After jumping from a few different garage’s in its past, this 1937 Ford Woodie is a great project that needs to be complete. With some fresh sheet metal, and a lot of fresh wood, this Ford is ready to be revived. All of this freshly worked wood can be yours for the buy it now price of $29,500. Take a look here on eBay out of Riverton, New Jersey.
There is an engine and transmission in this chassis, but there is no information on it. As you can see the carb is missing, as is the starter. The condition is unknown. You can also see some rot in the battery tray area, but it is certainly repairable. I see no evidence of any wiring or fuel feed items, so you may be looking at a hot rod harness and some fuel parts.
Simplistic and to the point, the interior does have a nice banjo steering wheel. The dash is wearing a light coat of rust, and the bench needs to be reupholstered. I do not believe there are any other interior parts, unless the seller has omitted extra parts that may be included. The front floor sections on both sides have been replaced, but there are still some panels missing from the foot well area.
The exterior holds a charming original appearance with a certain appeal for the fresh wooden body. The seller repaired the floors and rockers. He also saved the original hardware for the wooden body to make the new construction that much more appropriate. At this stage rot looks to be at a minimum, other than the battery tray area. The sheet metal body work is nice with no evident dings, or dents. I think that a Woodie hot rod is a dream that we have all shared at some point in our lives, but I feel inclined to think that this car would be a great restoration candidate. What would you do with this ’37 Woodie?
Wow that’s some big wood to buy..
It just needs surf 🏄♀️ boards on the roof with Jan and Dean surf city song blasting.
I am drawn to it …
Very nice, nothin like a stroked woodie!
Takes a skill set beyond dim memories to produce that body.
I like this. I can work with the sheet metal but wood is where I’m severely lacking. Finish up the sheet metal and then get that wood varnished. Looks like an original type engine there; it’s a 21 stud center outlet (first in ’37). Looks like 18 mm plugs so that’s got to be a ’37 vintage (’38s went to 14 mm). I’d take and fix that one up and run it. A Stromberg 97 would be the correct carburetor and getting one of them isn’t a real hardship either. I’m kind of glad it’s a fair distance away because I could almost talk myself into this one…
Where do these people get there prices I think they pull them from there arses.
Fred, they either saw one go for big bucks at Barrett Jackson, or they already have $29.5K invested in this one. That doesn’t mean it’s worth $29.5K, just that the owner spent that kind of money getting to this point.
Unfinished projects are usually a problem to sell, and you almost always get way less than you have invested in them, But you can ask anything, usually you don’t get it.
I think the price is a typo, the comma should be moved one digit to the left. $2,950.00 is about right for the condition.
Hey Geomechs! Don’t forget the wooden
clothespins you’ll need to put on the gas
line to keep it from vapor locking. Had
that problem with the ’53 sedan I had in
high school. Learned that trick from
Rod & Custom Magazine when Bud Bryan
did it on their ’29 hiboy roadster in ’70
or ’71. Think I’d go with a later flatty,
a 4-speed gearbox, jiuce brakes, and
12 volt electrics to make it a good daily
driver. Drop the front axle 21/2 inches,
add some discs up front, tackle the
the interior and the cosmetics, and call
it done! Would let Sis drive it to work
every other day to keep ‘er active. Well,
that’s my dream, what’s yours?
Hi Kenneth. I never used clothes pins; I always had a piece of foam rubber tied to my line. Just kept it damp and never had a vapor lock. These woodies look pretty good customized but I also like the old school too. And I’ve driven a few mechanical brakes. But you’re right about the newer flathead being more practical. But I like to dream; sometimes I think that’s all I ca afford…
“This is being sold as a builder’s project, the wood is done and ready for a light sanding and the finish of your chose. This is an oppertunety to get a woodie in the early stages and build it the way you want it”.
Methinks the seller needs the inflated price to pay for very expensive English lessons.
“finish of your chose” – really!!!!
“This is an oppertunety…..” – a new word for me to play with!!!
Maybe it should read “Opperchancity”
My God, Surfin USA here we come! No way this should have anything done to it other than be put back to as close to original condition body wise as is possible. Maybe a little ‘enhancements’ to the drive train but nothing that can’t be reversed if need be.
Won’t speak to the price but this is one that has a lot of beauty associated with it and anything else done to it would be an absolute shame. Get it back on the road like it should be.
Check out the production figures for 1937 Ford wagons. Henry’s lowest output for the V8 years. Something like 700 units…
Given the rarity of these woodies, I think it should be restored , it looks like the hard part is done , and it would look great running down the road again . My only question – wouldn’t you have to take the wood apart again to stain or varnish it ?
Good comments as always. As Don said, the wood part is done and I’m thinking yep you would have too take it apart to do the varnishing. Still Plenty to do. I’m thinking that the guy may very well be up in the 20’s if he paid someone by the hour to do the woodwork. Same goes to bring the level of bodywork up to the beauty of the woodwork. Gonna be a huge pricetag. Maybe BJ or me-cum had someone frothing at the mouth!! Good luck to the new owner!!
Cheers
GPC
Weird that they installed the wood before varnishing and metal work/paint. Wonder if the “Ah ha!” or “Oh no!” moments prompted the sale? Strangest “restoration” I’ve seen yet…
Needs looking into before purchasing but if it would be done and driving,doesn’t even need painted just leave the patina,I think it would be worth the asking! From one Woody to another these are awesome classics!
In addition to being a car guy, I am also into woodworking. It appears that someone fairly talented with wood did the body, but I’m concerned that while they may be good at cabinetry that they didn’t know the ins and outs of automotive woodwork. The roof grid looks awesome, but should have been varnished before being put together. The interior panels fit well, but are they made with off the rack home depot plywood? If so, I’d be very concerned about delamination if it wasn’t kept in climate controlled garage. I dont’ know what the tailgate upper panel is supposed to look like, but something looks off to me. And there is a huge gap in the fitment of the rear driver’s side door. I imagine this car would command a huge price when finished properly, but I’d have to talk to the guy that did the wood before I plunked down a buck. Maybe there’s a reason this buggy has inhabited so many different garages????
Thanks for your expertise Howard. Need a good eye here. A good inspection with a knowledgeable Wood worker a must. Good luck to the new owner!!
Cheers
GPC
This is a good buy , most people can’t do the wood , but everything else is easy to purchase from the many Ford vendors , just look at what they sell for in Woodies Times . And if you are a bit handy you just bolt it on. I am doing a1936 just like this as we speak , I have 5 woodies now and have had many throughout the years , most people can’t afford a Woodie , so jump on this one and take your time it’s easy and fun.
.
The wooden car prices seem to be going down, for allot of reasons. Restoration or rebuilding the wooden bodies is the most expensive part of the process and cetainly effects the price and the desire to own one. Its also allot of work and maintance to keep one in top shape. I have not seen a professioally built wooden body done right for under 10k and thats for a late model, not an early one like this 37. If you realy want one of these cars even if prices ard decrasing, they are not cheap and the asking is, about what I would have expected. My comment to Howard is, he needs to look at some older restored woodies, they are not as perfect as you might think,they should be, this one looks very correct to me.
Full sets of wood for this car, we just did a body for a 1940 Ford and 1949 1950 and 1951 Ford woodies. Very high quality fit to a shop car. Unfinished $9995 complete. We can also do roofs or any other part for any Woodie. Fast at a price you can live with Call Sasha at 714 420 6581