GM Station Wagon first year for 4x8

Hey Guys,

I've been wanting a station wagon for a while now. I love driving my fathers 55. Does anybody know what the first year was when GM built a wagon that could fit a whole 4x8 sheet of plywood in the back? If I remember right the 4x8 sheet won't fit in the back of the 55 as there isn't enough space between the wheel wells.

Thanks!

 

I think it was '59, when they introduced the B-body platform. (Catalina, Bonneville, etc) I'm pretty sure my '58 is too narrow between the wheel wells, but I can check.

 

x-2

 

For GM it was definitely '59.

 

Thanks Guys. I guess I'll have to watch for a 59. I'm a big fan of that body style anyways. Although I really like the 58 wagons as well.

 

I had a '60 and I seem to remember it not being wide enough to get a sheet in there. But that was 25 yrs ago...and my memory is not what it used to be. Plus my memory is not what it used to be.

Maybe someone can go out to their garage and measure one.

 

My '55 Chevy Belair wagon rear opening is 44" with the windlace (1/2" each side) reducing that measurement to 43". Getting the plywood into that opening at an angle would still leave you short -2" because the wheel well-to-wheel well width is 46".

 

I put 4x8 sheets of plywood in my '51, just prop 'em up on a wheelhouse. How much plywood or drywall are you gonna haul in one, anyway?

 

They are the BEST looking wagons on the road... (in my most humble opinion)

 

Ok. So, what was the last year? 78?

 

My OT 95 Buick Roadmaster will fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood,and still bury the speedo,the last real wagon.

 

Not exactly what you're looking for, but my '61 Suburban hauls 4x8 plywood with room to spare.

And it hauls a LOT of weight, too. I had 800 pounds of quickrete bags back there for a week, and it rode like a caddy.

-Brad

 

Well i think i determined that the plywood thing wasn't a critical factor. I have a crappy harbor freight trailer that I can use for that. I'm pretty sure I'm putting a down payment on a driver 58 wagon tomorrow. Does anybody know what would be involved as far as turning a 6 passenger 58 into a 9 passenger car? Also if anybody has pictures of a 9 passenger 58 interior I'd like to see them. Google yielded nothing for me.

 

Good deal, I was just getting ready to go out to the cold garage with a tape measure... good luck with the 58

 

I'm pretty sure the third row seat in a 58 takes the place of the spare tire well on a six passenger.....a smaller seat if i remember right.

 

YOu can find some tech specs on the 58 (or any other year chevy) here

http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html

 

wow thanks for tha link!what a cool site

 

Amazing link! Thanks a lot. It also showed me that the third seat was a front facing one like the tri-5 cars. I'm a little bummed about that. Growing up my cousins and I fought all the time over who would sit in the rear facing seat in my grandfathers wagon. I wish I would have cut that out of the floor on that car before it was hauled off to the junkyard.