When I saw the pictures of this stunning 1959 Ford Country Sedan Wagon I claimed it to write immediately. Great looking car, great photography! It’s listed for sale here on eBay and is located in Lodi, California (not a guarantee of a solid body, but it’s a promising sign. It’s also 2,769 miles away from my home, which is a good thing for my bank account). 16 bids so far have raised the price to $12,700 (there’s not a reserve) but it wouldn’t surprise me if there are more bids coming.
Holy cow, what a car! Resplendent in Wedgewood Blue and Colonal White and only showing a believable 92,000 miles, this true California black plate car has been regularly shown over the last 25 years and has won some awards in the process. It’s easy to see why.
Chrome, paint and details combine to make this a striking car. We really don’t know how much is original on this one; I’m sure it’s been repainted looking at the pictures, but I suppose the chrome could have been kept this nicely.
Ford knew what the styling would do for them on the sales floor and highlighted it in their 1959 wagon brochure. Interesting turn of a phrase there, don’t you think?
As I’ve noted before, I don’t mind the tasteful addition of extra instrumention if it wasn’t there in the original car. I’ll take a gauge over an idiot light any day of the week. You’re keeping track of that original 332 cubic inch V-8 which is connected to the delightfully named “Ford-O-Matic” automatic transmission. Just imagine how a family drive would be in this great wagon!
One of the great things about a seller showing you the VIN plate in an ad is that it gives you the opportunity to do some more research. And through the magic of the internet, we can learn all kinds of things.
For example, who knew that handsome interior was actually Radiant Blue and Blue Shantung Vinyl? It’s also neat to see that not only did this car spend its life in California, but it was actually produced there as well.
The 332 V-8 isn’t know as the most powerful engine, but that’s not the purpose here, and it will provide plenty of motivation for the type of driving you’d be doing with this car. I only wish it were me! Let us know what you think about this 1959 Ford wagon and tell us if you’ve had any first-hand experiences with one!
This car reminds me of a simpler time. Family road trips, camping in a tent trailer, maybe a canoe on the roof of the car. This has obviously had a good care taker and would be a nice car to own I hope it goes to a god home.
Always loved the ford ignition switch on the left hand side. One hand on the key the other on the gear selector…..for a quick getaway
It looks like someone drove out of a parking lot in 1959 and found themselves in 2020. What a beautiful and perfect looking piece of 50’s Americana.
The predecessor of our Explorers. Altho much better looking than our 2008. That is one gorgeous car. If I had a collection I would add that to it.
Think about it Jamie, now’s the time:
flights=cheap. Hotels=cheap. Fuel=cheap. Getting decent chow is your only potential issue in today’s economy. If you have the money to spend on this kind of thing, right now is the time to do it.
My two cents anyway.
STEVE R RULES!!
You’ll understand why I won’t be when you read my next BF Success Story….but it’s for a good reason. 🙂
Hmm. A cliff hanger. I can’t wait.
Beautiful car, my dad had a 59 Galaxie 2 door hardtop with a 223 six. The 332 was a two year only job, but basically the same as the 352. Is it the 2 speed Fordomatic or the 3 speed Cruise O Matic?
It says on the build sheet that it is indeed the 2 speed Fordomatic…
What a horrible transmission. At least the Powerglide worked well. They didn’t even keep the Ford-O-Matic with Low as a third gear like in earlier ’50s Fords. It was a dud.
Yea, why oh why would they drop the 332 FE in 1960 and keep the 292 Y block boat anchor until ’62 in cars and ’64 in trucks. Always had oiling and overheating problems. The 332 was smooth and quiet with more horsepower. Hmmm, no better idea here.
My Parents moved the family from Connecticut to western Canada in a woody version of this wagon in 1962. My mother continued to drive it every day until 1969 when it just refused to start. My father sold it to the neighbors son who dropped a built Lincoln 413 in it, added a brake lock and used it for a drag car for 3 years – when the motor gave out and the rust in the rear wheel wells took over. Fond memories all around.
