As the old adage goes, “You don’t know what you have ’til it’s gone” and that is certainly true with cars, station wagons in particular. They’re hot today, but if you grew up in an era where they were everywhere and you were forced to ride around in one, or worse drive one, your memory may be jaded. But as stated, they’re in demand today and this 1971 Ford Country Squire is bright, large, and in charge! It is located in Carlstadt, New Jersey and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $8,651 with twenty-five bids tendered as of this writing.
The seller claims this to be “a true barn find” with only 38K miles though there is no documentation to back up that claim. It is also advertised as a “star car” in that it has had silver-screen exposure in “The Irishman” and “The Duece“. I’ve seen “The Irishman” but have no recollection of this car’s appearance. Whatever the case, the car’s condition, and what it actually is, would be more of a draw for me than film provenance and the condition here is great! The seller adds, “This car is completely original with great patina. The floors are solid as a rock and so is the frame. It has some slight rust on the rockers and could use a little tender loving care and just a paint match in that area. Has the original paint and wood paneling“. Red is generally not a color that I associate with a Country Squire but it works well, nevertheless. The seller mentions that he has a replacement piece of trim, perhaps for the passenger fender, that is included in the sale.
Under the expansive hood of this Country Squire is a 320 gross HP, 429 CI V8 engine. It is equipped with a two-barrel carburetor and I have often wondered how well an engine of that size will operate with such a moderate means of fuel delivery. The seller claims that it is a numbers-matching motor, not that it really matters in this case, and it runs like “day one, quiet as can be“. A three-speed automatic transmission was the only gearbox offered with this engine.
Inside, we have red, lots of red in the form of vinyl, covering all four seats. Yes, four as this Country Squire has a pair of way-back, facing seats. Interestingly, Ford defined a two-seat wagon as having six-passenger capacity but referenced the non-six passenger model as having “extra-capacity dual rear-facing seats“. Ford was hedging their bets on that description! It’s probably an eight-passenger capacity arrangement with maybe nine or ten if the occupants are small and cramable. Anyway, the interior is in nice shape with just a few minor contusions noticed. Same for the dash and instrument panel. This wagon has working A/C, which still utilizes R-12 refrigerant, but a non-working fuel gauge. The seller mentions a new carpet too but it’s unclear whether or not it needs to be installed – what’s in place is covered with rubber mats.
The seller reflects, “Parting with one of my true loves due to buying my dream house. Never thought I would sell this car“. So the thought is that he found this Ford barn-bound, “resuscitated” it, drove it, and is now ready to part ways. It is certainly in reasonable condition but I would be hesitant to rely on that recorded mileage figure without any provable documentation. And the reason is that the true mileage can give you a pretty good idea of the remaining drivetrain life before further “resuscitation” is going to be needed. This Country Squire is nice but not so nice as to be a time capsule and that’s a benefit because the next owner can drive it, use it as intended, and enjoy it. So, what do all of you station wagon fans think of this Country Squire, any interest?
This car was featured on this site before. It has substantial rust in the rockers and lower quarter panels, especially the passenger side in front of the rear wheel, much of which was hidden by the molding. Last time it was clearly visible, this time the pictures deceptively hide the damage. Any perspective buyer needs to be careful with this one.
Steve R
Are you sure you saw it here on BF? I searched, in advance, our database back to 2013 and could not find it.
JO
I tried to find it also before I commented. I’m positive I’ve seen it before, more than likely here.
Steve R
Cool, Barn Finds is now within the Mandela Effect universe. What is hanging out of Bruce Springsteen’s pant’s pocket on the “Born In the USA” album cover? Red handkerchief, right?
This was definitely on Barn Finds about a year ago. I remember researching it on IMCDB, and finding several pictures of the car. It may have been titled “Movie Star”, or something along the lines of that.
I found the BF link for it, but it gives a 404 when you click on it.
There’s a new comment on Movie Star? 1971 Ford LTD Country Squire
https://barnfinds.com/movie-star-1971-ford-ltd-country-squire/
You’re an idiot Jim O’Donnell…..find another red low original 429 country squire!!!!!!!!!!!!………..it is documented low mileage, it is a 429, it is red, it is factory a/c……
I deleted all of your other comments and I’ll delete this one, and your access, if you make another personal attack. READ THE COMMENTING RULES.
If you have the mileage documentation, all you have to do is calmly present it and I’ll make a note of it. If you don’t have it, then your claimed mileage is nothing more than an odometer reading. This is the same treatment employed on every vehicle reviewed on this site.
JO
it has zero rust in the rockers and only in the doglegs…I have closeup pics of my car to show that……you are very mistaken sir…..
Your EBay description clearly states that the car has rust on the rockers. Just saying.
Googling cars featured in The Irishman I found only one FordMoCo. product:
https://productplacementblog.com/movies/lincoln-mercury-red-car-in-the-irishman-2019/
It is red but definitely not the Country Squire wagon.
Try imcdb.org (internet movie cars data base). They do indeed show a 1971 Ford LTD Country Squire as being in the movie but the shot is so dark that it’s really hard to see. If you look to the left of the frame, it appears as a parked car and appears to be red.
