I just watched Presumed Innocent and Harrison Ford drove a 1987 Chevrolet Caprice station wagon. In the movie it appeared huge! I’m wondering what was the longest production station wagon ever made was. I’m not counting limos, just cars intended for family use. Mainly US vehicles.
And…
What model of Cadillac was Hank Williams riding in when he died. I’ve seen it listed variously as a Coupe DeVille and as an Eldorado.
Thanks.
For the former, I’m guessing that it’d be something from just before the first energy crisis in the mid 1970s. The sixth-generation Ford Country Squire (1969-1978) had a total length of 225.7 inches (18 feet, 9.7 inches).
From that same era, the fifth-generation Chrysler Town & Country (1969-1973) was also about 225 inches in length. By comparison, it looks like that Caprice wagon was about 216" long.
My Dad’s old Pontiac Grand Safari was about 228 inches long according to Wikipedia. Pontiac Grand Safari - Wikipedia
Looking at “related cars” led me to the 1975 to 1976 Buick Estate. No less than 231.8 inches of malaise era mediocrity. Buick Estate - Wikipedia
And weighed in at not far short of 2½ tonnes.
Here is a picture of the Hank Williams car Hank Williams Death Car, Montgomery, Alabama
Maybe someone can ID it. Funny, the article doesn’t.
At that time, Coupe de Ville was not a model of Cadillac. It was a trim level. As was Eldorado. They were both trim levels of the Series 62. See Cadillac Series 62 - Wikipedia.
Both the CdV and the Eldorado were available as convertibles. So that’s no help.
Given that Hank died on Jan 1 1953 the last possible model year is 1953. Looking at some of the few details in Gatopescado’s pic from the Hank Williams museum I conclude the car is a 1952. The gold hood ornament sets the model year as 1952, as does the arrangement of the parking lights. ‘53s were different and it’s unlikely a celebrity of his level would have something older than what just became last years’ model.
As between CdV and Eldorado, the most obvious recognition feature is Eldos had wire wheels and the de Villes had big chrome wheels. Which we can almost, but not quite, see in Gato’s link. I vote CdV. But not with great confidence.
Better pic. Looks like CdV. Thank you for that info.
It didn’t even have to be a wagon to get those kinds of lengths, back in the early '70s. I’ve got a 1971 Ford LTD, which is 216" long. Lots of cars were just long.