“Woodie” station wagons were once a prominent feature in the American automotive landscape, particularly in the 1940s and ’50s, and even extending to the ’90s. However, they have gradually faded away, not just due to significant regulatory shifts but also because they fell out of favor. Nonetheless, a news anchor from Connecticut is convinced that woodies can experience a revival.
Dennis House of CBS affiliate WFSB is a well-known car enthusiast and a devotee of vintage woodies. His enthusiasm led him to embellish his newly acquired 2019 Buick Enclave with faux-wood paneling as a replacement for his cherished B-Body Roadmaster.
While Buick doesn’t currently offer factory-installed wood paneling on any of its vehicles as it did in the heyday of the Baby Boomer era, that didn’t deter House from pursuing his vision. In a conversation with GMAuthority last May, House revealed that he requested his local dealer, Scranton Motors, to apply vinyl graphics. The dealership ingeniously found a way to fulfill the request for one of its esteemed clients.
Subsequently, Scranton Motors enlisted a graphic designer to take measurements on the Enclave and digitally create the patterns. After some fine-tuning, the vinyl panels were printed and meticulously placed on the Enclave. House went the extra mile by sourcing vintage emblems to complement the overall nostalgic theme.
A self-professed Buick aficionado, House disclosed that he possesses two B-Body Roadmasters: an all-black 1996 model and a 1995 variant with the iconic Woodie design. He believes that the trend could be revived and is hopeful that General Motors will reintroduce custom wood paneling options for new models in the future.
Does this resurgence indicate a potential resurgence in the popularity of Landau roofs as well?
h/t: Autoblog
