1948 Ford

Station Wagon
Chassis Num: 899A2097593

The 1948 Ford Super Deluxe Woodie Wagon was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auction in Monterey, CA where it was expected to sell between $75,000-$125,000. It was offered without reserve.

During the early years of automobile production, wood-bodied vehicles were mostly used as 'work' vehicles. Depot Hacks transported passengers from train stations to hotels. Trucks often used wood as their truck-beds. As time progressed, wood-bodied cars became a status symbol and grew in popularity. 'Woodies', as they became known, required a high-level of craftsmanship and as such, were considered a luxury option, or a 'nice-to-have', on a vehicle.

After World War II, the automotive market saw a large increase in the number of manufacturers offering wood-bodied cars. Most were offered on station wagons however it was not uncommon to see them on convertibles, sedans, coupes, brougham, or roadsters. Ford was an exception to the rule by building their station wagons in-house. Many other marque's farmed out the work to master-craftsman who oversaw the production of the bodies. Every detail of the Ford Woody Wagons were done under Ford's watchful eye. Even the growing and harvesting of the wood was done through Ford's own forest and mills, located in northern Michigan. The wood was maple, ash and basswood lumber.

This Woody Wagon is powered by a 374-cubic-inch Mercury V8 engine that is capable of producing 100 horsepower. It has four-wheel hydraulic drums, a three-speed manual gearbox, and a live axle suspension with leaf springs. It is finished in Navy blue paintwork and is the product of a six-year restoration. At the conclusion of the auction the vehicle had been sold, surpassing the estimated value, selling at $137,500.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2006
Station Wagon
Chassis Num: 889A2308835

High bid of $42,500 at 2009 RM Auctions. (did not sell)
For 1948, there was less than 9,000 Ford Wood-bodied Station Wagons produced, which was less than half as many as in 1947. Wood-bodied station wagon production was halted at Iron Mountain in March of 1948. The facility was switching to new hybrid steel-wood bodies for the 1949 Ford and Mercury models.

This Woodie Deluxe Station Wagon has had only two owners from new, both of whom resided on Nantucket and kept the car on the island. Since new, it has been driven fewer than 50,000 miles. The current owner has owned the car since 1962.

In 2009, this car was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $60,000 - $80,000. The lot failed to sell after receiving a high bid of $42,500.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2009
Sportsman Convertible
Chassis Num: 899A2064609

This 1948 Sportsman, purchased from the Nick Alexander Collection, spent its entire history on the west coast. Elbert Marston of San Digeo purchased the car from Pearson Ford and gave it to his wife on Christmas Day 147. For 20 years, Mrs. Marston, a teacher, drove it to school every day. It has just over 82,000 miles. On 11/03/88, the Sportsman was stolen from Mrs. Marston's garage and years later, was purchased by Bob Everts, a Ford collector. When he tried to register the vehicle it showed as 'stolen.' To legitimize the sale, he purchased it again, this time from Mrs. Marston. He then sold it to Ty Froemke of Fontana, California, who performed a body-off restoration in 1988. It was then purchased by Curt Heaton in 1988 and sold to Nick Alexander in 2006. The Sportsman was repainted in the original Maize Yellow and has a deep shine. Over the 60 years, the wood has acquired the rich patina of fine antique furniture. This Sportsman is believed to be the last Ford Sportsman built.

By conceptcarz

Posted in: 1948 Ford