Chassis No. 18-3871028

Body No. 78790B3265

While custom coachbuilders had been crafting wooden-bodied vehicles since the early automotive era, Ford's journey to woodie production began in earnest with the Model A in 1929. Rather than outsourcing complete bodies as other manufacturers did, Ford took a pioneering step toward in-house production by manufacturing wood sub-assemblies at their Iron Mountain facility in Michigan, then shipping them to companies like Briggs, Murray, and Baker-Raulang for final assembly. By 1936, the company had evolved from merely producing sub-assemblies to manufacturing complete wooden wagon bodies at its Iron Mountain plant. These bodies were then shipped to Ford facilities nationwide for final assembly, establishing the production model that would define the golden age of the woodie wagon.

For 1937, Ford modernized the woodie's appearance with Lincoln-Zephyr-inspired styling, incorporating a striking V-shaped grille that extended to the sides of the "alligator" hood, complemented by headlamps now gracefully integrated into the fenders. This wonderful example of a 1937 Ford "Woodie" Station Wagon is finished in period-correct Autumn Brown neatly contrasted by lovely varnished natural wood. This Model 78 is equipped with an 85-horsepower 221 cu-in V8, a brown vinyl top, yellow-tinted Unity fog lamps, Firestone Deluxe Champion wide whitewall tires, an enclosed rear spare, as well as a factory radio. Further distinguished as a De Luxe model as denoted by the "B" in its body number (78790B3265), the Woodie is also equipped with dual tail-lamps, dual wipers, simulated walnut woodgraining on the window moldings and dash, a chrome-plated grille and windshield frame, rear armrests, twin electric horns, a "banjo" steering wheel, a locking glove-compartment door, and a clock.

The restoration, which was conducted prior to entering the Academy of Art University Collection in 2011, has been done authentically and has aged gracefully in the years since its completion. With their low production numbers (approximately 9,304 in 1937) and inherently minimal survival rate due to their natural construction, well-preserved Woodies like the example presented here are extremely rare today.