Ford was the first among the "Big Three" to bring an all-new post-war car to market in 1949. Beating Chevrolet by six months and Plymouth by nine, Ford’s 1949 models were in production and ready for delivery to the public by June 1948. As a result, the company claimed the distinction of America’s number one auto manufacturer with an increase of more than 300 percent from 1948, in an extended 16-month selling period.

Fondly nicknamed the “shoebox” Fords, the cars featured striking new looks with slab-sided bodies and flush-mounted fenders. Despite the nomenclature, they were easily the most modern-looking of the Big Three's low-priced cars for 1949—and the public responded accordingly, with 31,412 deliveries of the new Custom Station Wagon. This particular body style featured an all-steel structure that virtually eliminated the typical squeaking and much of the wind noise associated with the previous wood-bodied wagons. The design was also much less complicated, with a steel roof and replaceable wood panels that bolted on rather than being integral to the car's structure. The wood components were bonded together by a microwave process that squeezed a mixture of phenolic resin-coated wood pieces together to form a frame blank, which held panels similarly crafted with a layer of maple over an inner layer of ash.

Michael Leith acquired this Custom Station Wagon from the noted Steelewood collection of Ford wood-bodied wagons. While under his care, the vehicle was treated to a frame-off restoration. Today, the body is finished in the wonderful shade of Meadow Green, which perfectly complements the authentic wood paneling. Additionally, all of the chrome was replated to return a stunning luster to the exterior. Inside, the original brown seats remained, as they had been preserved in good condition, while the headliner and rubber floor mats were both replaced. Remarkably, it is believed that the 37,188 miles logged on the odometer at the time of cataloguing represent the accurate total accrued over the vehicle’s life. This wagon is additionally fitted with several desirable features, including overdrive, exterior sun visor, push-button AM radio, fog lights, third-row seating, and an original Ford “sunscreen” driving visor.

Endlessly charming, the "woodie" wagon has long endured as a symbol of summer fun and freedom. This wonderful example, offered in fine running order, exudes these characteristics and will surely be cherished by its next owner.