Beginning in 1952 and running through 1974, Ford usually branded its station wagons separately from its passenger cars. In the full-size department, the Ranch Wagon was the starting point (like the Custom), the Country Sedan was the middle model (like the Galaxie), and the Country Squire was top-of-the-line (aligned with the LTD from 1965 on). The seller has a 4-door Ranch Wagon from 1967 that’s been sitting in a barn long enough for the engine and one wheel to be stuck in place. Located in Primghar, Iowa, this potential project will need lots of attention and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,200. A nod goes to “Zappenduster” for the tip.
With every redesign or styling update of the big Fords over a 20+year span, the Ranch Wagon was included. For example, when the vehicles were redone in 1965 and gained stacked headlights, so did the Ranch Wagon. At first, the Ranch Wagon was only offered as a 2-door, but a 4-door soon followed. Then in 1961, the 2-door model was dropped as the demand for it wasn’t strong any longer. In 1967, Ford produced about 24,000 Ranch Wagons, which equaled only 13% of total full-size wagon assemblies.
The seller’s mildly rusty example has a 289 cubic inch V8 with a 3-speed-manual transmission, the standard package in 1967. We’re told the frame and floors are solid, so whatever corrosion there is must be in the sheet metal. The wagon traveled some 129,000 miles before it found itself in a dusty old barn for reasons not mentioned.
You won’t be able to move it without dragging it since one of the brakes is frozen. And the engine won’t turn either, which may mean you’ll need to hunt up another 289 – or perhaps go the restomod route. The interior isn’t too bad, though the front upholstery has some long slits in it. If you bought the wagon, we assume you’d try to restore it, as $5k for a donor is pricey. And bring cash, as no trades will be entertained.
I actually bought a ’67 Ranch Wagon 40K-mile one-owner car for my wife back around 1998. I gave the original owner $2700 for the car, and it was perfect.
My wife loved the car, and drove it daily with the car seats and the kids for a few years. Unfortunately, a small engine fire in an underground parking garage kinda put the end to daily- driving classic cars with the kids. I am sure that car is still out there somewhere.
I like wagons, but at this price I’m gonna stick with my Radio flyer.
Expensive for a potential locked up engine I personally would try some of the old school methods to unlock the engine and then just make it safe and cruise it as is
That’s what Marvel Mystery Oil is for, LOL! Squirt some of that MMO into each spark plug hole, let it sit for a bit, then try to crank it over by hand. Once it’s turning freely, then you can try to start it, but I’ll bet bucks to Navy beans that the rings will be shot and you’ll be looking at a rebuild in any case.
Nice basic wagon. Now here’s a kid and cargo carrier for you! Why spend 90+K on an SUV when
this wagon (when finished) could
do the job better than almost anything on the road today. Can’t
find an original 289? No worries.
There are 302s pretty much everywhere you look and best thing is, that many of them will bolt right in! But a word of caution here: If possible, check
the frame for rust and rot. The
reason you don’t see many ’65-’70
big Fords at car shows is frame
rot. These cars were known for it. Over time, (2-5 years) the entire frame can corrode to the point where the rear suspension
will separate from the car. Do I like this car? I like it, Like it a lot
But not enough to spend $5K for
the car and almost that much to
ship it from Iowa to Florida as well. I don’t wanna be $10K into
before I turn the first wrench.
Even if the 289 is locked up, a trip to the machine shop will fix that. Throw in a stroker crank and bore it out, and that 289 can become a 302, 347 or a 363 in a heartbeat! Use a forged crank, for durability’s sake, maybe with four-bolt main bearing caps, and rebuild or replace the heads so they can tolerate unleaded gasoline, then add the usual go-fast goodies (intake, headers and dual exhaust) for some extra pep! If that sounds like too much work, a crate engine is always an option.
If the frame is rotted, then a frame from the usual suspects (Art Morrison, Schwartz Performance, The Roadster Shop) will do wonders for the handling! Granted, not cheap, but a fine basis for a restomod, if the budget can stand it, LOL!
I’m with you on the price and shipping, though. Shipping a non-running car any distance will easily cost as much as the car, so at $5k, it’s a bit pricey for a non-running example, $2.5k is closer to the mark, price wise. GLWTS in any case.
Maybe get an inspection done and check out a local mechanic who could fit a 302 or 351 Windsor and then fly over and drive it home. That car would see out most of the new people movers if treated correctly. My convertible has upgraded coil springs in the front and does not wallow around as my 66 did and a pleasure to drive.
For the endless supply of “project cars” posted here, and the hundreds (thousands?) of others posted to various classified platforms that don’t even make it all they way to Barn Finds, where are the “project managers” that are going to absorb all of this and make a project out of them?
The truth is, they don’t exist in 2026. Twenty years ago, maybe things were more in balance.
How many genuine new “projects” do you think are initiated in the US every day, compared to the number of “project cars for sale” that are newly posted every day.
The imbalance is profound, folks, and it ain’t gonna get better, as the old boys who know how hang up the torch.
So most of this is really just junkyard porn with no viable buyers and this one is a great example.
these were great looking wagons, this 1 needs work. motor and interior. sitting in the dirt raises questions as well. to me this is a 2k car. i would source a B/B ford with an auto o/d. redo a set of bucket seats and put a console in in and have a cool cruiser. these needs to be bought right though.
good potential
I’m Missing Old Wagons.
I agree with Ken, the body and interior was always good but the frames were horrible. I had a 65 Country sedan I junked it out because of the frame, the rest of the car was great. And sitting on that dirt floor I am willing to bet the frame is not good. Too many zeros in the price tag. They were a nice car except for the frames.