Before there was the minivan, SUV, or crossover, there was the station wagon—the preferred family hauler for trips to grandma’s house and summer vacations.

And if you had to picture the archetypal station wagon, what would you think of?

  • Luggage rack?
  • Pea-green paint with faux wood paneling?
  • Rear-facing seats?

Well, this lovely 1973 Plymouth Satellite we’ve got for today’s Lot Shots checks all of those boxes, and gets bonus points for timeless Chrysler “fuselage” styling and a V8 under the hood.

1973-Plymouth-Satellite-Driver-Side-Front
(Image/OnAllCylinders)

Third-gen (1971-74) Satellites represented some of the final vestiges of Mopar’s muscle car glory days. The Satellite was the corporate twin of the Dodge Coronet and shared its B-body underpinnings with the Dodge Charger and Plymouth Road Runner as well.

With such a provenance, we had to snap some pics of this wagon when it rumbled in to the Summit Racing retail store parking lot on a dreary spring day.

This particular Satellite is pretty clean, with a few minor scuffs and touch-ups—reminders of soccer practices and shopping carts of ages past, no doubt. It looks darn-near stock too, save for some wickedly-retro Center Line Billet Razors.

We’re pretty sure that this is a 1973 edition, as earlier and later Satellites had different grille/bumper treatments, but if we missed something, let us know in the comments below.

In 1973, Satellite buyers could opt for an assortment of 318, 360, and 400 c.i.d. V8 engines.

Plymouth ads of the era boasted that the wagon’s mammoth rear compartment could swallow a 4′ x 8′ sheet of plywood—with the tailgate closed.

With front disc brakes and Chrysler’s revolutionary electronic ignition system (introduced in 1972), we can’t think of a better way to take the whole tribe cross-country—no optional rally fun pack required.

(Image/OnAllCylinders)
The power rear window makes this wagon useful for hauling things like lumber, bassoons, or stuffed marlins. (Image/OnAllCylinders)
Sometime in the 1960s, someone decided fender-mounted turn signal indicators should be a thing. Then, we all collectively agreed that another flashing light directly in your line-of-sight probably wasn’t the best idea. Still rad-looking though. (Image/OnAllCylinders)
1973-Plymouth-Satellite-Wagon-Tailgate
Rear-facing seats make for some awkward highway eye contact. (Image/OnAllCylinders)
1973-Plymouth-Satellite-Wagon,-Passenger-Rear
(Image/OnAllCylinders)
1973-Plymouth-Satellite-Wagon-Passenger-Front
(Image/OnAllCylinders)
1973-Plymouth-Satellite-Wagon-Retro-Center-Line-Wheels
Center Line’s Razor Wheels were pretty common through the mid 1990s. Though now discontinued, perhaps the world is ready for a comeback. (Image/OnAllCylinders)
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Author: Paul Sakalas

Paul is the editor of OnAllCylinders. When he's not writing, you'll probably find him fixing oil leaks in a Jeep CJ-5 or roof leaks in an old Corvette ragtop. Thanks to a penchant for vintage Honda motorcycles, he spends the rest of his time fiddling with carburetors and cleaning chain lube off his left pant leg.