1950 Plymouth Deluxe Suburban Station Wagon

Summary

The earliest station wagons appeared in the 1910s and actually were used to haul people and luggage between railroad stations and hotels. They featured special wooden bodies installed on standard car chassis. Wood continued to be used in station wagons bodies until after World War II. Plymouth's 1949 Suburban was the first station wagon with an all steel body. It transformed the wagon into a practical family vehicle.

The earliest station wagons appeared in the 1910s and actually were used to haul people and luggage between railroad stations and hotels. They featured special wooden bodies installed on standard car chassis. Wood continued to be used in station wagons bodies until after World War II. Plymouth's 1949 Suburban was the first station wagon with an all steel body. It transformed the wagon into a practical family vehicle.

Artifact

Station wagon

Date Made

1950

Driving America
 On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America

Object ID

88.217.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Steel (Alloy)
Glass (Material)
Rubber (Material)
Chromium

Color

Blue

Inscriptions

Center hood, in raised silver script: PLYMOUTH

Specifications

Make & Model: 1950 Plymouth Deluxe Suburban station wagon

Maker: Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Michigan

Engine: inline-6, L-head valves, 218 cubic inches

Transmission: 3-speed manual

Height: 71 inches

Width: 65.5 inches

Wheelbase: 111 inches

Overall length: 186.5 inches

Weight: 3155 pounds

Horsepower: 97 at 3600 revolutions per minute

Pounds per horsepower: 32.5

Price: $1,946

Average 1950 wage: $3,180 per year

Time you'd work to buy this car: about 7-1/2 months

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