In 1961, Ford launched the Econoline and Club Wagon vans and pickups based on the new Falcon from the year before. The former was intended for commercial use while the latter was built for people transport with seats and windows. Due to its short wheelbase, a mid-engine configuration was employed, placing the engine behind the front axle. This 1962 edition of the Club Wagon won’t stay running and has some serious rust issues, primarily with the roofline. But those things are reflected in the price here on Barn Finds Classifieds. From Corpus Christi, Texas, the asking amount is $1,750.
These vans and trucks were formally known as the Ford E-Series and would later include versions sound by Mercury in Canada. Ford’s primary competition with these vehicles was variants of the Chevy Corvair and the VW Transporter. The Econoline and Club Wagon were forward-control vehicles that enabled better cargo and passenger service with their use of flat floors and enlarged rear doors. The engine, either a 144 (85 hp) or 170 (101 hp) cubic inch inline-six, was placed between the front seats. A 3-speed manual transmission was the typical method of gear selection.
We suspect the seller’s Club Wagon has been dormant for a while. The engine will try to turn over but won’t stay running, suggesting issues with the fuel delivery. The vehicle was set up for moving people, but only the front seats (substitutes) remain as the back ones are no longer around.
The sheet metal is going to require a lot of attention and the roof is seriously rusted above the doors on the passenger side. The problem extends to the doors themselves and the rest of the body, but it doesn’t appear to be as nearly extensive. The odometer reading is under 15,000, which suggests that it has turned over at least once. These vans were popular in the secondary markets along with Dodge’s versions as you often saw surfboards stuffed inside in California.
Maybe there’s $1750 in parts there.
Such poor vehicles, the mileage may be correct,,,just kidding, you know, seeing one of these again, instantly transports me back to when these were popular “shaggin’ wagons”, the time period, say early 70’s. Edgar Winter coming out of those hi-fi speakers they robbed from that old record player in the basement, until the “Kraco” ate the tape, that is and not what miserable vehicles these were. This one is toast, being a unibody, the roof is an important part of the structure. Line ‘er up at the next county fair, boys ( and girls),, they crush so nice,,,
Scrap metal at best.
This one’s probably gone but ‘ these are cool . A modern drivetrain and suspension would be awesome for this .
What would the bill for Chemo on this thing, run? WOW!
It might make a really cool convertible.
Oh, I thought it IS a convertible–with a frayed top.
Sorry Russ this is not now or never was mid engine, that would be behind the seats,like 914 Porsche .
RW:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-engine_design
I stand corrected.
My uncle had the exact truck. It was so under-powered that when we tried to haul a loaded,16′ boat trailer up a ramp, we left the clutch behind. Live and learn.
My buddy had a62 falcon van, underpowered, and smoky from blowby tube
If you put a 250 in that van from its factory big difference
This would be awesome fixed but it will take some talent to do that !
We had a gmc version of this. I learned to drive the 3 on the tree when I was around 9 or 10. And our Honda mini trail 50’s fit in nicely !
Another thing about rust ; I’ve never seen a rust free anything come out of Texas !
Must be the hurricanes cassette that salt all the way across the state.
Used to have a VHS testing a Econoline PU against Corvair PU made by Chevrolet, great footage of Econoline slamming brakes lifting rear wheels.
Oh if I was Jay Leno……. Our family had a 61 that my Dad had outfit by a cabinet maker with seating around the sides of the back of the van with storage under the seating. By taking the long side back and place it in the middle and the short side and placing on the right side there was sleeping for my Dad and two older brothers. I slept across a raised area between the back and front and my mom slept across the front. A cushion that spanned the two front seats and the engine cover. My mom made curtains for all around. The covering was all vinyl so I REALY enjoyed our trips from Michigan to California in the summer. No A/C so I preferred the northern route over Route 66, but that wasn’t my call. That three main 144 could hardly make it through the Rockies along with stuck behind trucks for miles.
This was the early 60’s so they interstates were being constructed. Lots of “Toledo Torch” smudge pots and detours. Fond memories of “How many miles to Wall Drugs”, “See the Baby Rattler”, the Giant Dinosaur, Burma Shave signs, Mail Pouch barn roofs, Stucky’s, Howard Johnson, Orange Crush, Roadside Picnic area with one picnic table and maybe an outhouse, the dinners on the Coleman stove (two burners, wow), calling out out-of-state license plates, long Santa Fe trains or rain dropping from the clouds off in the distance, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde, Mount Rushmore, Badlands, Yellowstone, Estes Park, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, Meteor Crater, San Diego Zoo, Redwood National Park, Santa Monica Beach, Palm Springs, San Francisco……..
Tom we didn’t make it as many places as youbut we made it to many of them. Me as a kid and then me taking my kids ! Cooking on the Coleman stove too. What great times and memories ! Thank you for bringing them back
Matt
Growing up in Ohio in the 60’s Dad had a 1966 red/white/red Falcon van that hauled us on camping trips all over the States and into Canada. And when someone needed to be moved, we got the call.
It had the 240 inch six and the only time it couldn’t cut the mustard was pulling a hill near Camp Hale in Colorado. Back then you needed to adjust the mixture for high altitude operation and, well, Dad for some reason or another didn’t get it done.
I remember us kids fighting about who got to sit on the (Freakin’ hot) engine box bombardier style. (Gasp!! No seat belts!!) We had that from 1966 until 1974 when the rusty old girl was traded for a Club Wagon that did not have the charm of the old ’66…good times indeed.
Hi Tiberius, great stories, and just for the record, Ford stopped putting “Falcon” on the back in ’65. That hill you refer to is Tennessee Pass, elevation 10,424, and actually, one of the tamer passes. Camp Hale was a remarkable place. The birth place of downhill skiing at nearby Cooper Mountain. Camp Hale, just a big field now, but I bet PLENTY still underground, and in WW2, the govt. built Camp Hale as a training facility for downhill skiing, should the need arise. I think it housed over 20,000 troops, and was a major army base. All gone now.
I was a HeadStart teacher on the Navajo reservation ( Nazlini, Arizona ) in the late 60’s. We had a stretch one for a school bus. Pretty gutless, but got kids to/from school. We actually drove it to the Grand Canyon on I-40 one time with a load of kids. Slow lane.
most of us w/grey/white hair see this and in a flash can imagine how they’d reconfigure? Me all windows w/tin miged over cept for the lill 1/4 window on the pass side (for side traffic views @ intersections). I make a more dor (8 doors) and put on some workman logo (stealth) for urban parking. In the out of doors that’s just what I’d do w/them & have 2 tents (rear/driver’s side) to roll out. All I need is a ‘bath room’ and 9 cu ft fridge. As a kid I had the ubictious chevyvan I lived in and used as hauling/moving business. Everything inside was ‘knock down’ so as to get large loads in. Best memory Burlington VT to Martha’s Viniard couple w/their dog. Not sure where they put the dog but wife sat on the engine cover, husband on the pass’s seat. Boxes stacked like brick wall against brick wall against… The sno poured down but those bald summer tires held on the rds w/all that weight. What a party when getting off the ferry and unloaded…