and later SUVs over station wagons because the minivans and SUVs were classified as trucks in the United States and therefore subject to less stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations Station wagons remained popular in Europe 51 and in locations where emissions and efficiency regulations did not distinguish between cars and light trucks 52 1990 to present Competition from SUVs Edit 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Limited station wagon The emergence and popularity of SUVs which closely approximate the traditional station wagon body style was a further blow After struggling sales the Chevrolet Caprice and the Buick Roadmaster the last American full size wagons were discontinued in 1996 Smaller station wagons were marketed as lower priced alternatives to SUVs and minivans Domestic wagons also remained in the Ford Mercury and Saturn lines However after 2004 these compact station wagons also began to be phased out in the United States The Ford Taurus wagon was discontinued in 2005 and the Ford Focus station wagon was discontinued in 2008 An exception to this trend was the Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback station wagon models which continue to be produced at the Subaru of Indiana plant With other brands the niche previously occupied by station wagons is now primarily filled with a similar style of Crossover SUV which generally has a car underpinning and a wagon body Imported station wagons despite remaining popular in other countries 53 struggled in the United States European car manufacturers such as Audi Volvo BMW and Mercedes Benz continued to offer station wagons in their North American product ranges marketed using the labels Avant Touring and Estate respectively However these vehicles had fewer trim and power train levels than their sedan counterparts 50 The Mercedes Benz E63 AMG in Estate trim is a performance station wagon offered in the U S market The station wagon variants of the smaller Mercedes Benz C Class line up were dropped in 2007 and the BMW 5 Series Touring models were discontinued in 2010 due to slow sales in the United States with only 400 wagons sold in 2009 54 In 2012 the Volvo V50 compact station wagon was withdrawn from the U S market due to poor sales The Cadillac CTS gave rise to a station wagon counterpart the 2010 CTS Sportwagon which defied the trend by offering almost as many trim levels as its sedan counterpart 50 The CTS wagon particularly in the performance CTS V trim received positive reviews until it was discontinued in 2014 55 56 In 2011 the Toyota Prius V introduced hybrid power to the compact wagon market but was discontinued in 2017 to streamline the Toyota hybrid lineup and focus on the RAV4 Hybrid Crossover SUV 57 The 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen 58 was marketed as a sub compact station wagon in the North American market This model was withdrawn from the US market after 2019 59 In 2016 Volvo reintroduced a large wagon to the US market with the Volvo V90 but only by special order 60 Simulated wood paneling Edit See also Woodie car body style Simulated woodgrain 1988 AMC Eagle Wagon with simulated wood panelling 1950 Plymouth Woodie Station Wagon As the wooden bodies were replaced by steel bodies from 1945 until 1953 manufacturers applied wooden decorative trim to the steel bodied wagons as a visual link to the previous wooden style By the late 1950s the wooden trim was replaced by simulated wood in the form of stick on vinyl coverings 61 The woodgrain feature is not that the body is wood or that it could ever be wood rather it is totally honest in its artificiality 8 The design element was also used on cars that were not station wagons including sedans pickup trucks and convertibles 62 61 Unique simulated wood designs included trim on the body pillars of the compact size Nash Rambler station wagons that went up the roof s drip rail and around on the spit liftgate While the larger Cross Country was available with bodyside wood trim that went unbroken up the C and D pillars to a thin strip on the roof above the side windows 48 8 The Ford Country Squire is a model that was easily recognized by its simulated wood trim 63 64 and the Squire trim level was an available option in a few different Ford model ranges including the Falcon Squire Fairlane Squire and in the 1970s the Pinto Squire The Squire was always the highest trim level of any Ford Wagon and included the signature woodgrain applique and usually additional exterior chrome better interior trim special emblems etc The full size Country Squire model was produced in higher quantities than the other Ford models Other woodie style wagon models produced in significant numbers include the 1984 1993 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 