Plymouth Special Deluxe P18 Woody Wagon, 1949
Chassis No.: 25505934 Auction: Monterey 2022 Auction date: August 20, 2022 Lot No.: S25 $132,000 | Sold • Exterior: Cream • Interior: Brown • Body: Woody Wagon • Comprehensive restoration • Restored floors, brakes, suspension, powertrain, fuel system and electrical system • One of 3,443 produced • One of 26 known to exist • Engine rebuilt by H&H Flatheads • Flathead 6-cylinder engine bored to .030 over • Offenhauser dual intake • Dual progressive carburetors • Dual exhaust manifold • 3-speed column shift manual transmission with new seals and gaskets • One-year-only fold-down bumper • Custom made woodwork from original wood species–all wood panels and approximately 30 percent of wood frames • White Ash structure, Mahogany exterior panels and Maple interior panels • Wood bleached for uniform color • Varnished with 10-15 coats of marine varnish • Dashboard airbrushed to match original colors • Original upholstery covers middle and rear seat • Front seat recovered using matching material • Professionally rebuilt and restored gauges, switches and steering wheel • New wiring and electrical system converted to 12-volt • Original rubber floor mats • Custom matching wood surf rack with period-correct hardware • Replaced differential seal plus wheel/axle seals were replaced • New wheel bearings • Rebuilt brake and wheel cylinders • New clutch • New hard brake lines, fuel lines and hoses • Sealed original fuel tank with new fuel sender • Undercarriage undercoated • Painted and rebuilt rear axle, leaf springs retain their original spring covers, front suspension and springs, wheel backplates, drums, hubs and brackets At the end of World War II, people were eager for a new car and manufacturers only had a short amount of time to reenter the market, which largely meant reissuing prewar cars with revised trim to make them fresh. Despite the interest in acquiring a new car, most Americans were also financially challenged, so the ability to buy new was fairly limited. This created a spectacular opportunity for Ford, Plymouth and Chevrolet most especially, the producers of cost-effective cars, to offer quality vehicles at affordable, attractive prices and help spur the economy. Plymouth was normally No. 2 in volume sales during the late 1940s and early ‘50s, but woodies were usually some of the most expensive models offered by any manufacturer, which kept sales lower than other models. Ford woodies outsold Plymouth woodies by a fair margin, making the Plymouth station wagons some of the rarest of the breed. For 1949, just shy of 3,450 Plymouth Special Deluxe woodies were built, only 26 of which are known to exist today. This one has undergone an extensive restoration, emerging in spectacular condition. A properly sorted woody body is a true work of art, much like a classic wooden boat, and this one is no exception. To refurbish the wood on this Plymouth, custom woodworkers used original specimens to achieve a result as close as possible to the factory. The white ash structure hosts mahogany exterior panels and maple interior panels for a remarkably rich contrast. To create uniformity of color, the wood was bleached and then given 10-15 coats of marine varnish for the ultimate shine and protection. The body was restored, including the floors, and the dashboard was airbrushed to match the original colors and finished with professionally rebuilt and restored gauges and switches. The interior boasts a cloth headliner and sun visors with medium brown upholstery covering the seats. The original upholstery remains over the center and rearmost seat, while the front seat was recovered using matching material. Even the black rubber floor mats are original, and the steering wheel was restored to like-original condition. The flathead inline 6-cylinder engine was bored .030 over when it was rebuilt by H&H Flatheads, and it’s now equipped with an Offenhauser dual intake manifold, twin progressive carburetors and a dual exhaust manifold. The woody was fitted with a new clutch, and many mechanical elements were addressed such as installing new, hard brake lines, fuel lines, hoses and wheel bearings. The 3-speed, column-shifted, manual transmission received new seals and gaskets, the original fuel tank was sealed and set with a new fuel sender, and the electrical system received new wiring and was converted to a 12-volt system. The rear axle was repainted and rebuilt with a new differential seal and wheel seals, and the leaf springs retain their original covers. The front suspension and springs, wheel backplates, drums, hubs and brackets were all rebuilt or replaced. The body was finished in Light Ivory, and the undercarriage was undercoated. Rolling on body color-painted steel wheels with polished hubcaps and wide whitewall tires, the Woody is fittingly equipped with a custom-matched wood surf rack with period-correct hardware. https://www.mecum.com/lots/520678/1949-plymouth-special-deluxe-p18-woody-wagon/
