Motor City Classics 1939 Chevrolet DeLuxe wagon Page 2

Outstanding attention to exterior detail includes the side-mounted spare tire with cover and winged hood ornament. These items were available only on the Master DeLuxe version.

The very cool big gun is the perfect addition to this woody package. Note the way Motor City Classics went the extra mile with the fit of the wood and the die-cast fat fenders.

The canvas top is mated to the body with a fine yellow beadinga perfect complement to the exterior. The vintage surf decals applied to the side windows brilliantly depict what a restored woody should look like.

That opens the door to a potential Motor City Classics variantan aged woody as it would have appeared in the early 1960s after years of neglect and salt air has stolen its glamour. Perhaps this is a job for Terry Ballard (see Die Cast X Winter 2005 issue ).

Interior Like most die-cast models under $50, you compromise some details for the price. The interior of the Motor City Classics 39 Woody is less than inspiring; its filled with bland molded components, and it lacks serious detail. There are, however, a few bright spots: the hinges are unobtrusive and provide smooth and wide access to the front seat. A large-mouth-style speedometer and gauge cluster are readable, and the rearview mirror is as nice as the exterior trim pieces. In its original factory configuration, Chevy equipped the wagon with three rows of seats. The Motor City Classics version is true to this layout, but surfers would have discarded the rear most seating for board space. A flip-up window panel allows you to access the rear.

Beneath the hood
A clamshell-style hood opens to allow minimal viewing access to the 1:18 version of the 216ci, inline-six engine. On a good beach day, this engine pumped out 90hp. The scale version is about as unimpressive. That isnt to say the components are low-end; the basics are all there, but it just lacks detail, and its difficult to see all of its appendages.

Good casting allows the two-piece hood to hinge smoothly and, when closed, to fit into place tighter than the fit Chevy provided 67 years ago.

WRAPUP
Woodies share a special place in American automotive history. Although you can find more detailed examples of a great American woody, Motor City Classics 1939 Chevy is a very affordable shelf mate. The company also includes a very cowabunga long board that was (and still is) a fixture on many remaining woodiesnot a bad deal for a modest amount of money.