Coming in almost a foot shorter than the previous generation Country Squire, this eight-generation 1987 Ford Country Squire Wagon was still a big car at just under 18 feet in length. The seller has this faded and patina-heavy example listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the seller is asking $4,750 or best offer. Here is the original listing. Thanks to Gary for the tip!
Faded Glory. A person could redo the Di-Noc woodgrain if they wanted to and it would certainly make this car look a lot nicer, at least from a distance. The eighth-generation Country Squire was made from 1979 to the end of 1990. By 1987, Ford was moving customers into minivans for people-hauling duties as station wagons were disappearing from the landscape. They only sold 17,562 in 1987 compared to almost 91,000 a decade earlier in 1977. I don’t see badges close enough to tell, but I believe this is an LX due to the cast aluminum wheels rather than wheel covers.
It’s hard to tell the body condition of this car, the photos aren’t big enough to be able to zoom in and see much detail, but it looks good overall to me. There is some major surface rust on the top of the hood and top of the… er… top, but as far as rust holes, I don’t see any. They say this was a Tennessee car and the rust is minimal. This car has Ford’s “3-Way Doorgate” that swings to the side, pulls down like a pickup tailgate, or you can just lower the window to load the back with several 48-packs of paper towels from the big box annual-subscription warehouse store.
Here’s where things get really good, I did not expect to see Currant Red seats in this car! Ford offered “supersoft” vinyl in the LX trim and here it is. It needs a good cleaning and some repairs, and we don’t see the back seat but the seller shows a couple of photos of the rear seating area, very cool. That makes this an eight-passenger LX wagon, confirming the LX trim level as far as I can tell from the brochures. As with most interiors, there are some good dyes and other ways to spruce things up inside, but you’ll have to have your upholstery shop fix the seam separation on the driver’s seat, pronto.
This dusty engine is Ford’s 302-cu.in. OHV V8, which was factory-rated at 150 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque when new. It sends power through a four-speed automatic to the rear wheels and the seller says it runs well, has a new gas tank and sending unit, new battery, new alternator, plugs, pickup coil and ignition control module, and even the belts in the in-dash cassette player are new! Any thoughts on this woodgrain wagon?
Not a wagon fan, still this generation of Crown Victoria was a definite success, in spite of smaller size. My 89 Crown Victoria LX with optional formal roof, easily held its own with other upscale vehicles I have owned. This is preferable to current bloated SUVS, and crossovers at a much more bloated price. More later 🤔. Today, I’m down and out, not in Beverly Hills.
If this wasn’t in Philly? I might have road tripped to check it out. And leave it just like I found it. Maybe a set of wheels and some glasspacks.
I’m in NE Philadelphia and this one is in South Philly. As I said yesterday, I had three similar about 20 years ago, but not wagons, they were Lincoln town cars and a Mercury Grand Marquis. The 5 litre engine is a good one, paired with the AOD trans. Both, of course, need regular fluid changes, and if so, can last well into that milage. Rust is a concern, but maybe okay if from TN much of its life. Not too attractive now but may be very useful as is or with some cosmetics. Some under body and frame shots would help, maybe request them. This is certainly a cross-country cruiser with the cruise control set at 65 or 70 if all checks out I think. If anyone wants me to check it for them maybe we could meet at a local Wawa store (they pretty much took over and upgraded the 7-11’s around here for those unacquainted.)
Dave: I am “annoyed” at WAWA! — Why but they expand NORTH??? They go down through Nayland and down into Virginia (lady I knew) — but are they prejudiced against the Adirondacks? I LOVE WAWA!!! BUT it ain’t gh t I lerat I ng Philly’s hot, humid summers and rainy winters! That’s why I live were summers are usually reasonable, autumn’s are colourful, and snow on the ground for Thanksgiving is still there at Easter time. You do get those days I n January and February, when it’s 30° below zero — but hey! — beats 96° in July!!! If this week a Grand Marquis and not a Crown Victoria, I’d be tempted… My ’88 Grand Marquis has 384,000 miles, and I much prefer the Mercury dashboard.
Dave: I am “annoyed” at WAWA! — Why won’t they expand NORTH??? They go down through Maryland and down into Virginia (last I knew) — but are they prejudiced against the Adirondacks? I LOVE WAWA!!! BUT it ain’t enough for tolerating Philly’s hot, humid summers and rainy winters! That’s why I live where summers are usually reasonable, autumns are colourful, and snow on the ground for Thanksgiving is still there at Easter time. You do get those days in January and February, when it’s 30° below zero — but hey! — beats 96° in July!!! If this were a Grand Marquis and not a Crown Victoria, I’d be tempted… My ’88 Grand Marquis has 384,000 miles, and I much prefer the Mercury dashboard. But mine has been so faithful, I’d feel like a “traitor” in replacing it.
My wife and I also own a building near Saratoga in NY, where Stewarts is like Wawa. The price of gas at either is not usually the best deal, but convenient. We have good deals on “hoagies” at Wawa recently though. Any “shorty” for $5.99, I think. The Sheetz stations are like Wawa further west in PA, but both are in completion. When they remodeled our local Wawa a few years back they only replaced the freezer with pints of ice cream instead of half gallons, much more expensive per ounce, and Wawa started life as a dairy! Now I buy ice cream at Walmart, good deals there, also for their brand of oil, just to bring the conversation back to auto related.
Hello, Dave! Either WAWA is not as it once was, or Stewart’s in nothing like WAWA (no offence). When you enter a Stewart’s, you have slanted rows of “convenience” items — everything from snacks to small personal appliances, to paper plates and antacids — and of course, freezers with ice cream. You have several coolers along the walls with various beverages. And you have a long angled counter, behind which they can get you everything from lottery tickets to cigarettes to ice cream cones and sandwiches. Stewart’s is much better than the average gas-convenience shop. However, it cannot compare with a WAWA. First, WAWA is at least twice the size, with far more items. There is a big “island” in the middle of the shop, with at least four people ready to serve you, with a selection of things (especially, items to eat to order) no Stewart’s can touch. And you never get stuck in line behind someone buying eleven different lottery tickets and four different brands of cigarettes, whilst the other cashier is making five different milkshakes! (anyone who has visited Stewart’s whilst in a hurry knows exactly what I mean!). Given the choice between Stewart’s and WAWA, I would go to WAWA. But I have to say, Stewart’s (brand) of ice cream is superior to most major brands.