There is perhaps nothing more emblematic of the California beach lifestyle than the image of several surfboards stacked on the roof of a wood-bodied station wagon. By the mid-Sixties, secondhand “woodie” wagons produced during the 1930s and 1940s had become stylistically and functionally an ultimate symbol of American surfing culture, and nowhere was this more apparent than in Southern California.

As an enthusiastic surfer and hot-rodder early on, the consignor fondly recalls days spent surfing with friends, their surfboards piled into his ’47 Ford woodie wagon. In direct competition with Chrysler’s Royal and Plymouth’s Special Deluxe, the Ford Super Deluxe was among the finest, top-of-the-line wood-bodied station wagons available. Hand built in limited numbers at Ford’s Iron Mountain facility, Super Deluxe bodies feature maple and birch framing over mahogany paneling.

Built over three years by the consignor and a consortium of notable specialists, the “Woodyator,” as it has been affectionately named, is constructed upon the chassis and drivetrain of an 811-mile 2003 Lincoln Aviator, on which has been cleverly mounted a genuine and fully restored 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Station Wagon body. It may very well be one of the best engineered and thoughtfully considered custom Woodies ever created. Even the Dark Blue over chestnut leather color combination is a period-correct choice, and this attention to detail continues with the weatherproof Stayfast canvas top and maroon-painted wheels.

While the Ford body was restored by premier woodie master Ron Heiden, experts Nick Kovacevich and Bill Cooke set about modifying the donor chassis to accept it. The high quality of workmanship is self-evident, with the restored Super Deluxe body retaining almost all of its original maple and mahogany wood structure.

Power is derived from the Aviator’s original 4.6-liter, 32-valve, all-aluminum Ford V-8, which has been tastefully improved with a custom dress-up kit, intake manifold, and exhaust system. The Woodyator further retains the very capable all-wheel-drive system from the modern Lincoln chassis upon which it is built. Of course, the power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning systems have also been retained—albeit cleverly concealed to keep up the car’s convincing period-correct appearance.

Upon completion in June 2007, the consignor entered the Woodyator in the 2,000-mile, western leg of the 25th Annual Great American Race from Dallas to Anaheim. It performed flawlessly and earned a remarkable fourth overall finish. Since then, it has been well maintained and taken out occasionally to check the surf.

Combining the ride, handling, performance, and creature comforts of a modern luxury SUV with the timeless, crowd-pleasing charm of a Super Deluxe Woody, this exceptionally well detailed updated classic epitomizes the soulful California beach-culture aesthetic.