Cheap '41 woody

[deuce lover]

Not mine.Its on the aaca website.here is the link


https://forums.aaca.org/topic/326765-1941-ford-woody/

[19Fordy]

Wow! looks like a deep pockets project. Hope it's not too late to save it as the market is changing. Here's a very nice one that sold for $46500.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...station-wagon/

[mrtexas]

That's cheap? New wood is $45k. Ron Heiden did my 41 completed last fall. I'm a wood/furniture maker but decided that was just too much for me. He did mine for $40k fixed bid but said he worked a bunch of hours more than he thought maybe due to getting older! I'm happy. I had him use highly figured fiddle back veneer on the panels for less than +$500 charging just for material as plain figured veneer install was included.. He laminated the plywood himself using a vacuum bag. I've got a freshly restore 36 I'll sell for $40k!

[deuce_roadster]

Having completely restored my 40 Woodie, I wouldn't consider that one unless I was 50 years younger (I am 69) and it was close to free. The amount of work involved in redoing a Woodie is enormous. I didn't buy a kit (couldn't afford one even if available), a friend and I remade all the wood for his 40 and mine including the plywood. Plus now the value is way down as it is on most early cars and the cost of new wood makes it a loser unless you REALLY have to have a 41 Woodie. The price is about right if it was complete and needed no metal work.

[woodiewagon46]

I totally agree with 19, Tex and Deuce. Once you add up all that this car needs, you are going to be into it for way more than it's worth. Bad floors and rocker boxes would scare me away. Several nice '41s available from sources for less than you will spend.

[Kube]

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Originally Posted by deuce lover

Not mine.Its on the aaca website.here is the link


https://forums.aaca.org/topic/326765-1941-ford-woody/

Cheap? Methinks not...
Perhaps if it were a 39 or 40 - perhaps. A 41? No way.

[TJ]

That woody is going to be for sale for long, long, time. Projects like that are basically sale proof.

[ford41]

As I near the end of a seven year restoration of my 1941Station Wagon, I can only say that had I known how difficult, frustrating and VERY, VERY expensive a proper (Concourse) restoration of one of these cars would be, I would not have attempted it. I stopped keeping track of the money spent after cracking six figures in expenditures....early in the restoration game.

That said, I cannot think of a more deserving car to bring back to life than a Ford "Woodie". These cars, in my opinion, are the BEST artistic effort that ever rolled out of a Ford factory. Will I ever realize a return on my investment? Nope, maybe my grandkids will someday.....

[DavidG]

How do you put a price tag on the satisfaction of resurrecting something as unique as a wood-bodied wagon or Sportsman? Call it physic income or whatever, it transcends money.

[deuce_roadster]

Agreed David. I am pretty sure my satisfaction comes to about half a cent per hour.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by deuce_roadster

Agreed David. I am pretty sure my satisfaction comes to about half a cent per hour.

Could you please tell me how you manage this? I believe I am due a raise.

[deuce_roadster]

Originally Posted by Kube

Could you please tell me how you manage this? I believe I am due a raise.

Simple Mike, I can't get to your level of finish, I quit sooner!!
And yes, I am SURE you are due!

[19Fordy]

For most, restoring cars to concourse specs is a losing endeavor financially.
And, it's going to get worse when the buyers for these cars fade away.
Just think of all the "brass "cars that now languish.

[deuce_roadster]

Yeah 19Fordy, I only have 1 concourse car. I did it for the personal challenge, knowing I wouldn't ever sell the car anyway. Losing 13 points out of 1000 was good enough for me and I think that was a reasonable score for my wagon. Having the car on the (back) cover of the V8 Times was just icing on the cake. I am pretty sure nobody goes into a concourse restoration thinking they will be making a big pile of money!

[woodiewagon46]

All true. I'm in the middle of restoring a Model A that I have owned since 1968. I know that when finished, I will have more into it than what the car is really worth. I'm doing it however for a couple of reasons. In 1972 I picked up my son from the hospital when he was born, so it's the first car he ever rode in, so it has some sentimental value. Also it keeps me involved. When time permits, I putz around and do something on the car. I would love to give the car to my son but with his job in NYC and two kids of his own his time is very limited. As Davis suggests, it transcends money.

[RalphM]

I got one for free, a 1948 Ford Woody, but could be 10’s of $1000’s into it if I decided to start it. Thankfully, reason, and my budget, both tell me NO!

[sawzall]

While I agree and certainly wouldn't suggest that this car become concourse restoration, I really hope someone sees the potential to make a very unique driver..

[philipswanson]

A friend of mine locally is totally restoring a 40 wagon. He is about 85% done but has well over $100K in it plus whatever he paid for the car.

I bought a nice original 40 wagon for $85K but has needed quite a bit of mechanical work.

[ronn]

outfit in Cali makes the wood for these-reasonable


1935 - 1936 - 1937 $17,995 1938 to 1940 $18,995 1941 to 1948 $19,995


on ebay...............

[mrtexas]

Originally Posted by ronn

outfit in Cali makes the wood for these-reasonable

Best to stick with people who do good work like Wooden Carr or Ron Heiden both in Southern California. Expensive but good. Ron's hourly rate is $50 which I consider a bargain. Hourly rate for my 99 NSX is $150 at the dealer and $95 at the NSX craftsman's private shop. I paid $40k for my 41 wood including finishing and waited 2 years. Couldn't work with a nicer guy who takes mornings off when the surf is up! That means around 750-800 man hours of work as the wood costs are minimal. Ron says he put in more hours than the last time he did a 41 (getting older and slower like me?) but it was a fixed price bid. https://41fordwoodie.weebly.com/

Saw a nearly complete woodie on ebay one time for a very cheap price. Turns out some hapless sap who didn't check them out ahead of time had paid the "Woodie Garage" $85k+ and they still weren't finished so he gave up. Car was sold for $35k.

Beware. The outfit in California on Ebay are crooked clowns and will give you wood with 1/4 inch gaps filled in with wood putty. Google Chris Marks, dis-reputable "Woodie Garage" in Orange, CA or Fullerton, CA. Held together with sheet rock screws. Sometimes known as Woody Garage or American Automotive Woodworking. Resurrection Customs And Hotrods 932 West Grove Avenue Orange, CA 92865 Check references in the Southern California Woodie Club or the HAMB about "The Woodie Garage." Google Resurrection Customs and Hotrods, American Automotive Woodworking, Woodie Garage and American Automotive Woodworking. Every few months they change their name.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...estion.717592/