65 66 1957 1991 Mercury Colony Park 1968 1988 Chrysler Town amp Country 1970 1990 Buick Estate 1971 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and 1969 1972 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate Full size wagons Edit 1969 Ford LTD Country Squire 1975 AMC Matador with third row seat and two way tailgate open for passenger egress From the 1950s until the 1990s many full size American station wagons could be optioned with a third row of seating in the cargo area over the rear axle for a total of nine seats Before 1956 the third row seats were forward facing Chrysler s 1957 models had a roof too low to permit a forward facing seat in the cargo area citation needed so a rear facing seat was used for the third row General Motors adopted the rear facing third row for most models during 1959 1971 and 1977 1996 However the 1964 1972 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and 1964 1969 Buick Sport Wagon featured raised roof lines beginning above the second row seat and continuing all the way to the rear tailgate resulting in the third row of seats being forward facing General Motors also used forward facing seats for the third row in the 1971 through 1976 clam shell wagons The Ford and Mercury full size wagons built after 1964 were available with four rows of seats with the rear two rows in the cargo area and facing each other The third and fourth rows were designed for two people each although these seats were quite narrow in later models giving a total seating capacity of ten people The trend since the 1980s for smaller station wagon bodies has limited the seating to two rows resulting in a total capacity of five people or six people if a bench front seat is used Since the 1990s full size station wagons have been largely replaced by SUVs with three row seating such as the Chevrolet Suburban Ford Expedition Mercedes Benz GL Class and Dodge Durango 67 1954 Studebaker Conestoga circa 1956 Two door wagons Edit 1958 Mercury Commuter hardtop 1971 Chevrolet Vega Kammback The first two door station wagon was the 1946 Willys Jeep Station Wagon 68 Other early two door station wagons were the 1951 Nash Rambler 69 and the 1954 Studebaker Conestoga 70 In 1956 Studebaker introduced three new two door wagons in Pelham Parkview and Pinehurst trims 71 General Motors began producing two door station wagons in 1955 with the Chevrolet Handyman and the Pontiac Chieftain 72 General Motors also introduced the sportier Chevrolet Nomad and Pontiac Safari to their lineup in 1955 Ford began production of steel bodied two door station wagons in 1952 with the Ford Ranch Wagon In 1956 Ford responded to the Nomad and Safari with its own sporty two door wagon The Ford Parklane The Parklane was a one year only model succeeded by the Ford Del Rio in 1957 After the merger of Nash and Hudson the new company American Motors AMC reintroduced the two door wagon in the new Rambler American line in 1958 73 It was recycling with only a few modifications from the original version and targeted buyers looking for no frills economy 74 American Motors strategy of reintroducing an old design made for two distinct model runs one of few examples where such a strategy has been successful for an automobile manufacturer 75 The Chevrolet Vega Kammback introduced in September 1970 was the first U S made four seat wagon citation needed and the first two door wagon from GM in six years It shared its wheelbase and length with Vega coupe versions and was produced in the 1971 1977 model years American Motors offered a two door wagon version of the AMC Pacer from 1977 through 1980 76 77 The last two door wagon available in America the Geo Storm citation needed was discontinued in 1993 United Kingdom Edit 1930s to 1960s Edit 1954 1957 Hillman Husky Early when station wagon cars were after market conversions with the new bodywork using a wooden frame and either steel or wooden panels These wooden bodied cars produced until the 1960s were amongst the most expensive vehicles at the time Since the 1930s the term shooting brake originally a term for hunting vehicles has been an alternative if now rarely used to the term for station wagons in the UK Later station wagons were produced by vehicle manufacturers and included the 1937 Commer based on the Hillman Minx Magnificent 78 1952 Morris Minor Traveller 1952 Morris Oxford Traveller 1954 Hillman Husky 1954 Austin A30 Countryman and 1955 Ford Squire The majority of these models were two door wagons and several models were built on the chassis of relatively small cars Manufacturers often chose a specific model name to apply to all their station wagon cars as a marketing exercise for example Austin used the Countryman name and Morris used the name Travellers