The only 1948 Pontiac ‘Woodie’ known to exist in Europe will be offered at the up-coming Bonhams auction presented on Saturday September 11th 2010, during the fourth edition of the 'Week-end de l'Excellence Automobile de Reims' on the former site of the French Grand Prix circuit. This car will be one of about 100 that will be auctioned by Bonhams.
This rare 1948 Streamliner “Woodie” station wagon is estimated at between 55,000 to 75,000 $ US. The 1948 model is the last of what might be termed the 'real' Woodies, when the entire rear body structure was made of timber. In 1949 steel was used for the roof and progressively fewer components were made of wood up to 1953 when the last of these Pontiac station wagons was built.
Manufactured by the skilled craftsman at the Ypsylanti Furniture Co in Michigan, the body of this 1948 Woodie incorporates 523 parts made from either mahogany or Canadian maple.
Boasting a wheelbase of 3,099mm the Pontiac Streamliner Woodie was the largest on the market and could seat up to nine or carry a huge amount of cargo by removing the rear seats.
Out of the 23,000 Pontiac station wagons made in 1948, only 1,000 left the factory with the eight-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission like this one. Surviving '48 Pontiac Woodies are rare; indeed, it is estimated that there are fewer than 50 on the road in North America, and this wonderfully evocative example of classic American is believed to be the only one in Europe.
This rare 1948 Streamliner “Woodie” station wagon is estimated at between 55,000 to 75,000 $ US. The 1948 model is the last of what might be termed the 'real' Woodies, when the entire rear body structure was made of timber. In 1949 steel was used for the roof and progressively fewer components were made of wood up to 1953 when the last of these Pontiac station wagons was built.
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| Photo: Bonhams |
Manufactured by the skilled craftsman at the Ypsylanti Furniture Co in Michigan, the body of this 1948 Woodie incorporates 523 parts made from either mahogany or Canadian maple.
Boasting a wheelbase of 3,099mm the Pontiac Streamliner Woodie was the largest on the market and could seat up to nine or carry a huge amount of cargo by removing the rear seats.
Out of the 23,000 Pontiac station wagons made in 1948, only 1,000 left the factory with the eight-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission like this one. Surviving '48 Pontiac Woodies are rare; indeed, it is estimated that there are fewer than 50 on the road in North America, and this wonderfully evocative example of classic American is believed to be the only one in Europe.