(first posted July 4, 2023) I’ve long been a Long Roof guy. My first car was a Wagoneer and since then tailgates, fold-down seats, and vehicles with the flexibility of a limbo champion have figured large in my life. As a car lover touring the Arizona classic car auctions in January, there were lots of vehicles I delighted in seeing, yet nothing could make me stop and gawk faster than a good station wagon. Wagons are a small minority there, naturally, but they were well represented by some fantastic examples, 17 of which I’ll show here between today and part II tomorrow.
As in the previous articles in this series, it should be easy to skim through and pick and choose, take or leave my commentary, click on the auction house links, basically whatever level of involvement these cars inspire in you. Have fun! I did.
Looking through my photos, I realized the wagons (found mostly at Barrett-Jackson) represent a pretty good overview of station wagon history. So this will be partly an auction review and partly a history tour. Let me be your unofficial docent as we look at wagon history through some beautiful former work horses in their restored, or in some cases surprisingly original, glory.
1937 Ford Model 78 Station Wagon Ford was the originator of factory station wagons in 1929 and had the market to themselves for much of the 30s. 1937 was a unique year for front end styling and a favorite of Ford aficionados. The combination of tear drop headlights and wood bodywork are tough to resist.
Even more special is the originality of this example. The seller states that the vinyl top is original and the paint and wood are “mostly” original. The grayish tan color is quite distinctive and interesting. 1937 was the first year for optional glass windows all around, with still-standard canvas/plastic flaps the norm up until then.
The interior is original, too, including upholstery
If you’ve never heard the station wagon backstory: in the teens and twenties a number of companies would build a custom wood body onto a car or truck chassis to make a vehicle designed to cart large amounts of people and luggage to and from the train station. It was a wagon for the station, or a Station Wagon (a.k.a Depot Hack). Ford figured why let somebody else sell these when we can sell them ourselves?
Ford initially contracted with outside firms to do the bodywork, but gradually moved the operation in-house until late 1936 when the wagons were fully Ford-made including harvesting and milling wood from Ford’s own Iron Mountain forest in U.P. Michigan. When other brands added station wagons to their lines in the 30s and 40s, they mostly had contractors do the woodwork.
$38,500
1940 Oldsmobile Series 60 Station Wagon. Have you ever seen a 1940 Oldsmobile wagon in person? I’m pretty sure I never had. It’s the first year Olds sold a wagon and they only made 633. How many survived? Word on the street is maybe 4 (According to this article. Could that be the same car?). The seller states this was a one family car in reportedly excellent condition until 6 years ago when it was purchased and restomodded.
Most marques added factory woodys in the late 30s and early 40s leading up to WWII. Of course, that came to an abrupt stop as car production switched to war materiel. Woody tanks turned out to be a non-starter.
The original six cylinder engine is long gone from the car. With a crate Chevy 350 Vortec, coilover suspension front and rear, power steering and brakes, air conditioning and even a full modern stereo system, this woody is said to drive as much like a modern car as a woody can. If that’s what you want in a woody, this is the car for you. It’s a tasteful, high-quality hotrod. I can’t help but be a little torn about it, though. Hotrodding a rust-free, mostly original car which may be one of as few as four extant? If it was a relatively common Ford, no problem. A 40 Olds? Seems sacrilegious somehow.
Here’s the money shot. Nothing is as sexy to a wagon lover as a wood roof! $51,700
1946 Ford Super Deluxe Station Wagon. Of the full-wood-body wagon era, 46-48 Fords had the highest production and are relatively common today. Happily, they are great looking wagons and have the most refined wood bodywork of the era. Notice the slight convex curve of doors, the jut out over the running board area, the less steep slope at the front of the vinyl roof going down to meet the windshield, the roll down rear windows. Ford also, starting in 1939, nailed the ideal woody look with dark mahogany panels surrounded by lighter maple or birch structural pieces for their Deluxe models.
