Wagon fan from the rainy Pacific NW

Hey all. I stumbled across this website and was very glad I did. I've been a wagon fan since I was a little kid riding around in my best friend's mom's 72 Torino wagon. Since that time, I always made friends with the kids who's moms had a station wagon (got to ride around in a 73 Country Squire, 74 Pinto Squire, 78 Malibu Estate, a 70-something Dodge Colt, even an 81 Chevette, if you call that a wagon). My parents had a VW Squareback when we were in Germany, but traded it for a 67 Camaro RS (I have to admit it was a good trade). Since the VW, my parents never had another wagon. My mom grew up in them (and never wanted another one) and my dad just did not see the need for them (Ford Truck Man). I've always wanted a wagon, but it just never happened. My dad almost bought his friends 78 Custom Cruiser for me as a 1st car, but his friend then backed out of the deal. Then, I almost got an 81 LeSabre wagon (as plain as they got, but with the diesel engine), but my dad talked me out of it, claiming that the diesel was Satan's contribution to the automotive world and would leave me stranded every second. After that...life happened and my ship (wagon) just never came in. The wife loves SUV's (of course), so I pretend that I'm driving around in a station wagon (twisted, I know). My main problem is that I can't get her to agree that spending good money on a station wagon is a wise investment. Her and her friend just say that they're a waste of steel that could feed a meth-addict for a month. Things are looking up, though. The kids (8 and 5 yr old boys) are bugging to get a car where they can sit backwards in the back. So maybe, my wagon isn't too far off. I just can't decide what I want. But I'm havin' a good time looking and dreaming. This is a great site. I'm glad that there are others who see the beauty in the station wagon. I knew I wasn't alone...

 

WELCOME Topher...from the Northern Northwet,,,
excellent intro!

brother...you decide want you want!...we'll help ya find it

 

Topher, my Fairmont Squire weighs in at 2654 pounds, soaken wet (full tank). That's less than most compacts, and has a lower point of gravity - means you can donuts in the snow, not roll-overs, like an SUV. Comes in V4, I6 and V8 flavours, and decent on gas (even by today's standards). They made 3 models, Ford Fairmont (base, Futura and Squire), Mercury Zephyr/Villager and Mercury Cougar wagons. Nice, quick and easy to maintain. Parts are still around for daily driving too.

No commissions please!

Heck, you can even make it Electric:

http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/076.html

 

Sounds good!

When I was 8, my friend's mom had a Fairmont wagon...I was so jealous. I've always liked the Fairmont/Zephyr/Granada/Cougar/LTD/Marquis wagons. I really like their shape and lines.

My biggest hangup, though, is that for me, the more luxury options, the better. It's hard to find these wagons with all the options. The only reason I've held on to my Park Avenue is all the options (power windows/doorlocks/seats, automatic temp control, automatic headlamps, automatic dimming rearview mirror, automatic windshield wipers, memory seats, reverse parking sensors, heated seats (the only way I'll take leather), heads-up display, cornering lamps, the car even puts my RH outside mirror pointed down toward the curb when in reverse to help when parallel parking ). I want my cars to practically drive themselves...sort of a point-and-shoot car, if you will. If I could make my Park Avenue into an Estate Wagon......

I can add some of these options to most cars (reverse sensors and auto windshield wipers) with aftermarket kits. I added a reverse sensor kit to my wife's Rendezvous. I've added cornering lamps and fiber optic lamp monitors to cars that never had them to begin with. I tried to add aftermarket power door locks to an 84 Cutlass Supreme...that didn't work out so well. :banghead3: So I'm ok with find a car that doesn't have everything, but would want as much as possible to start with. I can option out the car to my tastes from there.

Just last night, I was watching Modern Marvels show about batteries and they showed some guy in California, Reverend something-or-another, he calls himself. He turns 78 MG's into electric cars, but says he can turn practically anything into an electric car. I got very excited about the prospect of an electric wagon .

 

wagon fan

Topher, check e-bay item 290178954059, under mercury, other. There's a 1983 Merc Brougham/Zephyr , loaded to the max, and its a woody. Looks to be in reeeealllly good cond. Bidding just started so I don't know what its going to go for.
I'm even thinking about it.
Grumpy

 

Wait until Version 9 of Windows!!! A wireless Park Avenue Mouse, eh?!!!

I had a couple of Riverias like that and 1968 Mercury Parklane Brougham. Nice and cozy highway machines. Somewhere I got the "I-Like-Simple" bug, and this car is just that. Not even an engine computer. A true DIY machine. The 1980 and up cars started getting e-gadgets, so I want this one to last so long that even teenage car thieves won't know how to carjack it!

 

That's a beauty! It would be worth the drive to Penn.

 

That is one heck of car! I'll bet Rev will drool too! I know I am!

 

heres a direct link http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...soo%3D1&fcl=3&frpp=50&fvi=1&item=290178954059

thats actually pretty dern nice!!....kinda new for me tho..
..if it was closer...it would be the new WINTER BuckeET!!

 

Me and my other personalities boo-hooing over that car. That is what I'm talking about. Nice car, nice shape. Good jumping off point for my ultra-luxo-wagon. But, of course, the timing couldn't be worse. One more year of the daycare expenses, then those costs go waaaayyy down when the youngest goes off to 1st grade and is in school 5 days/week. That will free up some money for the wagon-lust.

By the way...do these cars (in any make/model...Fairmont/Marquis/Cougar, etc.) come with a 3rd seat? I don't believe I've ever seen one.

We (meaning me) would be looking for a 3-seat model.

 

Sorry but no third seat. Spare tire/fuel tank take up all the space. It's only a 115" wheel base which doesn't leave any room.

 

3RD seat?? ....how many kidlings you got??

 

Topher, I know how you feel. I downloaded all the pics, and wondered how to get those map pockets in the door panels, get the center dash extension with the little drawer for tapes. I've got the seats though with the armrests - they just hug perfectly.