Posted by EdC on Saturday, May 03, 2003 at 2:37AM :
In Reply to: Re: Whaaat?..sputter..sputter... posted by MoparNorm on Saturday, May 03, 2003 at 2:07AM :
(copied from below link) During the first 2 decades of the 20th century, many automotive brands offered depot hacks, station wagons, panels, and canopy expresses. These bodies were of wood construction and were made by numerous specialty body builders ("coach builders" such as Cantrell, Hercules-Campbell, US Body) The 1923 Star (another brand from Durant, founder of General Motors) is credited with being the first "production" station wagon, and it was likely the first to have been styled by the car company instead of the aftermarket body builder. In 1929, Ford became the first car manufacturer to build its own station wagon body and these were carried on their car chassis. The move toward placing station wagon bodies on commercial chassis got a boost in 1933, when Dodge contracted with U.S. Body & Forge of Tell City, Indiana to produce wooden station wagon bodies on their 1/2 ton truck & pick up chassis. Known as the "Westchester Semi-Sedan Suburban," this early commercial station wagon was the first to have roll up windows -- front doors only.
Follow Ups: