I recently found a snapshot of myself standing next to a car very much like this 1967 Ford Country Sedan (station wagon body style). That alone might make me want to throw a bid at this car, located in Topeka, Kansas and available here on ebay. The magic number of its reserve is not met at $3300 with a couple of days plus to go in the auction.
From the outside, the car looks good. The paint has some patina, but unless it’s worse than the photos show, this one would be worth getting going again and just driving, at least for a while. There is one little crunch on the bottom of a wheel opening as pictured, which may explain why a rear door doesn’t open. (Or is the seller talking about the tailgate? Best to send an inquiry, it would seem.) The call-outs for the engine suggest a healthy sized 390-CID motivates the car. The mileage is listed at 132,000, though, probably about the point where a rebuild is needed. The car doesn’t run except to fire on starting fluid, though it does turn over. The seller makes no other promises except to instruct potential buyers that fuel system parts (fuel pump, fuel line, and likely more) need to be renewed. Apparently, the car ran seven years ago, when it was temporarily retired.
My dad had station wagons for business purposes all through my growing up. These at the time were pedestrian machines compared to the coupe versions of the marques represented. But we had fun going on family road trips, where my sister would get the back seat and I would be shunted to what we called the “way in the back.” This Ford has seats that fold up from the floor back there, something our cars never did. If I bought this, I’d have to have someone else drive it at least one time so I could experience those seats for myself. I might even do that with a vintage GI Joe figure in hand, which as I recall was my favorite toy at the time my dad was driving his ’67.
The interior of this car certainly doesn’t betray a history of high mileage, though the headliner appears to need replacing. The seats have good upholstery. Perhaps someone who knows these cars intimately can suggest whether it is original or an authentic (or not) replacement. The model name, emblazoned on the exterior of the car as photographed, is a bit odd, given that “sedan” doesn’t usually mean “station wagon,” but model designation in this case does not denote body configuration, but rather suggests the trim level below the big banana “Country Squire,” with its woodgrain applique stickers. This car represents the fifth generation of Country Sedan models, which ran from 1965-68. Approximately 85,000 families had the joy of adopting one of these in 1967. If you want to relive that era, or live it for the first time, this car might be your ticket to the past.
I find it interesting when a wagon from “back in the day” shows up on Barn Finds. Almost always the nostalgic comments kick in, perhaps more-so than for any other type of vehicle. Brian K’s commentary is a prime example. Other types of vehicles may generate nostalgic comments because we worship how fast they were, or because we had some connection to a particularly cool model. But in the case of a wagon, it’s almost always related to some cherished family-related activity, like a family trip or even just jaunts around town.
So, will folks in the future be clamoring for minivans or SUV’s for the same reason?
Back to this Ford: I like the 67’s. This one is not bad. One could tackle the body repairs, or just concentrate on the mechanicals. Either way, it could be a fun cruiser. Take the grandkids for ice cream and make even more memories.
As a kid in the 1970’s I used to jump up and down on the roof of one of these in the bushes behind my parents house. Fast forward twenty five years, I asked uncle Pete who’s car it was. He said it was uncle Joe’s. So I asked Uncle Joe and he said it was Uncle Pete’s.
It turned out that it was neither’s car, and it was stolen from New York City when it was two years old, ditched behind my parents house, and sat abandoned, with the key in the ignition, for thirty-five years….
I had to look it up, 1974 was the last year for the “Country Sedan” designation (and, at least for non-fleet buyers, “Ranch Wagon”) alongside the new, woodless “LTD Wagon”. For 1975 all retail-market full size Fords were LTDs and the last vestige of the old Ford wagon nomenclature was that the whopper with woodgrain was called “LTD Country Squire” (as it already had been since the late ’60s) while the smaller bedinoc’d Ford wagons were “Pinto/Gran Torino/etc with Squire Option”.
The Achilles heel for 1967 was Ford’s air injection system to
comply with the new air quality standards…..seems
the cold air sent to the valves would warp the valves
necessitating replacing the cylinder heads
I had a 74 Country Sedan in almost that same color. 351 Windsor moved it along just fine even pulling the pop-up camper. Great car for a family of 5 with a dog. Miss those days.
Except most of those air pumps were removed and the holes plugged
The crunch I see is mentioned in the article, but as its on the front fender , I dont think its the reason the rear door doesn’t open. It could be stuck from years of non use. It also looks like there could be Bondo in the fender , and if its there, it could be all over. Its definitely been repainted . Though a lot larger, the blue vinyl interior reminds me of my first car , a 67 Falccon, which had the same color blue vinyl .
As a teenager who had just recently obtained a driver’s license, I remember the day my parents brought home a ’56 Ford station wagon that was formerly an ambulance. Before they brought it home my Mother insisted that the red light and siren be removed. It came with a 312 cu. in. , 4 barrel and 3 speed column shift. It proved to be very quick and many times my father would comment on how “young kids” were always trying to get him to race. Eventually I fessed up to putting several of them down with the old grocery getter!
Very clean looking. I’d like to check the compression first before I rebuilt the engine.
