History of Estate Cars

The earliest estate cars or station wagons go back to the early part of the twentieth century. Here they worked as hackney carriages around US railway yards and hence became known there as station wagons. The early estate cars evolved from truck chassis with wooden panelling sides, benches and a definite railway carriage styled bodywork to them.

 The first commercially produced estate car was made by Detroit auto manufactures, Essex, this model allowed travellers the luxury of covered seats instead of benches and window in place of curtains. In the UK, estate cars were a development for the landed gentry to travel around their parklands and estates on shooting expeditions, their size giving ample space for the hunting party and the necessary equipment.

Each country has developed their own version and name for the estates, Peugeot and Citroen have the Break, and Chrysler followed European protocol calling theirs a Touring, while the Germans prefer the term Kombi for their estates and Italians like the Avanti. 

The greatest developments down the years after the introduction of hard top roofs and a departure from the wooden bodies has been the design changes to the rear door. Originally open at the rear, they gradually developed split, drop leaf tailgates, over time these changed to include hand cranked windows, side hinged doors and later top hinged doors that could swing upwards and offered greater access.

While People Carriers and Minivans have increased in popularity over the years, the estate cars are still viewed by most as the more elegant and stylish way in which a family can travel and offers excellent storage space.