Chevrolet Fleetmaster Woody Wagon

Chevrolet Fleetmaster Woody Wagon

The Chevrolet Fleetmaster Station Wagon represents the final chapter in the story of genuine wood-bodied American automobiles. Produced from 1946 to 1948, these wagons were among the most expensive models in Chevrolet's lineup, their hand-built wooden bodies costing substantially more than the all-steel sedans and coupes that shared the same chassis.

Like all immediate post-war Chevrolets, the Fleetmaster wagon was essentially a warmed-over 1942 design. Civilian automobile production had been suspended during World War II, and manufacturers rushed to resume production using pre-war tooling. The Fleetmaster's body was constructed primarily of maple structural members and birch panels, built by the Ionia Manufacturing Company in Ionia, Michigan, before being shipped to Chevrolet's assembly plant for mounting on the steel chassis.

The mechanical specification was thoroughly conventional: Chevrolet's proven 216.5 cubic-inch 'Stovebolt' inline-six, producing 90 gross horsepower, drove the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission. The engine was known throughout the industry for its reliability, economy, and smooth operation. While it would never be described as powerful, the Stovebolt six was more than adequate for the unhurried driving pace of the 1940s.

The Fleetmaster wagon's interior offered seating for eight passengers on three rows of seats, with the rear seats removable for cargo duty. The cargo area, with its top-hinged tailgate and fold-down lower gate, was enormous by contemporary standards and made the wagon genuinely useful for families, farmers, and businesses alike.

Production numbers were modest — fewer than 11,000 Fleetmaster wagons were built across the 1946-1948 model years, compared to hundreds of thousands of the steel-bodied sedans. The combination of low production, the fragility of wood construction, and the passage of eight decades means that surviving examples are rare and valuable.

The Fleetmaster Woody holds a special place among collectors of both Chevrolet automobiles and woodie wagons. Its honest, working-class character — this was never a luxury car despite its high price — and its connection to the last era of genuine wood construction make it one of the most desirable early post-war Chevrolets.