As the tooling and techniques for metalworking improved in the early 20th century, the use of wood as a structural component in car bodies gave way to its new role as a decorative element. But even when it was just used as a stylistic flourish, as was the case with the iconic and long-running Chrysler Town & Country, outfitting vehicles with genuine wood planking was a costly and labor-intensive process, and automakers were starting to find ways to fake it. When durable, automotive-grade vinyl graphic appliqués hit the scene in the mid-1950s, the faux-wood revolution was in full swing, the crass wood-grain pattern adorning everything from refrigerators to television sets; it was only a matter of time until a crafty auto stylist put two and two together.
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Against the Grain: 21 Woodies That Weren’t Station Wagons
