Author Topic: anyone regret having a cruising wagon? (Read 10614 times)

poomwah · « **on:** May 08, 2014, 09:00:28 PM »

I would really like to have a cruising wagon, or even a panel wagon without port holes.

I'm wondering however, how many of you are uncomfortable driving theirs, especially in traffic and backing up.
Between the small pinto mirrors and the HUGE blind spot, how many of you wish you had a regular wagon instead of a panel?

blink77 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2014, 06:38:54 AM »

Nobody----- I put mirrors from an 88 escort GT on my sedan delivery.
Quite a bit of work, but it gives me just a little bit more visibility. Bonus
is, they are power mirrors and stay adjusted. They worked so good that
I did a set for my regular 79 wagon. The problem with that was that I
had to make the base big enough to cover the old mounting holes. I then
painted them to match. the original bullet shaped mirrors are still the best
looking mirrors Ford ever made, but with the cables for adjustment, they
are hard to see out of and the mirror itself is way too small. Some day
soon I'll learn to post pic's. If someone wants to see what they look like
I can e-mail pic's They look like they belong on the car. Everybody wants
a panel or cruis'n wagon just to say they have or had one. Just my opinion.
By the way, I've had several cruis'n wagons, and my only regret is that I
don't still have them. My only defense is "who knew?".
Bill

dianne · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2014, 06:41:51 AM »

Quote from: blink77 on May 09, 2014, 06:38:54 AM

Nobody----- I put mirrors from an 88 escort GT on my sedan delivery.
Quite a bit of work, but it gives me just a little bit more visibility. Bonus
is, they are power mirrors and stay adjusted. They worked so good that
I did a set for my regular 79 wagon. The problem with that was that I
had to make the base big enough to cover the old mounting holes. I then
painted them to match. the original bullet shaped mirrors are still the best
looking mirrors Ford ever made, but with the cables for adjustment, they
are hard to see out of and the mirror itself is way too small. Some day
soon I'll learn to post pic's. If someone wants to see what they look like
I can e-mail pic's They look like they belong on the car. Everybody wants
a panel or cruis'n wagon just to say they have or had one. Just my opinion.
By the way, I've had several cruis'n wagons, and my only regret is that I
don't still have them. My only defense is "who knew?".
Bill

Would be cool!

74 PintoWagon · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2014, 07:47:58 AM »

That's exactly the way I want mine to look, no port holes or funky roof racks...

As long as I been rowing the handle I don't even know what rear side windows are, LOL..

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2014, 08:11:17 AM »

Bought mine new in 77 and have never regretted it. Even had to win several "discussions" with my wife in the 80's when she wanted to sell it.

poomwah · « **Reply #5 on:** May 09, 2014, 02:38:47 PM »

The craziest thing is that I used to drive one, a cruising wagon, not a delivery.It was actually my dad's car but I claimed it, until he sold it of course, lol.
I remember how much I loved the way it looked. but I can't remember what it was like to actually drive it. Then again that was 20 years ago.

Bigger mirrors are definitely a good idea. I don't even have a passenger side mirror

Maybe I'm just getting old, but I'm paranoid about cutting someone off because I can't see them in the right lane. Or backing out in front of someone in a parking lot. It's going to be my daily driver.
I should probably be worried about the kids not being able to see out when they are sitting in the back seat I guess, lol.
I just can't help imagining my bobcat as a delivery, and in my mind, it looks GOOD

TIGGER · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2014, 04:11:05 PM »

I have wanted a cruising wagon since I was a kid. My dad ordered his 79 wagon new. After thumbing thru the broshures, I saw an orange cruisng wagon and fell in love. I tried to convince him to get one but he did not like the side panels. I drove my dads window wagon all thru college and after till 09 when I parked it (too many cars). In september 03 I found my orange 78 crusing wagon for a price that I could not pass. However it was more of a basket case than I wanted. I stuck with it and finally in 08 it was road worthy so I began driving it daily. The side panels do hinder a lot of the visbility compared to a normal window wagon. I had to be extra careful on rainy days which here in Oregon we have a lot of them. You have to make sure the side windows do not fog up or you cannot see the mirrors. Backing out of spots is more difficult as well when you cannot see due to the cars next to you being taller. You just have to remember to go slow. All and all it was a fun experience owning one. I do miss it at times but I know it went to a good home.

74 PintoWagon · « **Reply #7 on:** May 09, 2014, 06:26:44 PM »

No different than driving a van.

dga57 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2014, 06:41:32 AM »

Perhaps installation of a modern back-up camera would help. I know it was a lifesaver on my 2012 Lincoln MKT - couldn't see anything much out the back otherwise! Stick-on blind spot mirrors may help also.
Dwayne

74 PintoWagon · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2014, 07:42:29 AM »

Those back up cameras sure are cool, friend of mine has one on his truck and it makes it so easy to hook up a trailer by yourself..

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2014, 04:08:53 PM »

I drive truck for a living & after 23 years I use mirrors as well as people use the front windshield. When I do my wagon I plan to weld the sides solid & weld up the rear window as well.

I've driven my wagon piled full of crap blocking my view & as good as I am I can honestly say the stock mirrors stink. I'm definitely going to use a backup camera & I'm either going to go with larger mirrors or I'll add a camera to the passenger side mirror for better visibility.

poomwah · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2014, 04:26:42 PM »

If I do it, I'd be filling in the sides too, but not the back.
Do you have mirrors picked out yet?

