1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe Station Wagon

Car manufacturers worked quickly to meet the demand for new cars by a public eager ready to return to the road following World War II. Many responded by reissuing prewar cars with revised trim to make them fresh. Automobiles produced by Ford, Plymouth and Chevrolet were especially popular due to their affordability and attractive prices. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Plymouth typically ranked No. 2 in volume sales.

The wood-bodied (woodies) vehicles were usually the most expensive models offered by any manufacturer, which kept sales lower than other models. Ford woodies outsold Plymouth woodies by a fair margin, making the Plymouth station wagons some of the rarest of the breed. Approximately 3,450 examples of the Plymouth Special Deluxe woodie were built in 1949, and just 26 of them are known to exist in modern times.

This Plymouth woodie has received an extensive restoration. The white ash structure hosts mahogany exterior panels and maple interior panels. The wood was bleached and then given 10 to 15 coats of marine varnish, resulting in uniformity of color and for shine and protection. The interior has a cloth headliner and sun visors with medium brown upholstery covering the seats. The black rubber floor mats are original, and the steering wheel was restored to like-original condition. The flathead inline 6-cylinder engine was bored .030 over when it was rebuilt by H&H Flatheads, and it's now equipped with an Offenhauser dual intake manifold, twin progressive carburetors, and a dual exhaust manifold. Many of the mechanical components were addressed, rebuilt, or replaced including the addition of a new clutch, new, hard brake lines, fuel lines, hoses and wheel bearings. The 3-speed, column-shifted, manual transmission received new seals and gaskets, and the electrical system received new wiring and was converted to a 12-volt system. The rear axle was rebuilt with new wheel seals and a new differential seal, and the leaf springs retained their original covers.

The exterior is finished in Light Ivory, and the undercarriage was undercoated. It rides on body color-painted steel wheels with polished hubcaps and wide whitewall tires. On the roof is a custom-matched wood surf rack with period-correct hardware.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2022