If Rolls-Royce Built A Family Wagon! 1971 Ford Country Squire

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One of eight such vehicles produced, this 1971 Ford Country Squire station wagon in De Pere, Wisconsin wears a complete and genuine Rolls-Royce front clip, well-integrated into the Country Squire bodywork. The elegant two-tone paint gleams. Though sold as-is, the Rolls-Ford-Royce fired up after three years in storage and drove 70 miles, according to the seller. It comes to auction here on eBay where at least seven bidders have elevated its market value beyond $6000.

Birds-eye maple, a sharp custom steering wheel, and custom upholstery continue the luxury theme within, though some attention to the lower console would help complete the illusion. Scar Cars in Fitchburg, Massachusetts built the originals, according to the seller. The seats certainly mimic the sumptuous units in my late father’s 2001 Jaguar, the best $2400 car I ever bought.

Customized “Rolls-Royce” script adorns the Ford 400 cid (6.6L) V8. All that’s missing is the Rolls Royce signature plate. During some years, each RR engine was assembled and tested by a single craftsman. In the case of this Ford mill, that plate would probably read something like “Ernie Strzelczyk.” Another Rolls-Royce tradition was listing their horsepower as “adequate,” and the 400 should prove adequate for this stately land schooner.

Shooting Brake script refers to the European phrase for a wagon-type vehicle used on hunts when the extra room out back accommodated hunting gear, supplies, and deceased game. Especially large kills can be strapped to the handy roof-rack, continuing a tradition of frightening small children while transporting your bloody google-eyed stag through town.

Talk about rolling out the red carpet! The cargo area looks as fine as the rest of the car. No bloody fox carcasses or trash trips for this shooting brake! This turn-key classic would certainly turn heads at the local show ‘n’ shine. Mechanical parts should be cheap so why not drive this blended beast regularly? Who do you see as the perfect buyer for this plebeian wagon elevated by the ultimate kiss of luxury?

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Comments

  1. Fahrvergnugen FahrvergnugenMember

    Well…one of eight built, how many remaining. Dash looks home built. Dump the skirts and exhaust tips, and this could clean up better.

    Like 18
    • AZVanman

      I agree, the handyman-built dash does not do the front end justice.

      Like 14
      • Al

        This is what is called “Grob gesägtes Baumholz”®

        a rare German description for this type of dash.

        Like 19
    • Ted-M

      Needs RR hubcaps!

      Like 3
  2. leiniedude leiniedudeMember

    It sure looks like a De Pere used car lot. I like it, looks well done. I agree with Fahrvergnugen on the skirts and tips. Another great write up Todd, ‘transporting your bloody google-eyed stag through town.’ LOL!!!!

    Like 11
  3. FordGuy1972 FordGuy1972Member

    That’s actually a pretty cool wagon. You’d certainly be the only one at a show to have one. The front end looks very well done and the top of the rear fenders is a nice touch. A nice interior overall though I’m not in love with the dash but it’ll do. A big plus is that you won’t have to bring it to a Rolls dealer when it needs a repair. Just head on over to your local NAPA store. I kind of like it, especially as I like the ’71-’72 Galaxies. A little too far away for me and anyway, if I brought that home, I’d be sleeping in it.

    Like 13
  4. CCFisher

    According to the VIN, it’s a Country Sedan.

    To my eyes, the proportions of the front end are off, probably due to the Ford’s 79″ width, which is 8″ wider than a Silver Shadow. I see 1972 Pontiac Grand Safari as much as I see Silver Shadow.

    Like 8
    • Heather

      We owned a 1972 Country Squire, when I was a teenager. I took my driving test in it. The proportions are correct. A little earlier, we owned a 1974 Country Squire. The body lines of that one were a bit more square

      Like 0
  5. alphasudMember

    If it only had the vista roof. I would be bidding and booking a flight. I agree the dash needs to play a proper role to look the Rolls part.

    Like 4
  6. That Guy

    Just the thing for a 70s TV pimp with a big hat and a big “family.”

    Like 6
  7. Sam Shive

    I want two….One for the Bride …..

    Like 0
  8. Dave in Arlington, TX

    The dash is an easy fix. Just find another stock ’71 Ford dash and swap the whole thing out.

    Like 4
    • Sam61

      You would lose the RR “bellows” vents if you swapped the dash.

      Like 0
    • Little_Cars Little_Cars

      IIRC, a 1971 Ford Dash would look butt ugly in this creation. But it would have a slight edge over this chunk of wood (or wood veneer).

      Like 2
  9. Sam61

    I saw this car in person two summers ago. It was for sale in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin. The body work was well done as were the seats, etc. No it’s not “concours” but you could spend time/money on a few tweaks to your liking. This would be a great “goof” for $4,750.

    Like 5
    • will turley

      Curious when in Sturgeon Bay…..what was the asking price? Thx

      Like 0
      • mystery

        You can buy it now , it is for sale , two blocks from my house for $14,977

        Like 0
  10. Francisco Andrade

    Kind of reminds me of national lampoons

    Like 1
  11. Mark

    This is what Foxy Brown used to haul the kids to soccer practice…

    Like 10
  12. Derek

    The dash needs to be darker, but the bodywork’s very well done.

    Still wouldnae hae it in a lucky bag, but.

    Like 1
  13. Rodney - GSM

    This is exactly what would happen if Henry Ford and Henry Royce went on a Tinder Date together…

    Like 8
  14. Jcs

    Shooting Brake is usually reserved for two door wagons with Estate being the more common vernacular for a four door.