Once again, this wagon is billed as unrestored in “mostly” original condition. Anyone who’s had wood patio furniture or deck has an idea how fragile wood bodywork must be and how remarkable that preservation is. All these original woodys had to have had exceptionally good storage and care their entire lives to not have suffered wood rot over the last 70 or 80 years. That’s even more of an accomplishment than the corresponding original paint and rust free bodies, which would be remarkable enough on any other car.
Wood roofs don’t get any more handsome. The beautiful contrast between light and dark colored wood continued on the interior side panels. $44,000
1949 Mercury Eight Station Wagon. Lest you think every woody is original, this Merc represents the actual majority in the world by being restored. Though not a true full woody, the 49-51 Ford/Mercury are the most unique, and arguably the most beautiful, woody wagons made.
It’s questionable whether the two door configuration helped the functionality but it sure did help the styling. I’ve never been a fan of the 49-50 Ford front end styling, but the Merc (which shared the junior Lincoln’s body shell and basic styling) is dope in my book. The Mercury’s longer wheelbase, simple grille, and just enough traditional front fender trailing back into the gorgeous wood bodywork are enough to make my legs wobble. I’d better stand back or I’ll be tempted to use the car to support myself!
I always wondered why Ford went with a two-door design for these wagons and I finally tracked down the answer in Collectible Automobile. The woody wagons, unsurprisingly, had never been a money maker, so Ford wanted their new model to make money, or at least lose less. They also wanted to shore up the creaky, loose bodies associated with station wagons. Two doors are cheaper than four to make, and also more structurally sound, so two wide doors was their answer.
Of course, the biggest contributor to the new car’s bodily rigidity was the steel underbody. Outer panels were a thin veneer, while frame pieces were pressure-formed laminates, all fitted over a steel structure with a steel roof.
The door panels are gorgeous but I can’t say the inside is as beautiful as the outside. It’s kind of a mess of colors. I count three shades of woodgrain, real and painted, plus a tan steering column, white steering wheel, black floor and green upholstery. The original green leather was said to have been retained in the restoration. $59,400
Apologies, my camera didn’t get along with the low, late afternoon desert winter sun at MAG
1951 Chevrolet Deluxe Styline Wagon. GM’s approach to the transition to steel bodies differed by division. When Chevy came out with their new 1949 model, they offered both wood/steel (like the Buick below, similar in concept to the 49-51 Ford) and all-steel versions. That only lasted one year, after which only the all-steel version was sold. However, the all-steel Chevy was the most thorough facsimile of a woody wagon that would ever be made.
GM used a photo transfer process to impart a convincing birch and mahogany look. Only the perfect smoothness and glossiness gives it away.
Framing on the door sills and laminate paneling on the doors are actual wood. Dash is photo-woodgrain. Upholstery has been redone in a non-original style. $23,000
1951 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon There’s an otherworldly, dreamy quality to this car. Like it’s hard to wrap your head around the idea there was a brief time when they actually sold cars that looked like this. My gosh, the curves! The massive toothy grille and bumper! The looong hood! This car pushed a lot of buttons for me: Buick wagon, check. Real wood, check. Dark green over wood, check. Original condition, check.
The many imperfections are made up for by the originality, though the seller doesn’t explicitly state that the exterior is original. Sure looks like it to me. He states it was originally exported to southern France. Classy. And it must have really seemed otherworldly to postwar Frenchmen.
Representing GM’s transitional wood wagons, the body structure was steel and the wood components were only there because that’s what high-end wagon buyers expected. Really, wooden pieces were not necessary at all and accordingly real wood would disappear on other GM wagons in this generation. In this era, Buick never offered fake wood and held the line with real wood through 1953, the last woody in America.
Interior is likewise beautiful and classy. The seller does state the interior is original. I like the 50’s or 60’s vintage aftermarket radio.
The roof isn’t as sexy, but the tailgate is! $38,500
If you prefer a restored car, there was also a 1951 Buick Super Estate Wagon, with 5 in shorter wheelbase and smaller engine, that sold for $46,200
1953 Mercury Monterey Station Wagon. Termite interest in Ford’s wagons took a major drop in 1952. Industrywide, wagon bodies were mostly all steel now. The last stage in Ford’s transition was 52-54, when Ford optionally and Mercury standard came with woodgrain Di-Noc for the panels and A-D Pillars, with real birch or maple framing on the lower body. The wagons were undoubtedly cheaper to produce, but the prices remained the same. That’s what auto executives call a Win-Win Situation!
