+1 313 312 0780

1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon

Lot 122 | The Academy of Art University Collection Saturday, 15 February 2025

Estimate: $50,000 - $75,000
| Offered Without Reserve
Offered Without Reserve

1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon

Lot 122 | The Academy of Art University Collection Saturday, 15 February 2025

Estimate: $50,000 - $75,000
| Offered Without Reserve
Offered Without Reserve
1 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
2 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
3 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
4 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
5 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
6 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
7 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
8 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
9 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
10 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
11 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
12 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
13 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
14 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
15 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
16 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
17 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
18 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
19 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
20 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
21 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
22 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
23 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
24 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
25 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
26 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
27 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
28 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
29 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
30 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
31 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
32 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
33 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
34 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
35 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
36 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
37 / 37
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1937 Ford "Woodie" De Luxe Station Wagon

The Academy of Art University Collection

  • Charming, authentically restored 1937 Ford Model 78 “Woodie” Station Wagon
  • Desirable De Luxe specification equipped with dual tail-lamps, chrome grille, "banjo" steering wheel, and more
  • Period-correct Autumn Brown finish and lovely varnished natural wood
  • One of just 9,304 examples built in 1937—a rare surviving example

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.

David Swig
Senior Car Specialist