Hello, Early sedan delivery in the 1959-60s era? The station wagons were some of our favorites, but we could never get our dad to buy and drive one. We saw a Buick station wagon and he nixed the idea with his purchase of a big 4 door sedan and 4 years later, his first two door 57 Buick sedan. No wagon in his daily driving arsenal… By the time I had purchased my first sedan delivery, station wagons were popular in the surfing world. Not woodies as most think, but ordinary two door and 4 door station wagons. A woody was not seen as popular surf wagons until the mid 60s with all of the Hollywood publicity for the beach lifestyle and the surf music scene. The photo above shows an indoor vacation exposition display. We saw many of this display versions at the old, Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles. They were catering to the families and a station wagon was supposed to be the daily driver. Tell that to our dad, back then… When we were driving south to go surfing and had to park in a residential or empty lot area, due to the state parks closed or full, then the sedan delivery acts as if the photo of the Edsel was shown. Our friends in their station wagon with curtains drawn were at the wrong end of a flashing light from a CHP patrol telling them to get up and out of the residential area. “Where were we supposed to go?” the state parks are closed and there is nowhere to park. That was the scene. Jnaki But, just across the street, we were huddled down in our Flathead Sedan Delivery in full privacy mode. Not a single sound and the front curtains were drawn across the seatback opening and a small sliding curtain was on the rear window. Total privacy and the CHP used their flashlight, knocked and yelled for us to come out. But, as far as they were concerned, our salmon pink Flathead Sedan Delivery was just a neighbor kid parking his daily driver on the street. The CHP could not see inside and no noise was heard of us, huddling down in the dark, private cave. Ha! The 56 Chevy station wagon with two of our friends had to move, as their curtains did not give 100% private coverage. So, the CHP could see and told them they had 5 minutes to move or get towed away. Yikes! We, on the other hand were like stones… quiet and no movement. As soon as the commotion was over outside, we still stayed quiet, thinking the CHP car was just down the block checking to see if there was someone in the 40 Ford Sedan Delivery. After a few good hours of sleep, we started our walk in the dark down to the empty beach and great waves to ourselves. Our friends? They had to walk in from the public street parking area near the State Park location about 4-5 blocks away… Then down the long sandy beach to get to the waves we were already riding for hours… YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
