In the post-war era, there were new ways to define luxury as America grew more suburban and more affluent. Perhaps the most visible symbol of that affluence was the station wagon, a vehicle that had existed for years prior to the war but which took on a unique place in the American psyche in the ‘50s and ‘60s. And while there were plenty of working-class wagons out there for doing the dirty work, if you were a person of means, you drove a Buick, which was widely regarded as the finest station wagon you could buy. Luxurious, powerful, elegant, and still wearing real wood on their flanks (at least until 1954), Buick wagons were the ideal combination of practicality and prestige in suburban America.

Wood-based wagons were expensive, top-of-the-line cars when they were new, and that remains true when you try to restore one to the level of this 1950 Buick Super model 59 station wagon. Most of GM’s station wagons were largely hand-built by the Ionia Body Company outside of Detroit, a company that specialized in woodies in particular, but also built show cars and eventually Lincoln’s Mark II bodies. Their ability to do custom work on a rather large scale made them an ideal partner in the declining woody business, and their woodworking skill was evident in every car that came off the assembly line. But it would be a mistake to assume that they were just like any other production car, as they were still largely hand-built and thanks to wood’s natural variety, each car was unique. Perhaps this is why woodies are so treasured today; not only do they represent a connection to a simpler time in our lives, but they are some of the very last coach-built automobiles built for a discerning clientele.

With just 389 miles showing on a comprehensive, multi-year, and extraordinarily expensive restoration, this gorgeous Buick Super wagon is surely one of the best of its kind. To answer your first question, most of the wood is new, created by craftsmen who specialize in just this kind of work and duplicating the Ionia workers’ specifications exactly. It’s a combination of ash and walnut, with the ash lending strength and stability to the framework (yes, the wood in 1950 was still a structural part of the body) and the walnut adding beauty. You’ll note that the fit and finish is easily as good as new, perhaps even better, and all four doors open and close with ease, regardless of the weather. Please note the beautiful ball-milled surfaces just below the window sills which have been carefully and painstakingly fitted with steamed walnut veneers to create contrast and complement the walnut inserts (this was originally done with Dy-noc decals, but I think you'll agree the use of real veneers is a big improvement). The foundation of the entire body are the two rear posts flanking the tailgate, and both of those were re-created accurately, so the car fits together beautifully. When it was all sanded smooth and fully assembled, it was then treated to multiple coats of varnish to give it a beautiful shine and a honey-colored glow that’s a big part of the woody’s appeal.

The rest of the exterior was likewise restored at the same time using all the original sheetmetal, which was, of course, unique to the wagons. Covered in one-year-only color called Kasmier Green, it has a wonderful period look that’s sophisticated and elegant and lets the wood do all the talking. Of course, the bodywork is also expertly refinished and the two-stage urethane paint is deep enough to swim in, complementing the shiny woodwork perfectly. Buick’s dramatic “sweep spear” styling works as well on the wagon as it does anywhere else, giving this car a dynamic look that suggests speed and grace in addition to practicality. As I said, all four doors open and close easily and the massive side-hinged hood fits as well as such a thing can fit. You will also note that there’s a 1-piece curved glass windshield, which was a relatively new innovation in 1950 and all the glass has a proper Soft-Ray tint. And yes, as a Buick, chrome and stainless trim plays a big part, and we would estimate that there’s easily $30,000 worth of shiny stuff on this woody, with most of it being done by the experts at The Finishing Touch. From the toothy grille to the portholes to the delicate ‘Super’ and ‘Dynaflow’ script, it is extremely well finished. Oversized bumpers wrap around the fenders for protection, and if you want to count demerits, the only one we can find is a small ding in the chrome on the rear bumper just above one of the mounting bolts. This is a beautifully done car.

The interior is as elegant and well-appointed as any Buick of the era, and with its top-of-the-line status, this wagon offers all the features you’d expect. Green leather covers both front and rear seats and the simple pattern means easy maintenance and great durability, surely considerations for the original buyer. Handsome pleated door panels are accentuated by chrome accents and body-colored garnish moldings that wrap into the dashboard. A massive steering wheel makes taking the helm of this wagon easy, even at low speeds, and Buick’s gauges were some of the most attractive of the period. In the center there’s a big speedometer while the auxiliary gauges are on either side and just below, and they’re all fully functional. The Sonomatic AM radio is perched up high and also remains fully functional with a roof-mounted antenna that swivels into position with the turn of a knob. Controls for the lights, heater, and defroster are arrayed on either side of the beautifully chromed speaker grille, as was Buick’s tradition for many years. And yes, this car retains Buick’s traditional pedal-mounted starter system: simply turn the key and press the accelerator to the floor and the purring straight-8 springs to life. The driver’s seat shows some very, very minor signs of use, but the remainder of the interior is in virtually new condition, including the cargo bay that is fully carpeted and features a full-sized spare stashed in a compartment underneath.

In 1950, Buick introduced the 263 cubic inch straight-8 engine, and while many believe it is simply a larger version of the old 248, it is actually an all-new engine. Featuring hydraulic lifters, a deep-skirt block, upgraded bearings, and hundreds of other improvements, it was a thoroughly modern engine that seems to be an interesting experiment by Buick engineers. In the wagon, it provides smooth, unobtrusive power and while it’s not a rocket ship, it provides performance on par with the car’s intended mission. The engine bay is beautifully detailed, with proper corporate turquoise engine paint, reproduction decals, and an oil bath air cleaner atop the original 2-barrel carburetor. The wiring harness is new and uses correctly coded cloth wires, it still uses its original 6-volt electrical system with a heavy-duty Optima battery, and the beefy radiator never seems to sweat. It starts easily and idles smoothly, even on the choke, and there’s a pleasant eight-cylinder burble from the reproduction exhaust system.

Buick’s Dynaflow automatic transmission was a pretty big deal when it debuted in 1947, and provides incomparable smoothness compared to conventional automatics. Using torque converters and a planetary gearset, it typically starts in high range and simply accelerates with a smooth, unending flow of torque. To today’s drivers it may feel like the transmission is slipping, but you will soon find yourself cruising at 60 MPH with the engine sedately turning at a reasonable speed. There’s a low range that is handy in the station wagon, especially when fully laden, and it gives it slightly more energetic responses around town. And there’s no need to worry about driving your new Super station wagon, as the transmission, torque tube, and rear end have been restored and serviced and are ready to go. There are slightly lower 3.91 gears out back, which makes this wagon a very good highway car that will loaf along at 60 MPH without working very hard. The chassis is spotless, fully restored using satin black powdercoating instead of paint on all the big parts, so they'll last practically forever. There's also new hardware, a recently sealed gas tank, rebuilt brakes, and fresh 7.60-15 BFGoodrich wide whitewall tires on original steel wheels and hubcaps.

Woodies are still red hot, and this car would absolutely impossible to duplicate at twice the price. The restoration was conducted by a Buick expert and aside from some very minor signs of use, it could be ready for the show field with a weekend’s worth of detailing. If you remember the American landscape when cars like this were a part of everyday life, this is a great opportunity to travel back in time and experience the very best that America had to offer.