20 classic cars for dog owners

20 classic dog wagons worth taking for ‘walkies’

Classic car meets and dogs go together well – and don’t just take our word for it! A passion for classics and a passion for canines seems a common combination, judging by many of the classic car events we’ve been to.

However, if you own a large dog, or several smaller ones, or, indeed, several larger ones, then fitting them into your classic might be a challenge if your weekend plaything is a strict two-seater.

Alternatively, as much as we may love our four-legged friends, even the most proud dog parent might wince when paws meet freshly refurbished leather seats.

There is, of course, another way: a classic estate. There are many to choose from, but our picks manage to combine all the load space you’ll ever need – unless you’ve adopted a pack of Irish Wolfhounds, perhaps – yet are engaging to drive when the dogs are napping on the sofa.

Here, in no particular order, we take a look around the world to see what’s available for sale at the time of writing – but which dog suits which car? Let us know…

Images are of representative cars; conversion rates correct at the time of writing

1. Citroën DS Safari

This could be the perfect classic car for the canine fashionista – and this version sees arguably one of the most beautiful saloon shapes committed to the road transformed into something with enough room for the dogs to come along, too.

While the engines are perhaps not quite as exciting as the exterior, the hydropneumatic suspension will make riding in the back extremely comfortable.

We found a green example in The Netherlands with just 9908km (6156 miles) on the clock. Dating from 1969, it was up for sale for €59,900 (£51,400/US$67,400).

2. Audi RS2

At the other end of the scale is this co-production between Audi and Porsche.

Its 311bhp turbocharged 2.2-litre five-cylinder engine meant that it could out-accelerate a McLaren F1 to 30mph, aided by a four-wheel-drive system.

We wouldn’t recommend doing this with the dogs in the back, because they’ll likely redecorate the Recaro bucket seats.

Just 2891 cars were built worldwide, and a mere 180 of them were right-hand drive; mind you, left-hand drive would be perfect for dog holidays on the continent…

We found a 1994 example in blue in Diez, Germany. Sitting on 87,190km (54,177 miles), it was available for €98,500 (£84,521/US$110,800).

3. Mercedes-Benz 123-series

The 123-series range helped to bring the three-pointed star to a wider audience, although they didn’t come cheap.

The S123, the estate version, was a deeply desirable option in a way wagons had rarely been in the past.

Today, these are probably now the rarest of the 123s because, unlike the coupés and saloons, which were preserved, old S123s often got used by builders and antiques firms until becoming worn out, which has had an effect on prices.

We found a lovely-looking, freshly restored straight-six-powered 280TE for sale in Newbury, UK, for £40,000 (US$52,400). Finished in silver, this 1985 example had covered 131,000 miles.

4. Volvo 850 T5

The 850 marked a huge departure for Volvo – there were curves (!) – but it also had a much more youthful appeal.

That was no doubt helped by Volvo teaming up with TWR to enter two wagons into the 1994 British Touring Car Championship.

They weren’t actually T5s (turbocharging wasn’t allowed then), but it put the spotlight on the 850 spectacularly.

Volvo’s T5 and T5R models soon developed a big following – almost as big as the cavernous rear load space.

We found a metallic-blue T5R for sale in Paris. Dating from 1996, it had covered 154,500km (96,000 miles) and was up for grabs for €24,900 (£21,366/US$28,000).
 

5. Ford Granada Ghia

While the previously mentioned Mercedes-Benz was deeply aspirational for certain parts of the motoring world, the Ford Granada appealed to others far more.

A lot of that appeal was bang for buck – you’d only get a base-model four-cylinder 123-series Mercedes-Benz for the price of a fully loaded Granada Ghia.

Sweet-talk the fleet manager and who knows, you may have even got the X model with a V6, and all the toys…

We found a 1983 example on 95,117 miles, in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, UK. Specified as a Ghia with the 2.8-litre V6 engine, it was stickered at £12,999 (US$17,000).

6. BMW 3 Series Touring

The 3 Series Touring was famously created by a BMW engineer in his spare time; he’d become tired of going on holiday in his E30 and not having enough space.

