The 52 to 54 Ford & Mercury's were probably a much under rated station wagon line, a natural for a slanted pillar to harmonize with the lower quarter panel detail, but ok as they were.
I totally love Station wagons, customs even more so! My first used wagon was in 1964,a 57 Ford 2D wag. I 've used them for every day an too tow my race cars. I'm on my 18th=It maybe my last,@ 81 now. But no one should drive a boring car.
My first car was a '53 ranch wagon. It's only restyling features were courtesy of the abundance of dents and rust but the ability to lock my surfboard inside made it a great car. Cool to see the Volvo 544 and DKW in the same shot.
The chrome stipis on the tailgate pre-date the next year's Chevrolet Nomad by a year.(Or maybe they had an early peek at the GM Motorama show cars.)
I've got a thing for Ford 2dr. wagons. I guess it started with my dad's '51 Ford woodie. I had a '65 Falcon wagon in HS and now have a '54 Ranch Wagon. 302/AOD combo. It turned out to need more rust repair than I thought but my body guy is slowly resolving that. Hopefully out of the shop by spring.
In the article Al mentioned hwe was employed at a Cadillac/Oldsmobile dealership so several '54 Olds parts found their way on to his car, naturally the '54 tail lights and the vertical strips on the tailgate. HRP
I had this car in mind when I started the wagon,and I tried to talk Brenda into a few modifications that fell on deaf ears, I so wanted to replace the grill with a 54 Chevy grille with extra teeth but she nixed that idea, but I do have a pair of '54 Olds tail light lens that will eventually replace the original '54 Ford lens. Al Twitchells Wagon still stands tall as a custom wagon. HRP
The options for cool rides in the Hamb era are mind boggling...I know Brenda's wagon had a family connection but those early Fifties Fords are quite the lookers even before mods...that's helps getting them right because there's a head start...
The Jalopy Journal
