Missing Those Station Wagons? I Miss Dad’s Opel Kadett

Buick Opel KadettWe know that CAFE fuel standards are the culprit in killing off bigger cars in the U.S., but its manufacturers who are responsible for killing off the word STATION WAGON in their marketing. And so, brands like Volvo and Volkswagen now own the upper middle class consumer.

We found a sort of antidote. Its the web forum called Station Wagon Forums. It’s all about station wagons, and if you like station wagons, as opposed to crappy things like CROSSOVER this or SPORT that, then do look up the site.

By the way, below is a list of the wonderful station wagons I had growing up. This is a totally self indulgent list but this is the only place I get to put it. If readers are daring we ask them to put their list of station wagons up against mine!

  1. Ford Country Squire, mid 1960s, I think realistically it was white with red interior but in my dreams it was wood grained
  2. Opel Kadett wagon, green, purchased at GM Buick dealer
  3. Plymouth Cricket wagon, 1971?, purchased at Wynne-Wright in Norfolk
  4. Plymouth Volare Wagon, 1976, purchased at Self Motors, Farnham, Virginia. It was serviced and recalled way too many times at Green Gifford, Norfolk, Virginia. It was white with red interior.
  5. Ford LTD Country Squire, 1971, yellow with wood grain, purchased used at Crowther Ford, Kilmarnock
  6. Chevrolet Chevelle Station Wagon, green, mid 1960s, a gift from Uncle Charlie, paint scheme ruined when I washed it with Comet.

Author

  • Garland Pollard

    J. Garland Pollard IV is editor/publisher of BrandlandUSA. Since 2006, the website BrandlandUSA.com has chronicled the history and business of America’s great brands.

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2 Comments

  1. I have owed a lot of wagons…

    1974 Chevrolet Vega – Loaded it up with all my stuff and drove it from Western New York to California… The perils of youth… LOL!

    1989 Chevrolet Caprice Classic – bought this from my buddy’s parents. Had a new motor in it and drove like a dream. My wife at the time hated it so we traded it in… Should have kept the car instead.

    1985 Cavalier – bought this from my business neighbor for $100… drove it for two years and sold it for $300. Other than a plugged catalytic converter, I never spent a dime on this car. Great little car.

    1979 Monza – bought it from an older guy who was moving. Loved that car and drove it for almost two years. Sold it to my buddy who promptly stuffed it into a utility pole.

    1972 Chevelle Concours – A hot rod. Put a brand new marine small block in it. Put a four speed manual transmission in itt for good gear rowing driving pleasure. Drove the bejeepers out of that car. it was a true hoot to drive. Sold because someone made me an offer on the car that I could not turn down.

    2002 PT Cruiser – does this count as a wagon? It is my current wife’s all time dream car so when I found if for a ripping deal, we got it. I painted the top half black and put a custom engine turned aluminum leaf strip around the beltline. Still have it.

    2007 HHR Panel – I wanted it. Had to have it. I got it. Great truck.

    1971 Vega Panel Express – long time project car – not sure what to to with it now because of…

    1973 Pontiac Astre Panel Express – super rare. Very clean. Got because it is done and is a blast to drive.

    I almost bought a Opel Kadett wagon up here. I have always liked them and came close several times getting one but I could never swing the deal. Maybe someday… Nope. Wife shaking her head “NO” with that look on her face…

  2. My Dad had an Opel Kadett wagon just like the one in the photo. Had the 1.1 engine. I learned to drive stick on it. It was a fun car! I would drive friends to the lake in the car, and we had to drive over a mountain to get to the lake. The Opel had to be downshifted to first gear to get up the mountain. My friends got a great kick out of that. I later bought one like it, but couldn’t get it to run right, and ended up taking it back to the dealer. I wish we still had Dad’s Opel. It was a car that I will always remember.

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