Celebrating American Station Wagons at the Concours
May 21, 2024
We are extremely excited to include a special class in the Concours d’Elegance this year for American Station Wagons. If you were raised in the USA in any decade prior to the 1990s, there’s a good chance you have memories of riding in the back of a wagon, perhaps on a family vacation or maybe even on a daily basis. As automotive culture has evolved and shifted its emphasis to SUVs, trucks and crossovers, the station wagon has become a symbol of nostalgia: it represents a way of life that many see as a high point for both the manufacturing of cars and the country itself.
The term “station wagon” originally referred to train stations; those earliest versions were designed for exactly that: taking people and luggage to the local passenger rail stop. Over the years, other terms have been adopted and used for similar vehicles: estate car, variant, shooting brake and carryall have all been applied to cars we would classify as wagons. Though they are few and far between on modern day roads in the U.S., it’s hard to deny that the station wagon is one of the quintessential symbols of the classic American way of life.
From the earliest wood-bodied variants of Ford’s Model T in the 1910s, the station wagon has served as a practical car for hauling people, luggage and more. The “woody” iteration of the wagon is certainly what defined the style in prewar days, but it was in the 1950s when America first began to wholly embrace the need for family transportation in a big way. Domestic automakers all saw the postwar boom of suburban development as an opportunity for them to create and market cars designed for all purposes: take the kids to school, bring home plywood to build a deck, and go out on the town on the weekend. Style and practicality were combined in cars that had three rows of seats and extra cargo space, but all the luxury options and powertrains of sedans of the day. This wagon boom continued through the 1960s and ‘70s, but quickly changed in 1984 with Chrysler’s introduction of its minivan. Sales declined further with the popularity of SUVs, pickups and crossovers in the decades to follow.
Do you own a classic wagon from one of the big three American manufacturers? Or maybe a less common wagon from Studebaker or AMC? The Des Moines Concours is accepting applications for exceptional station wagons (up to 1984 model years) in this year’s exhibition, from a Model T depot hack through the glorious Nomads of the 1950s, and even the faux-wood adorned Country Squires of the 1970s and beyond. If you, or someone you know, would enjoy being a part of this iconic class, go to our online application.
Questions? E-mail info@desmoinesconcours.com for more information.
