1948 Pontiac Streamliner Station Wagon

This Pontiac Streamliner 'Woodie' Station Wagon is powered by a 248.9 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine delivering 104 horsepower in standard trim or 106 horsepower with the optional high-compression cylinder head. The company offered the Streamliner chassis with three body styles; this included the hand-built Woodie station wagon being the most expensive model in the entire Pontiac range. With a wheelbase of 122 inches, the Pontiac Streamliner Wooide was the largest on the market and offered seating for up to nine individuals. Furthermore, the rear seats could be removed for additional load-carrying space. The base price of $2,500 made it a very expensive option and out of the reach of many would-be Pontiac customers.

The 1948 model was the final year for what might be termed the 'real' Woodies, when the entire rear body structure was constructed of timber. In 1949, steel was used for the roof and progressively fewer components were made of wood up to 1953 when the last of these Pontiac station wagons was made. The body was built by the skilled craftsman at the Ypsylanti Furniture Co in Michigan, where no fewer than 523 parts were made from either mahogany or Canadian maple.

For 1948, Pontiac produced 23,000 vehicles with just 1,000 of those fitted with the eight-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission. This example was finished on December 29th of 1947 and delivered new in May of the following year to Mrs. Emilie Noble Cooper, of Westport, Connecticut and Santa Barbara, Southern California. The car came from the factory with an electric clock, fog lamps, radio, Weather Chief heater, heavy-duty bumper guards and whitewall tires.

The car remained with Mrs. Cooper until 1977, when it passed into the care of Mr. W. Swartley on September 22nd of that year for $400. The next recorded owner was Mr. Jeff Ruether, of San Clemente, California, who purchased the car on March 20th, 1981 for $4,300 and immediately undertook a complete restoration. After the work was completed, the car was featured in the May 1982 edition of Car Collector magazine as 'Collector Car of the Month.' In September of that year the car went on to win 'Best of Show' in the National Woodie Club's Wavecrest Inn Meet with 35 Woodies entered. After the event, the car was purchased by Stephan Drogin, who brought it to Hawaii where he lived, flying it periodically back to California during his five years of ownership.

In 1989, the car was purchased by a Swedish Woodie enthusiast Heinz Wessely for $36,000 and taken to Söderhamn, Sweden. He kept the car until 1993 when it was sold to Anders Bergstom of Alvjso, Sweden. While in his care, the engine, clutch and gearbox were completely overhauled in 1995. Ownership passed to a German enthusiast in 2005 at which time it was featured in a three page article in Street magazine.

In 2011, the car was treated to a major photo documented wood restoration and preservation work for a cost of $20,000. During that time, the front shock absorbers were also replaced, new batteries and a new exhaust system was fitted.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2015