It's winter time and the air is chilly and the days are short, so why not warm up with some thoughts of spring and summer? Sunshine, barbeques, and surfing come to mind for those of us out here in California. It's also a time when many auto enthusiasts go cruising: Meeting up with people who have similar interests and going for a drive. California has a large number of auto clubs with thousands of motoring fans who cruise every year and hold meetings at various locations throughout the state. By pure chance, I stumbled across one that was taking place the same day after a national Datsun Z car meet in Orange County last year. I had decided to take the scenic route home and was driving down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). It was near Dana Point, at the Doheny state beach that the rumble of V8 engines caught my attention. Here's what I came across:
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| One of many Woodies on display at the Doheny State Beach meet. |
Woodies are a type of vehicle with as you guessed it, are partly constructed with hardwood, generally the doors. These vehicles were very popular during the 1930s-50s before safety standards rendered them obsolete. There were cars produced during the 60s with graphics imitating the look of the actual woodies. However, even cars as recent as the PT Cruiser had simulated graphics on the side of the car emulating Woodies which shows how they still influence the style of contemporary cars.
