Surf City, Here We Come

Considered clunky and unattractive back in the 1950s, the woody station wagon did have one core group of fans — surfers. Today the classic cars have another set of fans, the Huntington Beach City Council. <br>
In a recent move, Council members voted to approve the “woody” as the city’s official car. <br>
“The woody is a great symbol of the classic surf culture that Huntington Beach represents,” City Council member Jill Hardy said. “This official designation adds to the effort we have underway to brand Huntington Beach with the Surf City USA(r) moniker.” <br>
Just last month, the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau signed a deal with Felt Bicycles to offer the first official Surf City USA Beach Cruiser bicycle which will feature a Huntington Beach-inspired sea blue and wood panel graphic scheme, similar to that found on the woody cars. The bicycle will be offered in more than 30 countries including the U.S., starting this summer. <br>
Woodies have a long history with the city of Huntington Beach and have been a part of numerous parades and events such as the annual Fourth of July Parade, International Surfing Museum concerts, Pacific Shoreline Marathon, art openings and other city events. <br>
“Designating the woody as our city’s official car certainly fits the image that our Conference and Visitors Bureau is trying to promote,” said Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Sullivan. “It’s a perfect fit with our image on a nostalgic level.” <br>
A woody is a type of car or station wagon that has a portion of its framework and side panels made of wood. <br>
Woodies were produced in the 1940s and 50s, and reintroduced in the 1960s. Surfers took a liking to them because they were great for carrying a large number of people, surfboards and equipment. <br>
While woodies really did not catch on with the average car buyer in the ’50s, now they are considered valuable antiques, particularly if the wood bodywork is in good shape. <br>