Muscle Wagons: Five All-American Station Wagons & Their Muscle Car Counterparts
More than just the styling or the performance, it was really the incredible amount of choice and variety that made American cars of the 1960s and early 1970s so special.
Most models had several different body styles available, with the same model available in everything from a luxurious convertible to a bare bones sedan for work.
And while station wagons of any type have all but vanished from the market today, back then nearly every popular model could be had in station wagon form—usually with optional “way back” seats for nine-passenger use.
What’s especially interesting is that nearly all of the iconic American muscle cars of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s had close cousins of the station wagon variety—and that means there are some seriously great options for building high performance vintage wagons, whether they are of the “what if” factory style or the restomod style.
As some examples here are five wonderful wagons of the era and their famous muscle car counterparts.
Ford Torino Wagon/Ford Torino GT
While not as popular as the Mustangs of the same era, Ford’s larger Torino-based muscle cars were every bit as cool.
And should you blend a Fairlane or Torino wagon with some inspiration from a Torino Cobra or a Talladega you could have one helluva cool family hauler.
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser Wagon/442
Even on its own the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser is one the coolest American station wagons ever built, but should you mash one up an Olds muscle car of the same period, you’ve got the recipe for greatness.
Whether it's a W30 442 or a Hurst/Olds that provides the ingredients, there aren’t many things cooler than a Vista Cruiser given the full muscle car regime.
Pontiac Tempest Wagon/GTO
The Pontiac GTO started the whole muscle car thing in 1964, and only got more popular in the years that followed.
Pontiac also sold a Tempest wagon at the same time, and many of the parts that make GTOs so cool will go right onto the wagon.
Dodge Coronet Wagon/Super Bee
Don’t think we’d leave the Mopar crowd out. There are any number of Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars that have close station wagons cousins, but the Dodge Coronet is one of our favorites.
Whether it would be built into a Super Bee Wagon that never existed or built in a more modern style with a Gen III Hemi under the hood, the appeal is undeniable.
Chevy Chevelle Wagon/ Chevelle SS
Finally we get to Chevy. Few muscle cars are more popular than the Chevelle SS of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s—and the Chevelle wagon counterpart is ripe for conversion.
Whether it's the stripes, the badging or the cowl induction hood fitted to a longroof model, an SS Chevelle wagon would be alright, alright, alright.
These of course just scratch the surface of the possibilities, and if you find your favorite classic muscle car there's likely to be a station wagon relative not too far over on the family tree.
