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Interpretation ID: nht70-1.21

DATE: 06/03/70

FROM: Rodolfo A. Diaz; signature by George Nield -- NHTSA

TO: Export Vehicle Engineering Dept.

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: Thank you for your letter of May 20 in which you ask "whether the Station Wagon should be construed as a Passenger Car or a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle".

You are correct in your interpretation that a station wagon "does not normally fall under" the category of multipurpose passenger vehicle. However, if a station wagon "is constructed on a truck chassis" or "with special features for occasional off-road operation", such as four-wheel drive, it would be considered a multipurpose passenger vehicle. I hope this clarifies the matter for you.