It’s pretty rare to find a wagon like this 1959 Ford Country Squire in the running but not quite drivable state. Most have either rusted away completely or haven’t run in years. This ready-to-be-refurbished classic is being sold here on eBay, where the opening bid amount is $3,000. The wagon is now located in Dundee, New York, but the seller moved there from sunny southern California four years ago. Thanks to reader Larry D. for submitting this cool long roof find!
The seller seems very honest about the shortcomings of the car, detailing rust around the rear window, at the bottom of the driver’s side rear door, and at the left rear fender lip. There is also a small portion of the driver’s side rear floor pan that has been replaced. The paint, surprisingly, is original although weathered. A new windshield has been fitted.
The seller includes closeups of the stated rusty areas, like this fender lip. I’m a fan of the original 1959 wheel covers, but I’d love to see some skinny whitewalls to slightly dress things up. We’re told that these tires are in good condition, though, so I’d stick with them until proven otherwise.
This picture is another example of the corrosion that has taken hold. Thankfully, I don’t see any panels that couldn’t be repaired rather than replaced. As the fourth-generation Country Squire was based on the Galaxie line, that’s a lot of metal — the wheelbase of this mammoth wagon is 118 inches!
24,336 1959 Country Squires were produced, most of which were used to haul anything from large families to sports teams as well as lumber and livestock feed. The seating was for nine, albeit a little squished (who remembers the battle over not sitting in the middle of the second row?) and I can’t help but think of a theoretical ad where an entire baseball team arrives in a single Country Squire. The interior of this one has a bit too much patina for my taste, but replacing it should be fairly straightforward (but not inexpensive).
What’s this? That doesn’t look like a 292? It’s not–the original engine and transmission have been replaced with a later 351 cubic-inch V-8 and a C6 automatic. Honestly, unless you are planning on restoring the vehicle (in which case I would suggest finding another example) this is a good thing, as the later drivetrain should be more reliable and easier to get parts for. That seems like a good way to get a woodgrain “fix” without some of the hassles. What do you think of this “…most distinctive station wagon in the country”? (per Ford’s 1959 wagon brochure)
Mom had a red 59 in like 1962. Total POS. Broke down regularly. Dad got sick of hearing me to dump Ford and buy a Pontiac. He did. Dad gone, but my 87 year old mother still drives. A Toyota. Sad but true.
We had a ’59 Country Sedan after talking Dad out of a ’59 Plymouth he had his eyes on. After the tranny failed on the way to Lake Tahoe he swore he’d never buy another Ford…and he didn’t. He also blamed the family for the transmission failing and we never heard the end of it.
Still, I think these are the nicest designed vintage Fords.
This was the last model year where Ford beat Chevy in sales. They would not do so again for over four decades.
America’s Favorite Brand=FORD has been outsell the fading Chev brand for many consecutive years since 1959. Not the mention America engineered, designed , and Built FORD F-SERIES has easily been the World’s BEST SELLING, Most Popular, and TOUGHEST Truck for over 44 straight years running……
Those big Fords usually held up well including the tranny. Hmmmm….Steve, I take it you never disclosed to dear old Dad about the burn outs you and your pals liked to do when you snuck the family Ford out. Did he also complain that the tires weren’t holding up as well as he expected? LOL Terry J
Our family 1959 Ford Country Squire was driven mostly by my Dad with me and my three brothers and mother confortably enjoying many camping trips where we slept in the spacious back with the seats down. Several times during rain we all had to sleep in this roomy and versatile wagon from Ford Motor Company who sold more wagons during this Era, and rigthfully earned the Title: “America’s WAGON MASTER!” No one built a better wagon for the money. Dad was excellent at changing oil and maintaining our reliable 352 V-8 powered Country Squire. In the seven years we used her as our only vehicle and many fishing trips and Family vacations , I never remember any mechanical issues. When Dad traded our reliable and versitile 1959 Squire for a 1966 Ford LTD , we were sad because we made so many fine family memories in what we called : “Old Reliable!”
