Abstract: A hydraulic dashpot with a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, and a bypass. The cylinder is charged with hydraulic fluid. The piston divides the cylinder into two chambers, travels up and down inside the cylinder on the inner end of the piston rod as the latter moves in and out of the cylinder, and is provided with ports and valves. The bypass parallels the piston and can be more or less opened and closed. The object is a hydraulic dashpot for vans and station wagons that will be simpler in design and easier to operate with the vehicle either loaded or unloaded and with no detriment to safe driving. The bypass accordingly extends through the piston rod (2), is provided with one exit above the piston (3) and with another exit below it, and the bypass can be more or less opened or closed by a flow-control component fastened to the cylinder (1).