FoMoCo was alone for the next 10+ years in promulgating a wood look in their wagons. The appearance was still striking but the ownership experience no longer required much extra maintenance or structural sacrifices. In 1954, Ford’s “woodys” changed the real wood framing to fiberglass. After the 1954 Chevy/Pontiac, GM dropped any wood look on their wagons until the late 60s.
Accessing the rear seat(s) was easier too, since Ford/Mercury reverted to offering the obviously more practical 4-door configuration for 1952. Ford did still have 2-door wagons, as did others, which I will hit in part II tomorrow.
It was stated this car received a top quality restoration and has won awards.
Those heads sure are flat! 1953 was the last year for the Flathead V8, making 125hp from 255.4c.i. in Mercurys. The “Y-block” OHV V8 would be standard in 1954 in all Mercurys and optional in Fords.
This Merc brought the highest price of any wagon automobile at B-J, including the real woodys. $64,900
for the rest of the story, part II:
Auction Classic: Arizona 2023 – A Walk Through Wagon History, part II
The rest of the series, (if you can’t get enough classic cars or you missed any the first time around):
Auction Classics: Arizona 2023 – It’s Only Original Forever, part 1 of 2
Auction Classics: Arizona 2023 – It’s Only Original Forever, part 2 of 2
Auction Classics: Arizona 2023 – How Low [Mileage] Can You Go? part 1 of 2
Auction Classics: Arizona 2023 – How Low [Mileage] Can You Go? part 2 of 2
Auction Classic: Arizona 2023 – Best Of The Rest: GM (Part 1 of 2)
Auction Classic: Arizona 2023 – Best Of The Rest, part 2 of 2
For even more wagon auction gems:
Auction Classic: Wagons, Independents and Freaks in Scottsdale 2018 Wagons I found on my last trip to Scottsdale. There weren’t as many, but there are some choice longroofs including 1938 Ford, 1956 Plymouth, 1957 Oldsmobile Fiesta, and 1961 Chevy Nomad.
Auction Classic: Barrett-Jackson 2010 This one covered a small selection of great 50s and 60s cars including three sweet wagons: 1954 Ford Country Squire, 1958 Chevy Brookwood, 1960 Pontiac Catalina Safari.
Wow so much goodness there .
Most of the wagons I rode in in the 50’s & 60’s were basic strippers .
Uncle Bill had an ‘A’ Model Ford wagon at his Cap Cod house .
-Nate
Never a fan of station wagons (preferring upscale coupes, converts,and sedans), I now appreciate seeing a genuine station wagon. A couple of 93? Buick Roadmaster (complete with faux wood panels) are in the area. The great American station wagons were, to me MUCH better than current crop of SUVS and crossovers. We had a 55 Rambler wagon for a second car when I was a kid. Family friends had a 57 DODGE wagon. One very interesting vehicle was a 1950 DeSoto (believe it was called a Carryall) that friends owned. A four door (wood trimmed) with a rear seat that folded forward to create cargo space accessible from trunk and rear doors.
I’d have a hard time settling on just one here. The sole exception is the 1940 Oldsmobile, as modified cars aren’t my thing. I think I’ve narrowed it down to three, though.
1. The color of green that Wagoneer is sporting combined with just a splash of vinyl timber and brightwork. I can’t stop staring at that photo! Yum.
2. AMC Eagle. These were very common when I was growing up. I always liked the styling, and admired their ability to keep on moving when most other cars were stuck in a snow drift.