    Subtract the excessive dashboard screws and add A/C and I think it is downright cool.

    Like 9
    • SubGothius

      And technically a shooting brake would be derived from a two-door coupé basis, whereas a wagon derived from a two-door sedan/saloon would still be called an “estate car” — or for those hip to SAT analogy notation:

      sedan/saloon : wagon/estate : : coupé : shooting brake

      So what’s the difference between a two-door sedan vs. a coupé? The word “coupé” comes from the French term for “cut”, indicating a “cut-down” derivative of a larger platform (shorter wheelbase, lower roofline, etc.). If it’s basically the same body and wheelbase as the four-door version aside from the number of doors, it’s a two-door sedan.

      Like 4
    • B302

      It has A/C, has been updated with modern compressor and system.

      Like 4
  15. JoeNYWF64

    Bringing this to a USA RR dealer for an oil change would upset many people there & make them very angry. Or better yet, bring it to a UK RR dealer. lol

    Like 10
  16. MikeinLA

    The perfect pick up/drop off vehicle for Beverly Hills Dog Grooming.

    Like 6
  17. PairsNPaint PairsNPaintMember

    Are my eyes playing tricks on me or does the passenger side valve cover say “OLLS ROYCE” (no R)?

    If I had this, would definitely add RR wheel covers, lose the skirts, exhaust tips, and “shooting brake” emblems. Replace them with “Rolls Canardly” emblems.

    What’s a “Rolls Canardly” you ask? Rolls down one hill and can hardly get up the next!

    Like 4
  18. Gary Rhodes

    I would guess that Rolls put a stop to the manufacturing of these. Rolls is VERY protective of every aspect of their cars. A buddy of my dad’s (they were in the same car club back in the 50’s) bought a ’35 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith? back in the early 80’s from a pothead whose dad had died and had left a building full of cars, some done, some projects such as the Rolls. He contacted Rolls on how to get the grill slats working and they told him only three people in the world could repair them and they all worked at Rolls. Supposedly they have records on every car, cradle to grave. He really pissed them off when he told them he was building a street rod out of it. They said “You can’t do that to our car,” told them he’d do whatever he wanted to it as it was his. He got the slats to work again on his own.

    Like 8
    • Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskeyMember

      I’ve been involved with Rolls-Royce cars for about 40 years, and have owned over 30 of them, 1932 to 1985.

      I would suggest it was a local R-R dealer who might have said they have only 3 people to do the shutter repairs, I’m sure it was not R-R of North America, or the factory in Crew, England. The shutter open/close is usually not difficult to repair, it’s the same basic system as used on other luxury cars in the 1930s like Packard or Cadillac. The factory isn’t gonna mislead people, they have a well-earned reputation to protect.

      As for having records, there are indeed records for these cars going all the way back, but years ago they were presented to the Rolls-Royce Owner’s Club [RROC], and that is where you apply for the “chassis cards” by specific VIN.

      Concerning the use of the copywrite materials like the emblem, grill shell, and basic body designs, the only time the factory really gets involved is if you build a vehicle like this, and sell it as a Rolls-Royce, or even allude to it being a R-R factory vehicle or modification.

      If you install Rolls-Royce identification pieces on a non-Rolls vehicle and offer/sell it as a Rolls-Royce, or you are running a limousine service with cars that you claim are [but are NOT] Rolls-Royce vehicles, and the factory finds out, they WILL kindly tell you to stop. That’s all. If you are foolhardy and decide to ignore the warning, the company does have the capability to come down hard on you. And they will.

      Like 5
      • CarbuzzardMember

        They have to. Neglecting/not protecting their trademark will cause them in to lose it. Anyone who has a trademark has to notify those who misuse it to cease and desist.

        Classic example is aspirin. It’s actually a trade name for salicylic acid owned by Bayer. In Canada, only Bayer can use “Aspirin,” but the courts in the US said Bayer didn’t defend its trademark and allowed it to be generic.

        Like 1
      • JoeNYWF64

        I’m surprised Pontiac didn’t copyright “Super Duty”.
        I cringe everytime I hear Ford use the term.

        Like 1
  19. Howie Mueler

    Its different that is for sure.

    Like 2
  20. fran

    The first world’s first dependable and easy to repair/maintain Rolls!

    Like 4
  21. Rod

    I remember in the 70s they were selling RR fronts for VW beetles ! I’m a conservative Brit, Rolls Royce grills only belong on Rolls Royces.

    Like 4
  22. Terry

    A bit late to comment but I’m surprised nobody mentioned the mangled passenger side inner fender.

    Like 1
    • Little_Cars Little_Cars

      Or the portion of headliner above the driver ripped out and missing sun visors. And while looking at photos of the car is a lift, notice how the seats are anchored….long carriage bolts with nuts and lock washers hanging down about 2-3 inches below the bottom of the floorboards.

      Like 0
  23. Joe Treer

    King Wagon Family Truckster.

    Like 2
  24. Jim

    why?

    Like 2
  25. Chris

    Family Truckster

    Like 0
  26. Edward Stephan Cieslak

    How do I go about getting more information in regards to this Ford Rolls Royce. I would like to see more photos and a few shots of the interior in regards to seating 2, 3 row ?

    Like 0
  27. leiniedude leiniedudeMember

    Ended:Jun 25, 2021 , 7:15PM
    Winning bid:
    US $15,100.00
    [ 31 bids ]

    Like 1

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