Quote from: Pinto5.0 on May 14, 2014, 04:08:53 PM

I drive truck for a living & after 23 years I use mirrors as well as people use the front windshield. When I do my wagon I plan to weld the sides solid & weld up the rear window as well.

I've driven my wagon piled full of crap blocking my view & as good as I am I can honestly say the stock mirrors stink. I'm definitely going to use a backup camera & I'm either going to go with larger mirrors or I'll add a camera to the passenger side mirror for better visibility.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2014, 04:40:55 PM »

Quote from: poomwah on May 14, 2014, 04:26:42 PM

Do you have mirrors picked out yet?

Not yet, no. The wagon is going to have a street rod panel truck theme with satin black paint, red scallops, 47 Ford style steel wheels, louvers & lots of chrome & old school pinstriping. I'm probably going to use a chrome street rod mirror that attaches to the window frame.

poomwah · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2014, 06:16:57 PM »

that's going to be sweet! I can't wait to see it done.

I'm visualizing a panel wagon with a "surf theme" , moon discs (those 47 style wheels would look amazing as well), airbrushed woodgrain on the sides, some real wood on the interior.
or go with what I have ...mustang turbines and a gallon of school bus yellow. Turn it into a panel wagon with some rally stripes.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:13:22 PM »

I've got a smoothed panel look like this in mind.

With an old school scallop job like this. I'm not a big whitewall tire guy so I'm going blackwall. I want a big Tiki pinstriped on my hood too. I've just gotta find time to build it.....

74 PintoWagon · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:53:33 PM »

I like this!..

74 PintoWagon · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:03:15 PM »

Quote from: Pinto5.0 on May 14, 2014, 04:08:53 PM

I drive truck for a living & after 23 years I use mirrors as well as people use the front windshield.

After 35+ yrs even if it has a rear view mirror or side windows from force of habit I never use them anyhow, LOL, gotta tell ya though going into some of these places that was built for horse and buggy with a long nose conventional and a 53ftr, one of them cameras could come in real handy, LOL..

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2014, 11:08:49 PM »

I turned in my 379 EX in favor of this 379 Standard. Half the malls I drop at were built in the 50's & trailers were 32 feet long & 10 feet high. I'm tired of fighting to jack 90 degree corners in underground docks with trucks twice the length these areas were built to handle.

74 PintoWagon · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2014, 07:41:23 AM »

Nice rig, don't ya just love to have to jack knife all the time, LOL, there was a place in LA I used to go to all the time I think was built in the 1800,lol, I think it was made for roll up doors only, if there was a trailer on each side with open doors you will rub doors on each side, then you had to drop the tractor or you'd block the street, LOL..

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2014, 11:01:38 AM »

Yeah, there's a few I drop pups at because any trailer over 35 feet long would stick out into the parking lot.

jonz2pinto · « **Reply #20 on:** May 15, 2014, 01:39:51 PM »

Years ago-on the net-I saw an early pinto wagon with the lead sled treatment.it was chopped,lowered,louvered hood,scallops and moon discs I think.looked like a car from the 50s.I had a printed photo of it but lost it.

sedandelivery · « **Reply #21 on:** May 15, 2014, 03:19:09 PM »

My Sedandelivery is great but visibility from the drivers seat to the right rear is tough on 45 degree intersections from the right.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 15, 2014, 07:37:27 PM »

Quote from: jonz2pinto on May 15, 2014, 01:39:51 PM

Years ago-on the net-I saw an early pinto wagon with the lead sled treatment.it was chopped,lowered,louvered hood,scallops and moon discs I think.looked like a car from the 50s.I had a printed photo of it but lost it.

You mean this one? He was on Car Domain at one time & may still be.

oldkayaker · « **Reply #23 on:** May 15, 2014, 08:32:47 PM »

Just for ideas, this panel Pinto has the louvered hood and a 3" chop.

http://www.fordpinto.com/your-project/the-chopped-pinto/?PHPSESSID=1df0c89ab529acda828583faaecbbc44;topicseen

http://www.southwestdrags.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11042

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 15, 2014, 08:41:15 PM »

Quote from: oldkayaker on May 15, 2014, 08:32:47 PM

Just for ideas, this panel Pinto has the louvered hood and a 3" chop.

http://www.fordpinto.com/your-project/the-chopped-pinto/?PHPSESSID=1df0c89ab529acda828583faaecbbc44;topicseen

http://www.southwestdrags.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11042

I've lost track of that wagon since he traded it for that green V8 sedan. I'm pretty sure the sedan is long gone as well.

poomwah · « **Reply #25 on:** May 15, 2014, 11:58:40 PM »

I'm imagining something like this

dga57 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 16, 2014, 12:00:03 AM »

Quote from: poomwah on May 15, 2014, 11:58:40 PM

I'm imagining something like this

Well now, that's different!!!

Dwayne

poomwah · « **Reply #27 on:** May 16, 2014, 12:34:44 AM »

forgot the tiki

or I could do the tiki head in the back window with pinstripe tape
and put these guys on the side

74 PintoWagon · « **Reply #28 on:** May 16, 2014, 07:55:10 AM »

I like this..

jonz2pinto · « **Reply #29 on:** May 16, 2014, 01:21:45 PM »

The one I saw was also lowered almost to ground.it may have been metallic gold or green.I think the windshield was chopped more.

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Author Topic: anyone regret having a cruising wagon? (Read 10614 times)