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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 Plymouth’s 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 Monday’s 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.
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