In the mid-1960’s, Don Freedman had a drag race car, while in high school, and was already interested in the automotive industry, he says.  But, after graduation, he left for college and was paired with a roommate who was passionate about the street rodding hobby.  It wasn’t long before Don would come to share that passion for street rods—he purchased his roomie’s 1923 Ford T-Bucket, and, as far as his hobby went, he was off to the races.

Since purchasing that T-Bucket, about 40 years ago, Don claims that he’s owned between 40 to 50 collector vehicles.  He says that he went through different phases:

“The Camaro phase, the Malibu phase, the mid-60’s Vette phase,” says Don.  “But, all along, I never left street rodding.  I always had one to take to shows.”

Don has remained so enthusiastic about the rodding hobby, that, five years ago, he left his 35-year-long job of selling cars, in order to start an Internet company that is “geared for people better with wrenches than computers.”  The Web site is totally devoted to the collector vehicle hobby and Don takes his company on the road, to shows, and demonstrates the simplicity of his site, www.americanrodsandrides.com.

Don takes the display to about 14 major shows each year, along with 5-6 smaller shows.  He also brings his absolute one-of-a-kind 1937 Ford Wild Wood, which also happens to be the logo for the company.  And, strangely enough, the logo came before the car!

Don explains that when he started his Web site, the Woodie logo was developed by taking the concept of surfing the net and transferring it to fit the street rodding hobby.

“Surfing goes with Woodies,” he says.  “And Woodies go with street rods.”

Two-thousand hours of work later, the real-life Woodie was completed, and since then, it has gained recognition across the country.  The car was displayed at the BASF booth, at SEMA, and has appeared both inside and on the covers of magazines such as American Rodder, American Street Rodder, Street Rod Builder and the SEMA Annual Report.

You can get a first-hand view of this special vehicle at the Detroit Autorama show, which will be held March 9, 10 and 11, 2007, at the Cobo Center, in Detroit, MI.

Story by: Becky McLaughlin