mid-'30s at the Ford Plant in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to an

article on this car in a 1993 "Old Cars" magazine article (see link below).

Very few others--perhaps none--remain on the road, and certainly not in such

amazing original condition. (The only other known example that I heard of

was supposedly housed in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

But that turned out to be an early 1920s Model T conversion, the

curator told me. He said he'd never seen anything like this '37!)

When discovered in a garage (under a heavy cover) in Northern

Minnesota in August 2001, she had only 19,000 miles, and the owner's

manual was actually still the glove box in like-new condition!

She had always been garaged and treated with

much TLC as a collector vehicle.

The interior, all wood lined, was still the way it appeared

in the '30s and '40s, complete with framed photos of the original

owner on his travels (mainly to Florida) and his cabin in

the North Woods, plus and other memorabilia from the era.

Built on the '37 Ford Pickup frame and cowling

(powered by a 60-hp flathead V8 with aluminum heads),

the rear framing is all wood, with the metal skin wrapped

around it. The roof structure, too, is all wood, over which the heavy,

waterproofed canvas top is still very securely fitted. The structure of the

body is solid, appearing from underneath to be all oak, and still in a

remarkably unaltered, undamaged condition. The door frames are thick,

solid oak, and oak is visible around the window openings (as on the

four side windows in back) -- though it is painted over.

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She was a big hit at this campground once we got that

great old flattie V8 hummin'! Note her expanding roof and

the original dark green color, which had been repainted. I figure

the canvas roof was originally painted in reflective silver to keep

it from getting too hot inside. All four side windows open, while

the back one tilts out to three positions. The windshield also

tilts open at the bottom for natural AC while driving.

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Here are a few shots of her in August 2001, out on the road

in the Chippewa National Forest north of Grand Rapids, MN...

practicing for her next adventure: "Destination Wavecrest 2001."

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A peak inside: a slice right out of the 1930s...just as

the original owner left it. All the windows open, with curtains

on the four side ones and pull-down shades on the back window,

as well as on the driver's and passenger door windows.

A wide storage cabinet is located under the bed.

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The wood headliner, with vent and canvas

expanding portion visible. Four wood pieces

hold it securely in the up position, while

clamps hold it down while driving.

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More interior views....note the cedar branches hanging

in the corners for that north woods aroma. Cabinets and

aluminum sink (with a wood cover insert) are visible on the

left. All the antiques stuck away inside, as well as those

hanging on the walls, came along for the ride. Also note

the table behind the driver's seat, which folds down.

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To see an article published on this special

vehicle in "Old Cars" magazine in 1993, click here

(it's a JPEG file). Also, the web site

OldWoodies.com did a feature on their site soon after

I found this old gem and alerted them to it.

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An update: I sold this fine automobile to a well-known collector

of old Fords in September 2001, at a large antique and collector car

show in Southern California called "Wavecrest." Here's a web site

that features several photos taken of the car at that event:

Last shots of my '37 Ford Housecar before I kissed her good-bye!

www.gtamarketing.com/1937FordHousecar.html