UPDATE 1/3/12 – This surf wagon did not end up meeting reserve at $14,000.
Admittedly we are not big fans of most customized cars and definitely not stations wagons, but this 1963 Ford Squire Wagon has us rethinking both of our hang-ups. This wagon is the perfect blend of modifications and originality, plus the faux wood paneling and weathered paint give this vehicle character that just cannot be duplicated.
The seller of this wagon has spent a lot of time sorting it out and has gone through almost everything. Nearly all the mechanicals have either been rebuilt or replaced to make this a dependable daily driver. All the gauges and switches work, including the power tailgate. The only thing needing finished is to replace the heater core and to hook the heater back up.
This big wagon’s engine is absolutely gorgeous and has been meticulously rebuilt. The 289 V8 has been completely worked over with new pistons, rings, bearings, camshaft, valves, and valve springs. The Cruisomatic Transmission has also been rebuilt and is painted in gunmetal grey to match the block. This Squire even made it in the top 25 of the Dupli-Color Restoration Challenge for engine bay restorations.
The interior looks as good as the day it left the dealership and the seller claims everything but the carpets are original. The interior looks comfortable and extremely roomy. We could actually see ourselves loading up the family in this wagon for a long road trip. There is enough room in this thing, that we might actually forget there were other people in the car, but that might just be because we wouldn’t be able to hear them over the sound of that V8 up front.
This maybe one of the few wagons we have ever come across that has tempted us. We would probably ditch the surfer look by removing the roof rack and scraping those stickers off. Either way this looks like a way to have the best of both worlds. Rough on the outside and dependable on the inside. The car is located in Troy, Missouri and the seller has listed the car here on eBay, where the current bid is at $10,099 with the reserve not met. This might seem steep for an old station wagon, but it would cost a lot more to build your own. We just wonder how the Misses would feel about running to the store in this one.
my first car was a this in a 1964 black with a red leather int.
Nice ride . You could tow home a lot of those little German sports cars you all like to post on here.
Mechanical freshening up, rattle-can “restoration” under the hood, and new carpet- a good repaint and some wheel covers might make it a decent driver, but where does the “custom” part come in? I don’t get this one at all.
2 inches of drop, larger tires and rims, mild handling improvements, sounds like a custom to me.
It’s called patina….
I like it, but a full-size car needs at least a 352, preferably a 390, under the hood. That 289 looks great in those colors, though. And the patina of the exterior paint is nice. There is a ’63 Ranch Wagon in white with red interior that I see every day in a carport on my way to work. I would love to get a hold of it or at least have a closer look.
Crinkly leather in an XK120 is patina. That’s rust.
Patina, schmatina, paint it. Rust doesn’t stop. As for the 289, I had one in a 64 Galaxy sport coupe. Totally inadequate for a wagon. If he had to rattle can the engine outside the car, why not in close to the correct colors?
the engine was rebuilt then painted
I really like this car! The roof rack looks like it will come off without much trouble, so I could go either way with it. I have a friend named Dan, and I know his wife would definitely want to drive this to the grocery store and the area car shows. Does the 289 have a 4bbl or a 2bbl carburetor? My very first car was a 1966 Fairlane 500 sedan with a 289 and 2bbl carb. It was a solid, strong runner….and I topped it out at 125 MPH once.
That’s an aftermarket roofrack not factory. Should be easy on/easy off. A 66 fairlane sedan is much lighter than a Country Squire wagon. Contemporary road tests list big body Fords with 289 (2 bbl. standart) no 4bbl option in big cars, at 0-60 at around 14-15 seconds. It needs a big block! And a 289 2bbl at 125 mph, had speedo error or down hill in the Rockies.
I remember driving my dad’s ’63 many times- Corinthian White with a red interior and a 352 2barrel..Plenty fast for a 16 year old…and it was the first car in the family we put radials on- Sears Michelins…Great memories!
The 1963 Fords did not yet have the 289 engine choice, but they did put the 260 v8 in them. I had one when I was in high school. Pretty underpowered until I put an Isky cam in it and a 4 bbl, dual exhaust…it then out ran 283 Corvettes!!! (non fuel injected) This 260 was in the largest Ford body and did alright in 1963, with good mileage to boot.
I restored a 63 500Xl convertible 20 years ago and it was my favorite car on the many I’ve bought new or restored. Triple white, 390, PS,PB Cruiseomatic, factory wire WC, rocker panel mouldings. Car was awsome.