Some station wagons were closely derived from existing commercial van models such as the Austin A30 35 Countryman and the Hillman Husky Others such as the Morris Travellers the Austin Cambridge Countryman and the Standard Ten Companion were bespoke Rover and Austin produced 4 4 canvas topped utility vehicles in the 1950s that were available in station wagon body styles that were sold as Station Wagons They incorporated better seating and trim than standard editions with options such as heaters Early advertising for the Land Rover version took the name literally showing the vehicle collecting people and goods from a railway station Despite the popularity of station wagons in America station wagon offerings in the U K from Ford and Vauxhall were limited to factory approved aftermarket conversions of the Ford Consul and Vauxhall Cresta until the factory built Vauxhall Victor wagon was introduced in 1958 1960s to present Edit Ford Granada L Estate One of the smallest station wagons ever produced was the Morris Mini Traveller Austin Mini Countryman introduced in 1960 Ford s first factory built wagon was the 1963 Ford Cortina The 1967 Hillman Husky station wagon version of the Hillman Imp was unusual in being a rear engined station wagon Ford and Vauxhall produced factory built station wagon variants of all three of their respective core models small mid and large size cars by the 1970s The FD and FE Series Vauxhall Victors built between 1966 and 1978 were very large cars by British standards and featured station wagon models in the style of an American station wagon with front and rear bench seats and large capacity petrol engines Other station wagons sold in the United Kingdom included the Morris 1100 introduced in 1966 Vauxhall Viva introduced 1967 Ford Escort introduced in 1968 and Vauxhall Chevette introduced 1976 Germany Edit 2014 Mercedes Benz C Class station wagon Germany is the largest market for station wagons in the world with around 600 000 to 700 000 vehicles sold each year amounting to 20 of all car sales 79 German designed station wagons have been produced by Audi BMW Mercedes Benz Opel and Volkswagen Some larger station wagon models are available with a third row of seats such as the rear facing jump seat for two passengers in the cargo area of the Mercedes Benz E Class wagon 80 In 1961 Volkswagen introduced the two door Variant body style of the Volkswagen Type 3 also known as the Volkswagen 1500 later the Volkswagen 1600 The Type 3 s rear engine layout was retained for the station wagon models but the engine profile was flattened resulting in a small car offering interior room as well as trunk space in the front The model was offered through the 1973 model year Station wagons produced in East Germany include the 1956 1965 Wartburg 311 312 313 the 1963 1990 Trabant 601 Universal and the 1966 1988 Wartburg 353 Tourist France Edit 1963 Peugeot 404 Break 1972 Citroen DS Break In France almost all station wagon models are called a Break although the spelling is different from the English shooting brake The first station wagon produced by a French manufacturer was the Citroen Traction Avant Familiale model introduced in 1935 81 The first Peugeot station wagon was the Peugeot 203 introduced in 1950 82 In 1958 the Citroen ID Break known as the Safari in English speaking countries was introduced being larger than other French station wagon models and of similar size to the contemporary full size station wagons from the United States It had a seating capacity of eight people consisting of two front facing bench seats and two folding inward facing seats in the cargo area The Familiale version had a front bench seat a forward facing three space bench seat in the middle and a folding forward facing three seat bench in the rear providing a versatile nine seat car The Citroen ID also had a two part tailgate and a hydropneumatic suspension that allowed a self leveling ride height and automatic brake biasing regardless of the load carried The car could also kneel to the ground for easy loading of heavy or large items The successors to the ID the Citroen CX and Citroen XM continued to be amongst the largest station wagon cars produced in Europe but the model was discontinued in 2000 and a station wagon version was not available for its Citroen C6 successor The Peugeot 404 introduced in 1960 offered a conventional large station wagon alternative to the innovative Citroens Its replacement the 505 was available in both five seat and seven seat Familiale versions As with the Citroens changing demands in the French car market led to the end of the large Peugeot station wagon models in the mid 1990s with the smaller Peugeot 406 becoming the largest station wagon model in the range from 1995 In a similar situation