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By the late 50s, all of the original vintage woodies have been speedy disappearing from American streets. Outdated, out of favor and in disrepair, they seemed destined to be forgotten relics of a bygone era, gathering in junkyards and abandoned in out-of-the-activity-places.
And a bit like that, the woodie era was over then again the repute of the substitute, the all steel station wagon, was tremendously just starting. Families in any case saw out their usefulness and creation soared. While Chevrolet only produced 800 wagons in 1939, in 1955 they made 161,000. Wagons would remain the undisputed circle of relations vehicle until mini vans arrived inside the 80s.
Ford maintained dominance in wagon creation via 1942 when WWII brought an cease to all civilian automobile creation. During the war, a small series of woodies have been made for the military and have been painted army inexperienced or tan. Most, it turns out, have been shipped abroad.
The 1949-51 Ford and Mercury wagons featured non-public timber then again inside the variety of inserted panels. The timber was no longer structural. It was beauty. When the new 1952 Ford wagon arrived, the timber was long gone and as a substitute was a simulated timber-look cloth. The last significant maker to offer a whole creation wagon with non-public timber on the external was Buick in 1953.
Its appealing to realize that across this time, all-steel wagons have been plausible. Chevy had one inside the 30s, the predecessor to todays Chevrolet Suburban. Despite their practicality, steel wagons have been no longer popular then again their time was coming.
But an series chapter for these engaging autos was about to unfold. In the early 60s, the browsing craze started out. Surfers, who in some cases appeared to be strapped-for-cost, saw they will neatly may be purchase woodies low in can price, and that they have been right variety for lugging around the long surfboards of the day.
This was the start of the cease of wooden bodied wagons. The 1949 Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile wagons featured just a strip of timber working lengthwise down the facet, at the facet of a wooden tailgate. By mid year, the timber was long gone, replaced by a timber grain decal.
As late as the early 70s, woodies have been although considered low on the record of collector autos. In 1973, Will ONeil of Hawthorn, California started the National Woodie Club, a vehicle membership for woodie fanatic. Since that time, values have steadily risen, attaining dizzying heights. It is just no longer uncommon for a woodie to be awarded at $one hundred fifty,000 as of late. Even the principally steel, post war woodies now command high prices.
In fact, it was surfers and their music that gave upward push to the time period "woodie".
After the war, GIs returned dwelling and the historical baby build up started out. For the significant manufacturers, the new 1946, 47 and 48 autos have been nothing extra than warmed over 42s. This included station wagons. But once vehicle makers caught up with demand, they turned their consciousness to new designs and retooling.
