1951 GMC Woody

GMC Other 1951 Description

My love of woodwork began in my 7th grade woodshop class and has never waned. The thought of making a Woodie probably started in 1980 when I purchased an old International Scout. Unfortunately it threw a rod and burned up before I ever began the project. Raising a family put the project on the back burner. The desire was rekindled in 2002 when we visited Hawaii and I got to see an actual Woodie for the first time in my life. After coming home I saw an auction for a Campbell Woodie. But due to my lack of funds the reality of ever bidding on this was impossible because it went for six figures but I thought if they can do it...why can’t I ? Though I’ve always worked with wood I did very little fabrication with metal until my first restoration which was a ‘58 Schwinn bike onto a ’59 metropolitan then a ’54 metropolitan and then a ’54 GMC ½-ton pickup truck. While working on the ’54 GMC I bought 5 trucks for parts including the 1950 that would eventually become the Woodie. Unfortunately the cab was rusted through under the windshield but fortunately I had gotten the ‘48 cab a year prior.

The thought process started as did the prayers with just a picture of the Campbell and with some ideas in my head... I started. To my knowledge there are no plans to build one of these and I have been asked to make plans repeatedly but because some of the woodworking processes that I felt comfortable doing might be considered dangerous by amateurs I didn't make any plans. I do however have many of the original templates used in the build process that will be included with the Woodie. This project began in my mind as the vehicle you could bury me in because I never planned to sell it. But… about 2 years into the project before any of the doors were made I had a heart attack. Since then we have been blessed to have my wife survive cancer but my knee and hip joints have given out. This has always been a work in progress. With neighbors and friends encouraging me. I told them all..." you’ll know when I’m done when I build the surfboard." The surfboard was built in 2014 which culminated the main portion of the project. Much like an artist that paints it is said that they never finish a painting they simply abandon it. My body has gotten to the point where that’s the point. I am at now abandoning the project. There are still a lot of little things that need to be done little things to tweak and improve the final product. Things such as minor paint touch up replace a couple of gauges and so on. Last year I replaced the rear taillights with replica LEDs which was a great improvement. The Woodie is structurally sound and it was a fascinating project. To do it I had to learn to paint the vehicle and to learn to weld. I learned to paint the vehicle by working on the previous 3 vehicles I worked on. I take pride in having done everything on this vehicle myself. It sure turns heads and elicits a lot of smiles. I was told many years ago that a laborer works with his hands and I have done that. As you progress the journeyman learns to work with his head and hands and the ultimate goal to be a craftsman is to work with your hands your head and your heart. I can assuredly say I have poured my heart into this vehicle. I can only hope whoever gets it will enjoy it and be safe.

Please view the24auction photos remember to put the auction in onewindow and use another duplicate auction window just for the auction 24photos (important then you just shuttle between both your windows to either view a photo or the description of the photo) it's funny how much easier this is with 2 identical tabs (windows).

1. Highlighting the original hood bird the spear molding on the top of the fender andtempered glass throughout. White ash framing with mesquite exterior panels. Original 50’s fenders.

2. Frontal shot showing original GMC hood bird original glass-style turn signals equipped with LED's and 1952GMCgrill.

3. Includes original side view mirrors original running boards that have been treated with Line-X for protection as has the front splash apron.

4. Highlighting the canvas over the slatted roof as well as the white ash framing and mesquite door panels. With painted wheels and original GMC hub caps.

5. Highlights include the lighted license plate the clam shell rear doors LED original style tail lights and curved white ash fender moldings.

6. Showing similar items as prior.

7. Showcasing the open clam shaped rear doors the curved solid white ash inner fender wells the sapele inner panels laminated to the external panels and the rear bench seat on the solid ash floor.

8. Again showing the white ash fender moldings the rear LED lights and the gas port to a 15-gallon gas tank.

9. Full left-side view showing all framing panels and molding with matching custom made surf board.

10. Eye-level left side view showcasing all woodworking and new 16” tires with painted wheels.

11. Interior view of slatted roof white ash and original 50’s dome light. Rear seat shown prior to upholstery. Shows steel reinforcement brackets.

12. Interior of driver’s door with Bear Claw latch original door handle and custom-made arm rest. Also showing the dual switches for the 2 power windows. Original dash original seat cover prior to new upholstery. Foot stop starter still in use. Original truck hinges used on front doors; self-stopping modified VW hinges on the rear door.

13. Interior view of passenger door with original interior handle custom arm rest sapele panel power window switch fixed wing window and front seat prior to reupholstering.

14. Original dash steering wheel and instruments. New glove box interior wiper switch radio delete plate and all new windshield gaskets.

15. Closer view of clam shell doors with full piano hinging. Current Oregon plate LED rear light shows the curve of the white ash fender trim and the Body by Fisher surfboard plaque.

16. Showing power window in a down position shows original truck hinges the engineered regulator for the door handle and Bear Claw latch. Also shows the working original GMC heater and the VW modified hinges on the rear door. Seat shown prior to reupholstering.

17. Shows contour of doors following contour of the original truck cab the curved white ash fender molding and top molding spear of white ash and mesquite inlay. New Good Year tires (P225/75R16 Good Year tires) on original painted wheels.

18. Showing white ash construction with original locking door handle mesquite exterior panels and rear door sliding windows.

19. Original bumper brackets and the finished canvas roof.

20. White ash and mesquite surfboard custom made to match the Woodie.

21. Highlighting upper locking clam shell door allowing surfboard to be slid across the seats.

22. Showing water-jet cut brackets for lifting the rear window as well as interior brackets.

23. Clear title. Note the last name please.

24. Why you noted the last name in #23! I feel qualified to use this CNC cut “Body by Fisher” plaque.

Please view a larger numberof the build photos (over 200 photos!) using thislink https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzcM3I43XU6pSHA2eV9aczVmbGc&usp=sharing

You will see all the buildphotos now. You also can read the captions in this mode. To make the pictures bigger click on the picture (after reading the caption) now you will see the picture enlarged but with no caption. To go back to seeing all the photos with captions simply clickto the side of the picture not the arrows at the right (forward) and at the left (back). Now in smaller mode again andafterreading the next description click onanother photo to enlarge... and so on.

You can also view 2 videos too.These videos are at the end of all the captionedphotos enjoy!

I would like to thank the people who made this lifelongdream a reality.

If you would like to contact me and discuss any aspect of the Woodie please call me in Oregon 541-301-2938 as I am the builderI will be happy to do my best to answer any specific questions you may haveregarding this outstanding vehicle! There is so much here that I hope you take the time to study all the information. Have fun....

On May-26-15 at 22:56:28 PDT seller added the following information:

An error in my listing is the VIN number. The correct number is 1028CT2667 sorry for my error.

Please see another video added this week by using the above link. The 3rd video can be seen after all the photos. It is a walk around with sound. It shows the operation of the windows mounting of the surfboard running the engineand a drive around the block. Please contact me via my phone number in Oregon if you have any other questions about the GMCWoodie.

Jerre