Ah. Memories. Memories of the buggest pile of crap my mother ever owned. Dad had a company car from 1962 to 1967, always a quality Pontiac. Mom had a used 59 Ford wagon red on red. Total POS. Overheated. Broke down constantly. Three on the tree. No seat belts. She had 3 boys. We are all now in our 60s. We all feel bad she had to drive that heap. I wouldn’t give you 12 cents for this car.
When I see this car, I visualize families taking out for adventures using the newest portions of that 20th century American wonder, the Interstate Highway System.
I remember us kids sitting on the back tail gate as my friends father drove around town.
My father bought one new. It had a 6 and 3 on the tree (you think the 332 wasn’t very powerful?). Red and white. We put close to 100K hauling my 4 sisters and I all up and down the west coast. It was the first car I ever drove.
LOVE the 56 thru 1961 Automobile era. Stupid looking SUV, Stupid Ugly Vehicle, are all station wagons.
This represents the style tones and colors of a fantastic time. No seat belts, because we drove smarter, not 35 mph in the store parking lot like todays yuppies or millennials.
Single color, and boring colors they are today, these, even wagons, put a smile on your face just watching them as they drive by.
We also had tritones. Never again.
Son restored a 59 Dodge 9 pass spectator. Dang museum wanted it. That is where it went.
Gorgeous car.
Never such a great era again.
Be home soon
Neat old Ford. My Dad bought a ’59 Ranchero with a 300 HP 352 back in the day (around 1962). It was the vehicle for the family gas station that my brothers ran.
Great car / truck. No overheating problems that I recall.
Mom had the same car in grey and white. We kids would complain because gravel would get thrown up from the road and hit us in the back of the head. “Oh stop it! It is NOT” then she noticed the holes in the rear wheel wells..Going to visit the grandparents when they were camping, it would ALWAYS overheat climbing the mountain and need the radiator refilled. My sister would climb down the bank to the stream with a bucket and I would climb on the bumper to pour it in the radiator. NOW, being a 40+year master tech, I diagnose it as a weak head gasket. Back then? Hey,I HAD to stand on the bumper to reach the radiator..what did I know?! We’d arrive and get a goody for being such helpful kids. Cars, and our lives, were different then…
HEY my nick name is the Weasle at work! NICE WAGON. Bruce.
My Dad had a 57 Ford Ranch wagon 2dr 292 three on the tree that I wrecked. The steering had an inch or so of play and the heater and defroster barely worked. He also had a 58 he bought new that I learned to drive on. This car even here in Oregon and always being garaged rusted away of course I had a few miles by then. We also had a 59 semi junk 6 three on the tree we go from a customer. It lasted awhile until one of my sisters wrecked it.
When wagons were actually family cars. How this beauty stayed in this condition has got to be a wonderful story of its own.
My brother bought a 54 ranch wagon 2nd hand in 55. He claims to have put over 300,000 miles on it in the ten years he owned the car.
It was 239 three on the tree with overdrive. Two tone green.
Another brother bought a 58 4 door Ford wagon new, all white that his wife drove until they moved to Seattle from Central Valley, California in 1968.
These were good cars as long as they were properly maintained.
This one is very nice and collectible. For the right person this will be a very enjoyable ride.
God bless America
Reminds me of my Dad’s 59. Beautiful black sedan until it was almost a year old. Someone smashed into the back of him and put the trunk into the back seat. It was amazing that Dad walked away from that.
doone, I always liked left handed ignition switches because I’m left handed. I had a few Fords with left handed switches.
Very convenient. Stay well and wash your hands………
Up to 15100. I loved this color combo.
Seeing those big round tail lights of the ’59 reminds me of another of my vehicular boners as in mistakes.
In the late eighties I went and looked at the most absolutely beautiful ’59 Ford ( I think it was a Galaxie 500) convertible. The color was a sort of seafoam green. The guy wanted $3,000 ( in 1989 dollars) and being who I am, thought it was too much, Big laughter here. I’m my own worst car guy enemy!
Ah well…….one of the best things about growing up when many of us did was the plethora of cars, I think in techicolor about cars and pity the kids of the modern age who think of cars as appliances. “I have a Hyundai”…O good for you, son.