3. That Pinto. Uh huh. No, I didn’t hit my head. It’s only been in the last few years that I started noticing Pintos surfacing and heading off to the auction block, and most of them have been in vibrant colors with an equally bright colored interior. After being lulled to a state of highway hypnosis by the pavement and concrete colored vehicles with equally sobering interiors that make up todays landscape, the Pinto Bean is bringing it! It’s a Cruising Wagon, no less, with rather tasteful disco era graphics… and I do like the 1977-78 facelift the best. I do remember the seats in these being pretty awful, seemingly sitting you a few inches off the floor, but I’m willing to make some sacrifices to drive something factory equipped with those plexi porthole windows.
…The very, very pre-halogen Marchal headlamps with very, very French yellow bulbs!
Ah! Well, that qualifies as otherworldly. Splains the headlamps, too.
I don’t know about the Southern France part, but it has UK registration plates – on looking it up I see that it was first registered in the UK in 2003, but hasn’t been taxed since 2007.
Shows what a great choice of colours and combinations were available back then compared to the whites and greys today. That yellow is stunning.
Well done! Thanks for your work. Some folks went to a lot of restorative work!
I grew up with a 1957 Plymouth wagon, 1963 Dodge 440 wagon, and a 1974 Dodge Crestwood. The ’57 I was a bit young to remember well. The ’63 had the venerable 318 under the hood and I had my first kiss in that one. Took it away to college for a few years and sold it to a family friend who was a surfer. That car was built very well.
The ’74 was fully a victim of the California smog restrictions. Had a 2 barrel 400 which was not happy with any altitude above sea level. Hung in there until my parents decided to ditch the wagon idea and bought a 1978 Pontiac Phoenix. Lord help us.
I’m grateful for this very American Fourth-of-July treat, being raised in 1950s-60s Ford wagons (mostly non-Squires). I’ve seen very few *real woodies up close, but if suddenly $$$-rich I’d surely become an owner.
For the 1960s Country Squires I like the white paint, but today’s green cars really, really appeal—thanks!
Varnished wood. So pretty, and when just varnished, smells so good.
But the maintenance of such beautiful wood on a boat used in salt water is eye- wateringly difficult and has to be done every year.
And heaven help the first mate when a fly lands in the middle of a perfectly smooth panel that has yet to dry. Or a gust of wind that blows dirt and sand in your direction during one’s varnishing effort.
Now cars are [hopefully] not impacted by salt water, but varnished wood maintenance for land based vehicles is still an effort that does not fit into most people’s current skill sets, patience, and available time.
These woodies are beautiful museum pieces, and I’d love to drive that ’51 Buick just to hear the big straight 8 and Dynaflow working together.
Thank you for putting this post together.
“Premature Publication is real and it’s treatable… “. Funny to read; not to experience!
When I worked at a paint store in the early 1970’s we still carried “Station Wagon Varnish”.
You are absolutely right about the maintenance time involved in keeping woodie wagons pristine. My Mom and Dad had a 51 Ford Country Squire for 9 years, they also had three sons who performed the very delicate (fine grit sandpaper, careful wipe down, then thin coat of varnish, if I recall correctly) maintenance protocol required. My brothers and I were envious of neighborhood pals who had only to wash, and very occasionally wax, parental wagons. The woodie was finally replaced by a 1960 Country Sedan. Mom regarded the 1960 Country Squires as “plastic cars”.
That 40 Oldsmobile. Welcome to a prime case of my loathing for pesto-rods. That owner who converted it should be taken out and shot.
So far, the only thing I’ve seen worse than that was the same treatment to a 34 Hupp Aerodynamic.
I know you don’t mean it seriously, but that’s an inappropriate comment.
FWIW, it’s just a car, and owners have the right to do with them as they please. Your POV is not the only one.
Yeah Paul, don’t think Syke considered what he wanted to say! But, I felt sad reading about that Olds too. Only maybe 4 left?
Restorodding rare cars annoys the hell out of me, taking a piece of history (especially one that supposedly was in original running condition) and turning it into just another SBC street rod is a travesty. And yes, I engaged in a bit of deliberate hyperbole, all the more to make my point.
I suppose we should be grateful that Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs go for such major amounts of money, or some yahoo would be dropping a SBC into them.