to the United States the decline of traditional Break and Familiale models in France was in no small part due to the introduction of the minivan in the form of the Renault Espace in 1984 Sweden Edit Volvo Duett 1974 1993 Volvo 240 wagon The first station wagon produced in Sweden was the Volvo Duett introduced in 1953 83 The Duett two door wagon was conceived as a dual function delivery van and people carrier and is based on the chassis of the PV444 and PV544 sedans In 1962 the Volvo Duett was supplemented by a larger but lower Amazon which has a four door body and a horizontal split tailgate Volvo continued production of station wagons through the Volvo 145 introduced in 1967 then the Volvo 200 Series introduced in 1974 and the Volvo 700 Series introduced in 1985 In many markets the station wagon models of the 700 Series significantly outsold the sedan models citation needed In 1990 the 700 Series was replaced by the Volvo 900 Series which was sold alongside the smaller Volvo 850 wagon that was introduced one year later The 900 Series ended production in 1998 and its successor the Volvo S80 did not include any wagon models Volvo station wagons produced since the mid 1990s are the Volvo V40 Volvo V50 Volvo V60 Volvo V70 and Volvo V90 with the V40 V60 and V90 models currently in production 84 Saab began producing station wagons in 1959 in the form of the Saab 95 two door wagon which was based on the Saab 93 sedan 85 Following a hiatus in station wagon production since the Saab 95 ended production in 1978 the company introduced the four door Saab 9 5 station wagon in 1997 which was produced until 2010 86 In 2005 a Sportwagon version of the Saab 9 3 was introduced and produced until 2011 87 In 2017 station wagons accounted for 31 of all sold cars 88 Switzerland Edit In 1983 station wagons represented 15 of the passenger car market 89 reflecting a trend throughout Europe of increasing popularity through the 1980s with the vehicles becoming less cargo oriented Japan Edit 1963 1968 Mazda Familia 2019 Toyota Corolla Touring Sports The first Japanese station wagon was the 1961 Isuzu Bellel four door wagon based on a compact sedan chassis This was followed by the 1963 Mazda Familia 1966 Toyota Corolla 1967 Isuzu Florian 1969 Mitsubishi Galant 1973 Mitsubishi Lancer and 1974 Honda Civic wagons However Japanese manufacturers did not build station wagons in large volumes until recently citation needed Models marketed as passenger station wagons in export markets were often sold as utilitarian van models in the home market Some were not updated for consecutive generations in a model s life in Japan For example a sedan might have a model life of four years but the wagon was not updated for up to eight years such as the Toyota Corolla wagon built from 1979 until 1987 and the 1987 1996 Mazda Capella wagon Station wagons remain popular in Japan although they are in slow decline as the SUVs and minivans have taken over a large portion of this market Korea Edit South Korean manufacturers do not have a strong tradition in producing station wagons The first station wagon by the South Korean manufacturer was released way back in 1995 as the Hyundai Avante Touring Lantra Sportswagon followed in early 1996 as the Kia Pride station wagon Daewoo Motor followed suit a year later with the first generation Nubira South Korean manufacturer Kia produce both the Cee d and Optima station wagons designated as Sportswagons with sister company Hyundai offering station wagon versions of the i30 and i40 Australia Edit 2017 Holden Commodore VF Sportwagon The first Australian designed car was built in 1948 but locally designed station wagons did not appear until nine years later when the 1957 Holden FE was introduced Holden s main competitor the Ford Falcon XK introduced wagon models in 1960 Ford and Holden produced wagon models based on each generation of their large sedan platforms until 2010 Other wagons produced in Australia include the smaller Toyota Camry and Mitsubishi Magna The Ford and Holden wagons were usually built on a longer wheelbase than their sedan counterparts until the introduction of the Holden Commodore VE which switched to sharing the sedan s shorter wheelbase Ford ceased production of wagons in Australia when the Ford Falcon BF ended production in 2010 largely due to the declining station wagon and large car market but also following the 2004 introduction and sales success of the Ford Territory SUV 90 Production of wagons in Australia ceased in 2017 when the Holden Commodore VF ended production See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Station wagons Hearse Panel van Shooting brake Sedan automobile CoupeReferences Edit a b c Hillier Victor Coombes Peter 2004 Hillier s Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology