1947 Mercury 79M Woodie Wagon. Part of the museum’s collection since 2008. Drives like a dream! Features include original wood in beautiful condition, original chrome, and original interior with the exception of the front seat. Upgrades include a replaced top and a Columbia two-speed rear end. Motor rebuilt by prior owner.
We have an extensive photo album of the Mercury available for review. Also, please check out this recent driving video. We have a few additional videos available for review. Please contact us for more info!
-Part of the Mike Malamut personal collection
In 1941, Chrysler introduced a unique wood-bodied car to the six-cylinder Windsor line. Neither sedan nor station wagon, it had a fastback profile with twin hinged doors at the rear. In contrast to most wood-bodied utility vehicles, the new Town and Country Car, as the company initially called it, had lavishly-varnished wood inside and quality upholstery.
This first edition of the Town and Country has become known as the “barrelback,” from its rounded rear styling combined with “clamshell” rear doors. The doors lead to a large and useful storage area behind the rear passenger seats. An innovation taken for granted today, the rearmost seat could be stowed in a forward position, enlarging the cargo area, or placed rearward, increasing passenger legroom. A nine-passenger version was also offered, with a limousine-type folding bench seat between the two rows of standard seats.
Exactly 999 were built, 200 of them in six-passenger configuration and the rest as nine-seaters. In addition, a single prototype was built on an eight-cylinder chassis. A similar lineup was continued into 1942, with nearly identical production despite the war-shortened model year. This car features original wood, a 6 cylinder, and fluid drive semi automatic transmission. It is thought that only 15 remain.
Model C-28. 108 bhp, 241.5 cu. in. L-head inline six-cylinder engine, four-speed Vacamatic semi-automatic Fluid Drive transmission, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 121.5″
-On loan from The Mike Malamut personal collection
The two-door Nomad differed from other station wagons of the era by having unique styling more reminiscent of a hardtop sedan than that of a standard station wagon. Chevrolet shared this body with its sister Pontiac, which marketed their version as the Pontiac Safari.
The Nomad’s unique design had its roots in a General Motors Motorama show car of the same name that was shared with the Corvette, Pontiac Bonneville Special, and the Oldsmobile F-88. The Concept was introduced at the GM Motorama in 1954 as one of Head Stylist Harley Earl’s “dream cars”.
GM approved production of the vehicle if the design could be transferred to its standard model, because top GM brass felt that they could sell more models if it were attached to the popular Bel Air model. In fact, following the product debut in 1955, it was not uncommon for the car to be referred to as the Chevy “Bel Air Nomad”.
While considered to be a milestone vehicle design, General Motors discontinued the original Nomad Sport Wagon at the end of the 1957 model year due to low sales and the introduction of a new body for 1958.
The Nomad’s relatively short wheelbase and overall length in comparison to Chevrolet coupes, sedans and station wagons of the same time period show modern similar characteristics to hatchbacks in later years. The platform used was GM’s smallest, a two-door bodystyle with a rear bench seat that folded down to accommodate cargo, and a two-piece tailgate with a glass upper portion that swung up, with a tailgate that folded down were the features that made the Nomad very popular.
-Part of the Malamut Auto Museum Foundation
In 1936 the Chevrolet Suburban was born and has built its brand recognition in being the one of largest vehicle choices to support all the transporting needs of the American nuclear family owning up to its name in today’s competitive markets. The Suburban was based on a commercial panel truck, but instead of having a huge windowless cargo area there was a large passenger compartment. Throughout the years the Suburban has underwent some style changes and the one pictured here is an example the 47-55 era of marking the beginning of flush-mounted headlights and a more broad-shouldered stance with a wider grille and passenger compartment. This particular car has been upgraded to Z/28 Camaro engine and is used for hauling trailers and other showpieces for the purposes of the auto museum.
-Part of the Malamut Auto Museum Foundation
An automatic with a 110HP six-cylinder engine, it boasts a deluxe interior and exterior, and original upholstery.
This was General Motor’s attempt to compete with the Volkswagen Microbus. The Corvair has more room, more power, and can carry a heavier load with twice the horsepower. Unfortunately, due to Ralph Nader’s mission to have GM stop building Corvairs (due, in his opinion, to their questionable safety), 1965 was the last year for the Greenbrier Family Wagon. This vehicle is a mostly-original California car that continues to roll down the highway. It has never been in an accident, which is a testament to GM and possibly contradicts Mr. Nader’s findings.
-On loan from The Mike Malamut personal collection
When Mike was a kid, his father owned a Studebaker just like this one – same color. When Mike saw this car in Pennsylvania, he knew he had to have it.
-Part of the Mike Malamut Personal Collection
-Part of the Mike Malamut Personal Collection
The Cherokee was a redesigned reintroduction of a two-door body style, with a single fixed rear side window with an optional flip-out section. Previously, a two-door version had been available in the Jeep Wagoneer line from 1963 to 1967, although this had the same pillar and window configuration as the four-door Wagoneer.
The Cherokee was marketed as the “sporty” two-door variant of Jeep’s station wagon. This 1975 Jeep Cherokee is a blue over blue two-door wagon that was sold new in New Jersey and reportedly remained with its original owner for 28 years. The truck spent time in Texas. The 360ci V8 was rebuilt and fitted with a replacement long block in 2013. Power is sent to all four wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission and Quadra-Trac four-wheel drive. Exterior equipment includes a chrome roof rack, a rear ball hitch, and a manually retractable rear window.
-Part of the Mike Malamut Personal Collection
-Part of the Mike Malamut Personal Collection
-Part of the Mike Malamut Personal Collection