At least it looks stock on the outside with stock (at least looking) wheels and hubcaps, which is not necessarily typical for a restomod. Inside the steering column is a thick modern one accommodating the Turbo Hydro PRNDL, with a modern period-ish styled steering wheel that’s way smaller than the original.
If you are going to do a lot of actual using a car the far better modern brakes, power steering, and AC would certainly be welcome for me. And less polluting if the catalytic converter is included.
Exactly my point. It’s a very tastefully done restomod. Great looking car and from a functional point of view, it would be great to own. But the opportunity cost! I mourn the alternative of a beautiful refurbished or restored stock example of a rare and historic car.
What people forget is that most old cars drive terribly by modern standards, assuming the modern driver can drive a manual transmission, wrestle with slow non-power steering, and live without air-conditioning. Most are really slow, steering is imprecise, brakes are awful, fuel economy is mediocre, so unless you want a garage queen or museum exhibit, a tasteful resto-mod is a way to keep old cars on the road and used and perhaps captured as a Curbside Classic.
Beautiful cars, great post.
That ’51 Buick is my pick of the lot, and at its selling price, it seems quite affordable. Clicking through to the auction page, it seems that it may have quite an amazing story behind it. Apparently, one of the grill badges is from Cameroon. As in Africa. Which got me to thinking about whether it is possible to drive from France to Cameroon. Apparently, the answer is “yes”. Nowadays there’s a highway that runs pretty much due North from Cameroon to Morocco whereupon you take a ferry to Spain and it’s easy from there. I can imagine in the 1950s it might have been a bit more exotic a trip and could have taken longer than the 5 – 7 days it takes now, but still likely do-able.
Can you imagine seeing something like that Roadmaster on a desert highway in the Sahara? Amazing.
Driving through the desert may have been one reason for the gigantic aftermarket sun visor still installed.
Yeah, I would too love to know the full back story. Be a great car for a magazine article.
Ooooh, pure decadence! I would certainly not have liked to have been the guy charged with keeping one of these looking good, but one would have been beautiful to experience with someone else doing the work. I have chanced on a handful of old woodie wagons over the years, and I am always struck by how much hand labor must have gone into building them.
I will join the crowd here, and ooooh and aaaah at that 51 Roadmaster wagon.
Great photos of beautiful cars, but looks like the bottom has fallen out of the woody market – prices seem to be about half what I remember seeing from 20 years ago.
I noticed that, too. They’re still not cheap, but the bubble seems to have burst. Hopefully the prices in the future will at least cover the cost of restoration.
Woodie goodies! I can’t readily pick a favorite, but yes, that Roadmaster is very compelling, although it would be more so with a bit of real wood in the interior.
There is a wood window molding along the top of the windows running from back to front which lends just a touch of wood flavor. I agree it could use a bit more.
Great collection here!
Just last week I was at a car museum that had a similarly beautiful ’49 Mercury woodie (pic below) – it was great to be able to admire it up close.
Of all these cars featured in your article, though, the one that really gets me is the ’53 Mercury. Somehow that wood adds a great deal of design interest to the overall car – I love it.
Thanks! The 53 Merc is really nice looking. I can’t say I like it more than the real woodies, but it’s pretty sweet. All the 50’s Ford and Merc woodies are great looking, I think, even after they went 100% Dinoc and fiberglass. They were so good looking, I’m surprised it took until the late 60’s for other makers to jump onto that style. It got to be a bit overdone and cliched, perhaps, but I still feel that most larger wagons are complimented well with the wood look.
Nice write up and photos. I could almost smell the varnish sitting here reading it.
Thanks! That’s the idea, at least until someone invents the smell-ernet.
What a great history, and gathering of wagons. When I was in primary school, I fell in love with a teacher’s Dodge Monaco Crestwood wagon, circa 1977. Exact colour combination, as this one. As a kid, I was entirely partial to faux wood. Especially, when car makers did a good job, integrating the wood-effect design element.
That is fantastic! Love it!