Volume 1 5th ed Nelson Thornes p 11 ISBN 9780748780822 Retrieved 31 July 2022 via Google Books The estate body also known as station wagons in some countries has the roofline extended to the rear of the body to enlarge its internal capacity Folding the rear seats down gives a large floor area for the carriage of luggage or goods Stronger suspension springs are fitted at the rear to support the extra load Hatchback The hatchback is generally based on a saloon body but with the boot or trunk area blended into the centre section of the body The hatchback is therefore halfway between a saloon and an estate car This type of body is very popular due to its versatility and style Although some hatchbacks are in fact saloon bodies with the boot or trunk effectively removed usually the smaller cars many hatchbacks retain the full length of the saloon but the roofline extends down to the rear of the vehicle As with the saloon bodies a hatchback can have two or four passenger doors however there is a tendency to refer to hatchbacks as three or five doors because the rear compartment lid or tailgate is also referred to as a door on the hatchback bodies As with the estate the rear seats fold down to give a flat floor for the transportation of luggage or other objects When the tailgate is closed the luggage compartment is usually covered with a parcel shelf a b Definition Station Wagon American Heritage Dictionary Retrieved 31 July 2022 a b c Hartford Bill February 1969 Sizing up the 1969 Station Wagons Popular Mechanics p 106 Retrieved 31 July 2022 via Google Books Walton Evan 30 August 2022 Best Station Wagons for 2022 and 2023 autolist com Retrieved 19 January 2023 Here is Every Station Wagon You Can Buy in 2022 Stafford Eric 29 November 2022 Best New Station Wagons of 2022 caranddriver com Retrieved 19 January 2023 Peck Colin 2008 British Woodies From the 1920s to the 1950s Veloce Publishing p 5 ISBN 9781845841690 Retrieved 31 July 2022 via Google Books a b c Kozak Graham 9 April 2021 The woodgrained Nash Rambler Cross Country wagon is an unintentional postmodern masterpiece Autoweek Retrieved 31 July 2022 Street Rodder 7 94 p 90 caption Motavalli Jim 14 July 2018 The Knotty History of the Woody Wagon cartalk com Retrieved 19 January 2023 Smith Kyle 22 July 2019 The 6 coolest woody cars according to you Hagerty Retrieved 19 January 2023 a b c Jazar G Nakhaie 2008 Vehicle Dynamics Theory and Application Springer Verlag pp 30 1 8 3 Passenger Car Body Styles ISBN 9780387742434 Hatchback Hatchback cars are identified by a rear door including the back window that opens to access a storage area that is not separated from the rest of the passenger compartment A hatchback may have two or four doors and two or four seats They are also called three door or five door cars A hatchback car is referred to a liftback when the opening area is very sloped and is lifted up to open Station Wagon A station wagon or wagon is a car with a full height body all the way to the rear the load carrying space created is accessed via a rear door or doors a b Erjavec Jack 2004 Automotive Technology a Systems Approach Chapter 4 Cengage Learning p 55 Body Styles ISBN 9781401848316 Liftback or Hatchback The distinguishing feature of this vehicle is its luggage compartment which is an extension of the passenger compartment Access to the luggage compartment is gained through an upward opening hatch type door A car of this design can be a three or five door model the third or fifth door is the rear hatch Station Wagon A station wagon is characterized by its roof which extends straight back allowing a spacious interior luggage compartment in the rear The rear door which can be opened numerous ways depending on the model provides access to the luggage compartment Station wagons come in two and four door models and have space for up to nine passengers Car Design Glossary Part 2 One Box Monospace or Monovolume cardesignnews com Archived from the original on 1 December 2010 Retrieved 31 July 2022 A three or five door hatchback no separate trunk compartment is a two box car Mueller Mike 2003 American Cars of the 50s Crestline ISBN 9780760317129 Neil Dan 28 April 2002 The Hatchback Is Back but Nobody Uses the H Word The New York Times Retrieved 31 July 2022 1963 AMC Rambler Classic station wagon Detroit Public Library Retrieved 31 July 2022 Estrada Zac 29 July 2012 The Studebaker Wagonaire And GMC Envoy Offer Sliding Roof Fun Jalopnik Retrieved 31 March 2022 The Thinker Detroit Style Time 21 April 1967 Retrieved 10 October 2015 O Clair Jim 15 May 2008 Collectible Clamshells Hemmings Retrieved 19 January 2023 Norbye Jan P Dunne Jim October 1970 The 71 Wagons Big Changes Coming Up Popular Science pp 74 75 Retrieved 31 March 2022 via