It’s time to revisit station wagons in the 1960s, as they were. Just as I’ve done with previous galleries on this topic, this collection of images is not meant to be comprehensive. It’s just a quick visual trip through station wagon choices back in the day. Still, a bit of info and trivia will be offered on each for the uninitiated.
We start with my favorite shot of the bunch in the lede image; a ’64 Ford Country Squire looking pretty in a driveway. The Country Squire was Ford’s top trim model in the full-size wagon segment, with about 46K units sold that year.
Let’s move to the start of the decade with this full-size bowtie offering. A 1960 mid-trim model, either a Parkwood or Kingswood (depending on passenger capability), and for the year Chevrolet moved 212K units in the segment. (A top-trim Nomad was covered previously at CC).
Back to Ford, with this precious Country Squire. A 1960 model sporting a neat combination of lustrous black against a swanky red interior, with what look to be rather jolly passengers. How did Ford fare against Chevy in the full-size wagon sales race that year? For 1960, the Blue Oval moved about 170K units, with 22K being Country Squires.
Staying with Dearborn’s products, a ’60 4-door Mercury Commuter; the brand’s entry-level trim in the full-size wagon segment.
Let’s move to a Flint offering with this Buick Special. A bit hard to tell from this distance if this is a ’61 or ’62 model, or what particular trim this is (plain or Deluxe?). Regardless, in either year numbers for these wagons were relatively modest against the sedans. Far more interesting were the novelties found in the engine bays of these Specials, a story told previously at CC.
We remain in ’62 with this frozen Pontiac Catalina Safari. Catalinas came with some version of Pontiac’s 389CID V8 (offered in various states of tune) and for ’62 the model found about 32K buyers.
What about a Pentastar offering? Here’s a ’64 Fury, Plymouth’s priciest full-size wagon for that year. For ’64, the brand moved about 34K full-size wagons, with 8K being Furys.
Back to Pontiac, with a ’65 Catalina Safari. Sales numbers for the model had come down to 37K for ’65.
More Mopar goodness with this ’66 Dodge Polara wagon; the brand’s entry-level full-size wagon.
To my eye, one of the prettiest wagons ever, if not necessarily meeting sales expectations. A ’68 Buick Sport Wagon, the corporate-sibling of the equally attractive Olds Vista Cruiser. ’68 was the first year of this redesign, and in the case of the Flint version, about 22K units found a home.
Let’s return to the leaders in the wagon-selling business, now with a ’67 Chevrolet model. Not a lot of trim on this one, which hints it’s a Bel Air; the once top trim now standing just above the entry-level Byscaine. As a whole the bowtie division moved about 155K full-size wagons in ’67.
(Also, notice the light-blue mid-60s Imperial by the curbside.)
And let’s close with this ’69 Ford LTD Country Squire, showcasing in this shot its very nifty Magic doorgate. For ’69, 221K full-size Ford wagons found buyers, and Country Squires accounted for 129K sales on their own.
Hi,
Could you post photos and information about the 1965-1969 Ford Country Squire and the 1965 Chevrolet Impala and 1965-1969 Caprice Wagons?
In my opinion these beautiful wagons were the best classic designs offered.
Thanks,
Gary
Didn’t the 1962 Pontiac have a 389 ci engine?
Yes, a 2 bbl 389 was standard with a 4 bbl version optional. Also optional was the super duty 421.
Yes it did.
Typo. Fixed now.
Not a big fan of wagons, but if I have to choose I would take the Polara.
Non-American wagons like the Mercedes and Peugeot 504 and 505 also seemed quite attractive to me.
I miss big old American Station Wagons .
-Nate
Is it just me, or is the front of that 68 Buick Sport Wagon sitting kind of high? Maybe it’s got something in the back?
Speaking of Sport Wagons I saw one of the previous generation just yesterday. I’m pretty sure but can’t be certain that is is the one I used to see frequently, ~10 years ago, in an area a couple of miles from where I saw it yesterday. We had one for a while when I was about 10~12 that was dad’s second car for making runs to the lumber yard and nursery. Now of course I’m going to have to go type “Sport Wagon” into craig’slist and FB marketplace.
I grew up in 1950s-60s Ford wagons (and in a suburb full of young, growing families), so this is all right up my alley. Production figures sure echo what I saw everyday, and what was a comparative rarity.
I see our 1960 Country Squire was 6″ wider and 32″ longer than the recent Escape in our garage right now—I’d love to see one “in-person” someday to be reminded of their size and low-ness…
I have never been able to tell a 69 from a 70 Ford wagon from the back, but the car in the last shot is wearing wheel covers for a 1970.
That 64 up top is indeed lovely. And the 1960 Mercury is the car I still marvel at ever being made because everything about it is just so weird.
My Dad traded in his 63 Comet for a new 65 Country Sedan because we took up camping. It was black over red. Then came the 69 Country Sedan. It was Gulfstream Aqua with a matching interior. Both really nice, comfortable, had the small V8, 289 and 302. Good memories.