There was a time when railroads were the primary form of transportation between towns. In the era prior to automobiles, train passengers would be met at the station by horse-drawn wagons to pick up passengers and their baggage to take them to their local destinations. These wagons were known as station wagons.
A century ago, as automobiles became more common and more popular, the horse-drawn station wagons began to be replaced by modified automobiles, generally known as depot hacks. The term hack is from hackney which referred to “a horse for general service” and then was extended to “horse for hire.” The hackney coach was thus a horse-drawn coach for hire.
The first depot hacks were modified cars and trucks intended to haul passengers and their baggage from the train depot to their final destination. Later, automobile manufacturers began to make models which were designated as station wagons, estate wagons, and shooting brakes (these were intended to carry hunters, guns, dogs, and game).
By the 1990s, station wagons were being outsold by minivans and SUVs. Shown below are some station wagons which are on display in automobile museums.
1914 Ford Model T Depot Hack
The Depot Hack was the forerunner of the station wagon and was often used to transport people from the railroad depot to hotels and other destinations. Depot Hacks were custom built using a standard Ford Model T or TT truck chassis. This Depot Hack is on display in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon
1915 Ford Model T Depot Hack
This Depot Hack is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
1922 Model T Depot Hack
This vehicle is on display in the Classic Car Museum in Bigfork, Montana.
1928 Ford Model A Woodie
This vehicle is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
1929 Ford Model A Station Wagon
While the introduction of the Station Wagon, a modernized version of the Depot Hacks, was big news in the automobile industry, only 5,200 were actually produced in 1929. It sold for $650. This vehicle is on display in the Montana Auto Museum in Deer Lodge, Montana.
1938 Ford Deluxe Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the Montana Auto Museum in Deer Lodge, Montana. It sold for $825. This model features a curved grill.
1947 Ford Super Deluxe Woodie Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington. It sold for $1,855 and a total of 3,520 were built.
1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Custom Woody Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display at the LeMay Family Collection in Tacoma, Washington. In 1948 only 10,171 of these were produced (less than 1% of the Chevrolet production.)
1949 Buick Super, 4-Door Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88, 4-Door Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington. The Olds station wagon was a disappointing seller and only 2,650 were built.
1953 Chevrolet Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the Montana Auto Museum in Deer Lodge, Montana. It sold for $1,629.
1953 Chevrolet Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the Montana Auto Museum in Deer Lodge, Montana. It sold for $2,130.
1954 Chevrolet Bel Air Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
1954 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe 8 Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
1955 Chevrolet Nomad Wagon “Playbunny Coach”
This vehicle is on display at the LeMay Family Collection in Tacoma, Washington. It was created by Eric Medeiros in the late 1960s.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad, 2-Door Station Wagon
With a price tag of $2,307, this was Chevrolet’s most expensive vehicle. The 2-Door Nomad was not popular with buyers, as most people who wanted station wagons liked the convenience of having four doors. This vehicle is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
1957 Chevrolet Nomad 2-Door Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon
1957 Buick Century, 4-Door Station Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
1959 Morris Minor 1000 Traveller Woodie Wagon
This vehicle is on display at the LeMay Family Collection in Tacoma, Washington. In Great Britain, it was nicknamed “Moggie.” A total of 105,000 were made.
1963 Austin Countryman 850
This vehicle is on display at the LeMay Family Collection in Tacoma, Washington. This car sold new for $1,671.
1964 Country Squire Wagon
This vehicle is on display in the Classic Car Museum in Bigfork, Montana.
1964 Studebaker Wagonaire
This vehicle is on display at the LeMay Family Collection in Tacoma, Washington. It sold new for $2,600. It had a unique retracting roof over the cargo area. A total of 5,164 were built in 1964.
2009 Ford Flex Lee Quinones Art Car
This vehicle is on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.