Handbuilt Maple & Birch Body/350ci V8 Crate Engine/Nice Interior/Ready To Show

1929 Ford Model A Woody Wagon

Let's face it, woodie (or woody, opinions differ) station wagons are cool looking. When they're custom made and attached to the imposing, full-sized bodies of the 1930s and 40s, they're just about the last word in suburban sophistication. It's hard to imagine these gleaming concours art statements in supermarket parking lots, (or down at the beach with a surfboard strapped to the roof), but they were once everyday transportation.

For consignment, a multiple award winning original 4 door woody and former show car that was also a feature car in Hot Rod magazine back in 1963. After a redux in 2000 we now have a modern street rod woody with a mix of maple and birch wood paneling, original Henry steel and some fiberglass thrown in for good measure all make for one seriously cool creation. A copy of the 1963 Hot Rod magazine is included along with a build book, photos, and tons of spare and original parts.

Exterior
Factory Henry steel is joined with fiberglass front fenders and steel rear fenders, all bathed in a hue of nicely applied red. With a removable hood and open cowl sides, chromed front radiator surround with bar mounted flanking headlights and a dual bar front bumper below much of the original 1929 Model A styling is retained. A steel firewall cowl leads down to running boards creating common ground for the curved fenders which arch gracefully over deep dish 15-inch chromed steel wheels with a center moon cap all wrapped in wide whitewall tires. The woody passenger cabin has steel doors and also a pair of the original wooden doors. The rest of the cabin is totally handmade birdseye maple framed and birch insert paneled passenger compartment “box” if you will. This is in excellent condition with no signs of any rotting or finish chip off. This wraps around the back where we see a lift gate covered in wood. A simple red bar bumper holds the oval chrome bezel taillights. A near perfect canvas top in tan has the roof covered.

Interior
Swinging open the steel door and we are met with a nice flame embossed tweed panel with a simple chrome door actuator and JVC speaker. Twin sprawling benches front and rear provide roof for 5 comfortably and 6 with a smaller statured front center passenger. These benches are covered in smooth red vinyl with white tuck and roll inserts. Each bench has a centrally located fold down armrest for extra comfort. Nice short loop black carpeting covers the floors and a Lokar shifter and parking brake rise from the front well within the driver's reach. Upfront the dash has been cleaned and painted in body matching red, and it has a custom twin round Classic Instruments gauges with snappy gold bezels. A red wrapped steering wheel with a modern take on the banjo style wheels of yore is fronting the dash with a polished adjustable column. The headliner is wood lath with horizontal and vertical oriented laths to create a solid structure. All warm and inviting in this wood and red vinyl interior, very simple but very effective.

Drivetrain
Lurking between the fenders sits a gleaming 350ci GMPP V8 crate engine. This is topped by a 4bbl carburetor, aluminum intake manifold and chrome air cleaner assembly. On the back is a TH350 3-speed automatic and a 9-inch Ford rear axle. A very nice presentation for the engine. All well done and easy to admire and work on.

Undercarriage
A boxed steel frame has all the structural aspects covered and the steel and oak flooring takes care of the rest. No rust, just dual stainless steel muffler exhaust fed by block hugger headers and solid body hangers. Up front is a Mustang II suspension with coilovers and in the back we note a ladder bar suspension with more coilovers. Power disc brakes are now upfront, and power drums are for the back.

Drive-Ability
It fired up with a mighty roar and off I went to the test track. Here it had a tendency to spin the rear tires (I wonder why!). It ran very smoothly, had a nice smooth cruise, handled well and stopped very efficiently and bias free for the panic stop test. All functions were working during our drive and my partner in crime even took the time to apply a healthy dose of Pledge to the roof lath.

A true hand built custom “Woody” box like wagon with all the street rod touches. A healthy V8, updated suspension and brakes and a beautifully done interior. Break out your Murphy's oil soap and show em who's really sporting the lumber these days!