Vintage wood-bedecked beauties come to Wareham for ‘woodie’ car show

WAREHAM – The vintage beauties that visited A.D. Makepeace’s Tihonet Village Sunday as part of the Yankee Wood Chapter of the National Woodie Club’s Car Show aren’t just for exhibition.

The cars known affectionately as “woodies” because they’re from a bygone era where wood was used in a car’s construction still pack plenty of function in their stylish forms.

Wood was originally used on American automobiles since it carried a lower cost and manufacturers were predominantly former producers of wooden, horse-drawn carriages, according to Popular Mechanics.

As we know, steel processing won out and wood was largely phased out over time.

But these dogs can still hunt.

Take organizer David Buckman of Plymouth’s green 1952 Buick, which he has owned for 33 years, and which was displayed Sunday.

“I’ve driven halfway across the country three times in it. I’ve been to Atlanta; Chicago; St. Louis; Columbus, Ohio; Flint, Mich.; up through the Adirondacks; into Canada; and all through Maine,” Buckman said.

A year shy of its 70th birthday, the Buick’s got 119,000-plus miles on her. But the car can still reach 85 mph.

Buckman added, “If I keep it between 60 and 70, I get about 17 miles per gallon on the highway. I get around 14 in town.”

The Yankee Wood Chapter is the New England Chapter of the National Woodie Club, and its purpose is to promote enthusiasm and preservation of these vehicles.

The show at Tihonet Village has been a September staple since 2016 when Buckman took over as organizer, with the exception of last year’s COVID interruption.

The show had been held down the Cape since 2011 but that organizer gave it up in 2014.

Buckman said he didn’t have time enough or a venue to stage the event in 2015, but that changed in 2016 with the venue going to Makepeace’s Tihonet Village.

“And this is a perfect, perfect location,” Buckman said. “It is beautiful and it is inviting.”

Makepeace Farms was also open during the event for treats and gift items.

Live music has also been part of the event since it came to Tihonet Village.

“My friend’s band has played here every year since 2016 - the Class Action Suits. They are from the South Shore. And they’re wonderful. They’ve played together for years.”

And while the Classic Action Suits strummed visitors strolled along the grounds and enjoyed a long look at the vintage automobiles.

“I’m amazed,” Buckman said. “Every year there’s always a few cars that I’ve never seen before that show up - a few woodies that come in from someplace else. We have 17 today.”

It was a good-sized crowd, though Buckman said he thought 2019’s had been larger.

And he’s ready to check out the turnout in 2022.

“We will be back next year, God willing and the creek don’t rise,” he said, joking - “and global warming doesn’t melt the cars. We will be back.”