BMW loved the idea when it was presented, and the E30 Touring soon became as aspirational as a Mercedes load lugger, but with a somewhat more dynamic image.

It was so popular, it outlasted the saloon, coupé and convertible versions of the E30 3 Series by quite some time.

We found a white automatic 325i Touring dating from 1989 in Valencia on 218,000km (135,500 miles). It was up for sale for €14,900 (£12,785/US$16,700).
 

7. Mercedes-Benz 124-series

The follow-up to the S123 wasn’t as universally loved on its release in the mid-1980s – Berlin taxi drivers launched a vociferous protest – but the 124-series soon became a firm favourite around the world.

It, too, developed a reputation as a tough, reliable workhorse. It is perhaps not the most exciting classic estate car here, but it is certainly one of the very smoothest, something your canine companion will no doubt appreciate.

We found a 1991 300TE for sale in Surrey, UK, on 113,334 miles. Finished in Brilliant Silver metallic, it had been thoroughly overhauled by specialists and was offered at £24,850 (US$32,500).

8. Morris Minor Traveller

The diminutive Morris Minor is a well-loved classic car, but beneath the genteel exterior lies a seriously fun driving machine.

Don’t believe us? British racing driver Tiff Needell honed his craft on moist roundabouts in his mum’s Morris Minor Traveller.

Once again, however, we’d suggest leaving the dogs at home before trying this, as you’ll possibly have a tiff of an entirely different nature to contend with.

We found a silver 1964 example for sale in Abingdon, UK. It had covered 59,000 miles and was priced at £26,000 (US$34,000) – however, we also spotted examples for around £9k to £10k in apparently good condition.

9. Alfa Romeo 33 Sport Wagon

The perfect car for the boxer breed because the 33 features the lovely raspy Boxer engine…

It’s a rare sight in the UK and, well, anywhere, but this quirky-looking car has four-wheel drive, making it able to clamber up hill and dale with the enthusiasm of a hunting dog.

We found a four-wheel-drive, 1.7-litre car in Belgium. Finished in metallic gold and dating from 1990, it had covered 120,000km (74,500 miles), and was for sale for €8000 (£6864/US$9000).

10. BMW 5 Series E34 Touring

The E34 BMW saw the first introduction of the estate platform to the 5 Series.

Available with a huge variety of four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines, there truly was a 5 Series for everyone.

The most desirable has to be the M5 Touring, the very last car to be handbuilt by BMW’s M department.

It’s exceedingly practical, too – the split rear tailgate makes getting the dogs ready for adventures so much easier.

We found a 1995 525i Touring in Hollywood, Florida, USA, on 170,652 miles. Finished in metallic gold, it was up for sale at $15,990 (£12,212). 
 

11. Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Station Wagon

The Custom Cruiser name had been around since the 1940s, but Oldsmobile’s full-size luxury wagon, which shared its body with the Buick Estate and Pontiac Grand Safari, nabbed it until 1992.

Measuring a mighty 19ft long with 5mph impact bumpers, there’s enough room for even the largest Great Dane or two, helpfully pulled along by either a 6.6-litre or 7.5-litre Rocket V8.

We found a 1973 example on 46,200 miles in Lutz, Florida, in the US. Finished in Emerald Green over brown panelling, it featured the 455cu in (7.5-litre) V8 and wore a $29,995 (£22,908) price-tag.

12. Volvo 200 series

The archetypal Volvo estate, as dependable as a faithful Golden Retriever – and it’s also now highly fashionable among young, trendy types.

More importantly, the rear load space is enormous and, though they can rust, these are big, dependable machines that will just keep on going.

We found a 2.3 GLT dating from 1988 for sale in the British city of York. With 183,000 miles on the clock it was described as partially restored but in need of a clutch; it’s yours for £3450 (US$4500).
 

13. Holden Kingswood HZ

A staple of Australian life for many years, these full-size estate cars were big, tough and dependable for getting across Australia – it’s rather a large place, after all.

