1952 Chevy “Tin Woodie” For Sale

Don’t miss out on this well cared for Tin Woodie with an interesting past.

This Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe Station Wagon was discovered in 1985 at a private Girls School in Arizona by a well known Nevada based Collector. He was responsible for procuring many of the cars in the infamous Harrah’s Collection in Las Vegas. However, he chose to hang on to this Tin Woodie, keeping it in his own private collection.

After a decade in his custodianship he decided it was time to pass it on to a fellow ranch owner and family friend. That gentleman just happened to be the owner of the UXU Guest Ranch in Cody, Wyoming. First opened in 1929 and still in operation today, nearly 100 years later. He’d been prodding the previous owner to part with it as he wanted something for his guests to remember their vacation just a little bit better. Definitely an eye catcher at his Dude Ranch.

Upon taking possession he had the Wagon repainted, a rebuilt 235 engine installed, converted to a 12 volt electrical system for ease of starting and reliability and also had the interior redone as well. As you can see in the photos all of the door panels are “wood”, hence the term “Tin Woodie.

Displayed sparingly “summers only” at the UXU Guest Ranch (if you look at the photo of the spare tire you can still see where someone wrote “UXU” on the spare tire) for the next 9 summers. it was garaged the other 9 months of the year. The Wagon was then “rebranded” to represent the owner’s Open Range Images Art Gallery which it still wears that logo to this day. According to the previous owner he estimates the Wagon has less than 5000 miles on it while in his possession, from 1996 through to 2024, when I purchased it. This isn’t a “cross country” type of vehicle so I wouldn’t think it even has that many miles on it but that’s simply my opinion. Unfortunately the odometer isn’t working so the true mileage is unknown.

While this isn’t by any means a “Show Car”, it has a wonderfully “aged” patina. Just the way I like it. I rinsed the dust off when I first purchased the Wagon but I’ve made no attempt at cleaning nor polishing the paint, chrome, or stainless trim. All the brightwork (chrome, stainless trim, etc.) appears to be original to the car and never restored. This Wagon has that look of a solid, untouched, 73 year old Chevy Wagon. Again, just the way I like it.

Not easy to find these early 50’s Chevy Wagons these days. At least not one that hasn’t been lowered on air bags or otherwise customized. This is the last year of the Chevrolet Wagons to have the split windshield and the single taillight. Truly the end of an era.

Just imagine this Tin Woodie “rebranded” to rep your Bar, Restaurant, Hotel, Craft Brewery, Winery, Coffee Shop, Flower Shop, Antique Store, Book Store, Surf Shop, the list of possibilities is seemingly endless. Guaranteed to grab attention wherever it goes.

Asking $27,500 OBO. Will be considering all serious cash offers up until the end of the GoodGuys Event in Del Mar on April 7th, at which time it will be sold to the highest bidder. Garaged in San Diego.

All registration is current and in my name. The only trades I would possibly be interested in would be a 50’s thru 1970 or a clean unrestored ’79 vintage “air cooled” VW Convertible. (Sorry, no “project” cars!)

I won’t respond to generic “Is this item available?” or “What’s the lowest you’ll take for it?” types of inquiries. I don’t want to waste your time and I would hope you’ll show me the same courtesy. If this site is still up, then the Wagon is still available.

*On a side note the current Y.O.M. license plates, 52 tags, and frames that are currently on the car will not be included in the sale. I will include the California plates that were originally assigned to the Wagon when I first registered it.