America’s Woodie Era in the Savoy!

Woodie wagons are usually filed away as beach-cruiser nostalgia, but once you hear the details, they turn into rolling history lessons. We’re back with Mary Argruza from the Savoy Auto Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, for a lively tour through a woodie display that connects craftsmanship, wartime problem-solving, and the moment the American station wagon became the default family road trip machine. If you love classic cars, automotive museums, and the stories behind the sheetmetal, this one is a must. We start with a tiny American Bantam woody and a surprisingly important thread in the Jeep origin story, then move to a restored Nash woody with period-correct wood patina and clever camping features like screen windows and a mattress setup. From there, we talk about a 1930 Ford Model A woodie known as a depot hack, essentially an early courtesy shuttle designed for train station pickups, and why driving old wood-bodied cars feels so different from anything modern. Then it gets wonderfully weird: we break down “early air conditioning” on a Ford Country Squire using a water-filled unit that cools while you’re moving, and fogs things up when you stop. We also hit the collector reality check with Packard wood maintenance, a barn-find look at what happens when you skip the sanding and varnish, and a pint-sized Crosley tin woody with an unexpected tie to WWII technology. After that, Jeff drops Car Culture knowledge on the Indianapolis 500 Borg-Warner Trophy, and Mike shares five scenic drives around Houston, from the Blue Water Highway to the Bolivar ferry and a Lake Houston loop. Subscribe for more real-world car talk, share this with a wagon lover, and leave a review so more drivers can find us. What’s the one classic car museum you’d build a road trip around?Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas Gulf Coast Auto ShieldPaint protection, tint, and more!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.----  ----- Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?     In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!  Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.-----   -----Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltimehttps://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTimeFor more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at [email protected]