Wagon Styling vs Sedan adaptive Styling

I know the companies have to get the market interested into their lines, but I was wondering more about when the Big Three moved Wagon Styling to the regular Car lines.

When you look at most of the Pre-War (WWII) wagons, they weren't car rooflines with an extended roof and side glass or panels. Post-WWII, they all moved to the extended Sedan roof and side glass design. About the only one's of today's models are the PT Cruiser and GM mini-SUV (whatyacallit).

I'm raising the question because I'm liking the idea of building my own Wagon, taking the best ideas from days gone by, adapting new technology, and designing it from an existing frame (Saves me grief registering it for the road, but from a new frame vendor).

At the end of all of it, I'll do it my way anyway, but it would be good to avoid the style design mistakes of the past.

 

Just thinking out loud, but when I look at these wagon layouts, thanks to 75RivGs's many Station Wagon Ads (gallery):

1953 Chrysler New Yorker


1959 Chevy Kingswood


I get inspired. My family days are over, so it's just a whimsical idea, but building it to max out its Stationwagon utility as a comfy passenger vehicle and a cargo camel has a certain appeal.

What I like about that 1953 ad is the roof cutaway. Makes me wonder about a convertible wagon - beyond sliding roofs. Kinda hard to make a durable wooden roof with sliding sections. I could do a rollaway roof into the sides though.

 

How about a removable hard top? The best of both worlds.

 

Bronco style! Works fine, until the rare day that I'm caught in a rainstorm in Ridgecrest, CA, wishing I'd brought it down with me from up here!

I guess I could stash a snap-on soft top under a seat in the cargo area, for those Ridgecrest days.

 

I know! Think of a lady-bug's wings. A beetle-wing roof! Split or Folding in the middle or 4 sections (fibreglass or balsa wood) and slipped into a side pocket on each side.

I've have to build the wheel wells outside of the main body like those tandem axle pickups for hauling big fifth wheel trailers.

 

Hey, I could even set up a popup Fifth Wheel Hitch, under a collapsible lunch/game table!

Now that's flexibility!

 

or an extra loong ragtop, theres companies out there that custome make em, but as far as how well they dont leak is questionable. i know the one that comes to mind is streetbeats.com
Rafa

 

How about a compromise? A roll-top roof. 4 sections with identically shaped glass panels in the two rooftop panels, 'hinged' like a roll-top desk at the roof sides (only the cargo area), that slip into interior track rails. Power window in the tailgate. Half-convertible. I could figure a way to do a corvette T-top up front.

I'll keep kicking it around.

 

i tell you what norm' i have a power winder, and i hate it. im waiting for the day i have to shatter that piece of glass when the motor dies... i wish i had a crank winder like the falcons.

 

Hey I forgot about those. The Chevies had them too. Wider windows and flatter. I'm thinking I'd use flat safety glass all around, and a split windshield made with flat safety glass. Makes it easier to replace anywhere I travel.

 

A woodie with a retractable roof would be cool. with a old Nailhead Buick engine or a Flathead V-16 from a Cadillac or Lincoln.

 

Inventing a My Way Wagon

For those just scanning this thread, I'm tinkering with ideas to build my own version of a Station Wagon - A Heinz 57 of the best features from old and newer North American production cars.

I want to build a Real Woodie Wagon:
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1353

So far, I've decided on using a new GM repro of the 1961-64 Chevy X-Frame, if I can find a real car (1961-1964 Chevy wagon) basket case, to save me the grief of getting a Homebuilt vehicle registered and licensed.

These guys make the frames:
http://www.progressiveautomotive.com/61CX.htm

These guys can powdercoat it:
http://www.icpowdercoat.com/faq.html

I started another couple of threads on the Best and Worst innovations in automotive history:

The Best:
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1364

The Worst:
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1385

I really want to use a reliable I6, maybe beefed up a wee bit, but not a racer. So far, the simplest parking Brake system is the mid-fifties to early 60's Chrysler system, on the driveline:
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1416

I'll collect all the ideas into a wish list and then start designing it for looks and efficiency and comfort later this winter, after I finish this restoration:
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=711&page=18

Should get this one running before New Year's, if the weather stays above -10C (14F). :banghead3:

 

Here's what you're looking for:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Wagonaire

 

Found a cool link with quite a bit of info on the Wagonaire:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1963-1966-studebaker-wagonaire.htm