Beautiful car! Obviously evoking lots of memories…
Observation not criticism:. The license plate is not period correct. Plates on the car were issued in 1963. As I understand it, when they came out, they were issued to every car/ car owner in CA. The vast majority of people simply attached these black plates to the car and threw the old ones in the trash. Correct plates on this car in ’59 were yellow with black letters, issued beginning in 1956 through 1962. Each year when you registered your car you got a sticker to attach to the plate, the same as is done in CA now.
You can get period correct plates on eBay or from collectors, including a fake but proper looking sticker for your cars year. Then you also have to run current month and year stickers which most people attach to two metal sticker tabs mounted to the bottom of the plate. DMV has a program for this and besides the fees they charge for it, it’s easy to do.
The funny part about finding a set of vintage plates is that it’s quite difficult to find a set of two, both in good condition, because in those days, so many people would push a friend’s broken down car, the front plate is very often mashed beyond repair, and DMV will not approve the switch unless you have two plates in good condition.
NO! I want it.. This was my exact (except color) first car at 16 yrs of age. A lot of fun in the back!, but it is better served as a memory. Bidding is about to end and is at 16K+,
Thank God it is in California! I want a wagon really bad but I’m holding out for the hardtop versions (non-post to the rear glass) and know I will have to be in Doge/Plymouth/Chrysler territory for that.
Hardtop wagons, besides 60-64 Chrysler, 60-61 Polara, 57-60 Mercury, 57 Buick, 57 Olds, 57 Mercury 2 door hardtop wagon.
Son has a 60 Polara 9 pass hardtop wagon. Had a 60 Chrysler New Yorker wagon and a 57 Merc 2 door hardtop wagon.
Might be others, but this is off the top of my head
We had a family used auto parts business which my Dad started in about 1947. My Dad fixed a lot of cars, some wrecks, and some with mechanical issues. In the 60s we started making cross country trips from Pa. to Colorado to visit relatives. I have pictures of a sharp red 59 Country Squire sitting by a log cabin motel somewhere in the Rockies. We woke one summer morning to find it snow covered. During one of our trips to get across the country, my Mom lit up a charcoal grill in the back to make hot dogs while Dad drove. My Dad didn’t want to waste any time. Sorry no story about the car catching fire.
My aunt had a real sharp black 59 2 door hardtop with a red interior and power windows. That thing took a beating, as she was a party girl (4 husbands) and wrecked it a few times.
My Dad had a new Galaxie 500 4 door in 59. I can’t recall if it was a FE Big block or a 292 Y block. I think the 292 was the standard engine. Drove it numerous times. I was in the service at the time stationed in New London Ct. but the night he got it I was home and he let me use it for a date.
In 1966 I was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany. A 59 Ford Galaxie 4 door sedan came up for sale for $75 bucks so me and a friend (Gus Zentack) went together and bought the car. It had been a 6 banger but someone put a 390 in it and then couldn’t get it started. We had some mechanics from the motor pool look at it, but they couldn’t get it started either. I had a gypsy girlfriend whose dad knew a German mechanic. So we pulled it to his garage and in short order he had it running. Never did find out what he did, but it only cost us 30 marks which was a little over seven dollars. I gave my half to Gus when I rotated back to the States. It was a nice car and served us well.
God bless America
This is a stunning example. My favorite year of Ford. I always wondered why the wagons got the cheaper interior/door cards and chrome appointments. The interior did not live up to the Fairlane 500/Galaxie interiors. Chevrolet managed to do it with the Nomad as the top line in ’59. Their interiors made Ford wagons look very cheap with missing chrome and lessor fabrics and vinyl. For goodness sakes, the glove box door was that of a Custom 300. Ford was such a mess in ’59 trying to catch up with the Impala but I still like it much better, regardless of its faults. Chevrolet and Plymouth were just not very attractive as the lower priced cars. And Ford did outsell Chevrolet for the first time in a while.
laxie
My Dad had a 4 dr Galaxie 500. I think it had a 292 but not certain. He let me use it on occasion as I was in the service.
This is the station wagon (exact color combo, but minus the seatbelts and plush carpeting) that my dad bought new and used to haul our family of ten in. Classic 50’s styling and great memories of family outings.