Maximum Wagon Day Retrospective

Yesterday saw the birth of the maybe first annual Maximum Wagon Day. Within the span of the day, the virtues and greatness of the extra capacity cars was the subject of our obsession. The day was a bittersweet exercise in appreciating an under appreciated segment. Should we really have to go out of our way to bring baby out of the corner? We say wagons for everyone. Unless you're crossing the Sahara or scaling the Rubicon trail, do you really need that ML420? Wouldn't you be happier in a car like the Intermeccanica Murena 429 GT, perhaps the greatest wagon every built? Abandon the PR spin of sport activity vehicles and crossover utilities and embrace the do-it-all perfection of the wagon as we take a spin down retrospective lane.

We started the day off with a right and proper declaration of wagon war. A proper recognition of our net based wagon loving forefathers at the resting, but ready for a return stationwagons.com followed as is proper when drumming up support for a cause.

Then straight to the heart of the matter, holla-holla-Hardigree served us the question of the day straight up: Are Wagons Cool? The answer: You bet you're ass they're cool.

Proving the answer that question before you commenters could even dig your teeth in was the quattro engined, all wheel drive madness inducing Riviera Wagon Master. Visions of day long four wheel burnouts in clouds of billowing tire smoke while hauling engine parts danced in our head.

Europe proved is has none of the groundless fear of wagonocity when we learned Peugeot would be bringing its 308 SW to the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. We'll be there in a little over a month to appreciate the flat loading, cargo hauling, fuel economizing goodness.

Rinspeed proved wagons can be all things to all people with the Bedouin. Not only was it a shooting brake based on the 911, but it was also a halfback convertible and sported some mini-camino action. Try doing that with your SUV (okay, we'll be fair, GM's poorly received GMC Envoy XUV pulled a simililar move, but definitely with less style).

With yesterday's longest and certainly most British exotic car entry, the Aston Martin Lagondawagon blew everybody's mind with the strategic deployment of massive V8 combined with the almost unheard of E-pillar.

Everybody needs a place to call home. If you're a madman with a wagon all your own, not needing validation from society, knowing the wagon is superior to all other forms of transport, you many want to turn your eys to the American Station Wagon Owners of America.

Connecticut, you are so small, and yet your native sons (or flannel lovin' ladies) proved to us that yes Victoria, Wagons can compete in Hoon of the Day.

The Packard Wagon showed up in all its tealy goodness and rocked hard doing it. Even afterthought, budget badge engineered, crazy colored antique wagons show superior logic. With two antenna sprouting from each fin, fans of symmetry, and reception, are guaranteed to be happy.

Oh car chases, how do we love thee? A lot, especially if they sport the low ball pyrotechnics and outhouse crushing sensibilities displayed in the Vista Cruiser Chase.

Rekindling fond memories of ghost themed 80's comedy movies gone by, the ECTO-1 brought back that illustrious feeling of purpose and badass that only a Cadillac wagon can provide.

Without racing, were would we be? Still driving solid front axle T's that's where. And in that spirit, the battle of the track day wagons warms our heart and calms the sensibiliies. Something is just so right about two Japanese guys duking it out on the track in wagonified Subaru's and Mitsubishi's.

A wagon for every stage of life. We start out with Radio Flyers and end up in a hearse. The funeral wagon, if you will, comes in many varieties and always does its solemn duty, but that doesn't mean it isn't still wagon at heart - stopped or otherwise.

And finally, because there's something in our makeup which forces bad Russian jokes, the four wheel drive, Lada/AutoVaz wagon combo to end the day.

It was a great day for wagons everywhere, and we hope to bring you more maximum something days in the future, but for now, let us rest on the laurels of a fine inaugural Maximum Wagon Day.

9:00 AM on Thu Feb 21 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,229 views
33 comments

Comments

A strolling player at 09:18 AM on 02/21/08
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Station wagons are my favorite things
Cause they're made of
Wood paneling paneling wood paneling
Wood paneling paneling

+ Watch video
Mike the Dog at 09:28 AM on 02/21/08
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I meant to do this yesterday, but didn't get to it. Here's a link to my Flickr set of station wagons. Nothing nearly as cool as the above gallery, but there's an LT-1 powered Rambler and a Studebaker with the sliding roof. [www.flickr.com]
Stoatmaster at 09:32 AM on 02/21/08
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"Proving the answer that question before you commenters could even dug their teeth in..."

Ben, Ben, Ben: More haste, less speed.

Now you'll have to go back and type it properly.
Stoatmaster at 09:37 AM on 02/21/08
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If the colonials would only use the correct nomenclature, then the ASWOA could be the United Estates of America.
reefer at 09:47 AM on 02/21/08
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Please dear god no more wagons. Yesterday was the most boring Jalopnik day.
JantheMan at 09:49 AM on 02/21/08
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It is a little bit overtime,,,used as support and service vehicle at the Carrera Panamerica...it is a Ferrari
Paul Y. -- Now With... at 09:54 AM on 02/21/08
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Yesterday was an excellent day for Jalopnik.

