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Back in the 1910s, someone bolted extra compartments onto a Ford Model T so they could ferry more people and luggage from the train station. Thus, the “station wagon” was born.
By the 1970s, station wagons had become a staple of American life. Relatively affordable and immensely practical, “carryalls” like the legendary Buick Roadsmaster Estate could transport a large family and even tow a trailer – despite the weight of all that wood paneling.
But in 1984, Chrysler introduced a taller, safer alternative called the “Magic Wagon,” aka minivan. When Toyota gave us the “crossover” in 1996, wagon demand virtually vanished.
– Chris Butsch, The Arizona 100
