1939 Ford Deluxe Station Wagon
The classic Woodie was a vehicle that incorporated both steel and wood construction in their bodies. These were the ultimate statement of luxury and have been coveted by collectors for many years. Built to resemble the finest wood furniture these vehicles made a statement. Due to the very nature of wood being incorporated into the body these already rare low production vehicles are very difficult to track down. 1939 was the last year to utilize bodies built by the Murray Corporation of America as well as wood harvested from the Ford forests in Northern Michigan. It was also a unique year in that the bodies have been redesigned with a lower vertical grill, teardrop headlights on the rounded fenders, and a more pointed nose resulting in one of the most iconic front ends in classic car history. This beautiful 1939 Ford Deluxe previously resided in the Michael Dingman collection. If that name doesn't ring a bell a quick online search will reveal his top of the line collection known for quality and rarity. No expense was spared on his vehicles with cars like this '39 reaching nearly $300K invested by the time it was completed. The restoration was done by Lowrey's Auto Restoration who is known for their quality of workmanship. Mr. Dingman utilized them for many vehicles which is a testament to their work and ability to provide the level of craftsman he required for his collection. The car started as a barn find and was completely reworked transforming it into the beauty you see here. The goal was to restore the vehicle to look very stock and original from the exterior while hiding some modern comforts bringing it in the new era of drivability. The process started in 2006 and as to be expected the wooden body needed some attention. It was completely restored by the woodworking specialists at Wood N' Carr of Signal Hill, California who constructed a new body using a Birdseye Maple which was a very desirable choice and a rare find in Woodies of this period. The steel portions are all solid and rust free featuring a beautiful gloss Black finish combined with beautiful chrome and stainless. The glass on the car is all in great shape and it features the 2 piece windshield up front and the upward lifting rear window. The Red painted steel wheels are a perfect exterior accent and are fitted with beauty rings, chrome center caps, and radial White wall tires. The back tires are slightly taller giving it a modest rake and perfect stance.
While a lot of the Dingman collection features original showroom style restored cars he wanted this one to live on in the 21st century with more modern performance. He carefully and specifically selected his modifications and while a lot of people might throw in a 350 crate into a custom rod he wanted to pay homage to the Heritage of the car and opted for a nicely built up Ford 302 V8. The motor came from SPO Ford Motorsports with a base horse power of 345. It is fitted with a Holley 670 four barrel carburetor, Mallory unilite electronic ignition, serpentine pulleys/belts, Edelbrock manifold, Ford Racing valve covers, and lots of chrome. The car runs great and the motor is paired with a Tremec 5 speed transmission and Ford 9 inch rear installed with an open driveline. It has also been upgraded with power rack and pinion steering along with power hydraulic brakes with discs up front. The chassis has been modified to accommodate control arms, coil over shocks, independent front suspension, and trailing arm-coil spring rear set up. The result is a classy gorgeous exterior combined with a drivetrain that will comfortably cruise around town and down the highway. The undercarriage is very clean with nice Gloss Black surfaces, a polished driveshaft, and polished dual exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers.
The interior of this beauty follows the same theme with hidden creature comforts but a vintage overall appearance. It features a Maroon leather upholstery that is in excellent condition. It has two full width bench seats and the rear bench was removed and the area carpeted in exchange for more storage space. It is easily accessible with the pop up windshield and lowering rear gate. This was the last year for the flat rear with later models using an exposed spare instead of hidden. The dash is all its original Wood style that has been restored. The original gauges were shipped off to Classic Instruments and restored during which they were converted to electronic operation. The AC vents and the stereo unit have all nicely been tucked below the dash. It also has a hidden antenna, kick panel speakers, and the subwoofers are hidden away underneath the rear seat. One of the neatest features of the car is often unnoticed up above your head with the absolutely beautiful wood paneled headliner.
This is an extremely tasteful and understated build which combines authentic Ford history with modern technology. You don't see many of these Woodies around especially built in such a classy yet mildly custom way.
This beautifully restored Woodie could be yours for $230,000.00!
