SOLD
Asking Price: $29,999
Location: BREA, CA
Mileage: 25000
Title Status: Clean
Seller’s Description: Survivor 1947 Chrysler Windsor Convertible, I added wood panels to the side and trunk to give her a feel of a Town & Country (process took me two years and thousands of hours). This is my Hobby if I sell at my asking price (which is firm) I will loose about $10,000 in labor alone. Don’t believe me, contact any of the Woody shops across America and ask them how much to convert a Factory Convertible to a Woody.
Body Condition: She is a “Survivor” down to the Original paint, nothing has been restored guys have a term they call them “barn finds” I call them Original. She is 70 years old so expect scratch’s and pitting on the bright work, again she has not been restored.
Mechanical Condition: Engine always starts (even when sitting) without pulling choke, smooth and very powerful for a 6 , she retains her original 6 volt system. Also has Fluid Drive system which shifts smoothly into low and high gears and then shifts itself. What is unique is that every item works, lights, gauges (yes all gauges work), horn, yes the hydraulic top system works and even the pulsating E-brake light works!
List your classified here on Barn Finds!
Aaron I have a 1951 dodge Mayfair two door hardtop, Canadian only model. Mine is no longer original but at the 80% finished. I have toyed with the idea to do the same to my car. I would be interested in knowing what wood you used and wether you shaped the wood by cut and sand or wether you steam bent and placed in a jig. I’m also wondering if your darker wood is wrapped or veneer. You have done a stunning job on this and clearly your skills are amazing. I tip my hat to you. After spending 8 years on my car as time will allow I can appreciate the effort you have put forth. I wish you success in your sale.
I don’t think this is Aaron’s car; but if you read the seller’s Craigslist ad he does say that it is steam bent Ash wood.
I have no idea on values for these, or if the seller will get his ask. But if he’s reading this; this is a beautiful car. Almost a piece of artwork. Nice job.
Thank you – I am the owner
Canadianinmarkseh, hello and thanks for your kind words. I used “Jigs'” and steam bending method (ash). The darker (Mahogany) is Wood grain because of the severe curve (compound curve) I felt wood graning would be best and luckily my father in law is the Best Wood grainer in the Country.
Sweet car! Years ago I stopped at a restoration shop in North Hollywood, there was a T&C coupe, blown apart. Front clip had been customized with peaks above the headlights and molded into a one-piece unit. Nice work if a tad strange.
Guy I talked to said the original owner had been a cowboy actor in movies, Unfortunately I don’t recall the name…
Yours looks worth every penny of your asking price. Good luck with the sale!
Very very nice car. The price seems to be reasonable too.
I can’t stop looking at this car it is inspiring me to do the same with my car. Steam bending is an interesting process after your woods been in the steamer for awhile and is ready, the wood will come out of steamer like a wet noodle and you have about 20 to 30 seconds to form it and it will stiffen back up. You also need to leave it clamped until it’s cooled down or it will want to spring back. So everything has to be ready when you pull out of the steamer. I built a custom side car for my 1977 gold wing and steam bending was a important of the process.
You are correct, steam bending is not a skill that is easy or something someone can take up in a afternoon. The art of Steam bending is dying out, as more and more wood workers are leaning toward bent lamination. Thanks for your compliments!
I love this car! Have never heard of anyone doing this kind of cosmetic treatment to an older Chrysler convertible. What a good idea. Now it must weigh a lot less than a real Town and Country. I grew up with the family’s 1948 Windsor sedan. Yes, I would say the engine coupled with the fluid drive is very smooth, but not exactly very powerful. It was very slow from a green light. But once we were up to speed, a very good highway cruiser, and so comfortable !
Again thanks for all the great compliments, I am the owner / builder of this ole Chrysler and she is very heavy but has a smaller flathead 6 (versus the 8 on the Town and Country) amazingly enough she has some low end torque and after driving Chevrolet 216 motors for years this Chrysler is quick (not fast) but quicker then a 216 and much much smoother.
From the pictures it appears to be a stunning job. In the WoodIE Club we would call it a Phantom Woodie. Be Assured you couldn’t buy a real Town and Country for twice the price . In a hundred years who will know! :)
There is a Chrysler Town and Country Club. Might have good luck with them. Otherwise bring it to the Wavecrest Show in Encinitas Ca the 3rd Saturday of September…sandiegowoodies.com I think!
Beautiful!
Mountainwoodie, thanks for the compliment. I have built a few “Phantom Woodie’s”, it is my pure passion. My most popular was the 47 Ford Convertible that had a Sportsman vibe (I did not copy a Sportsman) but gave it the vibe of one, that one ended up in a Museum. My intent is to build cars that a “normal” person can purchase and drive and have fun. Too many of these old Woody’s have become for the super Wealthy and the guys who have 20-30k to spend can’t own one. My intent is to change that, I try.
Forgot a pic
Rudy I’d love to chat more about your work and I’d be willing to let Jesse forward my email adress to you so we could make that happen if your interested. I work off of an iPad and for the life of me can’t figure out how to format my pictures to post. One of my other hobbies is wood carving and I’ve done everything from totem walking sticks to carosole styled rocking horses, even a couple of bald eagles. I’m currently working on a walking stick that is automotive emblems and a hurst pistol grip shifter carved at the top. Helps cut the boredom after surgery.
