“WOODY” is the world’s only 1964 Ford F150 clad
totally in wood, and if pick-ups could show emotions like they do in the cartoon
Cars, Woody would be grinning all day
long.
Originally garaged in Howick, Francois Hatting,
owner of iSigns in the small town of Umhlali near Ballito, bought Woody some two
years ago to promote the laser cutting side of his signage business. “It was the
best marketing decision I could make. Wherever I stop, people get out of their
cars and taxis to take a photo,” said Hatting.
He told Wheels he still wants to replace with laser-cut wood
“everything inside than can be made from wood panels”, including the speedometer
needle and rear view mirror casing.
Hatting has already made side mirror casings,
and said he learned a lot to ensure the next batch doesn’t shake apart in the
demanding coastal climate and rutted roads.
“The only problem is Woody’s marketing is so
effective, I don’t have any time to do it,” Hatting said.
