The Ford Woodie Wagons

..fun, cheerful and stunning to behold..

Imagine ... stripping and varnishing the bodywork on your car, annually!

Although every major manufacturer eventually built woody wagons, it was Ford's 1935 and 1936 models that really distinquished the company as America's luxury wagon leader.  

The manufacturing of woodies was extremely time-consuming since much of the work was done by hand and required the expertise of well-trained craftsmen.  As many as 150 separate pieces of wood were involved in the production of a single vehicle, with the weight of the wood adding 200-300 pounds to each one.  Glued and screwed seams came loose frequently, producing squeaks, rattles and groans.  Bodywork demanded as much attention as the finest wooden boats yet there was something about Ford Woodies that made them magical, even though according to some sources, the company consistently lost money despite the woody's allure. 

Restored 1934 Ford Woodie with a "required" surfboard attached to the roof.

1941 Ford Woodie Wagon

The scarcity of materials and the focus on manufacturing for the war effort meant that civilian automobile production was significantly reduced.  As a result the 1941 Ford Woodie Wagon is considered a rare and highly sought-after collector's item and is the most popular car in the 1940s.

1941 Ford Woodie Wagon

Total production numbers for the Ford Woodie Wagon often ranged in the low thousands during the early 1940s before production shifted to war efforts though 1941 was a major production year.

1950 Ford Woodie Wagon restomod*, 6 speed automatic custom interior and paint.

*A restomod is short for "restored and modified".  A classic vehicle that has been restored to its original aesthetic appearance though upgraded with modern technology, performance parts and comfort amenities.  The goal is to combine vintage styling with contemporary reliability, safety and drivability such as adding fuel-injected engines, disc brakes and air conditioning.