1948 Ford Woodie Wagon

Ford Other 1948 Description

This 8 passenger 1948 DeLuxe Ford Station Wagon is powered by its original V-8 engine and is completely stock as it came from the factory. I am now 81 years old, ut my parents bought an identical Station Wagon new in 1948. We have owned our “Woodie” for 20 years and had intended to take it to the grave with us. My wife and I both suffer from health and mobility problems including an Intensive Care stay in the Hospital which forced us to rethink our future. We have already lived longer than our parents did and must now look into moving into a retirement home.

This Station Wagon has only four miner non-stock items, wo which are the right outside mirror and right tail light which were not available in 1948. Woodie Wagons like this were very common in the 50’s when our family took a 3000 mile vacation trip in their Woodie from Michigan to Key West, lorida, nd back in 1949 with many tourist stops along the way. One can see that our own Station Wagon has been well cared for its whole life. Through 1948, ll Woodie Station Wagons were built with NO metal framework from the dashboard back and from the steel floor up except for a few small steel gussets some of which are visable in the interior pictures here. Also through 1948, ll Station Wagons had fabric roofs over felt supported by wooden slats. The entire wooden bodies were spliced, olted, crewed and glued together. However, he bodies were well engineered and very labor intensive to build. Slamming any of the doors on our Woodie today will demonstrate that they are still as solid as when they were built. The bodies were all built in a special Ford plant in Iron Mountain, ichigan where Ford owned extensive Maple forests.

Starting in 1949, ll manufacturers changed to a steel framework to which the wood was attached enhancing their charm and appearance. All manufacturers phased out any decorative REAL wood over the next 5 years with the last Woodie Station Wagons being made in 1953. Throughout the 20 years when the all wooden bodies were built from 1929 when Ford introduced the Model A Station Wagons through 1948, ord built the overwhelming majority of all station wagons. In 1937 Ford built 7000 Woodie wagons compared to a total of 1000 Woodies for all the other manufacturers combined. From 1946 to 1948 after World War II ended, ord Built over 250,000 of these labor intensive bodies, ost of which were Fords and a smaller number of Mercurys with identical wooden bodies. The lighter colored framing of Ford built bodies is Maple wood and the darker accent pieces are Mahogany.

In 1966, he previous owner realized that Woodie Wagons were becoming rarer and decided to add this well cared for beauty with only 65,000 miles on it to his half dozen other antique cars. He had the engine removed and gone through completely making it like new and had the Odometer reset to zero. When he died 30 years later, is son advertised it and we had the good fortune to see the ad and buy it. It then showed 4000 miles and now has 14,000. We can say unequivacably that the engine starts and runs perfectly and we have never ever had any mechanical problem at all. We have driven it throughout Florida to Key West and thru Georgia and the Carolinas on tours and to car shows. Often, e were the only Woodie at a show and attracted a lot of attention due to its rarity, ood looks and condition. I have used only Amsoil synthetic oil since we bought it and I attended to things along the way that were appropriate. About 5 years ago, had the carburetor completely rebuilt by a specialist company and had the brakes all gone through and they along with the parking brake work fine. Our car has never run hot or overheated. However, years ago, t a Flea Market I found a 1948 Ford Radiator still in the factory box. I have pictures of the box with the 1948 model number. The car radiator had never had any problem, ut it was over 60 years old and I thought replacing it with this NOS one was a good idea especially since I intended to drive it forever. The radiator tubing was replaced at the same time. Three years ago, had the Mechanical fuel pump replaced and had the car repainted its original Tuscon Tan and had new Diamond Back Classic wide white wall Radial tires put on, hough we have never had a flat tire with the car. When we first bought it, n experienced old car friend recommended that I have an electric fuel pump with its own switch installed in line with the factory mechanical pump. For the last 20 years, hether the car sits for a few days or a few weeks, t has always started in 3 or 4 seconds because I flip on the electric pump to bring the gas up from the fuel tank to prime the carburetor which makes it start immediately and also reduces wear on the starter and the battery. The car is still 6 volt with a generator and voltage regulator which have never given us a minute’s trouble nor needed any attention. It of course has sealed beam headlights which by that time were normal equipment. All of the gauges work, he wiper motor works like new and the original vacuum tube radio works with its 5 resettable station buttons. All the chrome and stainless trim is in excellent condition as the pictures show. The fabric top and underlying felt layer supported by wooden strips has never been off the car and the interior looks like it did in the show room with no wear or tears or repairs. The picture here shown when it was up on a hoist being lubricated shows the original ribbed steel floor pan which is in perfect condition. The car has no Bondo or rust through anywhere. Four years ago, ur Woodie was used as a backdrop for a Beach Boys concert at a Cancer Benefit on the 2nd floor of the Daytona Beach Hilton. There it made a big hit and many attendees had their pictures taken in front of this gorgeous beauty. One will seldom find an original Woodie of this museum quaity and it goes without saying that with time, ts value will only continue to increase.

Please be advised that I am not this car’s owner. All of the foregoing including the pictures which show it quite well were provided by the owner. I am a personal friend of the owner and am very familiar with this car. The owners are getting older and are not knowledgable with computers or ebay. Any questions I will pass on to the owner. Any bidder is invited to inspect the car to verify its condition and operation prior to bidding. The winning bidder is to pay a $5000. Non - refundable deposit via PayPal within 5 days of the auction end or if bought at the Buy It Now price. The balance is to be paid by Bank Wire Transfer within 14 days of the auction end with the necessary bank information which the owner would provide. The winning bidder can contact me via ebay with his telephone number for the Seller to call him to provide the needed information. Please be advised that by ebay’s rules, he Buy It Now Price option disappears once the Reserve has been met and the auction continues until its end time. The owner lives near Daytona Beach which is not far from shipping ports should that be a consideration. The vehicle is aways covered and garaged and may remain up to 30 days from the end of the auction unless other arrangements are agreed to in writing by the seller. In any event, he Station Wagon is not to leave the owner’s property until all funds have cleared.