Do they still make woody cars?
There isn't any automaker that produces woody models today. While a revival of the American woody is unlikely, people are still making custom woodies today. Wood is making its way back to minivans, station wagons, and even SUVs.
End of the production line
By 1947, woodies had started to become unprofitable because of the labor needed to produce them. Chevy's eight-seat woodie was its most expensive model and did not sell well. By 1951, Chevy stopped making wood-bodied cars. 1949 was the last year Oldsmobile made woodies.
The last true Ford woody was made in 1948. The 1949 to 1951 Ford woody wagons were wood attached to steel bodies, and after that the wagons were all steel.
Because most Woodies were sold for cheap on the used market due to their limited appeal, they were the perfect choice for those on the West Coast who needed large, inexpensive transportation for their ocean gear. Woodies became so ingrained in surf culture that faux-wood paneling stuck around well past the 1960s.
By 1955, only Ford and Mercury, joined in 1965 by Chrysler, offered a "woodie" appearance – evoking real wood with other materials including steel, plastics and DI-NOC (a vinyl product). As the appearance became popular, Ford, GM, and Chrysler offered multiple models with the woodgrain appearance until the early 1990s.
Anyway, we called the folks at Kruse, who looked in their value guides and found that a 1936 Ford Woody Wagon is valued at about $28,000 and a 1929 Woody wagon is valued at about $18,000.
Chevrolet's first woodie, the Master 85 Model JB, was produced in 1939 and is a masterpiece of genuine wood construction. Its last, in 1996, was the Caprice Classic Wagon adorned in fake paneling.
Ford built its first woody car in 1929—or, at least, the first body featuring exterior ornamental wood. Like many early manufacturers, Ford utilized both wood and steel to create the composite frames and bodies of its cars.
Ford easily maintained its dominance, selling almost 10,000 redesigned Standard and DeLuxe station wagons in 1940 alone. Chrysler introduced its first truly car-quality woody, the Town & Country, in March of the following year.
After struggling sales, the Chevrolet Caprice and the Buick Roadmaster, the last American full-size wagons, were discontinued in 1996. Smaller station wagons were marketed as lower-priced alternatives to SUVs and minivans. Domestic wagons also remained in the Ford, Mercury, and Saturn lines.
What does a Ford Model T look like?
Released on October 1, 1908, the Ford Model T was a self-starting vehicle with a left-sided steering wheel, featuring an enclosed four-cylinder engine with a detachable cylinder head and a one-piece cylinder block. Fashioned from vanadium alloy steel, it offered superior strength despite its light weight.
Morgan does still use wood in its construction, so its new cars maintain a decidedly old-world flair. The chassis parts used to be steel, just like a normal manufacturer. Now it has moved to aluminum to save weight, but Morgan still uses an ash frame. It's a pliable wood that supports the body structure.
1949 Ford Woody Wagon | Back to the 50's Car Show - YouTube
Ford built its first woody car in 1929—or, at least, the first body featuring exterior ornamental wood. Like many early manufacturers, Ford utilized both wood and steel to create the composite frames and bodies of its cars.
The 1929 Ford Model A station wagon is widely believed to be the first truly mass-produced woodie wagon. Ford Model A woody with mags, boards in the back and custom paint. As use of steel became more widespread, designers used wood more for styling.
What is Lightning McQueen's real name? The Cars franchise's most recognizable protagonist is Montgomery “Lightning” McQueen. He is a stock race car modeled on Gen4 NASCAR vehicles, with elements of the Corvette C1 and Corvette C6 included in his design.
