You learn a lot writing for Barn Finds. After typing out over 800 write-ups, one of the more common themes is that cars from Southern California are, for the most part, well-preserved. You can almost count on a car from this area being rust-free and worth the extra effort to purchase. Take for example this 1948 Plymouth station wagon for sale on Craigslist in San Clemente, California. This highly original Plymouth woody is unrestored and looking for a buyer with a $42,000 asking price. Would you pay extra for a car from an area with a great climate? Thanks again to T.J. for this surfer classic!
The story of this car is remarkable. Since 1948, this wagon has had only two owners. Carmel, California was the original owner’s home base, and it has occupied the current owner’s garage for 25 years. It has been used sparingly over the past 76 years. The mileage currently sits at 56,332, and that may be the true mileage given the vehicle’s condition.
The seller tells us that this photogenic beauty cruises down the road “as straight as an arrow.” Given the lore surrounding the woody wagon and its role in Southern California surf history, the seller’s claim that it turns heads in its home turf could be one of the world’s biggest understatement. Regardless of how it looks, the car is said to be reliable and ready to drive at a moment’s notice.
While the car is highly original, work has been done to keep it on the road and ready for travel. One of the most important repairs you can do to a wood-bodied automobile is to make sure that the wiring is up to date-and in good condition. We are assured that there is new wiring and new connections where it has been needed. The car has also been treated to new headlights, new dash panel lights, and a new speedometer cable.
As for the body itself, the seller believes that all of the wood and metal are original to the car. Unfortunately, there is no mention of the special maintenance required for wood-bodied vehicles being documented. Perhaps because it has been garaged its entire life this has not been necessary. We are told that the exterior top material has been replaced with period-correct material. The three bench seats have also been recovered, with the foam and springs being updated as well.
More work has occurred under the car and under the hood to get this woody ready for sale. The fuel system has been refreshed with a new fuel filter, fuel lines, and a sending unit. The tank was removed and cleaned, the carburetor was rebuilt, and the gas gauge was rebuilt. The engine was tuned up, the oil changed, the rear brakes replaced, and the rear differential received service as well. Among the parts replaced were the spring shackles, parking brake cable, spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, condenser, points, and rotor. The vehicle also rolls on four new tires.
In all, this is a remarkably well-preserved station wagon that is ready for travel. Imagine what a fun road trip you could have with this as your transportation. Or, you could purchase it and drive it occasionally. Your fun would be walking out to the garage late at night to just look upon it and dream of all the trips it made in its lifetime. An original car of this vintage is rare, and it is good that a small section of the country has a better-than-average record of preserving such treasures.
Have you ever purchased a car from Southern California? Did you pay extra for the condition? Was it worth it? Please share your story in the comments.
California is a good place for this woody. It shouldn’t get that wet qand can be properly looked after. The X-father-in-law won a 1948 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible in 1948 and took better care of it than his own kids. One time, while visiting him I went with him somewhere in his T & C and had to drive through a sprinkler. When we got past the sprinkler he stopped and got out to dry the wood off of water. He folded paper towelling to soak up any moisture where aqny joins in the wood were. Meticulous to the point, the trip took a hour longer than it should have.
Nice woody appearing quite original (to a non expert). However, looking closely at all the ad pics, the exterior wood desperately needs refinishing, and the paint is worn and thin. In this condion IMO $35k tops. Still, I love cars like this one with good “bones”.
In the words of the great and wise Cosmo Kramer; “it’s the wood that makes it good”.
We’re goin’ to Surf City, where it’s 2 to 1,( which happened to be Huntington Beach),,,,,you know, if I’m the only one that brings up those great songs( not what happened right after) so be it. That music CAN’T be forgotten, but it will. It’s barely mentioned now. It was a wonderful time to be a kid, and Jan and Dean and the Beach Boys, Surfin’ Safari the flip side to 409 on the 45 single btw,, (the what grandpa?) made it all the better. Surf City mentions a ’30 Ford wagon, although for years, we thought it was a ’34 wagon, “with no back seat or a rear window”, but the songs created such a cult, any woody(woodie) would do. The jury is still out on what spelling, comes up 50/50. “Woody” usually means a tree filled area. Seems the “woodie” one is used for cars. It’s a fabulous vehicle, but what’s that lever by the steering wheel, gramps? People think I’m nuts, but if the modern trucking industry has showed, automatics greatly increase the pool of drivers, with almost all trucks today automatic. The stick will kill the deal, I’m telling you.
I wouldn’t want to drive it on “dead man’s curve”, lol.
Reminds me of Pete,Linc & Julie riding around undercover on “The Mod Squad” loved that show and it’s still on TV (MeTV Plus) RIP Clarence Williams III & Peggy Lipton. Nice wagon.
To answer Jeff’s initial question: No. Funny how the entertainment business has shaped perceptions about California. “Baywatch” is fiction folks. Both San Clemente and Carmel are on the coast, so this car was exposed to damp salt air, and Carmel is foggy and damp most of the year, with plenty of rain.
Granted it’s not Michigan or some part of the northeast, but unless you’re referring to the southeastern desert, California is plenty wet enough to rust any car. No premium price for California cars.
I smiled when I read about them replacing the speedometer-cable: I’ll BET they did!!! That was a weakness in ’48 Plymouths — the speedometer would make a “jih-jih-jih-jih-jih” noise, and register all over the place (usually much higher than the actual speed!). Otherwise, these were pretty good cars. After replacing that speedometer cable at least thrice, you got the point, that this was going to be a “problem”. WORSE things could beset a car. That six wasn’t all so potent, either, in climbing long and steep hills. But this wasn’t a Packard, after all. Nice car! As for the 1962-1963 hot-rod and surf hit-music: I was long past being a “kid” during those years. Talk to me of the hits in 1948.
Even needing some cosmetic work, $30K +, would not be a surprise, “Hy-Drive” semi auto didn’t show up until ’53, real nice restored versions can hit double that amount or more, manual transmission has no effect on value. Nice original if that’s what you want.