The HZ model introduced Radial Tuned Suspension, which improved the handling immeasurably.

Famously, it was shown to out-handle a BMW 528i, the German competitor spinning while the Aussie powered on. Useful for keeping your canine pals comfortable in the back.

We found a metallic-brown V8 example for sale in Normanville, South Australia. Dating from 1979, it had covered 183,400km (113,959 miles) and was up for sale for AUD$48,000 (£25,081/US$32,600).
 

14. Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback

Now, you might be thinking that a rear-engined estate car would be a bad idea for a dog wagon – ‘hot dogs’ are best as fast food, after all.

However, with some provision to guard against heat, and perhaps smaller dogs, this has a nifty ace up its sleeve. It has stowage space in the rear load area and under the bonnet – meaning you can take all your canine friend’s comfy bedding in the nose.

We found a white example for sale in Los Angeles, California. Dating from 1970, it had done 55,486 miles and was up for sale for $21,750 (£16,611).
 

15. Mitsubishi Legnum VR4

Mitsubishi did do an estate version of the Lancer, but that’s a little too new and perhaps too aggressive.

The Legnum VR4, based on the Galant, is arguably more fitting. With a powerful twin-turbocharged V6 and four-wheel drive, it’s just the thing for conquering awkward conditions. The Springer Spaniel of cars?

We found a white 1997 example in Canning Vale, Western Australia. Sitting on 170,000km (105,633 miles), it was up for grabs for AUD$15,000 (£7838/US$10,200).

16. Subaru Impreza WRX wagon

The Subaru Impreza WRX was a sensation, bringing B-road pace to the masses, as well as easy tuneability.

The good news was that unlike some four-wheel-drive rally cars for the road, you didn’t have to leave the dog at home.

We found one for sale in Costermano, Italy, in metallic silver. Dating from 1996, it had covered 230,000km (142,915 miles) and was up for grabs for €8999 (£7721/US$10,100).
 

17. Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon

Arguably one of the prettiest saloons ever made spawned arguably one of the prettiest estates ever. But there’s a caveat – infamously, the Sportwagon had less boot space with the seats up than the saloon.

Best to just leave the rear seats down – after all, if it’s good enough for Catherine Zeta Jones back there in one Alfa Romeo advert, then it’s good enough for your canine friends…

We found a manual 2.5-litre V6 example from 2000 in silver in Padova, Italy. It’d covered 130,000km (80,778 miles) and was listed at €9200 (£7894/US$10,400).

18. Citroën CX Safari

Following the popular DS was no easy task, and though the CX isn’t held in the same regard as its illustrious forebear, it’s still a rather special – and much-loved – machine.

The interior is a masterpiece of ’70s sci-fi design and, even better, the engines had rather more poke than a DS. It retained the hydropneumatic suspension, too, which makes it very smooth for your four-legged chums.

We found a 25 Break TGI on 124,880km (c77,600 miles) in Engelskirchen, Germany. Finished in silver and dating from 1989, it was up for grabs for €16,800 (£14,415/US$18,900).

19. Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad Station Wagon

The Bel Air was a big success story for Chevrolet – its mixture of fresh looks and healthy V8 power made it deeply aspirational.

The Nomad, a two-door station wagon, was the most expensive version and, as a result, sold relatively few. That means your dog will feel like the Hollywood king or queen the car seems perfect for. 

We found a white-over-orange example in Illinois, USA. Dating from 1955, it had covered 76,586 miles, and was up for sale at USD$69,995 (£53,458).

20. Ford Falcon XF Wagon

The final outing for the fourth-gen Falcon was the best-selling model sold by Ford Australia.

It eschewed V8 power for straight-sixes, of either 3.3  or 4.1 litres. And today its styling has started to come into its own as a retro ride – just the thing for some refined cruising for long distances. The Australian Cattle Dog of cars?

We found a 1986 example in white for sale in Victoria, Australia. This manual Falcon had covered 165,000km (102,526 miles) and was priced at AUD$22,500 (£11,759/US$15,300).