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Wood Estate: 1953 Buick Super Eight Wagon

1953-buick-super-eight-estate-woody-front-corner

What’s better than a wagon? How about a Super Woodie Wagon? The combination of Buick’s Super Eight and Woodie Wagon created what could be one of the best looking wagons to come out of the early ’50s. This 1953 Buick Super Estate Wagon is a rare survivor, as this was the last year Buick built a woodie wagon. There were only 1,800 or so built in ’53 and very few are still on the road today. The seller has listed it here on eBay without a reserve, but with a starting bid of $26,000. Special thanks to Reader P Trout for sharing this with us for Wagon Wednesday.

1953-buick-super-eight-estate-woody-side-view

The Super was one of Buick’s best-selling vehicles during the ’40s and early ’50s, and it’s easy to see why. The Super shared its platform with the Roadmaster and when it received its new V8 in ’53, so did the Super Eight. The new Nailhead V8 displaced 322 cubic inches and put out 170 hp, which was more then adequate to move this wagon down the highway. The seller claims it runs great and can be driven as is. The exterior is believed to be original and while it shows its age, looks presentable. The interior was replaced at some point in time and looks great as well.

1953-buick-super-eight-estate-woody

This Buick marked the beginning of the end for true Woodie wagons and within a few years no manufactures offered a wagon that made use of real wood. These wagons are in demand and finding an original survivor in this condition is uncommon, but the seller’s starting bid seems a little on the high side to us. That being said, we would love to have this parked in our barn just as is. What about you?

Comments

  1. Avatar paul

    I love these tin woodies.

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    • Avatar paul

      from the looks of the bottom I’d say it needs to be media blasted & parts powder coated & floor epoxie prime & pnt pretty quick. Still a great car

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  2. Avatar Gary Reed

    Very Interested in this 53 Buick Wagon, Have Cash.

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    • Avatar scot c

      ~ No Reserve! Bid Now!

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    • Avatar hORSE rADDISH

      I am interested in the Buick wagon too, and I have cash also, so ??
      What’s the big deal ?

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  3. Avatar Dolphin Member

    Another woodie, one of the rarest. I can believe there aren’t many left on the road. Once these had some miles on them and had been rained on a few hundred times, then baked in the sun, the wood started to split or go soft or both, and the cost to fix them was more than they were worth. At that point they got traded or sold cleap, used a bit more, then probably junked. Too bad, because these are really classy and deserve to be saved. I always really like the Art Deco dashes on cars like these.

    The wood looks to be original, but it would take someone who knows these cars well to be certain. Sure, a few pieces might need replacing down the road, but if you can find an old-time wooden boatbuilder you could maybe get it done without needing a big-bucks resto, which would be in keeping with the driver status of the car. Lets hope that a sympathetic owner takes that route and keeps it on the road for people to see what cars were like when they could be half metal and half wood.

    ’53 was the first year of the Buick ‘nailhead’ V8, which replaced the previous straight-8, a very long engine. Replacing a straight-8 with a V8 was not only in keeping with the general trend in the late ’40s and early ’50s to move to V8 power, but it also allowed a shorter front end/larger interior.

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    • Avatar hORSE rADDISH

      now that’s a comment at least….
      interested, have cash (see above) tz,tz,tz

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  4. Avatar Graham Ayers.

    Now that is a CAR … a honkin’ big wagon of a REAL car and a wagon to boot !!
    Some lucky person is going to be able to pull up to a take-out window & watch the face of the person behind the glass DROPPPP …
    I hope the new owner keeps it just as she be. Few & Far Between and just plain LOVERLY.

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  5. Avatar FRED

    BEAUTIFUL RIDE I GUESS WE COULD HAVE A BIDDING WASR GOING HERE CAUSE I HAVE $$$$$$$ TOO AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A BOAT LIKE THIS.I COULD GET MY CUSTOM CABINET MAKER FIX ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WOOD.THE ONLY THING I WOULD HAVE TO SEND IT OUT FOR IS POWDER COATING.

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  6. Avatar AMCFAN

    I know it is wagon Wednesday and this is a cool Buick….but not exactly a barn find. It is in a collector car showroom. A truly special car though. To the previous owners who have owned it treated it as such. It is in great condition. Too good for a barn find. Just saying..For what it is worth the seller has had some nasty feedback in reguards to selling cars. His ebay buyers could have been deadbeats. At any rate could pose a red flag. I would make the trip to Ill. before the sale ends. Before I wire money and send an enclosed transport.

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  7. Avatar fortunaj5q

    Might as well be repetative in saying that I also have the cash, My speciality however, is restoring classic wooden boats in particular, Chris Craft.

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  8. Avatar George

    Now this Buick (1953 Super 8 Woodie Wagon) will bring some big bucks, even though it needs what Paul says should be done.

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  9. Avatar George

    I do think this one is made out of wood. I didn’t look at it real close-just enough to know I like it. I’m taking a short break from the legal poop I’m working on to see if I can get back some of the $ owed me before I croak, so I’ll get out my magnifying glass later this evening and look it over and read the posting.

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