Vancouver Island. One of the highest concentrations of collector vehicles per capita in North America, they say.  Hot rod’s, Musclecars, English and European sports cars.  You name it —even the rare stuff — and chances are you’ll see them roaming the Island, where the cruising season extends longer than most areas of Canada.  Together, the Island and B.C.’s Lower Mainland are home to huge numbers of Canada’s finest ‘old cars’, including a few woodies.
     Trees — and wood— have always been an integral part of life in British Columbia.  Many coastal and island communities have traditionally owed their existence to logging and other forestry operations.  Midway up the Island, not far from Cathedral Grove, a protected home to towering stands of centuries-old Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar trees, lies the community of Coombs.
     Coombs is home to an eclectic mix of businesses and residents.  Rumored to be one of B.C.’s most visited spots, the Coombs Old Country Market — known affectionately as ‘Goats On The Roof’ for obvious reasons — is just a short hop from Rainforest Woodies, a restoration shop you’d find interesting!
     To the generation that grew up on Surfing, hot rod’s and Beach Boys music, woodies were popularized in song and verse.  “I bought a ’30 Ford Wagon and we call it a woody” sang Jan & Dean.  “You know it’s not very cherry, it’s an oldie but a goody”.  The words to their hit, Surf City, could probably still be recited by most car guys, at least in that age group.  And, face it — as cool as coupes are, sometimes you just need something more to haul your gear around in.
     Of the ‘Big Three’, Ford is credited with being the first to offer a ‘Station Wagon’ version of the 1929 Model A, although the actual wooden bodies were contracted out to a third party.
     By 1937 Ford had moved production of woodies in-house.  Due to their relative complexity and high labour content, station wagons were often among the most expensive new vehicles to purchase. After WW2, production improvements led to Plymouth being the first to offer an all-steel station wagon in 1949 and other manufacturers soon followed suit.
     While some buyers scoffed at station wagons as being frumpy family cars, manufacturers strived to find the combination of utility and sporty good looks that would make a sales success.  The short-lived Chevy Nomads (in 1957, said to be pricier than a similarly equipped Bel Air convertible) and some of the pillarless hardtop versions offered by Ford, Mercury, Oldsmobile and others offer testimony to the extent of their efforts.
     Eventually, though, the whole genre was for the most part replaced by the Van, Mini-Van, Sport Utility and now Crossover categories.  There’s obviously a timeless, ongoing need for these vehicles and no matter what you call them their evolution continues.
     Today, woodies are arguably one of the collector car hobby’s most desirable body types.  Is it because of their rarity? Their relative ‘Coolness’? Another fond memory lost from today’s world? Whatever the reason, a nice restored or hotrod woody brings a smile to most faces.
     But, back to Rainforest Woodies, in Coombs…  The group there has been cranking out some incredible phantom woodies. Rich Schoyen, assisted by father-in-law Bob Albert and Fred Imrie, have literally redefined the term ‘custom car’ and, in the subset of the collector car world that is the domain of the woody enthusiast, planted Vancouver Island firmly on the international map.
     Rich’s latest ride is a phantom 1937 Pontiac Woody.  Now, Pontiac DID make a woody in 1937—but this wasn’t one of them. This car rolled off the assembly line as a four-door humpback sedan. These guys have demonstrated with their previous builds that they CAN, in fact, make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. This Pontiac proves they can consistently hack up an undesirable old parts car and morph it into an absolutely unique and stunning show stopper.  Check out the specs on this latest effort: New scratch-built chassis. Nothing too high-tech, but solid and reliable with a MacGuyvers tubular Mustang II front end with power rack and parallel leafs with an Explorer rearend (3:55’s) out back.  Then the body was cut apart.
     In contrast to their last woody, a phantom 1947 Plymouth two door which—except for the rear fenders — was all wood from the cowl back, the Pontiac has wood from the beltline down. This meant stretching the front doors eight inches to make it a two-door and building everything else, including the roof, side window openings and rear hatch, from fresh metal. Remember, this is with no plans — other than the sketches and patterns they made — no reproduction parts, everything built from scratch based on an idea.
     Rich is no stranger to the English Wheel and he had it spinning on this build. The only pieces that are still relatively stock are the fenders. They’re the most compelling reason they chose to do this car; they liked the fender lines. The grille opening was reshaped and a custom grille made and chromed. Side panels with unique vents were made along with the hood, which now is a one-piece top hinged at the rear. And, of course, a new firewall and modified dash.  Power comes from a GM 350 Ramjet crate engine with 4L60E transmission.  Hot Rod Air, power windows and doors, a killer stereo and stitching by Chips Custom Upholstery in Nanaimo, BC finish off the inside.
     Details abound and the Pontiac theme is carried through in the interior with the Indian Chief’s profile showing up in the door panel inserts and armrests and even the seat back adjusters.  Interestingly, while this is a steel-roofed car, the headliner is all wood—and looks just great!  For more details on the car and lots of construction pictures, visit their website listed below.
     Granted, the car does not lay frame.  It doesn’t roll on shiny 18s & 20s with rubber band tires.  It doesn’t have a killer mountain motor.  Those weren’t in Rich’s vision for the old chief.  But, it amply demonstrates their skills and craftsmanship in both metal and wood and their ability to complete everything except upholstery in-house. Confident as ever, the car was on the road less than two days when Rich and wife Cathy headed south, driving the car to the Wavecrest Woody Meet in San Diego, accompanied by Bob and Marg Albert in the ‘47 Plymouth.  As ambassadors of the Great White North, we couldn’t hope for better representation.
     Now, for you guys that preach “Steel is Real”—how about adding “Wood is Good”?  When it comes to cars, the combination goes great together. Whether real or phantoms, woodies are cool!  See for yourself…