The classic Woodie was a vehicle that incorporated both steel and
wood construction in their bodies. These were the ultimate
statement of luxury and have been coveted by collectors for many
years. Built to resemble the finest wood furniture these vehicles
made a statement. Due to the very nature of wood being incorporated
into the body these already rare low production vehicles are very
difficult to track down. 1939 was the last year to utilize bodies
built by the Murray Corporation of America as well as wood
harvested from the Ford forests in Northern Michigan. It was also a
unique year in that the bodies have been redesigned with a lower
vertical grill, teardrop headlights on the rounded fenders, and a
more pointed nose resulting in one of the most iconic front ends in
classic car history. This beautiful 1939 Ford Deluxe previously
resided in the Michael Dingman collection. If that name doesn't
ring a bell a quick online search will reveal his top of the line
collection known for quality and rarity. No expense was spared on
his vehicles with cars like this '39 reaching nearly $300K invested
by the time it was completed. The restoration was done by Lowrey's
Auto Restoration who is known for their quality of workmanship. Mr.
Dingman utilized them for many vehicles which is a testament to
their work and ability to provide the level of craftsman he
required for his collection. The car started as a barn find and was
completely reworked transforming it into the beauty you see here.
The goal was to restore the vehicle to look very stock and original
from the exterior while hiding some modern comforts bringing it in
the new era of drivability. The process started in 2006 and as to
be expected the wooden body needed some attention. It was
completely restored by the woodworking specialists at Wood N' Carr
of Signal Hill, California who constructed a new body using a
Birdseye Maple which was a very desirable choice and a rare find in
Woodies of this period. The steel portions are all solid and rust
free featuring a beautiful gloss Black finish combined with
beautiful chrome and stainless. The glass on the car is all in
great shape and it features the 2 piece windshield up front and the
upward lifting rear window. The Red painted steel wheels are a
perfect exterior accent and are fitted with beauty rings, chrome
center caps, and radial White wall tires. The back tires are
slightly taller giving it a modest rake and perfect stance.
While a lot of the Dingman collection features original showroom
style restored cars he wanted this one to live on in the 21st
century with more modern performance. He carefully and specifically
selected his modifications and while a lot of people might throw in
a 350 crate into a custom rod he wanted to pay homage to the
Heritage of the car and opted for a nicely built up Ford 302 V8.
The motor came from SPO Ford Motorsports with a base horse power of
345. It is fitted with a Holley 670 four barrel carburetor, Mallory
unilite electronic ignition, serpentine pulleys/belts, Edelbrock
manifold, Ford Racing valve covers, and lots of chrome. The car
runs great and the motor is paired with a Tremec 5 speed
transmission and Ford 9 inch rear installed with an open driveline.
It has also been upgraded with power rack and pinion steering along
with power hydraulic brakes with discs up front. The chassis has
been modified to accommodate control arms, coil over shocks,
independent front suspension, and trailing arm-coil spring rear set
up. The result is a classy gorgeous exterior combined with a
drivetrain that will comfortably cruise around town and down the
highway. The undercarriage is very clean with nice Gloss Black
surfaces, a polished driveshaft, and polished dual exhaust with
Magnaflow mufflers.
The interior of this beauty follows the same theme with hidden
creature comforts but a vintage overall appearance. It features a
Maroon leather upholstery that is in excellent condition. It has
two full width bench seats and the rear bench was removed and the
area carpeted in exchange for more storage space. It is easily
accessible with the pop up windshield and lowering rear gate. This
was the last year for the flat rear with later models using an
exposed spare instead of hidden. The dash is all its original Wood
style that has been restored. The original gauges were shipped off
to Classic Instruments and restored during which they were
converted to electronic operation. The AC vents and the stereo unit
have all nicely been tucked below the dash. It also has a hidden
antenna, kick panel speakers, and the subwoofers are hidden away
underneath the rear seat. One of the neatest features of the car is
often unnoticed up above your head with the absolutely beautiful
wood paneled headliner.
This is an extremely tasteful and understated build which combines
authentic Ford history with modern technology. You don't see many
of these Woodies around especially built in such a classy yet
mildly custom way.
This beautifully restored Woodie could be yours for $230,000.00!
Vehicle Details
1939 Ford Deluxe
Listing ID:CC-1684336
Price:$230,000
Location:Arlington, Texas
Year:1939
Make:Ford
Model:Deluxe
Exterior Color:Black
Transmission:Manual
Odometer:2478
Stock Number:22154
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