1948 Ford Marmon-Herrington Super Deluxe Station Wagon

Ford offered Marmon-Herrington four-wheel drive conversions on select vehicles from the 1930's into the early 1960's. There’s a reason the company isn’t a household name, however: Not only was four-wheel drive once viewed as unnecessary in all but the most extreme conditions, the price of the conversion often doubled the price of the vehicle on which it was based. In terms of wagons, like this 1948 Ford Marmon-Herrington Super Deluxe Station Wagon, for sale on Hemmings.com, only a handful were ever built. It wears a pickup body now (a necessary swap after the original wood body rotted away), but it began life as a Ford Super Deluxe woodie wagon, converted by Marmon-Herrington for use as a ski resort shuttle. A second 1947 Ford Super Deluxe (also sans wood) is included as part of the package, and given the truck’s rarity (and hence, value), this is a worthwhile project for those with the right restoration skills. From the seller’s description:

The Ford Marmon-Herrington Super Deluxe Station Wagon is a rare wood bodied vehicle built post WWII by Ford and then converted to 4 wheel drive by Marmon-Herrington. The conversion cost doubled the price of the vehicle which is the reason only a handful of Ford Super Deluxe Wagons were converted by Marmon-Herrington making them extremely uncommon and valuable. In retrospect, Ford and Marmon-Herrington created one of the very first luxury SUVs and arguably a market niche that we know today.

In fact a recent story appeared in Hemmings Classic Car Weekely Newsletter found here:  Click Here
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This 1948 Ford Marmon-Herrington Super Deluxe Station Wagon also know as a Woodie, is offered for sale as a package with a 1947 Ford Deluxe Station Wagon, another Woodie. Together, these two vehicles could be used to to rebuild the Marmon-Herrington. The vehicles condition are detailed in the attached photo gallery. Both vehicles have NC Titles. VIN upon request.

The Marmon-Herrington was originally used at an Asheville, NC area ski and resort as a shuttle. When the wood body rotted away, it was crudely converted into a pick-up and nicknamed “The Stump Jumper” and became the resort work truck. For years it languished with an eccentric collector in Maggie Valley, NC. Both of these vehicles were discovered, and acquired, as part of Barn Find Book Author Tom Cotter’s collection.

Specific to the Marmon-Herrington, evidence of the welds combining the rear-half of a pick up cab to the cowl of the Ford Super Deluxe from the windshield forwards is easily identifiable in the photos. The original Super Deluxe windshield, cowl, firewall fenders remain intact. A ’50s or ’60s pick up bed was added at some point over the existing chassis creating a less than flattering combination. The overall condition of the 4×4 is rough but the chassis and driveline is complete. The other car included is a solid California 1947 Super Deluxe Woodie with 2 wheel drive and has a title. The front clip, front and rear fenders and chassis are are suitable for the restoration.

Though a complete restoration is needed, it could be considered a viable given the popularity of wood bodied cars and the rarity of the Marmon-Herrington conversion. The Woodie community and suppliers are helpful and knowledgeable. Wood bodies can be obtained through a variety of craftsman who specialize in these cars. The Early Ford V8 community is a robust source of information as well.

While combining the Marmon-Herrington and the two cars would be a significant project, the outcome of a full restoration would yield an exceedingly rare piece of automotive history.

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Source:  blog.hemmings.com/