History STOLEN - 1932 Ford Woody Wagon - John A. Good

On the hunt to compile all of the information about John A. Goods 1932 Ford Woody Wagon.

Completed and shown by him from 1955-1968 around Pennsylvania.

If you have any photos, videos, or memories, please let me know!

Originally built by John Good from Exeter, PA of the Philadelphia modifiers, a collaboration with Hanks Speed Shop of Berwyn, PA. The body is made of mahogany wood, hand worked by John Good and his father. It was featured in 3 magazines and the cover of one that I know of. It won many trophies for go and show. After it left John Good in the mid to late 60s, it went under some evolutions. One of the major being the custom made stained gl*** windows (see photo below) installed sometime shortly after it left Goods hands.

It has a vast history behind it and I’m searching for absolutely anything related to it for a very big project! Stay tuned for updates!

Thank you isn’t enough to express how much I appreciate any and all information.

 

Center fold article of the August 1957 Rodding & Restyling below.

****PIT - Ford floor shift transmission with 25-tooth gears operates off 10-1b aluminum flywheel, 11-inch Ford clutch. Interior is luxuriously fitted, exterior carries 17 coats of green lacquer!

SHOWPIECE - Just a few of the recent awards won by Good's wagon at shows and drags, including an R & R first at the Lancaster show (that tall trophy in the center). Body is hand-built, hand-rubbed mahog-any. Entire car was constructed by Johnny himself.

HOT WAGON

Unique! That's the only word for this chopped 1932 Ford station wagon. It's been timed at 108.9 on the strip

Photos by H. E. Genthir

BARGAIN- John A. Good, 21, of Exeter, Pa., bought his deuce wagon for $50, spent $1450 to make it a winner not only at shows but at drags. Engine is bored to 354 cubes, ported, polished, fitted with Johns racing pistons, Chrysler 9.5 to 1 heads, Edmunds 4-pot manifold-delivers 325 horses at flywheel, 270 brake hp.

Body is chopped, frame channeled.

Dash carries complete set of Stewart Warner gauges. Front suspension and brakes are '41 Lincoln, rears are '40 Ford. Torque tube drives 15-inch Ford wheels.

 

Centerfold article “ HOT BOX “ of the March 1959 Hot Rod magazine below. (Pages 48-49)

West Chester, PA

‘53 Chrysler engine was bored to 3-15/16 inches to use Jahns pistons, raising displacement to 354 cubic inches. Four Stromberg #48 carbs were adapted to Edmunds manifold. Cam is stock 300. Albro clutch takes power to Zephyr box.

Rod is handiwork of John Good and his father, who completely rebuilt wooden portion of ‘32 Ford station wagon body. Filled ‘32 shell conceals ‘53 Buick radiator, fitted ahead of tubular crossmember. Front axle spring - 1948

“HOT BOX”
Square to be sure, this solid mahogany

Not only one of the faster station wagons, this is one of the lowest, too. Six-inch channel job over ‘32 frame positions the bobbed rear fenders just right in relation to the 8.20 x 15 rear tires. In the process of rebuilding the body, John's' dad took 3 inches out of the top, incorporated an integral roll bar. Timberline Green lacquer completes "woodsy" aspect of the project.

Wagon makes mighty combustible kindlin' at the quarter-mile drags - 109 mph!

Photos by Woody Higgins

Bell Auto championship-style steering wheel atop the chrome column provides contrast with veneer-covered dash. Upholstery, green and white Naugahyde. Late model Ford parts used to convert brake and clutch actuation to modern pendulum pedals.

Wagon's white nylon covered top is only 55 inches high. Simplicity of its lines are kept pure with unobtrusive 49 Pontiac taillights. Since completing the car in '56, John Good has acquired 18 trophies with it, both for show and go. HRM staff heard of car when NHRA Drag Safari crew returned from '56 tour raving about "crazy dragster that's still in the crate.

 

Centerfold article “ WILD WILD WOODY “ of the April 1965 Car Craft magazine. (Pages 38-39)

Famed speed shop owner Hank Weiden-hammer took a fancy to the old '32 Ford woody station wagon and decided to try his hand at some custom-type reconditioning. $3.000 later, here's Hank's “wildy”

Mounted on the '32 ch***is, boxed, the car has a special built front suspension setup. Dropped front axle is by Lynwood Welding. Steering gear is from a ‘48 ford.

Woodwork was handled by John Goode, working with Mahogany. Special measures had to be taken for a “chop & channel” job. '51 Pontiac taillights are at rear.

After making them go for years, Hank's Speed shop decided to take on the show circuit. The outcome is this award-winning…

“ WILD WILD WOODY “

Berwyn, Pennsylvania

Hank dropped in a 283 'Vette mill with an Offy intake supporting two 4-bbl carbs. Flywheel is Schiefer aluminum; clutch is an 11-inch Weber. The Offy adaptor hooks mill to a ‘39 Ford ******

Just how effective the "chop job" was is evident in this photo, with Hank standing alongside his low-slung woody. He’s been successful - it’s first showing netted People's Choice, Best Engine.

The metal part of the body was finished in royal blue lacquer by Conestoga Auto Body. Halibrand rear wheels mount Racemasters: at front are American Racing, Pirelli’s on. Headers at Hedman.

Photos by Woody Higgins

Clean, functional interior includes blue and white Naugahyde s***ch work by George Hankle of Wayne, Pa. Instrument panel has Stewart-Warner ensemble. The sharp steering wheel is by Covico.

 

With the Chrysler hemi/conventional axle front suspension, (and genuine Bell steering wheel) I'd venture to say it was in GOOD hands then.
(just an educated guess)

 

I have always wondered if the original builders middle initial was “B”? On a more serious note, I did hear a rumor a few years ago, that it had been seen more recently in Pennsylvania.

