What are the best ford woody wagons in history?
Woody wagons (woodies) was a popular choice from the sedans, convertibles, and station wagons at the time.
They were converted from regular vehicles, ranging from coachbuilding firms to local tradesmen, for the individual customer.
It started to pick up popularity in the 1930s and 40s and much of its structural design was still available even in the 50s and 60s.
By 1955, Ford was only one of three companies that used real wood to create the woody wagon.
This style was very popular with consumers and remained that way until the late 1990s.
Originally, only wood was used for the car’s structure but over time, manufacturers supplemented the wood with metal panels and other polymers for reinforced strength and durability.
It would also be quicker to assemble and drive costs down as well.
Even today, there are still some woodie-like designs that try to throwback to the old vintage look.
However, it is just not the same market as the past.
In this article, we will rank my top 5 best ford woody wagons for historical significance, style, and production numbers.
Best Ford Woody Car
- 1951 Ford Woody Wagon
- 1932 Ford Woody Wagon
- 1935 Ford Woody Wagon
- 1939 Ford Woody Wagon
- 1947 Ford Woody Wagon
1951 Ford Woody Wagon
Some say that the 1951 Ford Woody Wagon is the most beautiful wagon ever designed.
It is powered by a 485 hp V8 engine with an automatic transmission.
It has power steering, power windows, 6-way power bench seat, “dual-bullet” grille, heavy chrome bumpers, hand-formed sun visor, and a custom steering wheel.
Why is this our number one spot?
Ford was constantly upgrading and tweaking its interior/exterior design and its engine output.
For instance, most car brands were working on integrating the fenders into their design.
In 1951, Ford issued an optional automatic transmission. This was the first time ever and with a combination of new innovative changes to publicity and to its Ford lineup, the Ford cars were a huge hit.
It was the first time Ford combined more “modern” technology with the classic look, increasing its popularity and sales simultaneously.
For its bold vision and innovation, this gets my number one spot.
1932 Ford Woody Wagon
This 1932 Ford Woody has some wood parts, automatic transmission, leather interior, power steering, power seats, power brakes, seat belts, and aluminum wheels.
The 5.0L V8 engine was rebuilt but it originally came with either a 3.3L V8 or a 3.6L V8.
It was far more likely that this car came with a 3.6L V8 engine due to the popularity of the V8 emergence, also known as Model 18 at the time.
You can also tell it is not a Model B style because it has no exterior wheel on its body near its nose.
Of the Model B style alone, just over 1000 were made, making the two images you see the more rare variety of the woody.
The front wheels are 17” while the back wheels are 20”.
In 1932, Ford sold 1654 woody wagons.
Ford thought these could a clean look for a new series of cars, with side curtains for their roll-up windows.
1935 Ford Woody Wagon
Ford produced about 4,500 units of this Woody wagon.
Starting in 1935, Ford introduced the 3.5L V8 engine in all of its products and the woody was no exception.
Externally, the body was lowered, allowing for more comfortable seating.
The front spring was relocated as well, allowing for more interior room.
1939 Ford Woody Wagon
There was an attempt to modernize the Ford car lineup in 1939, with a low pointed grille with heavier vertical slats.
In the headlights, the bulb and reflector lamps (the last year of using those) were moved further apart.
This was also the first year that Ford used hydraulic brakes in the car as well.
The engine was slightly tweaked with a downdraft carburetor, widening the torque a bit.
This was one of 6155 Woodies made in 1939.
Its metal surface color was originally Jefferson Blue.
This woody has a 239 cubic inch V8 engine and was a part of 91A model for the 1939 series.
1947 Ford Woody Wagon
This car has a manual transmission, a V8 engine, and nearly all original parts.
You can really see the craftsmanship on the front, and sides of the car.
The back looks great too.
The wheels are 16×6 in size and the paint is all original as well.
So, why did this make our top 5?
It was a very popular car since we just won WW2 and Ford resumed pre-war production.
Annual sales for the Ford Woody Wagon nearly rebounded to near 1941 levels, where they produced more than 17,500 woodies.
Very few changes were made to the 1946 models – the chassis numbers were different, which had 799A.
The body was restyled slightly, moving the parking lights from above the grill to below each headlight.
The exterior had a more smooth design.
But overall, it is very similar to the 1946 Ford lineup with minor changes.
Conclusion
There you have it, my top 5 Ford woodies.
If you are looking for a price range, you can get a decent Ford woody for $50,000 at auction.
However, if you are looking for a more vintage car with a low production year, low mileage, and original parts, you could be looking at near $100,000 at auction.
With my research, anything less than 2,000 units produced would be considered a low production year.
However, it is significant to point out that there were a ton of woodies produced, and Ford was not the only company making them.
A lot of cars were not kept in a barn or shed unused – nearly all saw usage and when damaged, they would get another car and abandon the woody.
While this is not the most popular car, it is certainly not super rare like the Ford GT40s or even a Mercedes 500k.
With that said, these cars look great and you definitely traveled in style if you acquired one and drove it around town.
