Random thoughts on 50's 2 door wagons

I guess I never really gave it much thought before, but it always seemed to me that since wagons were for hauling people and stuff, it would be reasonable to assume wagon buyers would have always wanted the most possible doors for access to the cavernous space inside. With that in mind, why would two door wagons have been so popular in the 50's at a time when the price difference between comparable two and 4 door wagons from the same manufacturer was a mere $50 to $100? Granted, that was alot of money back then, but not much compared to the price of buying any new wagon.
Its interesting that just as the station wagon was starting to gain popularity as a family car, that manufacturers started switching to two door models.
Consider the 49 to 51 Ford and Mercury wagons. They were two door models only. Ford continued making two door wagons through 61 (along side 4 door wagons) and the Falcon went as far as 65 being available as a 2 door wagon. Over at Chrysler, Plymouth introduced the all steel two door wagon in 49, phased out the 4 door woody wagon in 50 and Plymouth was available only as a 2 door wagon through 53 (Dodge was also only available as a 2 door wagon in 53). 4 door wagons were added back into the mix by 54, but Plymouth continued to make two door wagons through the 61 model year. Chevy had the two door wagons through 60, but introduced 2 door Chevelle wagons for the 64 & 65 model years.
So it seems a bit strange that there were so many two door wagons available for so long when 4 doors would have seemed to be so much more practical to a wagon buyer.
But then I came across an old magazine ad for a 54 Chrysler New Yorker 2 door club coupe (post sedan). I was intrigued enough to read the ad copy as it seemed strange to me that they were promoting a 2 door post sedan rather than the more flashy 2 door hardtop. The ad copy pointed out that the 2 door club sedan was the favorite body style with families with small children.
Of course! Thats it! In the days before child proof door locks, child safty seats and even seat belts, two door models (in sedan or wagon form) would have been the best choice for families with small children. With a 2 door you could be reasonably sure that any toddlers you put in the back seat would still be there when you reached your destination. With a 4 door, a kid too young to know better could open the door and be gone while traveling at highway speeds. I hope that didn't happen often, but the thought would have certainly been a high priority in the minds of parents.
So, with that in mind, I wonder just when it was that 4 door models (sedans and wagons) became a safe choice for parents of small children.

 

That's at least a piece of the puzzle, Jim.

I remember as a kid being given very stern warnings not to touch any door handles in the back seat of our 4-door vehicles. They had the pull up door lock buttons of course, but a mischievious kid could certainly handle that.

I also think that the 2-door wagon boom on the late 40's - early 50's might also have partially been due to auto manufacturers re-gearing up after WWII - perhaps they didn't have the tooling capacity to produce some of the bodies. Typically, some of the manufacturers farmed out wagon body construction to outsde suppliers. That was going on even into the mid 50's (witness the Buick / Olds 4-door hardtop wagon bodies, which were built elsewhere... ).

The accessibility of those 2-door wagons probably wasn't as big a deal as you may think. Those wagons (particularly the Plymouth and Dodges) wern't all that large. I remember in the mid to late 50's an uncle owning a 2-door Plymouth wagon - probably a '52. I remember the rear wheel arches intruding into the seat space in back....and not a great deal of cargo room. Maybe about as much as my current HHR.....or less.

 

I recall a time when tadesmen worked out of wagon as opposed to pickup truck. 59 sedan deliverys such as mine was used by the local bakery and dry cleaners to make deliveries and a couple of house painters had 55 chev handyman wagons.

Keep in mind that although a 4-door has MORE doors, a 2-door usually has BIGGER doors.

As with Krash I can remember the old man reaching over the seat and back-handing one of us for "fiddleing" with the door handle ... he was quick as lightening!! LOL

 

The doors on my 50 ply wagon have stops to keep the door from opening too far and hitting the front fender. I guess to,that in the late 40's to early 50's there wasn't much steel around due to wartime usage. So they had to make 2 doors and not 4.

 

In the AMC line that I know of, the early 60's offered a "child proof" door lock that could be manually switched before the back doors were shut.
So that would help in buying wagons with small kids with this LOCK.
Also note: the 58 Rambler American offered a 2 door sedan & 2 dr wagon BEFORE they had a 4 door sedan. It indeed was a steel availabilty.

 

Back then Studebaker was both late to the party with their Connestoga wagon in 53 and it wasn't until 57 that they made a 4 door wagon.

Pretty much all wagons were wood up through 1947 (except for Jeep) and I would imagine hanging a rear door was a daunting task as there was not much room for a center post (B pillar) nor much strenght. Until steel wagons came to be (Plymouth in 1949) four doors was just not practicle.

My guess.

 

wouldnt mind seeing an update of wixoms 70's 2 door wagon!

 

If I knew how to post pictures from my handheld, I would post pictures of my 77 Bobcat. I can see myself sitting in the backseat with green cutoffs.

 

Last we heard it got pounded with hail....remember? :sorry:

 

Even when I didn't have a station wagon I bought two door vehicles. #1 they looked cool. #2 the kids wouldn't fall out. Now if I knew they were gonna end up like they did I would have bought 4-door wagons and left the rear doors opened! As for my Handyman wagon, that's exactly what it was designed and used for....The handyman. Mine a plumber's wagon. When I go it it still had small pipe fittings and elbows--plus the front seat had a butt crack imprint!

 

"front seat had a butt crack imprint"

..... plumbers crack, carpenter crack .... all urban myth!

 

It wasn't a wagon, but I remember riding in the back of a '62 Ford Galaxie 4-Door when was a kid. It didn't take me long to notice that the door handles were different. They looked the same at the round base, but there was no "handle" on it. Well the type of independant and "can't wait to grow up" kind of kid I was, I was a little insulted. When we stopped and it was time to get out, I said to myself "OK, what happens now". But the driver jumped right out and opened the door for me. I never proved it, but it did seem to be a factory option back then. Anyone out there ever see one or hear of any?

Bill

 

Easy for you to say. Apparently you haven't stood behind many plumbers, plumbers helpers, or carpenters! It ain't a purty site!

 

Another reason tradesmen used wagons & deliveries...

In some cities, the upper class neighborhoods had a 'no trucks' ordinance on some streets. Plus, the wagons and deliveries were perceived as 'higher class' vehicles than pickup trucks.
Here in Indianapolis, I remember Kessler Boulevard having "No Trucks Allowed" signs into the '70's.

 

Two words: "Sedan delivery".
All 2-door wagons from 1952 on were based on a Courier or panel commercial vehicle be it Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler or whatever. The top of the line wagon was always a 4-door vehicle.
Get used to it. ;-)