@reefer: I believe you have confused "boring" with "awesome."
Aatos at 09:54 AM on 02/21/08
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I'd like to use this opportunity to show the wagon I'm driving:
Aatos at 09:56 AM on 02/21/08
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slantsick- leaning 30*... at 10:04 AM on 02/21/08
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Whoa, whoa- first "annual" MWD? Must be a typo, I can only hope you meant "first weekly", or at least "monthly".. 5 doors>2 doors.. longroof>ragtop too.
UDMan at 10:09 AM on 02/21/08
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@reefer: Where in the hell is Jonny Leaverman and his "Smack" button when you need him?
A strolling player at 10:15 AM on 02/21/08
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@Aatos: Ha-ha! That licence plate is clearly a fake! Those numbers are big like for preschool!
Maymar - now with 37%... at 10:31 AM on 02/21/08
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I once celebrated my own Maximum Oldsmobile Day - but wagons are better than Oldsmobiles (although not as great as Oldsmobile wagons).
brandegee at 10:37 AM on 02/21/08
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All you jalops bow down before pillar E and offer up your rear wiper as penance.
JohnnyWagon at 10:43 AM on 02/21/08
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Damn it all to hell. Leave it to me to take a vacation with my family and miss maximum wagon day.

@slantsick: +1 for a Monthly MWD.
michaelfocht at 10:47 AM on 02/21/08
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The anglophyles in the crowd must be asleep at the wheel this morning! What about the genius that was the Jaguar XJ-S Eventer????

[www.stationwagon.com]
slantsick- leaning 30*... at 10:48 AM on 02/21/08
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@reefer: Obviously you've partaken of a little too much of your namesake- or nowhere's near enough, I'm not sure... wagons are absoeffinglutely kickass.
Stoatmaster at 10:53 AM on 02/21/08
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And the fastest estate car in the world is:

[upload.wikimedia.org]

Who'd a thunk it?
drewheyman at 10:56 AM on 02/21/08
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if i were a kid, i'd rather walk to school in that snowstorm than ride in that white beemer thing, but i'll admit the black one above it is very very cool. so i'll relent my opinion that wagons are uncool. they are just mostly uncool.
JantheMan at 11:14 AM on 02/21/08
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@drewheyman: RWD Beemer in snowy Finland.....you rather walk? Why? You make me puzzled
rgseidl at 12:21 PM on 02/21/08
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Ah, the Murena 429 GT ... in Italy, even the undertakers get to live la dolce vita.
Mad_Science at 12:26 PM on 02/21/08
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@reefer: "Boring," says the driver of a Lexus IS. Sure, dude.

You were remiss in not mentioning the awesomeness that is Mr. Jalopy's Wagon, complete with custom re-painted wood paneling.
bd_oakland at 12:30 PM on 02/21/08
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ah, the e30 wagon. damn you, canadians! is there anything you can't have?
NovaloadMissesPolar at 12:38 PM on 02/21/08
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@reefer: Overruled.

I@michaelfocht: What would be cool enough to haul in a Jag shooting brake? Can't be mulch and groceries and recycling bits. Only antiques, handmade saddles, and great grandmum's silver tea service over to the polo match?

Thanks for Wagon Day, Jalop. Wagons, Ho!
Mad_Science at 12:56 PM on 02/21/08
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@Mad_Science: Apparently my imbed = FAIL.

Link here:
[photos1.blogger.com]
Mad_Science at 12:57 PM on 02/21/08
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@Mad_Science: Apparently my spelling = FAIL. "embed"
nosirrahg at 01:20 PM on 02/21/08
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Back around the turn of the century (that's the 1990s, not the 1890s...though I guess wagons were popular back then too), I saw the virtues of having a wagon as a family truckster. However, in trying to convince my wife that I should have a wagon I made the mistake of saying that since there's a perception that guys driving sports cars are compensating for something, that my driving a wagon would declare to the world that I had no shortcomings. Apparently she didn't like that notion, and I instead wound up with a mild-mannered sedan. Having since replaced the sedan with a Jeep Patriot, I actually smile when I read a review of this vehicle and they say something like "this isn't an SUV, it's a tall wagon". If she only knew.
Euromobile at 01:53 PM on 02/21/08
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@A strolling player: Uh, it's a Euro plate. Finnish maybe?

@drewheyman: Lol wut!?
drewheyman at 02:16 PM on 02/21/08
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@JanTheEcobooster...if Odin will: because, going back to the QOTD yesterday, that ride isn't cool.

that weird lowered-thing its got going on plus the weird black trimming on white paint make it look like a 3000 lb guy is being trucked to the hospital in the rear of a car held together by duct tape.
Mike the Dog at 02:42 PM on 02/21/08
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@Mad_Science: When I was a young Jalop, my grandmother had a gold '65 Country Squire (my dad bought it from her in the mid '70s). Dual inward facing rear jump seats are even cooler than the rear facing ones (IMHO).
Mad_Science at 02:56 PM on 02/21/08
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@Mike the Dog: I love mine
[www.flickr.com]

Too bad someone thought it would be a good idea to have a vinyl mat on the floor of the rear tub.

[www.flickr.com]

Got tetanus shots?
Schm is not... at 04:10 PM on 02/21/08
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Do I really need my ML420? Well, yes, if the ML420 you're refering to is the Europe-only V-8 Diesel with enough torque to restart a planet, then hells yes. But I would indeed rather go for the E63 AMG estate, if youre really asking.
ClarkGriswold at 01:35 AM on 02/22/08
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Hail to all Land Yachts!