Good Wagon for a Newbie?

I agree, I have a 1960 Lark Wagon. We just picked it up last week. The other thing to search for is a Studebaker Wagonaire. After 1963 that's what the wagons were called. They're the more square styled body, and they often have the sliding rear roof. Studebaker has a very active owners group and there are parts available if you choose to go that way.
Do an HAMB search for longroofs and there's a huge thread of pictures of HAMBers wagons. Lots of ideas and models to survey there.

 

Save you some time.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2240

 

Thanks Henry. Good man! A more pleasant time suck I haven't come across in a while.

 

Funny you should mention the Buick. I was going to add that the 50's to early 60's buick wagons are very cool. Still GM and wont be as hard to find stuff for.
There was a 55 or 56 Buick wagon for sale on here for quite a while. It was an unfinished project but it was very cool and well under way.

For simplicity and economy, you want to stick to GM and Ford like others have said, but figure out what you like, do some research, plan how you would build it and shop.
In researching you will find shortcomings with some cars that will lead to more money to build them and may require more skill and experience to overcome design issues.
I don't know what your knowledge and experience level is but based on the VW and some of the questions my assumption is that you are fairly new to all of this.
A falcon, a mid 60's Buick sportwagon or any Chevy would be a great start with parts available.
Got to love them long roofs!

 

Then you will HATE me for this link. 3558 pages and counting.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585