 

I saw a post someone seen it at the swap meet section of a NHRA meet up in York, PA. Was curious what year.

 

I saw the wagon at York, probably 30-35 years ago. It was for sale in the swap meet at the end of the swap meet area closest to the entry gate.

 

I was researching the car a couple years ago too. I saw it was in Maryland. Somebody was going to restore it. Edit: Kustomrama says its owned by Neal Carter of Maryland.

 

Iv seen the kustomrama article. I’m looking for anything outside of that for a drag history project about John Good and the car.

From what I can tell is was one of earliest chop jobs done to a woody.

 

Was it with a travco motor home?

 

That, I don't remember.

 

The only other thing I know is that it ran the drags in Allentown, PA that we’re run by the Lehigh Valley Timing ***ociation.

 

It’s been featured in 5 magazines that I know of and the cover of one.

 

RODDING & RESTYLING NOV 1955 by 32FordWoody posted Oct 13, 2022 at 9:16 PM

RODDING & RESTYLING NOV 1955 by 32FordWoody posted Oct 13, 2022 at 9:17 PM

Rodding & restyling Nov 1955 by 32FordWoody posted Oct 1, 2022 at 12:08 AM

 

Foam bed in the back? ****gin’ & draggin’ wagon.

 

Not just a foam bed, but a "foam rubber bed"

 

The 1932 Ford coupe in the above picture was a partnership with Mike Sforza, a long time hotrodder from long Island.

 

This car has been missing since 2007. Caught in a breakdown of negotiations for a potential sale. It was unlawfully taken from my family and has been unlawfully possessed since then.


I became owner in 2024 after Inheriting it from my father. He purchased this car in late 1960 after serving in the Navy. It went under a few revivals and lifetimes in my dad’s hands and all along the way it became a cherished family heirloom. Times hit hard for my family and in 2007 my father put it on Craigslist with the options to fully sell at $20k or a partnered ownership for $10k.


A fellow HAMBer responded to the Craigslist ad and made a tentative offer for full ownership. From there it only went downhill. During negotiations he took possession of the Woody and it’s accompanying 2 engines and 1 transmission. He then counter offered $10k for full ownership. His offer was denied and he still holds possession of the vehicle after the breakdown in negotiations and refuses to return it or come to any terms for full sale or reconciliation.


I know he was active on here not long after gaining possession of the car. Boasting of the car and even doing an interview for an article online (Kustomrama) in regard to the vehicle that he never obtained lawful ownership of to begin with. Bragging on the HAMB of the ways to byp*** legal ***ling procedures and ways of byp***ing the DMV through the courts via Writ of Mandamus.


I have taken the proper legal channels to obtain lawful ownership and I seek to gain possession. This vehicle is more than just history or a time capsule being hidden away in some thieving collectors warehouse (funny how he admitted himself that he has it “hidden away”)


I sent him a formal demand letter for the return of my long time missing family property. Giving him ample time to respond civilly. He has chosen to avoid me. Me, the little girl who grew up in the back seat of the woody that he is hiding away from the world.


I dream of the day when I can load it up and bring it home. To make it a centerfold and cover model like it was in its prime.


I lost my father in 2019 to liver cancer. This car was one of his most prized possessions, and after a lifetime of buying and selling cars and antiques, this relic holds more of my dad’s spirit than any other object on this planet. Yes I am a material sentimentalist and it’s hard not to be when it’s something so truly one of a kind.


I will not be bitter or jaded. I ***ert my lawful ownership and look forward to the day that I can see the sun shine through the stained gl*** windows again.

 

WOW! What a story. I can only hope that you eventually get it back ....and in one piece.

 

Sad situation !
I hope that you can get it sorted, but 18 years (since 2007) is a long time.

Does this fellow hamber have a name so he may be called upon to share his/her view of the situation?
Or are there legal ramifications to naming him/her ?
.
edit, a quick google search says ……

“ The car is still around, and is currently owned by Neal Carter of Maryland. Neal bought the old station wagon around 2008. “

I have no idea how accurate the above quote is.

 

@Ryan , any thoughts on helping?

 

Man, what a nice ride. Hope you get it back.

 

it didn’t take much for me to narrow him down on here. It’s a rare car to be boasting about in any regard. I have written, emailed and called the fellow HAMBer. I know where my car is being “hidden away” as he states it. He knows full well he does not have lawful ownership otherwise he would have obtained it and been showing the car instead of hiding it.

His mentions on of it on the HAMB are alarming

“Maybe I should go to jail for a while...just to finish some of my "projects"”

or the mention of
“Well at least you’re on track now. If "misery loves company"...I had a similar experience this past spring. I thought I would be smart and run a freshly prepped motor on the floor, before putting it in my wagon... well, I did'nt have any gauges connected and was unaware of the NEW oil-pump not working... result: trashed motor!”

 

From what evidence I could gather from negotiations there was a receipt of $1000 deposit given initially.

After the car and its parts were loaded into their possession they tried to compel the owner (my father) and made a counter offer of full ownership for $10k (not an option offered in the original listing) The cash and offer were rejected at that time, Negotiations went into a stand off after this, no formal agreement or sale was ever met.

In 2007 My family filed a report that the vehicle was stolen.

In 2022 I investigated the entire situation, located the car, and upon reporting my finds I discovered the report made in 2007 was never formally entered into the system by the police department.

I made efforts to have it formally entered into the system and reported as stolen twice since then. Before and after me inheriting.

Authorities are unable to ***ist at this stage, I am back on drawing board of recovery