In the overwhelmingly diverse automotive world, it's very hard to stand out from the crowd. Most discerning collectors are hunting for rare models, crazy one-offs that were built just for the fun of it. Something that no one else is lucky enough to own. One such vehicle is the "The Woodyator," a custom woodie wagon that has an original 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Station Wagon body fitted to the chassis and drivetrain of a 2003 Lincoln Aviator.
Describes as "one of the best engineered and thoughtfully considered custom Woodies ever created," The Woodyator is a labor of work and is the only one of its kind in the world. It took the owner of this rare gem no less than three years to complete the project, and he enlisted the help of professionals like woodie master Ron Heiden, as well as experts Nick Kovacevich and Bill Cooke, who modified the Aviator chassis.
The result is a magnificent updated classic that blends the timeless charm of a Super Deluxe Woody with the drivability, performance, and luxury amenities of a modern SUV. It is a woody, a surf wagon, and a car show cruiser all rolled into one.
The "Woodies" or "Wood wagons" are a true symbol of the classic American style. Back in the 1940s, these vehicles were all the rage, and while the woodies from that decade were not the first generation of wood-bodied cars, they are now seen as the most iconic thanks to their unique style. This body style was made even more famous around the world a couple of decades later thanks to the surf culture and surf music of the 1960s and became forever etched in automotive culture.
Photo: RM Sotheby’s
Ford Motor Company's woodie wagons have a charm of their own, and the Super Deluxe model was the top-of-the-line offering from the carmaker. It was built from 1941 to 1942, along with the Standard and Deluxe models. Production ceased during the Second World War years but resumed in 1946. The series included two-door coupes, two- or four-door sedans, two-door convertibles, and five-door station wagons. Some of the latter were available with "Woodie Wagon" bodies. This means the sides of the car were built with maple and birch framing and mahogany paneling.
Though Ford's post-WWII models were largely identical to the cars that were in production prior to the war, they were very popular among California's surfers, who used to strap their surfboards to the roof and hit the beach. The relative lack of novelty didn't stop them from becoming pop culture icons. Ford Super Deluxe units made appearances in movies like Back to the Future, Grease, and The Karate Kid.
Ford produced less than 9,000 woody wagons in 1947, so it is truly special to find a neat example like this one here nearly 70 years later. Well, the custom-built Woodyator might not be a genuine 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Station Wagon through and through, but it looks as close to an original unit as possible.
Photo: RM Sotheby’s
The current owner and mastermind behind the Woodyator used to drive an original 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Station Wagon in its youth. He used it to go on surf trips with his friends, so the project was born out of a feeling of nostalgia. He wanted to create a modern, updated version of the car of his youth, so he combined the body of a 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Woodie Wagon with the underpinnings of a 2003 Lincoln Aviator with just 811 miles on the clock.
The original body of the Ford Woody was carefully and masterfully restored by Ron Heiden, while the Lincoln was modified by experts Nick Kovacevich and Bill Cooke to accommodate the new body, which retains almost all of its original maple and mahogany wood structure, as well as the original Dark Blue body paint and weatherproof Stayfast canvas top.
Compared to a standard Super Deluxe station wagon, this custom car has a bit of additional height and a little more ground clearance but rides on period-correct maroon-painted wheels and hub caps. In terms of power, it features the Lincoln Aviator's drivetrain with a 4.6 liter Ford DOHC 32-valve V8 engine that produces 302 hp (306 ps). The mill has been improved with a custom dress-up kit, intake manifold, and exhaust system and sends power to all four wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission.
Photo: RM Sotheby’s
Since it retains the capable all-wheel-drive of the Lincoln chassis it is built upon, the car offers the handling and performance of a modern SUV. It benefits from the Aviator's original suspension and braking systems, as well as from other modern creature comforts, such as air-conditioning, heating, power steering, and power brakes. However, all these are cleverly concealed to preserve the period-correct appearance.
Just like the exterior, the interior of the vehicle looks very much like an original 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Station Wagon, with chestnut leather upholstery, a three-spoke steering wheel, and a wood-accented dashboard.
The "Woodyator” was completed in June 2007 and then entered the 2,000-mile western leg of the 25th Annual Great American Race from Dallas to Anaheim, where it had a remarkable performance, finishing fourth overall. This one-off custom vehicle is set to go under the hammer on January 25, with a price guide of $200,000 – $250,000.
After spending a few years as a copy editor, Ancuta decided to put down the eraser and pick up the writer's pencil. Her favorites subjects are unusual car designs, travel trailers and everything related to the great outdoors. Full profile
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