I love that restmodled 1940 Oldsmobile-I know the modifications to it would probably anger a lot of puristists, but that would be the thing to put my Newfoundland in and hit the dog show circuit.
1940 was the year Oldsmobile introduced Hydra-Matic. I’d love to know if the car had it originally.
I find the ’46 Ford to be my favorite, the color combination is just delightful. I grew up with wagons, as my Dad found them to be perfectly suited to his needs. I learned to drive in our ’64 Pontiac Tempest. For some reason my Wife was completely anti wagon for years, but she was okay with minivans and ultimately SUVs. I didn’t get a wagon of my own until I was retired, an old ’97 V8 Explorer, and now I have a Flex and a Navigator.
Those woody wagons display so much craftsmanship!
An awesome selection, having thought about it all day, I’ll take the 1937 Ford as my current favorite.
The 37-38 styling certainly is unique, I recall reading in my late 1960’s hot rod magazines that these Fords were not highly regarded for their styling.
I think the feelings about 37-38 Fords have softened. Back in the original hotrodding days, the early 30’s Fords were the conventional choice. But I’ve seen 37-38 rods and nonrods, enough to give the impression they are a respected alternative today.
Loved these – I kept picking a new favourite as I read through.
Looking back, I think I’ll take the 1951 Raodmaster, with its UK registration it starts to call me….
…..and there’s another Roadmaster near here to act a guide
…and now with an image as well….hopefully this time
That is indeed a unique beast in those parts!
That ’40 Olds is sad. Not just because such a rare vehicle has been rodded, but to my eye the seriously curvaceous (and lovely) front end doesn’t quite go with the straight-sided wood body. I know this ‘mismatch’ was common among woody wagons around this time as curves multiplied, but somehow the Olds seems to accentuate the awkwardness more than most. Maybe it’s the colour? And the shape of the front door window is weird. It would look strange as you wound the window down…
My favourite has to be the Buick. I got that far and had real trouble reading any further. Might copy that photo for the desktop on my computer.
A classic woody in scale? Sure!
Nice. Now that you’ve done GM and Ford I hope you will get to the simpler Chrysler lineup. Just one basic woodie wagon body across four brands but many differences and also many changes in the woodie versions from year to year. The all metal two door versions arrived in 1950 and by the next year all the woodies were gone.
Oops, the two door metal wagon appeared with the new 1949 Plymouths but apparently not soon enough for the brochure. 1949 1/2?
I didn’t see any Chrysler woodies, sadly. I believe 1950 was the end of the line for woody Mopars, which seems weird that they wouldn’t have kept them for that whole generation.
In 1980, I learned how to drive in a 1977 Plymouth Gran Fury Sport Suburban.
That’s a cool tank!
Those are super rare! No too many Monza’s on the road either! Looks like a Duster and a Lemans in the Driveway as well.
That 1940 Olds is a true novelty! Restomod though it may be, it looks amazing. Torn between that and the Buick… Or maybe the green Ford, now that I’m looking at them again. Hard to pick just one!
Interesting that some didn’t like the ’37 ~ ’38 Fords, I’m old and have always thought Ford had a lock on the best styling throughout the 1930’s .
-Nate
Although I find them attractive, I’m not normally a huge woody wagon devotee. However, I love the photos you took of the wood slat roofs inside these cars. Just intoxicating. That light blue Olds woody wagon is a real beauty and so rare. Great pictures.
wonder what the weight of that massive 1951 Buick wagon is. I think the woodies were even heavier than the all steel versions.
The links after part 2 at the end didn’t work for me.
Real wood on the exterior of a car, past, maybe 1920, is just ridiculous. No functional purpose. Except, what is the price of art or beauty? That Ford in the into is just gorgeous, practicality be damned. Subtle wood trim on the inside of a car doesn’t hold up like other materials, but on the outside? Why not just beat your head against a wall, or take a match to 100’s. But again, what is the price of beauty? And as fragile as some clear coats are on recent cars, is wood that much shorter lived? Oh, I’m sure it is, but there’s just something about a nice woody that doesn’t make me take a second look, but stop and gaze at it for a while.