What were the dangers and design flaws (if any) of pre 1970 station wagons?

I don't know if this is true, but I read some of the early 1960s station wagons had a potentially fatal design flaw- if the rear window was left open, any occupants in the back could easily be overcome by carbon monoxide that would be sucked inside the cabin. I don't know if this is an urban myth, but I heard about one year and model of wagon where a family went on a trip- and when they arrived home, the kids in back were dead, having been overcome by fumes- and this prompted a design change. Another flaw was that the rear gate on some wagons had the habit of popping open.
Are there any design flaws with the wagons- or are they just as solid as their sedan counterparts?

 

I don't think the danger of carbon monoxide, or of a faulty latch would be anything more than anecdotal, not specific to a particular occurrence.

The '60's was the first decade that automobile safety became an issue discussed in the media. There were legitimate concerns about seat belts and occupant safety design, and changes came.

But there were also (IMO) fear mongers beating the drums for their own agenda.
I bet if anyone has a copy of "Unsafe At Any Speed" in their bookshelf, they could read of the horrors of the family station wagon...
probably in a chapter entitled: The Family Deathtrap!
Given all the dangers spelled out in this book, it's a wonder any of us lived through it!

The design of wagons from the late '50's through the '70's was not all that different in layout and concept, except for the '71-'76 GM clamshells, so I think the reasonable "danger" aspect was mainly aimed at being aware of what could happen, and not a widespread documentation of real occurrences.

David

 

This issue is real. I remember sitting in the 'way back' of my dad's wagon and getting the exhaust fumes coming in. At speed, the area behind the back of a wagon is 'negative' pressure, so if your tailgate window is open, the fumes get sucked in.

I don't believe the bit about some kids getting killed, but after a long distance I'm sure it could make you sick. I believe Ford put in those side air deflectors in the '65 model year partially for that reason.

 

That would explain my drain bramage as a child.

 

Flow through ventilation systems became commonplace on cars in the 60's too which probably helped prevent exhaust fumes from being sucked back into the cabin. Aluminized exhaust systems came along which kept mufflers and tailpipes from developing holes quite as quick keeping fumes/gasses to a minimum under the car.

 

The fumes get sucked in with normal exhaust systems...doesn't take holes in it. This subject has been discussed here a few times. I have had wagons with this problem no matter where I placed the tail pipe ends. I seriously doubt that this problem would kill anyone but it is uncomfortable. I also doubt that wagons had any more flaws than any other cars on the road. Probably less flaws in general.

 

My owner's manuals for both wagons say to keep the window shut when driving. A silly request, but surely a CYA thing.

I did have a friend riding in the back of my Caprice complain the fumes were getting to him once, I think he was a whiner. Just tough it out!

 

Yeah just suck it up princess Oh well in this case maybe not.

 

On a serious note....I ran the pipes out the back of my 88 Electra wagon with the 455 and had a MAJOR fume problem with ANY window open. While it may not kill you...the problem IS real.
(I should probably change my name from silverfox to princess now.)

 

I remember an issue with power rear windows on Jeep Wagoneers where there were injuries or deaths because the window didn't stop going up when there was an obstruction. That was in the late 70's or early 80's, but there might not be a safety shut off or safety reverse feature on other wagons either (especially earlier ones).
I believe some wagons had their gas tanks (not just the filler tube) inside the rear quarter panel rather than in a protected area between frame rails under the car. Those wagons might cause concern in an accident where that quarter panel gets damaged.
Other than that, I think the biggest concerns compared to comparable sedans, would be the common rust areas on wagons, such as the tail gate and the spare tire well.

 

My dad smoked when I was a kid, and I can remember begging him to roll down the back window of the '65 Country Squire so I could get some fresh air! D'oh!
He made sure I breathed good ol' carbon monoxide no matter what!

Ahh...good times...thanks Dad!

David

 

Well....that explains a lot.

 

I definitely get fumes when I drive at highway speeds in my Country Squire with the rear window down.

This thread reminds me of this movie. Of course, with exhaust fumes like this you'd have a slightly bigger problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm91ZQ0CVe4

 

I just posted this clip in a separate thread, but it belongs here too!

Dangerous open rear window and faulty latch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REa2DDzChGM

Yea Toby!

David

 

My wagon has a factory spoiler on it, and I have never had issues at speed. Sitting in the back stopped at a light you get a wiff of fumes, but honestly I doubt it would hurt you. Also note, the older cars have a distinct smell to the exhaust that we only smell because it is no longer the norm. When was the last time you smelled exhaust from a 2000's car? Who's to say we aren't breathing in those fumes all the time but don't know it because we can't smell it only because our olfactory senses are immune to it?

In regards to the in 1/4 panel tank, called a saddle tank, my wagon has one and honestly much like the exploding pinto's, I feel that if you are in a bad enough accident for that to explode you probably aren't wouldn't fare to well anyway.
While there are no frame rails to protect it, it is protected from behind and unless some one hits you at a 45* angle and gets the corner of the nose of their car right into the 1/4 panel of the wagon behind the wheel yet ahead of the bumper at a high rate of speed, you're fine. Even under those circumstances I think that you are more likely to rupture the tank than blow it up.