Once a year, automotive writer, historian, and stellar ex-racing PR guru Tom Cotter hosts a Woody Party at his homestead in the lovely college town of Davidson, North Carolina. I would have loved to make this year’s event, which took place on September 25, but couldn’t. I’m especially disappointed once I got these photos from Tom’s pal Steve Mezardian, of Charlotte, who was in the house and shot them.
This one sets the tone, a pre-war Ford station wagon in contrasting hues, perfectly done, against a contrasting backdrop.
Attendees at the Woody Party rolled in with factory-stock and modified station wagons, among many other rides. In the foreground here is the sole Ford wagon offered in 1951, the first ever to be called the Country Squire. That nameplate endured for more than 40 years.
Have you ever seen one of these? It’s a 1948 Oldsmobile Model 66 station wagon, with a 238-cu.in. L-head straight-six coupled to a four-speed Hydra-Matic. Only 553 were produced. Mike and Roni Grajcar fitted theirs with a surfboard, just right for heading over to the capes and catching some breakers and beach music.
This image tells us two things: Tom’s tastes in cars runs all the way from American wood to Euro-exotics, and he’s got a lot of similarly open-minded friends.
You were expected to bring a charitable food gift to the party as admission. A lot of pumpkin pie was eaten around Davidson of late, we’ll guess.
This slammed, tricked Datsun 510 two-door was one of at least two in attendance. Judging by the license plate, it’s out of Pennsylvania.
And here is the host’s car. Tom has owned this 1939 Ford wagon since he was a 14-year-old kid growing up on Long Island, and has been restoring and mildly rodding it ever since. Last summer, he and his 85-year-old mother drove it all the way from Davidson to the New England Concours d’Elegance in Stratton, Vermont.