1972 Dodge Polara Custom Station Wagon

Over the decades, many automakers hatched some brilliant--and several not-so-brilliant--design and engineering ideas. A noteworthy stalwart in the industry for more than six decades was the station wagon, introduced by Ford Motor Company on April 25, 1929. In its basic form, the new breed of automobile could be described as an evolutionary step away from the depot hacks: wood-bodied vehicles built on light-duty truck chassis with a full roof and open sides. However, the station wagon added a second pair of doors, and two rows of seats behind the driver. The bodies were supplied by Briggs Body Company, the Murray Corporation and Baker-Raulang. Priced at $695, the station wagon was more of a novelty vehicle that accommodated six (or more) than a money maker, but that would change as consumers and the competition began to recognize its full potential.

In the decades that followed, the wagon evolved, invading multiple forms of pop culture as an automotive icon while maintaining its roots as a family cruiser and cargo carrier. The wagon survived the transition from wood bodies to all-steel, both of Detroit's supercar epochs and both fuel crises. It even survived the invasion of compact cars, witnessed the birth of rock-and-roll and the short-lived disco era, and the downsizing of the domestic car industry. Nearly everyone has a station wagon tale to tell. It's no wonder old-car enthusiasts admire wagons, such as this 1972 Dodge Polara Custom, when they appear at the AACA's annual Eastern Fall Meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Dodge was blunt with its Coronet, Polara and Monaco wagon sales pitch, their factory literature stating, "A station wagon is more than a car with a large trunk. It's a land yacht, a school bus, a partner in odd jobs around the house, a home away from home, the reason the dog doesn't have to be put in the kennel."

Within the hierarchy, Polara was the mid-level six- and nine-passenger entry in the field; the Custom provided simulated woodgrain trim inserts on interior door panels and the instrument panel. Base engine was a 318, but Polara Custom customers could have selected a two-barrel 360-cu.in. V-8 engine, two-barrel 400 or--as stated by the seller of this nine-passenger example--a four-barrel 440 that made 225 hp. A three-speed TorqueFlite was standard, along with a tick more than 104 cubic feet of cargo space. Bigger wheels and a beefier suspension were included, and a number of comfort and convenience options were on the table for the taking.

Although wagon production was to face a slow decline, Dodge's Polara Custom output increased for the 1972 season by more than 14 percent. Total nine-passenger production was just over 7,660.

1972 DODGE POLARA CUSTOM STATION WAGON

Asking price: Undisclosed at time of encounter

Seller description: 440 engine; 65,000 miles.

Known issues: At the time of our visit in the early morning hours, there was a distinct lack of detail provided by the seller, as noted above. It's a pity--details help sell cars. We're still wondering whether or not the nine-passenger wagon had been refurbished, or completely restored, sometime in its past. It appeared to have no mechanical or visual concerns, and looked ready to be registered and driven.

Why buy?: Many, including the staff here at Hemmings, have long held the belief that if you look closely enough you can still find fun and powerful collector cars at an affordable price that are worthy of enjoying and showing. The station wagon segment of the hobby is one such example. Generally affordable to this day, these traditionally low-volume leviathans are still gaining a new appreciation among collectors, especially those who came of age in the rear-facing third row. Load the back with period picnic gear and there's a summer of fun waiting to happen.

Price new: $4,371 (in base trim)

Today's dollar: $25,676

Value today: Low, $4,000; Average, $7,500; High, $18,500. Add: 400-cu.in. engine, 20 percent; 440-cu.in. engine, 30 percent; air conditioning, 10 percent