Like many cars of the era, these were prone to rust. The majority were probably off the road by 1970 so you rarely see them now. These always looked mean to me. Maybe because of the association with the Manson Family.. Still pretty cool. I for one like the black walls Fits the sinister theme
Some cars just have an angry look about them…the ’59 Ford is one.
The ’59 Buick, and the ’60 Plymouth are two more.
I agree with the black walls. They make a tougher look.
“in which case I would suggest finding another example”
That seems overly harsh. I look at this car and see a very complete, original paint Country Squire with minor rust issues and a non-stock drivetrain. Finding a period-correct drivetrain and welding in a few patch panels is nothing compared to tracking down some of the Country Squire’s unique trim. I think this is an excellent example for restoration.
This car might have originally had a 352 in it. Also, is this car a 9 passenger wagon? I believe it is!
S/W monday…love this Ford.Do a little cleanup and basic maintenance and drive her.A set of deep dish steel wheels or period mags would be great.
Hoooo boy. My Birth year, and right in my back yard.
Rare they may be, but I was astounded by seeing no less than 3 ’59 Ford longroofs at the same July 4th car show – and this was 2019 not 1959. 1 in survivor condition, 2 fully restored
Obviously by the number of bids, it shows a line up of interest in this wagon. I like it too. For my my intent, its not total originality I’d be looking for, but road trip worthy and the addition of A/C, disk brakes, maybe power steering. A car you can use, not just stare at. It’s beautiful, and an example of the panel woody in one of its finest renditions.
This is the exact car I learned to drive in. Dad used it for a few years to get his carpentry business started then got an Econoline. It then returned to family use. He would carry loads of 4×8 plywood in the rear with the hatch closed, or our family and perhaps a second family as well.
It had an engine problem that required a rebuild not long after he bought it used. The dealer said it had the 352 Thunderbird engine. It ran great and strong after that, tho the suspension got tired which is how the suspension in this one appears.
I’d love to have the room and time to bring this one back.
I took the wood grain off of a 68 chevy wagon with a kerosene salimander on a car dolly, take the wood grain off first, keep it movin! back and forth (two man operation one to move the salimander, the other to call the fire dept.) as far as the wood grain lots of wood grain wraps out there that is easy to apply.
We had one, too. It was a tank and a real bitch to park. Mom had to take her driver’s test in it and nearly failed the parallel parking portion of the test. No power steering, you see and a wheezy 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree to deal with.
Looking at the photos on the auction site, you can see in the pics of the open rear side doors, that there is a brown primer under the fake wood trim. This can also be seen in the close-up photo of the left rear are of the open tailgate. plus, the red tailgate floor appears to have red paint overspray.
Having owned and restored many “fake wood” wagons from the 1960s and 60s, I’ve never seen original Di-Noc fake wood that shrinks and splits like on this wagon. I suspect the rear quarters have been worked on, and all the Di-Noc type material has been replaced with an inferior product.
I’ve been to hot climates like the middle east to work on vintage cars, and have seen multiple original wagons with Di-Noc that has not shrunk like this car, even in 125 degree weather.
I never will understand why people would buy a brand new top-of-the-line & expensive wagon like this [the only 1959 Ford that was more expensive was the Galaxie Skyliner retractable], yet not order power steering and power brakes.
If all of the above mentioned items don’t worry you, and you have been looking for a mostly original 1959 Country Squire, this is your opportunity to own one at a decent price.
Like George and Steve above Dad had a ’59 Galaxie four door. Pretty car but total piece of crap; the radiator came out every summer for a re-solder, etc. He sold it and bought a used Olds; he also said he’d never buy another Ford and he didn’t!
Love it, great find! If it was updated with a 351 and C6 that was a smart choice. With no power steering or brakes its gonna drive like a Fairlane lumber truck. Power disc brakes wouldn’t be so bad to do, but adding power steering would be a little tougher.
Had a 59 Country Sedan, White/Yellow, was a good car, PS,PB’s took a few trips W/4 kids in back. Then in 63 heard water slouching in back. Took off panels and found the fender wells 1/2 full of water and a few holes above the water. Of course, being a Ford was a hog at the pump, traded it for a 63 Rambler 660 wagon, transmission failed when the salesman went out to move it.