This is a great website to bookmark. I’ve watched many an old movie wondering, “what is that?” only to go to imcdb and find it. They are very comprehensive.
Cool! Thanks. I am going to bookmark this great site.
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1326017-Ford-LTD-Country-Squire-1971.html
This is identical to the one my parents had except a year older. Loved that car.
I bought a new 1973 country squire in blue with the same engine. What a beautiful car. Long gone
At first glance this looks very nice and I’m shocked to see such an unmolested interior. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a Country Squire in this red/red combo, most every Ford wagon I remember from this era had some brown or tan upholstery with the only exceptions being variants of green.
As Steve R mentions above there is substantial rust here, in the pic showing the LH doors open it almost looks like there’s been some amateur patching(?) and the panels before and aft rear wheel arch show obvious rust through even back to the rear bumper. That’s really sad ’cause this car otherwise gives the impression of being a very well-kept wagon.
I find it really hard to comment on the current price, on one hand it’s somehow too rusty to justify the $. On the other hand its ‘completeness’ and interior (which IMO is a very important facet and costs BIG $ to do right in a longroof) is hard to find in similar wagons on the market
If this has been a New Jersey car then you can take it to the bank that this car has a lot of rust.
“Wood paneling”? Then termites have eaten under the rocker panels.
my dad had a 71′ ltd coutry squire but it was green
Like Steve R I do remember seeing this car here…
What is that wiring tie-wrapped behind the rear bumper and what are those bolts next to it?
I wondering if the car in question above might have been a movie car? Seem like I have seen it before also.
I had a bunch of these back in the early 1980s and derbied everyone of them, back when you could get them for 50 bucks or less. Wagons were usually used and abused ; I’m surprised to see and wagon survivor these days
Growing up in this era, I had my opportunities to drive this station wagon. I’m not sure if it was the car specifically, but I remember having to turn the wheel a full turn to get it to change lanes. It was like driving a truck or worse.
While it does seem to have a bit of rust down low that wouldn’t be unusual if they drove it in the winter up north when they were salting the roads. Rust-proofing in the 70’s was basically coating the bottom of the vehicle with something with the consistency of tar and spraying that same crap inside all the body cavities you could get to and hope for the best. That being said if this car isn’t original it was restored a long time ago, late 80’s early 90’s at best. I say that because of the wood grain. If it’s exposed to the weather with any regularity or stays outside it fades and on the upper areas where the body rolls inward it turns a milky white after all it’s basically high grade shelf paper(I know it’s 3M Di-Noc) and just doesn’t like to be outside. If you look closely it has spaced horizontal lines running through the woodgrain to mimic caulk lines on a wooden boat, that’s original. I re-did one of these cars for a customer in 1997 and the original pattern was long gone. I had to use the pattern for a Chrysler T & C van as that’s all that was left.
When photographing under the hood, why not clean the air-cleaner cover?
I had the exact color and engine as a beater in the late 80’s. They didn’t handle well when they were new and my front end and shocks were so bad I could barely hold it between the lines! Man, I loved it though!
Is this car Sarah Jessica Parker’s car from COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE ??
they are airlines for the rear NO, hers was a 77……not even cose to being as cool
I also remember see this one somewhere as well. I recall the engine compartment. Also may be worthwhile to check out the buyers eBay feedback.
As far as numbers matching comment, I think we should remain full on stuffy about original motors and matching numbers( minus Yugos) after all it’s not the 70s and 80s.
Needs a working fuel gauge, even with the 2bbl it’s gonna love gas, and it needs factory 8 track, and The Carpenters Greatest hits, 1969-1973
No thanks on this land yacht. Folks had a ’72. Hated that thing. It was a green monster that literally guzzled gas.
I hate to say it now as its the latest trend but wagons have always been my thing and this ones a beut. Sure like any 40 yo car it will have some issues.
Surprised noone has commented on the vanity plate “GRSWOLD”.
Cool car, last but is the current price. Sure thats driven by the individual but as recent as 5 years ago big wagons couldn’t be given away.
If wishes were horses id want the world to reset so you could afford a house, car etc of your “dreams” and still afford to eat. Sigh.
Mr. O’Donnell is incorrect in his information and should be a big enough man to admit it instead of taking it personally.
It’s real simple Matt, do you have documented proof of the mileage or not? If you do, please forward it and I’ll post it, if not I stand by my position.
It’s not personal, it’s about fact and I’m not finding any regarding your mileage claim.
JO
when I owned the car 5 years ago I could have maybe………I do not have that anymore…….it went with the car. a moderator or other user should not make comments without knowledge either….as one person mentioned rocker panel rust…sorry, there is none…..yet that was allowed…….be fair to all or remove his as well as his post is purely a LIE!
btw, that is a 600cfm carburetor on top of there and ANY small track driver LOVES a 2 barrel 600cfm carb, especially this one, which was rebuilt by a professional while I owned her after I inadvertently twisted the fuel filter in too far and left the inlet in the carburetor and it overflowed after twisting it out and replacing, so the carb was new……