You’re standing in a parking lot in 1970. To your left, a Plum Crazy Purple Challenger is screaming for attention. To your right, a Charger R/T looks like it’s doing a hundred miles an hour while sitting perfectly still. But tucked away near the back of the lot is something a bit more... substantial. It's long. It's wide. It has enough wood grain paneling to panel a small basement in the suburbs. Most people walked right past the 1970 Dodge station wagon back then, dismissed as a "grocery getter" or a "mom mobile." Honestly, they were missing the point entirely.
These weren't just utility vehicles. They were heavy-duty steel beasts built on the same platforms that gave us the most iconic muscle cars in history.
The C-Body Brutes: Polara and Monaco
Dodge didn't just make one wagon in 1970; they gave you options based on how much "fancy" you wanted with your utility. The big dogs were the C-Body wagons—the Polara and the Monaco. These things were massive. We are talking about a wheelbase of 122 inches. If you parked a modern SUV next to a 1970 Monaco wagon, the modern car would look like a toy.
The Monaco was the top-tier luxury choice. It featured those famous "hidden" headlights that made the front end look like one continuous, menacing chrome grille. Inside, you got the FR70x14 fiberglass belted tires and a plush interior that felt more like a living room than a car. The Polara was the slightly more "working class" sibling, but it still shared that fuselage styling that Chrysler was obsessed with at the time. "Fuselage styling" basically meant the sides of the car curved inward at the top and bottom, making the whole thing look like the cross-section of a passenger jet. It was sleek, aerodynamic (for a brick), and incredibly wide.
Powering the Beast: More Than Just a 318
A common misconception is that every old wagon was a slow, lumbering dog with a tiny engine. While the 318 cubic inch V8 was the standard workhorse, Dodge was more than happy to let you go crazy on the order sheet. You could actually get a 1970 Dodge station wagon with a 440 Magnum V8. Think about that for a second. That is the same engine found in the high-performance Super Bees and R/Ts of the era.
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With a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, a 440-equipped Monaco wagon wasn't just hauling kids to soccer practice—it was capable of smoking the tires off the rim. Most buyers stuck with the 383, which was a great middle-ground engine. It provided enough torque to pull a boat or a trailer across the country without breaking a sweat. The 1970 models used the dependable TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission. It was nearly bulletproof. You could beat on those transmissions for 200,000 miles and they’d just keep shifting.
The Coronet: The Mid-Sized Workhorse
If the Monaco was too much boat for your driveway, you went with the Coronet. This was the B-Body wagon. It’s the same platform as the Charger and the Super Bee. In 1970, the Coronet wagon had a very distinct "double loop" front bumper design that people either loved or hated. It looked a bit like a pair of giant spectacles.
The Coronet came in three flavors: the base Coronet, the Coronet Deluxe, and the Coronet Crestwood. The Crestwood was the one with the simulated walnut wood grain. It’s a very specific aesthetic. You've got to love the kitsch of it. But under that wood grain was a serious machine. These wagons could be configured with the "heavy-duty" suspension package, which included stouter torsion bars and a sway bar. It didn't turn it into a sports car, obviously, but it kept the rear end from sagging when you loaded it up with 800 pounds of camping gear.
Inside the "Fuselage"
Let's talk about the third row. In 1970, Dodge offered a rear-facing third-seat option. It was a rite of passage for kids in the 70s to sit in the very back, staring out the rear window at the cars following them, making faces at strangers on the highway. It was basically a private clubhouse.
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- Tailgate Tech: The 1970 wagons featured the "Dual-Action" tailgate. It could swing out like a door or fold down like a ramp.
- Storage: There was a hidden compartment under the floor for tools or valuables.
- Space: You could fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood in the back if you folded the seats down. Try doing that in a modern "crossover."
The dashboard was a masterpiece of 1970s ergonomics—meaning everything was made of heavy plastic and chrome, and there were no airbags in sight. Everything felt tactile. You pulled a heavy knob to turn on the lights. You slid a lever to adjust the heat. It felt permanent.
Why Collectors Are Finally Waking Up
For decades, these wagons were "donor cars." People would find a 1970 Dodge station wagon in a barn, rip out the 440 engine and the heavy-duty rear end, and swap them into a Challenger or a Charger. The rest of the wagon—the body, the glass, the unique interior—would get sent to the crusher. It was a tragedy.
Because of that, these wagons are now incredibly rare. If you go to a Mopar car show today, you’ll see fifty Chargers for every one well-preserved Monaco wagon. Collectors are starting to realize that the wagons represent a more authentic slice of 1970s life. They are "lifestyle" vehicles before that term even existed. Plus, there is something undeniably cool about a vehicle that is twenty feet long and has a big-block V8 under the hood.
The Maintenance Reality
If you're looking to buy one, keep your eyes open. Rust is the primary enemy. These cars didn't have the sophisticated rust-proofing we have today. Look at the lower rear quarters behind the wheel wells. Check the floor pans under the carpet. Because of the "Fuselage" design, water could sometimes get trapped in the window seals and rot the metal from the inside out.
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Mechanically, they are simple. If you have a basic set of wrenches, you can do most of the work yourself. Parts for the engines (318, 383, 440) are everywhere because those engines were used in millions of trucks and cars. However, trim pieces? Good luck. If you're missing a piece of Monaco-specific chrome or a taillight lens for a Coronet wagon, you’re going to be scouring eBay and specialized forums for months.
Actionable Next Steps for Enthusiasts
If the 1970 Dodge wagon bug has bitten you, don't just jump on the first one you see on Craigslist. These are specialized machines.
- Verify the Fender Tag: This is a small metal plate under the hood. It tells you exactly how the car was built. If someone claims it's a factory 440 wagon, the fender tag will prove it. Look for the "E86" code.
- Join the B-Body and C-Body Forums: Sites like ForBBodiesOnly or the C-Body Dry Dock are invaluable. The members there know every nut and bolt on these wagons and can tell you if a car for sale is a "Frankenstein" or an original survivor.
- Inspect the Tailgate Gearbox: The power rear window in these wagons is notorious for failing. If the motor is burned out or the gears are stripped, it’s a difficult and expensive fix. Always test the rear glass before buying.
- Embrace the Size: Measure your garage. Seriously. A 1970 Monaco wagon is roughly 220 inches long. Many modern standard garages are only 240 inches deep. It’s a tight fit.
The 1970 Dodge station wagon was the end of an era. Shortly after, the oil crisis would hit, and cars would get smaller, lighter, and—frankly—boring. These wagons were the pinnacle of American "more is more" philosophy. They were fast, they were huge, and they had enough personality to fill a ten-car garage. Owning one today isn't just about having a classic car; it's about owning a piece of a world where gas was cheap and the open road was wide enough for everyone.