Though they have, for long, been extinct in production facilities, woodie wagons are still counted among the most important cars in America's automotive history. For several decades, woodie wagons were equivalent to the modern day's high-end SUV. Buyers loved their spacious cabins, and the quality of artistry it took to turn a pile of wood into stylish and durable car parts.
Though genuine woodie wagons fell out of favor with manufacturers and mainstream buyers due to their increasing production cost and a lack of durability, many pre-loved examples were given a second life by classic car lovers and collectors. Some well-kept examples are even exchanging hands for hundreds of thousands, entering the history books of the most expensive cars sold at auctions. Dive in as we look at five of the greatest woodie wagons of all time, versus the five best woodie wagons sold at the recently held Scottsdale sale.
10 Best Of Scottsdale 2021: 1947 Mercury Series 79M Marmon-Herrington 4x4 Station Wagon
In the 1940s, Indiana-based Marmon-Herrington was best known for converting Ford and Mercury wagons into all-wheel-drive off-road-capable machines. Unfortunately, the conversion process was too expensive, which is why Marmon-Herrington stopped doing it in 1948.
This 1947 Mercury woody wagon is one of the six Marmon-Herrington conversions still surviving today, one of only three mercury wagons to be converted, and the only one from 1947. The wagon boasts an exquisite, factory-correct leather interior and a gorgeous expanse of varnished mahogany and maple.
9 Best Of All Time: 1948 Ford Marmon-Herrington Super Deluxe Station Wagon
As mentioned above, Marmon-Herrington used to convert two-wheel-drive station wagons from Ford and Mercury into four-wheel-drive. This particular example is the Ford variant, and it looks just as good as it did when it rolled out of Marmon-Herrington's facilities in 1948.
Though this wagon rides terribly and is extremely slow, it still earned a $200,000 pre-sale estimate at the 2020 RM Sotheby's Scottsdale auction. This is because a Marmon-Herrington-converted wagon was essentially the vintage high-end SUV before the modern terrain-conquering SUVs crowded the automotive market. The wagon has also been meticulously restored and given a drivetrain conversion for a better driving experience.
8 Best Of Scottsdale 2021: 1950 Monarch Station Wagon
Other than Canadians, not many people know about the Monarch brand. Monarch station wagons were essentially Mercurys but built in Canada and given a new trim, grille, hood ornament, and taillights. Monarch offered four models of this station wagon, and this 1950 woodie is the rarest of the bunch, with only 43 ever produced.
This example attracted a lot of attention at the 2021 Scottsdale sale for being one of only three units known to survive. Though it was restored in 1999, the gleaming maple and mahogany panels show the attention and effort invested. It also has an eye-catching Metallic Maywood Green paint job and fabulous whitewall tires.
7 Best Of All Time: 1996 Buick Roadmaster Wagon
Affectionately referred to as "Shamu" by station wagon enthusiasts, the LTI-powered Buick Roadmaster has been a crowd favorite since it arrived in 1994. It's got decent horsepower and torque stats and has a ride quality so good that the driver feels like they're floating on a cloud.
Those who were lucky enough to own one also praise its unmatched reliability; it could run for years with no mechanical drama at all. The wagon was so spacious that it could haul loads equal to what the Ford F-150 truck of the time was capable of.
6 Best Of Scottsdale 2021: 1934 Ford Model 40 Station Wagon
This Woodie wagon may be of particular interest to Michigan natives – it was produced in Ford's Iron Mountain facility using birch, basswood, and maple harvested from the Upper Peninsula, resulting in one of the best-looking and durable woodie wagons. Since these wagons were mostly used for hauling bulky cargo, excellent examples like the one offered at the 2021 Scottsdale sale are quite rare.
As is the case with other wagons on sale at Scottsdale, this Model 40 has been painstakingly restored. All door panels are flush, all hinges are straight, and the back tailgate opens easily. Under the hood is the original 85-horsepower V8, making it even more desirable.
5 Best Of All Time: 1987 AMC Eagle Wagon
The fact that there's a wide variety of SUVs that can handle the most challenging off-road terrains is often taken for granted. Back in the 80s, there wasn't a hefty, four-wheel-drive family hauler that could go off-road, at least not until the AMC Eagle Wagon arrived.
The AMC Eagle Wagon was essentially a jeep chassis with an AMC Hornet body. It had a torquey straight-six engine, 15-inch tires, and a four-wheel-drive system that drivers could shift into on the fly. Even though production totaled in the hundreds, the AMC Eagle Wagon remains an icon to date with a huge cult following.
4 Best Of Scottsdale 2021: 1949 Mercury Series 9CM Station Wagon
Ford designers initially intended the 9CM Station Wagon to be a Ford model, but they decided to promote it to the more luxurious Mercury brand. Mercury extended the length and width of the wheelbase before giving it a new front grille.
The 9CM did not have the off-road capabilities of the Marmon-Herrington-converted station wagons, but it still was a beautiful car with a spacious cabin. This wagon has been given a thorough frame-off restoration to achieve a factory-correct look. It has a steel frame with maple electro-bonded to it for that classy woodie wagon look.
3 Best Of All Time: 1942 Mercury Model 29A Station Wagon
Though both Ford and Mercury station wagons were eligible for Marmon-Herrington conversions, Mercury's vehicles were distinguished by being up-market of Ford's. This woody wagon was the most expensive Mercury vehicle in 1942, costing around $1,425 – or $22,500 in today's money.
However, buyers got their money's worth as it was 4 inches longer than the Ford Station Wagon, had five more horsepower than the Ford, and was a lot more luxurious inside. It was powered by a 239ci V8 engine paired with a three-speed manual transmission with a column-mounted shifter.
2 Best Of Scottsdale 2021: 1934 Ford "Strathglass" Estate Wagon
This 1934 Ford Estate Wagon is a one-off commissioned by an East Coast tycoon Hugh Chisolm who needed a car big enough to drive guests around his estate on the Potomac River. Among those believed to have been ferried in this car include former US presidents Harry S. Truman and Franklin D. Roosevelt, which explains its steep price.
Although the vehicle wears its original coat of paint, the oak woodwork has been expertly restored. The powertrain has been upgraded from the original 75-horsepower flathead V8 to a 1946 Ford 59AB V8 engine with 100 horses.
1 Best Of All Time: 1977 Ford LTD Country Squire
This station wagon is the quintessential American road trip machine, particularly for those who grew up watching the Griswolds. Initially, the Country Squire was based on the Ford Custom Deluxe, but it later became a distinct model range, sharing its trim with the Fairlane. It came with a gorgeous maple finish and had more capacity than most families needed.
It also had a unique drivetrain – a 428ci V8 paired with a four-speed manual transmission and breathing out of dual exhausts. Though the Country Squire had a 41-year production run, only the 1950-1951 versions are true woodies.