For decades, the iconic “Woodie” has been a staple in Southern California surf culture. But why? Well, to find out, the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association turned to some of its Woodie enthusiasts, including members of the San Diego Woodies club, at the 13th Del Mar Nationals earlier this month. Check out what they had to say about the wood-paneled vehicles and California’s surf-city obsession with them in the video above.

Images: San Diego Woodies

The Woodie dates back to the prime eras for classic hot rods – the 1930s and 40s. Built by a number of different brands in sedan, convertible, and especially station wagon form, these iconic vehicles got their name from the material used to construct their passenger compartment, wood.

By the 1950s, the Woodie trend was beginning to wear off and manufacturers replaced their wood-constructed coaches with ones made of steel for durability reasons. That, however, didn’t deter Californian surf culture from adopting the Woodie as their own.

Maybe it was the cheap prices that the surf crowd could pick up well-worn Woodies for back in the day, or maybe it was the cars’ availability once they served their original purpose (or both), but surf culture fully embraced the Woodie as their own.

Still – to this day, surf companies, beach-side restaurants, and California towns fully embrace the Woodie and prominently display the vehicle on their logos, in their stores and through their artwork. No wonder why Del Mar saw so many Woodies this year and we wouldn’t want it any other way. After all, down there, it’s more than a car – it’s a way of life.