Registration - 807 YUJ

Chassis No. - 95271

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - 323

This characterful and fascinating early example of Ford’s Woodie wagon features rich blue bodywork alongside the distinctive wooden rear. ‘807 YUJ’ is a Super Deluxe Woodie station wagon, with seating for seven, and driven by a flat-head 3.7-litre V8 with ‘three on the tree’ (three-speed manual gearbox). Fitted with a black vinyl roof, body-coloured wheel hub surrounds, and split screens front and rear, this Ford has a wide range of desirable period features. The left-hand drive interior is fitted in brown upholstery for the seats, wooden dashboard, and blue carpeting.

A rare model to be found in the UK, the vendor reports that ‘807 YUJ’ was imported in 2012 into the UK from India, where it was owned by a Maharajah. Since then, it has undergone a full body - metal and wood - restoration, as well as work on the interior, all over a five year period. It then changed hands in 2017, where it was sent to E.G. Wright of Oldham - experts in Americana from the period - who has given the Woodie a £10,000 overhaul. This includes a hand-built V8, which needs to be run in for 1,500 miles, and explains the 300 indicated miles on the odometer. With all of this work carried out, it is of little wonder that the paintwork and interior are rated as ‘good’, while the engine, transmission, electrics, and bodywork are considered ‘excellent’ - an outstanding example of this Octogenarian work-horse.

• Highly-desirable 1940s Ford Woodie
• Fascinating heritage, including extensive restoration
• New, hand-built V8 engine, with only 300 miles covered

Ford’s Super Deluxe of 1941 saw a step-change in its car line-up, and came along just before America’s entry into World War II. It’s for this reason that the 1941 model, which would normally have evolved into the 1942 Model Year, saw the latter abandoned after just four months, as the government halted civilian car production to aid the war effort. Since 1935, Ford cars had only used V8 engines, but the demand for more economical models prompted the introduction of a straight-six for the first time since Ford’s 1906 Model K. The two V8s - in 221 cu or 239 cu (3.7 or 3.9-litres respectively) - remained the most popular choice however, and powered the Super Deluxe in a variety of body styles. These included two- and four-door saloons, as well as two-door coupe, convertible, and ‘Woodie’ station wagon.