Tribute to the vintage station wagon
General Motors is responsible for producing some of the most iconic, vintage iron that ever emerged from the factories of yesteryear Detroit.
While the limelight shines brightly on the burnout-producing Camaro, the iconic '57 Chevy Bel Air and the race-bred Corvette, there is one bow-tie model that seems to fly under enthusiasts' classic-car radar: the humble station wagon.
While it didn't have the brute capacity to haul down a quarter-mile track or churn out fast laps on the road course, the family wagon did have the unique ability to swallow up loads of groceries, planks of raw lumber or tons of luggage for everyone to enjoy that summer beach road trip.
In a nod to GM's great haulers of the '50s, we've managed to round up a collection of some of the ultracool wagons you'll see out and about on any given area cruise night.
1954 Chevrolet wagon — Jack Runnfeldt
When it came time for Jack Runnfeldt to get a new four-wheeled snow machine to cut through the deep Chicago slush, he skipped over the modern and more expensive SUVs in favor of a classic 1954 Chevrolet station wagon. To make this hauler an all-year driver, the Long Grove resident excised the powertrain and interior from a 1996 GMC Jimmy and slid it under the vintage shell, turning his ride into a much more capable and up-to-date cruiser — no matter what the weather conditions are like. Cushioned by Lincoln six-way power seats, Runnfeldt truly has the best of both worlds.
“It's my version of a modern SUV without losing the look of an old car.”
1956 Chevrolet Nomad — Paul Abernathy
One drawback of classic wagons is their penchant for gulping down large octane libations, which is probably why this '56 Nomad was found collecting dust at a local gas station when Paul Abernathy came across it. A quick sale ensued and the Winnetka resident was soon underhood. The wrench toting ‘barista' remedied his new found ride's heavy thirst by yanking the original 8 mpg guzzler and replacing it with a more modern fuel-injected LT-1. With the new setup, Paul is able to cruise at a much more environment — and wallet — friendly 23 mpg, while sacrificing none of its highway passing performance or docile road manners.
“The new setup makes it a dependable driver and no longer such a gas hog.”
1957 Chevrolet Handyman — Matt Erlenbach
Matt Erlenbach is no stranger to Chevy wagons; this emerald frame-off restored '57 Handyman marks his fifth. When he snagged it in nearby Iowa, he knew exactly what was needed to bring it up to its present attention-grabbing condition. Completing all the work in his McHenry garage, the first order of business was spraying the body in its new Electric Lime Green paint and bolting 18-inch Coys under the wheel wells. An Air Ride suspension is responsible for that slammed pavement-hugging stance, giving Matt the on-the-fly ability to drop the wagon with a few flicks of a switch. #8220;It's my favorite Chevy model because it's such an oddball but still very convenient with all that interior space.#8221;
1957 Chevrolet Handyman #8212; Brian Reineking
As an 8-year-old kid, Brian Reineking first saw this cherry '57 Handyman in his Rolling Meadows hometown and promptly approached the owner about how much was needed for a sale. At 10, he got his first job and started saving so by the time he turned 18 he had more than enough greenbacks in hand to become the proud new owner. Since then, the wagon has been pulled off mundane errand duty and turned into a track-day hauler. Coated in BMW Henna Red, this rocket relies on a 461 cubic-inch big block aided by a hefty dose of nitrous oxide for its blistering sub-10-second quarter-mile times. #8220;Owning this has been a dream of mine since I was a kid and I just love everything about it. The fact that I have it tickles me to death!#8221;
1959 Chevrolet Impala Wagon #8212; Jim and Charlene Sells#160;
Jim Sells had to be patient after purchasing this long, low land-yacht he located in California. It took almost a month for it to make its cross-country trek to his home in Island Lake. Once it arrived, he wasted no time jumping right in for the next year and a half, transforming the former heap into a showstopping sloop. The body was stripped to bare metal and painted in Hot Rod Flatz Blue, while the roof and fins were coated in white and sprinkled with blue metal flake for that subtle but attractive glitz.
#8220;The whole project wouldn't have come together if not for our great friends and the countless pizza nights spent working on the car. Now that it's finished, it's a dream come true.#8221;