If you are one of us that lived the 70’s you no doubt have had experience with a shag wagon of some type. You may also start reading this blog with some preconceived expectations. If so, sorry to disappoint!
Although this is based on my 1970’s, this isn’t a flashback to the ‘bedroom on wheels’ full size vans of the era. Again, don’t know what I am talking about? Google it.
This blog is to introduce a dark blue 1973 American Motors (AMC) Hornet Sportabout Wagon. For car geeks (right like really anyone really geeks over an AMC Hornet Wagon), it had a 3 speed automatic with a straight 6 engine that put out a massive 110 horse power. It was built like a tank and served me well over the years I had it. It also was a supporting player in quite a few adventures that I plan on writing about as part of my 1970’s blog series. Oh, and I realize the picture is of a brown car – couldn’t find a picture of a blue one – sorry.
So what has all this got to do with Shag?
Living 40 miles from the Armoury, and with most of the jobs I did being around the CNE and downtown Toronto the little wagon became my crash pad when social activities or a morning job made it impractical to drive home. Another benefit was that it was cockroach free unlike the band mess.
What’s this got to do with Shag? Patience, I’m getting there.
The first time I crashed in the back of the wagon (I even had curtains I could pull around to cover the windows like a VW bus) It became quite evident that my plans needed a bit fine tuning. So I visited a carpet store on the lookout for a small piece of carpet with the thickest under pad I could find. A piece of blue shag carpet fit the bill and the “Shag Wagon” was born. Now with the stage set keep an eye out for the next adventure of the shag wagon.
Mike