Google Books Norbye Jan P Dunne Jim May 1974 The Big Wagons They do a great job at a high price Popular Science Vol 204 no 5 pp 12 21 24 26 28 Retrieved 31 July 2022 via Google Books Notte Jason 9 April 2021 29 Classic Station Wagons We Miss From Childhood cheapism com Retrieved 31 July 2022 Byard RW Bourne AJ James R August 1999 Childhood deaths and cargo barriers in cars Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 35 4 409 10 doi 10 1046 j 1440 1754 1999 00379 x PMID 10457305 S2CID 5675364 Grand Sports aus ford uk co uk Retrieved 28 March 2020 How Porsche Helped Audi Create the World s First Performance Wagon roadandtrack com 12 July 2017 Retrieved 13 August 2022 Veazey Nick 25 July 2022 The Dodge Magnum SRT 8 The Station Wagon Built for a Family On the Go MotorBiscuit Retrieved 13 August 2022 Bedard Patrick 20 October 2020 Tested 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1886 1930 Mason Crest ISBN 978 1 59084 491 5 Narus Donald J 1977 The Great American Woodies and Wagons Crestline Publications ISBN 978 0 912612 13 3 Brown Arch April 1997 Natural History The Woody Station Wagon Story Part I Collectible Automobile Vol 13 no 6 pp 26 41 Lamm Michael Holls Dave 1996 A century of automotive style 100 years of American car design Lamm Morada p 29 ISBN 9780932128072 Retrieved 30 June 2012 Mort Norm 2010 American Woodies 1928 1953 Veloce Publishing p 10 ISBN 978 1 845842 69 7 Retrieved 12 May 2017 a b c The Last Great Gasp of the American Station Wagon theatlantic com 2 July 2014 Retrieved 4 November 2018 1923 Star Station Wagon The Henry Ford Retrieved 2 August 2019 Vance Bill 24 March 2001 Motoring Memories The history of the station wagon Autos Canada Retrieved 15 January 2013 Cawthon Bill 15 May 2002 Jeep From Station Wagon to Superstar Retrieved 15 January 2013 Editors of Publications International 13 December 2007 1945 1952 Jeep Willys Postwar Jeep auto howstuffworks com Retrieved 15 January 2013 Postwar Station Wagons Mom s Car Makes a Comeback collectorcarmarket com 1999 Archived from the original on 15 November 2013 Retrieved 31 July 2022 a b Zyla Greg 19 October 2012 Those famous 56 Rambler Cross Country wagons The State Journal Register Retrieved 31 July 2022 Schuon Marshall 21 June 1992 About Cars Chewing Over the Art Of Automotive Design The New York Times Retrieved 15 January 2013 a b c Lorio Joe 27 November 2009 The Wagon of Cadillacs The New York Times Retrieved 7 March 2012 Heaps Russ 6 November 2003 Europe s station wagons flourish The Washington Times Retrieved 28 August 2022 An Feng Sauer Amanda December 2004 Comparison of passenger vehicle economy and greenhouse gas emission standards around the world PDF Pew Center on Global Climate Change Archived from the original PDF on 31 October 2016 Retrieved 15 January 2013 Taylor III Alex The death of the station wagon autos yahoo com Archived from the original on 29 September 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Driver 2 September 2016 Retrieved 31 July 2022 Auto Editors of Consumer Guide 9 October 2007 1950 1959 Ford Country Squire auto howstuffworks com Archived from the original on 30 September 2020 Retrieved 31 July 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link 1955 Ford Country Squire Station Wagon National Museum of American History Retrieved 31 July 2022 Garrett Jerry 9 September 2015 Jeep s Wagoneer Making Fake Wood Grain Fashionable Again Garrett on the Road Retrieved 31 July 2022 Sean 15 June 2015 A look back at the 1963 1991 Jeep Wagoneer A guide to year to year changes Classic Cars Today Online Retrieved 31 July 2022 2013 Mercedes Benz GL450 vs 2012 Mercedes Benz E350 4Matic Wagon motortrend com Retrieved 18 November 2018 Automotive History The Short And Odd Life Of The Two Door Station Wagon curbsideclassic com Retrieved 25 February 2018 Severson Aaron 19 September 2009 Fashionably Small The Compact Nash Rambler 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Saab Shows Ford How To Make The Shortest Three Row Wagon curbsideclassic com 7 June 2018 Retrieved 30 November 2018 Saab 9 5 Model Details nadaguides com Retrieved 30 November 2018 Saab 9 3 Sportwagon 2005 2011 review parkers co uk Retrieved 31 December 2020 Berggren Jan Erik 17 October 2019 Kombibilen tappar i varlden men star sig stark i Sverige Teknikens Varld Retrieved 11 June 2021 Meurer Stany 24 January 1985 Deux levres pour un hayon Two lips for one boot Le Moniteur de l Automobile in French Brussels Belgium Editions Auto Magazine 36 813 25 Hagon Toby 2 October 2016 Ford Falcon wagon dead Drive Australia Retrieved 31 July 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Station wagon amp oldid 1140774794, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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