Hello, Surfers are associated with woody wagons. But in reality, there were not as many woody wagons as one would think. When the “surfer” image started in the late 50s early 60s, something different was necessary for association with the “surfing” crowd. Yes, there were some woody wagon around, but they were usually not the pristine hot rod conversions that we see today. The woody station wagon started as a railroad transportation pickup and delivery wagon from hotels and businesses. As the idea grew, families began to use those as ordinary station wagons. It took all kinds, but the woody station wagons were made by most manufacturers all over the world. A lot were used in Europe and in Africa as touring vehicles from the resort hotels and safari compounds. In So Cal surfing history, what ever vehicle was around to get the surfers to the beach was the mode of the day. The current popularity of woody wagons and surfing culture is locked in place. It is hard to tell someone that most back in those days were hotel and railroad transportation vehicles. Some families used them as a larger point A to point B method of moving all at the same time. no surfboards were sticking out of the back. Jnaki When we did see a pristine woody wagon in a high end hotel parking lot in the different cities, it was different than just a station wagon. So, the hotel concierge service offered to and from destinations durig the vacation stays. After a while, the station wagons began to show up as family vehicles as the symbol of whole family moving from one place to another was borrowed from those initial offerings a long time ago. My version of a 1947 Pontiac Station Wagon Seating for eight inside, a slight rake with extra heavy air shocks... 1948 the last year for wood bodied, Pontiac Station Wagons, with Hydramatic transmissions. Note: The size of this old 1947 Pontiac Woody Station Wagon (215.6 inches) is larger than most full size SUV behemoths on the road today. (Escalade: 202 inches, Range Rover 196” ) most tract homes were not originally built with these size of station wagons in mind. When our Westside of Long Beach tract home was purchased, my brother and I had to measure our 51 Oldsmobile two door coupe hood, bumper, and grille to see if it would fit in the so called two car garage. One 50s car fit in one side. Our dad’s Buick sedans. But, we had to cut down a two tall cabinets at hood level for the 51 Oldsmobile clearance. The bumper and grille needed more room to enter, so the side of the closet also got cut down to fit. Seating for eight inside, a slight rake with extra heavy air shocks... would give comfortable rides to and from family events and shopping, but the overall length would have hindered 80 percent of the normal tract homes from the early 50s to the current homes. A couple of years ago , in reference to my dad’s obsession with Buick sedans throughout his life, I drew what I thought would have been a cool thing. It would have been fun to drive up to their house in the 60s with my brother, to show them what we created for him. All we knew from 1946 on, to the time we left the Westside of Long Beach house was a Buick sedan or two or three… 9, all accounted for in the timeline. I thought the Buick was the coolest long Station Wagon. But the 1947 Pontiac Station Wagon had the extra metal front fender that made it look elegant and stately. IOHO 1941 Buick Woody vs. his original 1941 Buick Fastback sedan... that would have made some big changes way back then...
In case people didn't know, this is a picture thread. there should be very little chatter and there certainly should be no fighting and name calling...... please
^^This^^...just post the damn pictures and shut your pie holes. Logghe/Marsh/Steffey...RIP to Thomas Marsh who recently passed.
The Jalopy Journal
