A WOODIE STATION WAGON FOR ONLY A DOLLAR?


In 1959, even that seemed out of reach for a longing 14-year-old By Bob Gunthorp


Most “car nuts” remember their first car more than their first love, and I am no exception. Growing up in Coronado, from as early as I can remember, I was always fascinated with automobiles. Having Bill Gise (also a car nut) as one of my best friends also helped. My father was an engineer and not a car person. To him a car was just a way to get from “A” to “B” so he didn’t share my fascination for automobiles.


In March 1959, when I was 14 years old, Coronado merchants held their annual “Dollar Days” week. The local Chevrolet Dealer, Robertson- Darnell, had an ad in the Coronado Journal alongside many other merchants. Their ad stated that at 3 p.m. on March 7, they were going to sell a car for one dollar ($1.00). When I read the ad, I jumped on my bicycle and literally peddled clear across town from 940 Country Club Lane to see the “Dollar Day” car.


The car was a 1947 Ford “Woodie” station wagon. The wood was dry rotted, the fenders were banged up and the paint was in poor condition. The station wagon had been used for many years by a couple of house painters so there was a thick layer of multi-colored paint on the floor in the back. However, when I saw the car, it was love at first sight! I had to have that car.


When Dad got home from work that night I told him all about the car. His enthusiasm was nowhere near mine.


6 www.coronadohistory.org In fact, both he and Mom


thought that buying the woodie was a terrible idea. They were dead set against it. I spent the next several days begging and pleading them to buy the car. Finally, on Friday night, Dad agreed reluctantly to take me to buy the woodie.


On Saturday, after what was the longest night of my young life, we went to Robertson-Darnell. When we arrived, my heart sank for two reasons: 1) you had to have a driver’s license (age 16) to enter the drawing; and 2) over 350 people had already put their names in the barrel.


With my heart in my mouth, I watched as the barrel of ticket stubs was rolled round and round and round. Finally, when the name was


called, I wasn’t sure I heard it right, because for hours I had been hearing that same name called in my head: “Seth Gunthorp, come claim your car!”


My 1946 Ford woodie station wagon cost $1, plus sales tax of $.04, and DMV fees of $13—for a total of $14.04. And that’s how I got my first automobile. My first girlfriend, good ole what’s- her-name? I’ll never forget her. But that’s another story altogether….


Bob Gunthorp is a member of the CHA. He has never lost his love of old cars. Today he owns a business in Chula Vista repairing and restoring pre- 1991 Mercedes Benz.


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