The strangest thing about the 1981 midsize-wagon market is the absence of Ford products from the segment. While Ford was still very much in the wagon business, the company no longer produced a wagon to compete directly with longroof versions of the Chevrolet Malibu or Dodge Diplomat.
The Ford Fairmont (and its corporate clone, the Mercury Zephyr) were technically compacts, and thus the wagon variants of those popular models don’t quite qualify for this list.
It was close–really a matter of inches–but neither the U.S. Government nor Consumer Guide were quite willing to push the Ford Motor Company twins into the midsize category. You can check out the Fairmont wagon’s relative dimensions in the chart below:
Also missing for 1981 was a midsize Plymouth wagon. This may seem a little strange, as both Chrysler and Dodge sold wagon versions of the mechanically similar LeBaron and Diplomat, respectively. However, Plymouth’s Gran Fury came only as a sedan in the early Eighties, so the division had to make do with a wagon version of the popular K-Car Reliant instead.
This leaves us with a field dominated by General Motors products, with a couple of Mopar vehicles tossed in for good measure. If you’ve spent time with any of these family-friendly midsize rides, please tell us about it. We’d love to hear more about the days before SUVs and minivans took over the people-moving tasks for most American families.
Buick Century and Estate
Base Price: $7391 (Century), $7735 (Estate)
Wheelbase: 108 inches
Overall Length: 197 inches
Curb Weight: 3400 pounds
Base Engine: 110-horsepower 3.8-liter V6
Optional Engine: 120-horsepower 4.3-liter V8
Optional Engine: 135-horsepower 4.9-liter V8
Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Classic
Base Price: $6792 (Malibu), $7735 (Malibu Classic)
Wheelbase: 108 inches
Overall Length: 193 inches
Curb Weight: 3300 pounds
Base Engine: 110-horsepower 3.8-liter V6
Optional Engine: 115-horsepower 4.4-liter V8
Optional Engine: 150-horsepower 5.0-liter V8
10 Most-Expensive Wagons of 1983
Chrysler LeBaron and Town & Country
Base Price: $7346 (LeBaron), $8008 (Town & Country)
Wheelbase: 113 inches
Overall Length: 206 inches
Curb Weight: 3600 pounds
Base Engine: 85-horsepower 3.7-liter six
Optional Engine: 130-horsepower 5.2-liter V8
Optional Engine: 165-horsepower 5.2-liter V8
Dodge Diplomat and Diplomat Salon
Base Price: $7089 (Diplomat), $7670 (Diplomat Salon)
Wheelbase: 113 inches
Overall Length: 206 inches
Curb Weight: 3600 pounds
Base Engine: 85-horsepower 3.7-liter six
Optional Engine: 130-horsepower 5.2-liter V8
Optional Engine: 165-horsepower 5.2-liter V8
Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser and Cutlass Cruiser Brougham
Base Price: $7417 (Cutlass Cruiser), $7726 (Cutlass Cruiser Brougham)
Wheelbase: 108 inches
Overall Length: 198 inches
Curb Weight: 3400 pounds
Base Engine: 110-horsepower 3.8-liter V6
Optional Engine: 115-horsepower 4.4-liter V8
Optional Engine: 150-horsepower 5.0-liter V8
Optional Engine: 105-horsepower 5.7-liter diesel V8
Pontiac LeMans Safari and Grand LeMans Safari
Base Price: $7316 (LeMans), $7726 (Grand LeMans)
Wheelbase: 108 inches
Overall Length: 198 inches
Curb Weight: 3400 pounds
Base Engine: 110-horsepower 3.8-liter V6
Optional Engine: 120-horsepower 4.3-liter V8
Optional Engine: 135-horsepower 4.9-liter V8
The 5 Most-Expensive American Wagons of 1974
