A unique 1946 Plymouth 'Woody' wagon once owned by Sydney surfing identity Dick Ash and driven by famous surfers Midget Farrell, Nat Young and Bob McTavish, is being auctioned by Shannons at its Spring Auction in Melbourne on Monday (September 4).
Originally purchased by wealthy American families, the post-war Plymouth Special DeLuxe station wagons with their distinctive white ash framing and dark maple exterior wood paneling, became cult objects in the late 1950s and 1960s as a new generation of young surfers began using them as transport to the beach.
With innumerable references in popular culture of the day, the 'Woody' was immortalised by the likes of the Beach Boys in their song "Let's go Surfing" and have now become sought after collectors items around the world.
The Woody being auctioned by Shannons is thought to have been a consular vehicle in Indonesia before arriving in Australia, where it was extensively customised in Melbourne in the 1970s to create a unique surfing wagon.
As well as its trademark woodwork, a number of mechanical modifications were made to ensure that the vehicle could be enjoyed daily and in heavy traffic.
To achieve this, the Plymouth¹s original L-head 218-cid in-line six-cylinder engine and manual gearbox were replaced by a much punchier Chevrolet 327-cid V8 and Turbo 400 automatic transmission. At the same time, a Jaguar front and rear suspension, brakes and differential, replaced the original components.
In Dick Ash's hands in the 1980s, the Woody was used as a promotional vehicle for his Okanui brand, while in the 1990s it was used as a promotional vehicle with the Peninsula Surf Centre of Mornington. It was recently the subject of an extensive refurbishment around 2000.
Included in the sale are roof racks, a copy of the original Plymouth advertising material and 'Woody' literature, along with a prized original 1960's Makaha Malibu-style surfboard (numbered 3706) with a timber lay-up fin to match the vehicle.
Shannons expect this fascinating piece of American-Australian surfing culture to sell in the range of $28,000-$36,000 at Monday¹s auction, which commences at 7.00pm.
All 42 vehicle and 17 memorabilia lots in the auction can be viewed at Shannons showroom, 321 Warrigal Road, Cheltenham over the coming weekend, September 2-3 from 9.00am-5.00pm both days.
Media information, contact:
Michael Browning (03) 9879 9111 / 0418 324 328
For further auction information, contact:
Christophe Boribon, National Auctions Manager on 0413 567 308 or Greg Hardy (03) 8543 2287/0438 268 854
Or to view all auction lots visit www.shannons.com.au
