While Harry And The Hendersons may not have risen to the same popularity level as the other ’80s movie that prominently features a Ford station wagon, it does have a devoted fanbase, and the Country Squire is memorable as the auto that accidentally runs into Bigfoot. The owner here even jokingly refers to his wagon as the “Bigfoot Edition”, and he’s correct that this 1970 Ford Country Squire here on Craigslist does bear an amazing similarity to the one used in the film. This vintage woody wagon is stated to be an all-original example, and it has spent its entire life in Oregon, currently residing in the city of Milwaukie. An asking price of $11,500 has been posted, but reasonable cash offers will also be considered. Zappenduster, thanks for your fun tip here!
This one’s described as absolutely unrestored, with all of the original paint and no bodywork performed. To be way past the fifty-year point, the exterior still presents decently overall, with a bit of wear on the faux wood, but that’s to be expected. There are a handful of dents and scrapes present, but I’m not spotting any major concerns outside, with no obvious rust or other forms of corrosion visible. It’s also practical that this Country Squire is equipped with a roof rack, so families can put their luggage on top, or maybe even a sasquatch, if you happen to be driving in the Pacific Northwest.
Three different-sized V8 engines were available for the 1970 Country Squire, and while it would be nice to find one of the 429 variety, the middle-of-the-road 390 is under the hood here. The seller says the wagon has been super reliable on numerous road trips over the past four years, so I’m speculating that’s how long he’s owned it. The only item mentioned as recently replaced is the carburetor, but the motor is said to have been freshly serviced, including all new fluids. No specific details are given regarding the transmission, other than it being an automatic. However, the seller does assure potential buyers that the auto still runs and drives great.
To still be the original vinyl from 1970, the seats seem to have aged exceptionally well, and it’s great to find some additional passenger room available in the back. We aren’t provided a photo that shows the entire dash and instrument cluster, but if the condition there is similar to what we can see, I’m guessing things from the driver’s perspective are still in pretty good shape as well. At a minimum, this station wagon seems like an enjoyable cruiser, or perhaps even road-worthy enough for some cross-country travel. What are your thoughts on this 1970 Ford Country Squire?
Nice wagon!!!
Unquestionably cool, but unless the seller has the original wheel covers, it’s not 100% original. The wheel covers on the wagon are 1971-1972 versions.
Dad had a maroon 70 Country Squire. I was 11 and picked the color and options. Dad drove plain cars but somehow I talked him into a Squire instead of a Ranch Wagon. It even had power windows. That car was our first of many wagons and had many great memories.
My parents bought one used that was fire engine red. It made the fake wood paneling pop, and was, by far, the biggest car my parents owned. Drove like a dream on the highway.
The 390 and its big brother, the 428, are solid performers, and there are a wide variety of performance parts available for the “FE” family engines. This bad boy presents nicely, complete with the dual-facing “third row” seats, somewhat less nausea inducing than the traditional rear-facing third row found in the competition from GM and Chrysler. Ford offered an optional “game table” between the dual-facing seats, that had space to store checkers and chess pieces on the checkerboard top that folded away when the seats were stowed. This 1970 has the wrap-around Instrument Panel, with the left-hand radio placement that lasted for only one (1) year, before a traditional instrument panel, with the radio in the center of the dash, replacing it starting in the 1971 model year.
The 1969 cars also had the wrap-around instrument panel.
Mea Culpa, Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa! That’s Roman Catholic for: “My Bad!”, LOL! I stand corrected, Sir!
No fan shroud, I’ve owned 4 1970 Fords and never had one without a cracked dash.
The 1969 was essentially the same as the 1970, except for some “refinements” in the 1970 grille, and much nicer tail-light treatment on the 1970 sedans. The 1970s were VERY rust-prone behind the rear wheels, however. And WATCH OUT for cracked padded dash-covers on these! The Bendix A.M./F.M. unit was terrible, and prone to intermittents on one channel or the other: they were a nightmare, with only so-so reception when they were right. I never encountered the straight A.M. unit, so I can’t tell you there. But the A.M. [STEREO] unit with the 8-track player on the “hump” was an excellent receiver, pulling in all kinds of stations that the others missed. I HATED the 429, because it pinged no matter what octane you fed it. The 390 ran much better. I think the 428 was 1968 and before. Nice wagon, and seemingly reasonable price.
I think you may be right about the 428, as some early ’68 T-Birds got the few remaining examples as they used up the stock before switching to the 429 later in the model run. Eventually, the 390 went away, leaving the 429 as the top engine choice in everything but Lincolns and trucks until the ever more stringent anti-smog rules continued to sap the power from the 429, so both the T-Bird and the Mark V got the 460, in an attempt to restore some of the lost power that the EPA took away.
The 428’s were installed in some cars through 1970.
Steve R
My parents had a ’69, also had the 390. Even as an elementary school kid I was fascinated by the hide away headlights. We used to fight over the rear seats. I can remember taking anything small we could find in the back, small toys, matchbox cars, and stuffing them through the rust hole in the bottom of the seat well. Then quickly looking out the rear window to see them disappear beneath the cars behind us. Good memories
had one just like this bought it as a left over in Nov of 1970 same color but had wire wheel hub caps moved to suburbs and had 2 kids by than I had a 1966 pont lemans convertible 326 auto that I took to work left wagon home for wife and kids
Gone.
I wanted to find out about that trophy.
If we’re talking Ford Country Squires in the movies, I vote for the ’67 that Drew drove into his not-so-excellent adventure in Deliverance.
My Dad had a red one w/ the 390 , it replaced his 58 w/ 352 , one nice road car loved it . A tank in the snow , only problem drum brakes could fad !