“Would you like woodgrain or no woodgrain, Squire?” That is the question, at least for Ford station wagon buyers in this era, and a few other companies that offered top-zoot micro-thin wallpaper-looking woodgrain on the sides of their long roofs. Make mine woodgrain, please, but you already knew that. This former California car, a 1980 Ford LTD Country Squire, is posted here on craigslist in Corvallis, Oregon, and they’re asking $3,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Curvette for the tip!
The photos are all verticals, and the exterior photos seem to have been taken from a distance of 3/4 of a football field, so they’re a little pixelated when enlarged to show up here. They would have looked like a speck of dust if I hadn’t enlarged them. It’s just one of those things that I don’t understand but know will never change. I mean, why would you not take vertical photos of an 18-foot-long car?
It’s a bummer, because this Country Squire, despite faded Di-Noc (available, if the next owner wanted to redo it), and very cool green paint, which is also faded and sunburnt, is such a beautiful combination. The car looks great, I wish they had taken better photos of it. That being said, they have provided a nice range of photos, including an engine photo (!), so all is not lost. I believe this is Dark Pine paint, and it’s perfect for this car, but it’s not perfect, as you can see.
The eighth-generation Country Squire was made from 1979 through the end of 1990, and unless the all-vinyl bench seat in front is just too hot for the seller, there’s a problem with that all-vinyl on the seating surfaces. The back seat looks like new, so hopefully the front seat bottom can be matched; that is, if there is a problem with it, and I’m just speculating. The interior looks very good overall, and for a California car, it doesn’t appear to be toasted, but they say there are some dash cracks, and the headliner is as loose as M.C. Hammer’s parachute pants from 1990. This one has a couple of extra seats that fold down into the rear cargo area, a very cool feature. You can see cracked and dry gaskets in a few areas, so this car has seen some heat over the last 45 years.
The engine is Ford’s 351-cu.in. OHV V8, which had 140 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque when new, rolling through a four-speed automatic. The seller says it runs and drives well, but the rear main seal leaks. All of these things add up to that low asking price. If you can tinker with a few things and don’t mind some hard-earned “patina”, this could be a fun car to own. Any thoughts on this Country Squire?
If one was interested in a driver-quality restoration of what has turned into a desired segment of the old car hobby, this might be a good candidate. Paint and woodgrain, plus whatever this-or-that is needed, and it might be quite decent. Or maybe just enjoy it as-is.
My family didn’t have wagons, probably because we didn’t have a big family and we didn’t take long driving vacations. But I have come to appreciate them.
Roof rack is there, just add a trailer hitch and she’ll haul the family 👪 🐕, the boat and all the gear to the lake 🏕
Looks like a poor man’s Family Truckster, for those of who don’t create food additives for a living
Now I get it! Chevy’s character’s occupation. Took me a couple of minutes. This is definitely another wagon that 30 years ago was bought by house painters or others for professional use for cheap. In today’s dollars, what was purchased for $500 might be worth $3,500. Maybe?
Mr Griswold it’s time to sell the family truckster.
It would be fun buy this restore it to its former glory days and take it on family vacations. I bet you’d get a lot of compliments on it.
I miss American wagons!