1935 Ford Model 48 Eight Station Wagon

There are times when a practical invention, or application, becomes a sought after and exotic source of identification. A practical example of this could be the H1 Hummer. It was a practical war-machine that became a much sought-after and luxurious sport utility vehicle. There are other such examples of this type of thing happening, especially in the automotive industry.

One other practical example from the auto industry would be the 'Woody', specifically Ford's Woody Wagons from the 1930s.

The use of wood in the auto industry was not uncommon. In the early days of car-production, wood was used quite heavily, and not just for trim and fine detailing. Even luxury cars of the early part of the 20th century used wood extensively in its chassis and frames. However, one of the most practical applications for wood in those days was for the construction of vehicles for commercial purposes, like box-trucks and trailers. By the 1930s, wood, particularly in wood-paneled wagons and coupes, would became greatly sought after and a sign of luxury.

A wood-paneled car made in those days wasn't just a symbol of wealth and influence. It took great wealth to do it, as the process was quite costly for many car manufacturers. As a result, many manufacturers would turn to special coach builders to design wood-paneled cars for customers. Ford was the exception in this matter.

Because many of the cars of that time would use quite a bit of wood trim and detailing, Ford ended up purchasing its own portion of forest for the purpose of logging and preparing wood to be used in its cars. This enabled Ford to offer the public wood-paneled cars at a price quite a bit less than its competition that had to outsource the work to other companies.

In 1935, Ford introduced its new Model 48 chassis. One of the many optional body styles the company offered was a 'Woody' wagon. On the Woody, the steering wheel and interior wasn't merely lined with wood trim. The whole body of the chassis, with the exception of the engine compartment and fenders, came in a high-veneered wood body.

Chassis number 181274186 was one of those Ford Woody Wagons offered in 1935. This Ford Custom Woody underwent a restoration at Kalamazoo, Michigan's Classic Restorations. It included new interior features like Wilton carpets and a 1950s steering wheel complemented by a Lokar gear shifter.

Interestingly, the Woody offered has a 220 hp, 1965 Chevrolet 283 cubic inch V-8, with a four-barrel Weber carburetor and 1956 Corvette heads. Continuing with the amalgamation, the Ford Woody also includes a '57 Corvette solid-lifter and a '63 Corvette intake. The Chevrolet upgrades don't end merely with the engine. The wagon's three-speed automatic transmission is a 1960 Chevrolet T-400 automatic.

The wagon features an independent wishbone front suspension with coil springs. The rear consists of a solid rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. Braking power is performed by hydraulic discs on the front and drums on the rear.

The car was offered by Bill Jacobs from his noted collection. Mr. Jacobs saw the car while still in pieces and decided he had to own it. While not original or entirely custom throughout, it is still a handsome piece of custom craftsmanship, especially its maple wood body and tailgate. A very intriguing, and yet, practical car.

Sources:
'Buys: View Lots (Lot 226: 1935 Ford Woody Custom Wagon)', (http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=AZ11&CarID=r236&fc=0). RM Auctions Arizona. http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=AZ11&CarID=r236&fc=0. Retrieved 6 January 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, 'Ford Model 48', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 December 2010, 09:19 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ford_Model_48&oldid=400285900 accessed 6 January 2011

Wikipedia contributors, 'Station wagon', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 December 2010, 08:16 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Station_wagon&oldid=404267539 accessed 6 January 2011

By Jeremy McMullen