This year, the Omaha Children’s Museum celebrates 40 years of bringing fun and learning to the Omaha community. But before the museum was a brick-and-mortar location on South 20th Street, it was a mobile museum, founded in a Dodge Aspen “Woody” Wagon. Groups of volunteers loaded up a station wagon and traveled to local malls, museums, and attractions under the name “Omaha Children’s Museum”, bringing free science, art, and educational activities to area families.
In celebration of this milestone, the 1976 Dodge Aspen “Woody” Wagon that currently stands in front of the Children’s Museum – akin to the original station wagon – will go up for auction. While the car holds a special connection for the museum and Omahans, the car is a highly-sought after collector piece in its own right. These wood paneled station wagons, dubbed “Woodies,” have a following among collectors. From the Brady Bunch to the Wally Wagon from National Lampoon’s Family Vacation, wood-paneled station wagons served as the quintessential middle-class American vehicle after World War II.
Very few Dodge Aspens survived in this condition, and this example has stood the test of time with only a few small signs of age. Having travelled only 34,000 miles, the 1976 Dodge Aspen Wagon has the original 8-cylinder engine, green exterior, beige interior and is emblazoned with an “I Love Waterparks” bumper sticker. This vehicle offers a unique opportunity for a collector to add a nostalgic piece of Americana to their garage.
Bidding will be open January 14 to January 28 and is exclusively available via Proxibid in a timed, online-only auction format. All funds from the sale will benefit the Omaha Children’s Museum. To learn more, view the auction catalog or read the press release. Visit Proxibid’s Collector Car category to see the full list of auctions and vehicles available for purchase.