[DKnapp]

Knapps' original 1931 Model A Station Wagon

Dick and Mary Knapps' station wagon story began in 1968, a couple years before they acquired the '31 Woody. It was at the 1968 Hershey Swap Meet that Dick spotted a set of accessory wood wheels for a '30-'31 Model A. He recognized them from an ad that was published in a 1929 Ford Field and Service magazine. The vendor wanted $125 for the four good wheels, special hubcaps and incomplete set of special lug nuts. The parts for the broken fifth wheel would be thrown in free. The price was not negotiable because the vendor had a check in his pocket for the wheels, but they would have to be shipped to Dallas. Too good a deal to pass up??? Not in 1968. Dick thought a lot about the wheels and how well they would go on a Model A Woody. He also knew that they must be really rare because who in their right mind would take the more modern wire wheels off and pay extra to have the going out of style wood wheels. However, he left the meet with only a business card from the vendor.

It was a long trip back to Omaha from Hershey and Dick spent a lot of time in the early part of that trip wondering about his choice of passing up the wood wheel deal. Dick directed the conversation in the car back to the rare accessory wheels at every opportunity and he carefully laid out all the logic on why they should buy the wheels. Mary did not have to twist his arm for him to make the decision to try to buy the wheels. They detoured north of Pittsburg to see if the vendor still had the wheels. As luck would have it he did and he still had the guys check for $125. A discussion of the trouble of crating and shipping had no impact on the price, but he would sell them for $125. So, the wheels were tied on top of the station wagon and the family was again headed off to Omaha.

Back at Omaha Dick showed off the wheels at the Model A Meeting and told them how nice he thought they would be on a Model A Station Wagon. Soon after that a member of the club spotted an ad in Hemmings for an original 1931 Station Wagon. It was in Marblehead, Mass. The owner, Mr. Wilson, described the wagon in great detail and followed up with a multi-page letter with an even more detailed description. The wagon previously belonged to a painter, who, when a job was finished, gave the wagon another new paint job. This may explain why the wood was so well preserved. Mr. Wilson stripped all that paint off and got the wood back to the original beautiful varnish finish. Well, all this sounded so good that Dick negotiated a token $200 deposit to hold the wagon for a personal inspection.

Another trip east, even further than Hershey, required some planning. Many things had to happen more or less in sequence to make the station wagon transaction scenario happen. Not the least of these things was $2500 to pay for it. Dicks' restored 1929 Fordor that was shown at the Hot Springs Arkansas National meet was advertised locally, then nationally and finally sold for $2500 to a museum in Colorado. Dick had to arrange for leave from the Air Force and Mary made arrangements to take the kids out of school for a few days. Another conflict was the wedding of Mary's brother, which meant another trip to Wisconsin. Mary wasn't all that thrilled about a trip straight out and back to New England just to look at a station wagon. Dick promised her some time in New England to take in the scenery and some antique shops, although they both knew they would only have a day or two if they were going to attend the Wisconsin wedding on the way home. All the planning was falling in place and they were off to Marblehead with a borrowed car trailer.

Mr. Wilson lived only a block from the ocean in one of the neatest little fishing communities one could imagine. The kids played on the beach while Dick inspected the station wagon and covered all the details with Mr. Wilson. The wagon was just as described in his letter.

The station wagon was unloaded in Wisconsin, decorated for the wedding, and was waiting for the surprised bride and groom as they came out of the church. Back in Omaha the wood wheels were installed and a club member machined a set if the special lug nuts. Another club member found a NOS wood wheel, still in the crate, at a local swap meet.

The Knapp family made three trips with the woody from Omaha to Colorado Regional Model A Meets. The chassis was completely rebuilt and the wood was varnished several times. The original top and Bass Wood top slats were replaced before the last Colorado trip. Dick & Mary drove this Model A for over 40 years with the wood wheels before giving it to their son David. Now David, Barbara and their two boys are enjoying this Woody in Southern California. So, if you see a '31 Model A Woody with wood wheels, it likely is the one you just read about. Dick Knapp, Lt Col, USAF, retired