Tedd Thompson

If you like the thirties, forties and fifties cars you will like these woodies.... Tedd

http://www.wdhvcgeelong.com.au/pdfs/woodies.pdf

CRUZN 66

Those were definitely the days when cars were built... My wife always wanted a Woodie and kept pestering me until I purchased this for her:

zeeke

I didn't even know Oldsmobile made a Woodie

redoldsman

For some reason I think the 47-48 Ford wagon is one of the prettiest. You can see the earlier ones had mostly wooden bodies and the later ones like the Buick were just wood on a steel body.

Thanks Tedd

Tedd Thompson

We called those tin woodies but even they are bringing big dollars today in mint restored condition. I still like the varnished wood almost boat marine look of the real woodies... Tedd

RetroRanger

is it possible you two were talking about two different things ?

59-59-59

I'm betting half the people here didn't even know Oldsmobile made something other than a Cutlass/442

rustyroger

The British car is a 1948 Healey woodie Estate, one of 17 built on a Westland Elliot chassis. I only know this because I just looked it up .
One of many car makers that have long since vanished, I never knew they existed until 20 minutes ago!.
If anyone wants to learn more put "1948 Healey Woodie Estate for sale uk" into your search engine.
It's for sale, one of two survivors.

Roger

Olds64

Those are beautiful cars!

About a year ago there were two Oldsmobile woody wagons for sale on Hemmings. As I recall, they were reasonably priced as well. $12k for both maybe?

okie88

My 1950 Tin Woody project. One of the cool things on the 49/50 Olds woodies were the tail lights that would rotate up when the tailgate was put down.

Olds64

That tin woody is awesome too!

You need to bring it to the Coffee and Cars on N. May the first Saturday of the month. Last weekend there were hundreds of cars there. I saw maybe 4 or 5 Oldsmobiles.

okie88

Unfortunately the Woody is not roadworthy yet, but I need to take my 54 up there. It's been a while since I've been to Coffee and Cars.

okie88

My fathers old woody. My step-mother sold it after he passed away in 2007. I think it's on the East coast now.

oldcutlass

I have friend that is in the process of rebuilding one from scratch doing all the wood himself.

Olds64

Rebuilding one of those goes beyond body work. You would have to be a carpenter.

oldcutlass

He's a cabinet maker.

redoldsman

A cabinet or furniture maker is exactly what I was going to say Eric, My brother is a very talented woodworker and probably has $30,000 worth of equipment in his shop. I believe he could do one.

rustyroger

I believe the Morris Minor Traveller was the last mass produced car that used wood as an integral part of its structure, the last ones rolled off the production line in 1971. I think the first traveller versions were built in 1949.
Unless someone know differently?.

Roger.

Olds64

Roger, that's cool trivia. Definitely a small car compared to our Oldsmobiles.

By the 70s all of Detroit had gone to vinyl appliques to simulate wood grain. I think it's too bad. I don't know if I've ever been in a car that used real wood, only plastic and vinyl.

rustyroger

It was a bloody awful car too. Out of date by the early 1960's.
BMC Mini Travellers also had an option of integral wood construction. Maybe one of the last volume production cars to use it, Production started in 1962. A problem was as it aged the wood warped and rotted resulting in loose rattling panels and in extreme cases glass falling out. Salty sea air was its nemesis. Did I mention nowhere in the UK is more than 72 miles from the sea?.

Roger.

Olds64

I've heard the same about domestic woody wagons. It's really too bad that wood isn't used in car construction anymore (besides luxury or super cars). With the price and availability of some woods it's surprising plastic is cheaper.

Does anyone know what type of wood was used in the woody station wagons? Surely it wasn't a softwood like white pine...

okie88

I believe it was white ash with mahogany panels.