As it’s been said a bunch, amazing work. I’ve always wanted one but don’t have the crazy amounts of cash needed to buy. Really great that you’re recreating the look for guys like me. I have 20k, so would definitely be interested in your future projects. Also, I’m from Orange County and go down often. Would be an easy transaction. Would love to have one of these works of art.
Feel free to contact me via text or call 562-245-2134 (text and I will send my email) Thanks everyone for the great comments! Barn Finds is really a great Community. (Something I built a few years back)
Rudy, again WOW! Love that red Ford. So pretty.
I was a 14 yr old weasel, and learned to drive in my sister’s ‘47 Ford Sportsman convertible. Those are worth a fortune now.
In my opinion, Ford Sportsman and Chrysler Town and Country’s should be Million Dollar Cars. They are true American Innovations, the marriage of Wood and Steel in Rolling Art is Sublime. I attempt to give the average man the opportunity to own the “spirit” of a Iconic vehicle. Thank you.
Have you done any phantom woodies out of metal bodied 1960s Austin panel trucks or Countryman? There might be a market for these as the originals in project form are unobtainable or rusted away.
I have a friend that currently is working on a Morris Minor woody- they would be quite easy to do as the compound curves are only slight. Veneer in the center and you would be good to go. I have never attempted one personally as I enjoy American Fat Fender cars.
I sure hope you teach a few young people your talent along the way. You Sir are gifted.
Thank you- I have a Son and he is quite young (under 5) I am showing him- he helped me on a Boat.
Wow! Art in action. You sir have stirred within me a yearning for the admiration of your art. Again Wow!
Thank you so much- The Chrysler was shipped off to her new home today- Starting another project this week! thanks
That is a beautiful car!. I’ve done custom furniture restoration on the side for over 30 years so I’ve done my fair share of steam bending. I even have made a few missing parts for acquaintances in the past for their projects. One thing a lot of people don’t know is though Ash is a great wood for bending you want air dried or green wood to use. Most kiln dried lumber from large firms use steam in their drying process and the steam can set the cellulose in the wood, making it next to impossible to properly steam bend later on. Properly done, steam bending (or even laminations in some cases) can provide some incredible items made from wood.
Back to the original car – I’m impressed by your work. I know some of the work involved in making those parts and it’s impressive. I also used a lady that could faux grain most anything and watched her for hours doing many different things. That’s another one where the talents of the artist will make or break the project. Tell yours well done.
This comment is 100% on point, the act of Steam bending is dying off in America – go into most woody shops throughout America (those left) and you will find Lamination process (why? it’s quicker, when your paying employee’s it comes down to cost) Just like Varnish, Woody shops all use Car Clear it’s quick (done in a few hours) compared to Varnish (take take months depending on weather) ole school is a step by step process that requires patience and time to complete properly. Varnish for example to do correctly you must use a percentage of thinner to varnish I start at 50/50 and go up in 5% increments, after application of each thin coat you must wait for it to completely dry then slightly scuff and then again repeat the process slowly working your way up to 95% once I hit 95 I go in 1% increments.. as you can imagine.. not a get rich scheme.. ole World is not created in a hour or two, these process’s are being lost because quite frankly the public is not willing to pay for them. Alas, I had sold my car before it actually was posted on Barn Finds and that was after months of trying. I lost at least $25,000 in time spent but I did not do it for the money, I did it cause I respect the process and I absolutely love the outcome.
Regarding Wood graining, you have two definitive types of Grainers the first school would be what I call the “painters” these are the guys/ gals that are artist and use brush’s, bags and personal items to create a wood grain faux. The second grouping of folks would be the Commercial grainers what I call the Industrial guys, they are not typically found in the “car world” as the money for industrial grainers would be found in Commercial applications (hotels, boats, jets) these are the folks that make the big big money in graining they are precise in creating wood grain that looks exactly like wood (my Chrysler used a Commercial grainer) the best in the Business Stuart Lyman (562-652-2196) what makes him unique is his background a USMC Force Recon Retired, Missionary, Biola Professor, Wood Worker and probably one of the Worlds best Wood grainers he does this for Passion and Pride a very humble man.
*pic is a tank that Stuart grained for fun
Thanks again for all the praise,
Rudy, when you wrote “tank (Stuart) grained for fun” and the USMC Recon I expected to see a halftrack or turret top/retractable military tank sitting in the desert somewhere. Bike tank is gorgeous, as expected.
Stuart is truly a Renaissance man, if you ever have a opportunity to speak to him ask him about his Navy Seal training (yes he was trained with Seals also) when he was shot out of a Submarine Torpedo…
nice part is these have the light trim on the same level as the dark body – not the ‘step up’ frm body to trim.
Good Luck w/the ash. Emerald Ash Borer is decimating the wonderful white american ash all over the country. Time for maple or another…
No more baseball bats, hammer handles, etc…