At 200k miles I decided to sell my magic door 9 passenger 390 powered staion wagon to an insurance agent. 5 years later, it had 280k miles. Burned a little oil but still was dependable. On sunday he hauled kids to church. Filled the car up with lots of kids.
‘67 was actually the last year with no smog garbage. Dad bought a ‘67 Custom ex police car with the 390 “Interceptor”. Very competent automobile. Then a ‘68 with smog plumbing. Couldn’t get it to run right. I have an indelible memory of his 5’ 6” frame laying on top of the engine and flailing about and grumbling, as he took a pair of side cutters to all of the copper tubing. Ran like a scalded cat once all that was gone. It was also a Custom, with stationary bucket seats as factory equipment.
Nothing rode better than a full framed full size Fords of the 60’s era. Great long distance road cars.
We Americans love station wagons. I know I do. In 1958 my parents moved from Detroit to Tarzana California. My dad bought a new 1958 Dodge Custom Sierra. I was 3 years old, but I do remember being in the way back while crossing the country. The Dodge was huge, it was bright red and white with red white and black cloth interior. The taillights were as big as I was. In 1964 my parents bought a new 64 Valient wagon it had the famous 225 Slant 6. It was white with red interior. That car became part of the family, in fact it’s nickname was Mildred, named after my mom. Mildred was with us until 1974. By then we had become a 2 car family. Dad bought a 73 Ford F-150, it had the 390 V8, and it was light blue cloth and vinyl interior. In 1975 I bought a new Mercury Marquis Colony Park. Equipped with the 460 4 barrel, and every option available including ATC. It was white with wood panel sides. Every one loved that wagon, it was the go to car for my family and friends. It could handle any road, climb steep grades in the High Sierras fully loaded with people and cargo with ease, and no matter what, it always got 10 mpg, but no one cared, we loved that wagon. That was a great looking wagon, but the times were changing. In 97, I bought a 97 Explorer with Eddie Bauer trim. Now that’s all that’s out there, SUVs are everywhere, but I predict the American station wagons will one day be back, with or without woodgrain panels, and today’s technology, either way is fine by me. We love our wagons.
Back in those years, Ford had a slogan, “The Wagon Masters”, and that they were, Ford sold a lotta wagons, and pioneered a few Wagon features, including the 2-way tailgate. I don’t have any station wagon memories to share, as my dad never bought one, guess he didn’t feel the need with just two kids. But I like old station wagons, and this one looks pretty nice, a lot of potential.
Never had a 67 wagon but I did have a convertible version long ago. I rode in the back of several as a kid. A 69 and a 60, both country squires. Both white over red with wood panels. My first wagon was a 59 squire I bought in 1985 for 250.00. I drove it until the early 2000s. I also had a 67 tempest safari. Few car people ever gave them a second look. I enjoyed them. Although not a wagon my 67 Ford was a great car. Rust killed it, chassis crustitus, framith crumbled away. The interior and body were in great shape but the one major component was not. I wonder how this specimens chassis is?
My parents bought a 1976 country squire. That car was reliable as any I have ever seen. Banana yellow, went everywhere. Even off road in snow at a boy scout winter camp, and forded(no pun intended) a creek with water up to it’s door handles. No issues. I learned to drive in it. Got made fun of at school until the captain of our high school cheerleading team ended up with one exactly like it. So I always parked it right next to hers. Lot of great memories. Sadly it was wrecked when a 70 Buick GS pulled out in front of me. I credit the strength of that cars frame for me being alive. Totally destroyed the GS. But the wagon yeah totaled but nowhere near as damaged. Ah well. When asked, I still say that was my favorite car.Old station wagons still have a place in my heart.
family memories, nostalgia, yeah…
with that big spear on ster wheel headed ur chest’s way
in any accident from the frnt. My 68 bronk,
much the same way, deadly but…
from the top down to bed rails too.
I like the newer cars & what state regs has brought (just
saw the Atlas Shrugged movie series ’11-’13). Keep these around
“carefully” so folks can see ‘earlier tech’~
I had a 66 Ford country squire which was beautiful and had a ruined engine. We tried to change the rings in 10 below weather in a garage with no heat put the car back together and it’s still burn terrible oil I turned around and traded it for a 66 Plymouth what a disappointment
My grandparents had a new 1960 Rambler cross country station wagon. We would travel from their home in queen’s New York by Kenedy Airport to Billings Montana to visit family every summer during the 1960’s. I went a few times riding in the back=back we camped along the way at state and national parks. Cooking open fire, and seeing the sights. That’s a great memory that can’t be bought or never be lost or taken away. Miss you GRANDPARENTS LOVE YOU ALWAYS
I currently have a 64 fairlane wagon. The car is well over a decade older than me. It’s ugly, loud and stinky but the amount of attention it gets is amazing! Especially with my kids facing backwards in the way back while going on cruises.
Definitely been repainted so who knows what’s underneath and I personally would rather it be a Country Squire wagon with the wood grain, but not a bad car for $5600. so someone will have some fun with it!!