When I first spied the hind side of this 1948 Buick Super Estate Wagon, I thought, yes it does look like a “barn find”, anything with that much wood looks like a barn on wheels. Of course, the pontoon fenders tell you that this is likely a pre’49 automobile and it is, in full profile an impressive, if a bit unusual looking. It’s also a rare bird too, one of only 1,955 assembled that year. I’m really fond of these unusual finds and have to thank Gunter K for this discovery. It’s located in Bellvue, Washington and is available, here on craigslist for $39,995, OBO.
The seller tells us that this is a “Hercules” bodied car and it has been repainted once. It looks great, though a bit busy. The wood veneer and molding are showing some dullness but all-in-all it’s solid without any sign of splits or rot. The vinyl roof covering is a surprise but I have encountered this styling cue on genuine wood-bodied station wagons before. The seller mentions, “Side trim & right rear quarter small dents, left front fender has scratch” but the damage must be minimal and isn’t obvious. Cars of this era were known for their chrome-plated components and stainless steel trim and this Super is no exception – it all presents well.
Fireball anyone? That’s what powers this steel and wood mash-up, specifically, a 115 horsepower, 248 CI, in-line six eight-cylinder engine fireballing its way along via a three-speed manual transmission. The seller advises, “Work since late 2022 consisted of rebuilding the generator and master cylinder, overhauling the brakes, and replacing the exhaust manifold, gaskets, voltage regulator, condenser, and points“. The rear brakes have also experienced an overhaul. Watch this video and you can witness the full woodie driving experience.
One of the more surprising aspects of this car is the amount of wood trim that’s present inside – check out that headliner, what a work of carpentry art! But it continues with the door panels, window frames, cargo area interior panels, and tailgate.
The seating upholstery looks too good to be original, and while it’s not stated, I imagine that it has been replaced. The instrument panel is a bit more restrained than I was expecting but it is overshadowed by the era-typical, chrome-plated, outsized radio speaker grille. I’m not sure what that under-dash gauge is – it looks like an old-school Geiger counter.
Like it or not, this is a spectacular automobile – can you imagine an automaker today going to as much trouble as it must have taken to fit this Super wagon together? The assembly expense, even for ’48, had to be over the top. And of course, the craftsmen who could do this kind of work aren’t exactly commonplace today – adding that much more allure to this seldomly encountered model. I would suggest that the next owner find both a competent mechanic and a carpenter, right?
What a fantastic demonstration of old school craftsmanship from that era!! I’ve been told those in-line eights were torque monsters-any truth to that?
BTW, Jim-Google thinks it knows more about this motor than you and changed your description of the Buick Fireball Valve In-Head DynaFlash Eight to “a 115 horsepower, 248 CI, in-line six-cylinder engine”…
It’s absolutely an eight and I knew that. I’m just not used to writing “straight-eight”, my fingers reflexively, go for “straight-six”.
Thx
JO
Like me, Jim. No matter how hard I think “air-cooled” when a car IS air cooled, I write “water cooled”. No one ever says water cooled, because so many cars are. I don’t know why my brain can’t talk to my fingers on that one.
Michelle:
Second time in one day that I botched it. I covered an ’82 Mercedes 300 CD that I knew was an inline-five, but my fingers did the keyboard walkin’ and wrote “inline-six”. Jim had a real checked-out day yesterday.
JO
It’s simple enough for doubters to see that it is an 8 cylinder: just look at the firing order on the side of the engine!
Michelle,
I have an air-cooled Tatra V8. When I take it to car shows, I have a sign that says it’s cooling system is 78% Nitrogen, rather than indicate it’s an air-cooled V8.
yeah, that 248 is a straight eight.
What ? No idiotic LS it comment ?
What ! No LS swap suggestion?
Looks like only your two in a row so far, mike.
This is a beautiful wagon. Love the wood on it. And that’s a Buick straight 8 engine with a 3 speed manual. It’s not a 6. I seen some of these wagons done up and sell for over $100,000. This is a good price for a woody. I would just maintain it and drive to shows and enjoy it. To redo the wood would cost a small Fortune. Love the wood inside also. Yes there so much going on here and that’s what makes it special. Good luck to the next owner.. 🐻🇺🇸
The vinyl roof is not decorative. It’s what keeps water from damaging the artistry of the wooden headliner below.
Personally, this is one of my favorite woodies. I love the blending of the sweeping Buick fender line with the wood body above.
Beautiful car. Driving it back home cross country would be quite the adventure
Not as long as you keep it on the trailer!
She’s a beauty
What ? No idiotic LS it comment ?
Is the aftermarket parking assist behind the front wheel included in the sale?
Beautiful car. Best of luck to the new owner and respect this vehicle.
think the e-brake wrks?
This is end of an era (which carries into ‘tin woodies’ which I really like too).
Once the roof swaps out the rag top to metal or vinyl I can appreciate them more. Just the lines (style, design, looks) not the ease of maintenance as I’d never afford one. Like to hear them drive by for some sense of how all that wood rides (is there plenty of squeaky, squeak)?
My fav motor too, i8. It too is around justa few more yrs…
Stunning. My mouth is still open!
I never knew anything like this had ever been built, and still in such beautiful condition. All that outstanding factory work may have been partly due to spirits still being high due to the war being finished successfully. The only “disadvantage” I can see is trying to take a quick trip to the grocery store and home again without being noticed and slowed down with conversation, unless it’s 6:00 AM or right before closing at midnight. And even then….
To me a ’40 Ford Woody is more trim and streamlined.
Are the rear lights mounted on the mid rear panel original? A guess is that the lights built into the rear wheel fairings were found to be inadequate, even for that time.
As a kid growing up in Calif. we had a 47′ Pontiac woodie wagon with a flathead eight. My dad wasn’t what you’d call a wood working craftsman, but he was a perfectionist and he replaced almost all of the wood on that car over the few years he owned it. I can’t imagine what he would have to pay today for all that mahogany lumber he replaced???