50 cars for 50 states: California's classic surf woody

Ford's 1949-51 models were the last with real wood.

Is the surf woody California's ultimate classic car? A good case could be made. These funky crates express many aspects of the golden state: outdoor sports, gorgeous beach-filled coastline, trend-setting sense of style, reverence for the past, and a love of fun, fun, fun.

Woodies? Nobody wanted the creaky old wooden wagons in the late 1950s, when surfers adopted them. They were considered obsolete in a world of sleek space-age rockets roaring along with powerful V-8s. But woodies were perfect for surfers. They were cheap and had lots of room for boards and buddies. You could even sleep in the back. And their funky style just. . . fit. Soon woodies became an icon of California style and everybody wanted one. Nowadays, restored examples sell in the six figures and unrestored originals are all but impossible to find.

George Barris' Surf Woody featured a fiberglass body, Astro wheels and a blown Cobra V-8.

1965 "Surf Woody" serves up a variety of California aspects: surfing, kustom kars, and wild creativity. 

Check out the slide show below for more cool woody images and see Celebrating the great American station wagon for vintage ad images. And subscribe above to email alerts when I post.

Please feel free to add a comment on your choice of the ultimate California classic car.