1939 Ford DeLuxe V8 Model 91A Deluxe Station Wagon

This Ford Deluxe Station Wagon is constructed of Birdseye Maple. The 'Birseye' is in reference to its grain patter, resembling a sea of tiny, swirling 'eyes'. It is not a species of tree, but a condition that arises from complex causes and known to occur in several types of trees, including ash, mahogany, beech, walnut and birch. The most common Birdseye is found in Acer saccharin, the sugar maple.

This 'Birdseye' formation is perhaps the result of low soil pH and a sugar deficit within the tree. It is believed that the 'eyes' are created from new shots whose growth has been aborted, leaving tiny knots, forming the birds' eyes, which become covered by the next year's grown ring. The full understanding of the process remains elusive.

The Birdseye Tree is highly prized for making fine furniture, automobile bodies, or trim.

Birdseye trees are often found in the forests of the Great Lakes region of Canada and Michigan. This was the location of Ford's Iron Mountain. Thus, it was commonly used in Ford station wagons. Some of the wagons had 'birdseye' wood, while others did not. It is even believed that Henry Ford may have retained a small inventory of Birdseye wagon parts, and used for orders from special customers or for presentation on a particular occasion.

The original owner of this wagon was a customer in the Hope Ranch section of Santa Barbara. Hope Ranch had become a residential community in the 1920s and remains a semi-autonomous section of the city today. In the 1930s, it had become an upscale community.

Later in life, this car became part of the Nick Alexander. It was given a freshening while preserving many of its original features. The roof is covered in new brown artificial leather. The glass is all original with Ford scripts. The bright-work is in excellent condition, but there is some wear on the tailgate handle. The seats are upholstered with brown leather and there are lap belts for two in the front. The spare tire is mounted behind the driver's seat under a matching cover. The dashboard is newly restored Mahogany woodgrain. The car has a radio, with windshield header antenna.

In 2009, this Ford Deluxe Station Wagon was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in Monterey, California presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $150,000-$200,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for the sum of $209,000 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009