The History of the Station Wagon | The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation

In this segment of The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation, Mo Rocca speaks with Curator of Transportation Matt Anderson about how station wagons got their start.
The earliest station wagons appeared in the 1910s and were used to haul people and luggage between railroad stations and hotels, hence the name "station wagon." They were also used on farms or as delivery vehicles. Station wagons featured special wooden bodies installed on standard car chassis. Wood continued to be used in station wagon bodies until after World War II.
The first station wagon that consumers could buy directly from the factory was Durant Motors' 1923 Star Station Wagon. It featured the same engine as Durant's Star passenger automobiles, but there were major changes behind the windshield. Not only did it feature the wooden body, but also three rows of seats to maximize room for passengers and luggage.
Durant's Star challenged Ford's Model T in the low-price field, and Ford didn't offer complete factory-built station wagons until 1929. But while the Star was a hit, Durant stretched his finances too thin, and ended operations in 1932.
In 1949, Plymouth released the Suburban Station Wagon - the first station wagon with an all steel body. It transformed the station wagon into a practical family vehicle, and was a major upgrade from older wood-body wagons.
So what ever happened to the station wagon? The station wagon disappeared in phases. Not being very fuel efficient, station wagons couldn't keep up with the high gas prices during the oil crisis in the 1970s. In 1984, the introduction of the minivan replaced the station wagon as the hip, new vehicle for families.
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[@GarfieldAtLasganaParty]

My great grandfather had a 1937 Plymouth woodie. :)

[@randyc8171]

People in these videos don't know what they are talking about. Plymouth introduced it's all steel station wagon for the 1949 model year, not 1950. Willys introduced an all steel station wagon for 1946 and Crosley followed in 1947.

[@trainroomgary]

Like • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

[@JoeHenry734]

That super secret storage facility looks like the old EEE building.

[@bob_._.]

The mini-van was seen as so unlike the station wagon? What, just because if didn't share the front end with another passenger car?

[@LucasFernandez-fk8se]

Minivans are objectively better. 3 rows seats 7-8 and has a walkable isle. Station wagons were 2 rows maybe 3 and got bad gas mileage with no headroom

[@Johnagh_19]

F O R D F - 1 5 0

[@arielachong7577]

👍👍👍👍👍❤😂.

[@micco6020]

That is a minivan

[@micco6020]

@PeppaHumanDuck suv then

[@briangode1381]

I loved my Chrysler made vw Routan s dual sliding rear doors simplier made than the models se sel or sel premium the simplier the better why we drive costly computers on wheels most volks can not afford especially when financed at a car stealership double the finance charges I have said enough before also houses very costly no wonder many are homeless o r live with thier parents as I did then when by law dad second died had to move I was pushed out too soon dealing with your own famlly can be wholly hell unless the ideas of horseless carriages automobilesI love but we repeat I say need to cycle ride walk more for our health or others saves $$$$$$$$ cleaner air our lungs or more there are things we do both nice or bad depends on how done earning $$$$$$$ eating cooking camping or more enjoy yourselves it is later than you thing