Ford and Mercury produced their last full wood-bodied station wagons in 1951. The cost of building and maintaining these termite magnets had become cost–prohibitive, so the companies went with all steel bodies in 1952 – with wood appliques attached… more»
Woody
Oct 20, 2024 • For Sale • 14 Comments
Woodie Roller: 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe
In its heyday, the wood-bodied station wagon (aka “woodie” or “woody”) was something of a status symbol. The body was made of real wood, which meant a lot of handwork was required, which also made them expensive. Chevrolet’s last… more»
Sep 2, 2024 • For Sale • 18 Comments
Woodie Roller: 1949 Ford Custom Project
The term ‘woodie” (or “woody”) was coined to refer to the wood-bodied station wagons of the 1930s and 1940s. By the 1950s, they were gone as building and maintaining these vehicles had become cost-prohibitive except for the wealthy. The… more»
May 27, 2024 • For Sale • 26 Comments
Did You Ever Own One? 1979 Toyota Cressida “Woody” Wagon
Toyota nurtured its “luxury niche” ambitions in its home market for several years before finally sending its best offering to the American market in 1978. Called the Cressida, it sold in small numbers at first, thanks to a high… more»
Feb 5, 2024 • For Sale • 9 Comments
So-Cal Original Woody Wagon: 1948 Plymouth Station Wagon
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… more»
Dec 14, 2023 • For Sale • 12 Comments
Carpentry Project: 1950 Plymouth Woody
These days it is hard enough to resurrect a classic vehicle considering our universal constraints on time, energy, and folding money. So, if that vehicle’s return to glory requires an additional type of hard-won talent, is it possible for… more»
Nov 5, 2023 • For Sale • 14 Comments
Termite Proof: 1954 Mercury Monterey “Woodie”
Station wagons with real wood bodies became somewhat popular in the 1930s, but interest died off in the early 1950s as they were expensive to build and maintain. Ford continued the “woodie” look by instead using fiberglass strips and… more»
Oct 30, 2023 • For Sale • 20 Comments
Woody Project: 1952 Dodge Power Wagon
Some classics appear on our desks at Barn Finds that leave me scratching my head. Such is the case with this 1952 Dodge Power Wagon. We have seen these robust old vehicles in many forms over more than a… more»
May 13, 2023 • For Sale • 13 Comments
Wood Bodied American Icon: 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Woodie
The wood-bodied station wagon has become an American icon. Something about them connects Americans back to the pioneer days, the surfing movement, and Hollywood during its heyday. While that market has cooled a bit, there are a few good… more»
Jan 28, 2023 • For Sale • 22 Comments
Restored 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Woody Wagon
Woody wagons are as old as autos themselves. In the early 1900s, they were customs of a sort – a car company or owner delivered a chassis to a specialty coachbuilder and received back a woody. The vehicles were… more»
Apr 20, 2022 • For Sale • 20 Comments
Tidy Driver: 1934 Ford Model 40 Woody Station Wagon
Something is enticing about loading the tribe into a classic station wagon and heading out on the road for an adventure. You could select virtually any station wagon on the planet, and it would perform admirably. Alternatively, you could… more»
Apr 18, 2022 • For Sale • 21 Comments
Accidentally Preserved: 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Wagon
Classic car owners will occasionally perform work on a vehicle with the best intentions. Often, the result will leave a subsequent owner with significant effort and expense to return the vehicle to its former glory. For this 1946 Ford… more»
Feb 26, 2022 • For Sale • 15 Comments
Blank Slate Ambulance: 1940 International Harvester Woody
The story goes that, due to the steel shortage during World War II, manufacturers began using wood as replacements for body panels. Hence, the “woody” was born. The style maintained popularity throughout the decades, even so much as starting… more»
Nov 29, 2021 • For Sale • 23 Comments
One Family Owned: 1937 Ford Woody Wagon
It isn’t unusual for us to see classic cars here at Barn Finds that have been part of the same family since new. However, finding one that has been in that situation for more than eight decades is a… more»
Feb 9, 2021 • For Sale • 32 Comments
Worth Saving? 1948 Packard Station Sedan
You’ll have to have an open mind and an open checkbook for this project. It’s always a sad thing to see a once-elegant and expensive car like this 1948 Packard Station Sedan woody wagon in this condition sitting out… more»
Oct 20, 2020 • For Sale • 25 Comments
Rare 1-Of-10: 1939 International Woody Wagon
There is something very romantic and nostalgic about vehicles associated with national parks. When the National Park Service was founded in 1916 national park designations increased rapidly. As the automobile became more popular, parks transitioned their access away from… more»
