From 1952 to 1974, the Country Sedan was Ford’s mid-level full-size wagon. Without the flare of the Country Squire/LTD, the Country Sedan was the Galaxie 500 version of a Ford station wagon in 1973. This well-used example has its fair share of newer parts and was with its original owner until 2017. Located in Issaquah, Washington, this large people mover is available here on craigslist for $5,000 (elsewhere in the listing, the seller says $7,000 OBO). Another tip brought our way by Barn Finder “Zappenduster”!
The easiest way to spot a Country Sedan is its lack of faux wood side paneling, which was the signature of the Country Squire. And you could get one with seating for either six or nine passengers. Ford wagons continued to be popular in ’73, selling 216,655 Ranch Wagons (10%), Country Sedans (66%), and Country Squires (26%). This mid-range transport has probably been well taken care of to reach 141,000 miles in one piece after 52 years.
We assume the seller is the second owner and he/she is hesitant to let it go as they’ve made quite a few trouble-free trips together. We’re not sure about the body and paint as one rear quarter has been partially resprayed (accident or rust?). Also, the listing says the color is green, yet we see a lot of gold everywhere. The wagon is well-equipped, including a 400 cubic inch V8 and non-working factory air conditioning.
The list of redos and reworks includes a rebuilt carburetor, wheels, tires, battery, headliner, upholstery, carpeting, and more. The wagon comes with a couple of containers of parts and pieces, and it appears to have a lot of life left in it. And hopefully doing more than hauling kids to and from soccer practice.
Not a bad deal, looks to be in pretty good shape. Get the A/C working, and that 400 should get it moving pretty well.
A family 👪 truckster Dixon.
I had a brother in law, that killed himself for reasons unknown, he had a brown Ford wagon like this. I think he liked it because he could pass out in the back after a night of drinking. Pretty sad,,
Like Stan sez, the family truckster, indeed. These did it all for a family. They were often unwashed, unloved( use the wagon ?, no thanks, pops), and unmaintained, yet, slogged on through the streets of America, in all weather day after day. Every drive in Pressboard Estates had one. Replaced by the AWD SUV, I don’t know, couple cinder blocks, with Aunt Fanny and a set of “Town and Countrys”, we made it just fine. Not easy finding a decent wagon today. If the salt and poor maintenance didn’t kill them, the local county fair demo derby took the rest. I sure wonder how this car escaped all that. A fantastic find.
I agree with Howard and Stan. These old wagons were indeed the family truckster. So many were unloved and beaten on. When I was younger these were just undesirable station wagons. But now look, whenever one comes on here, we appreciate it, because so few are around anymore.I wonder how many front fenders and hoods and maybe dashboards got torn off of these to save a more popular 2 door hardtop or a drop top version of the same car? Or like Howard said, how many wound up at the local county fair demo derby? I’m glad this one survived and it looks solid.
Dave, you and Howard nailed it. These wagons did it all. Hauled the goods from the lumber yard, firewood, camping 🏕 took 4 kids and their gear to the hockey 🏒 games.
Throw down a mattress in the back and plenty of room to snooze also.
Big Dave’s car. Perfect for hauling six kids around. Got a ride or two with little Dave at the wheel. The Starfire must have been broken.
My cousin Albert had a blue ’65 Country Sedan. I still remember the 352 emblem on the front fenders with a Cruisomatic tranny.
There was a gathering at his farm one Sunday, probably someone’s birthday as he had 6 kids.
Albert decided to change oil and with the guys gathered around and conversation, Albert was distracted so when he started adding oil we all saw it running out from under the car! LOL!
No escaping the situation with the guys around.
“We’re so sorry, Cousin Albert”
“And out from the car came a bubbling crude, black gold, oil that is.”
The 400 was still a Cleveland through 1974. After that, it was under the “M” moniker, which wasn’t quite the same. Not a powerhouse, but a good workhorse.
With a big motor and trailer towing package these would support a frame mounted Class III hitch and tow almost as much as an F-150 for a lot less money! Indeed, with a full frame under them, they were like a pickup truck with a cap over the bed, but they could carry five (5) adults in the first two (2) rows and four kids in the optional dual side facing rear seats! The only advantage to an SUV was 4WD, which you couldn’t get in these, but the higher center of gravity for the SUV would penalize the careless in turns. Crew cab pickups wouldn’t become popular until twenty (20) years later and were even more expensive than a two-door F-150 and the truck had the high c.g. of the SUV, combined with a light rear end when unloaded, making handling in the wet or snow an adventure, to put it mildly! The wagons were more forgiving when the going got slippery.
The only change I might make would be to swap out the 400 for a 429 or 460 V8, or a 572 crate motor from Ford performance. The 400 wasn’t in production for long and parts are getting tricky to find.
I told ya’ll I’m a GM gal. I had a 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon. Faux wood siding and all. Ford may have had the two way tailgate but GM had the disappearing tailgate. Mine was power and I loved it!
Would love to get another
I had a 1972 Ltd wagons as a work car used for hauling electrical equipment and materials. That car relentlessly always failed to start run or move. One day I pulled into an alley to briefly pause for the cause and when I returned someone had helped themselves to my battery and when the tow truck driver and I returned with a battery someone took the liberty to clean out my car. Life in the big city.
There was a 1972 wagon like this one on the lot when I started work at a dealership when I moved to Nevada from Illinois. It attracted my attention because the body was perfect with no rust, dents or paint deterioration. I inquired about the car and was told that the title was missing and that I could have it. The DMV did a VIN check and found out that it still officially belonged to the local Salvation Army. I went to see them with the appropriate paperwork and a $25 donation and it was “officially ” mine. I don’t remember b the engine size. But I replaced the bad freezer plugs and topped off the A/C refrigerant installed new tires and it was a great vehicle. (This was 1984) It made several trips to the San Francisco Bay area and then I sold it to a guy for a few thousand dollars. ($2,500 if I remember correctly) I would love to have another.
I remember hauling full sheets of 4×6 plywood in the back of my parents ’78 Country Squire with the seat folded down, and being able to shut the dual swing tail gate. Those wagons were one of the great, comfortable, and multi-task vehicles they ever made.