Station wagons are/were great for families and when the station wagons were low enough in price, great for young surfers. A rolling place to sleep in campgrounds and empty streets near the surf breaks. Just to get a jump start on the other folks driving to the beach around lunch time. Hello, Our dad always liked the outdoors, but his version of camping was to rent a tent at Yosemite National Park and sleep in a raised mattress on a frame, but inside of a large stand up tent. This was tent camping for our parents. We liked little pup tents out in the forest, but at least, our dad got one out of two. Ha! My wife’s family, on the other hand also liked camping. There usual destination was the farthest southeastern portion of So Cal at the Salton Sea. Back then, it was a nice place for family camping. These days? Not the best conditions for a happy family outing and overnight camping. As a matter of fact, quite polluted and terrible conditions. But, we are talking about 1959 era of family camping. Pile on the “stuff” on top of the station wagon and get the kids (3 in my wife’s family) and off to the Salton Sea for a family vacation. Empty shorelines, variations of campsites and water so thick with salt that it is easy to float. If one wanted to test our the poor conditions of the lake before putting you toe in the water. Jnaki My wife’s family camping along the empty shoreline of the Salton Sea. It was a week’s worth of a vacation and back then, a place to go for family camping. Not so, today. so, to commemorate that event, I decided one year to make a model car of their adventures. the beginning Then after some sanding, customizing and scrounging for parts, a new look from memory. one for each of the siblings on a surprise Christmas Morning. Jnaki Along the way, the “overloaded” 1959 Chevy Station Wagon met up with an old friend from my college + motorcycle days. Check out the early, orange canvas dome tent and green Coleman Stove for accuracy!!! YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
