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Off The Road For 30 Years: 1964 Ford Country Squire

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At first glance this 1964 Ford Country Squire wagon looks pretty good, but there’s some serious rust to be concerned about. Parts of the car look really nice, though, and the engine runs if you bottle feed it. It’s located in Riverhead, New York, and is being auctioned here on eBay with a buy-it-now of $3,250 and lower offers welcome.

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Looking original down to the wheel covers, this car looks like it would drive down the road right now. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The wagon has actually been off the road since 1985! Evidently based on the fading, it’s been outdoors for at least some of that time.

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If you look closely at the left rear edge of the roof, you’ll see one of the potentially major issues. When the edge is gone, that will require some serious fabrication to make it look right again. It worries me that someone has painted over the rust, too. The seller does say that the back window is present, but it won’t raise up. They also point out that the bumpers will need replacing, and after looking at the lower part of the rear bumper, I’d have to agree.

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On the other hand, the interior upholstery components don’t look bad at all. I’m not sure if this is the original upholstery or not, but it certainly looks the part.

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But here’s another issue. Both front floors are bad. Although you could patch this, the right way to do it considering the rest of the oxidation is to completely cut it out and replace the entire floor on each side. The great news is that good looking patch panels are available from several vendors for less than $70 per side.

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Based on pictures I was able to compare it to, I think this may be the original 289 V8. I’m guessing the new battery is indicative of the efforts to start the car with a bottle feed. The seller also tells us that the rear brakes have been disassembled to allow the car to move, but all the parts are included. Is this the wagon for you? Let us know in the comments!

Comments

  1. Avatar piper62j

    It’s been around the block a few times.. NY salt will kill any car of that vintage.. Needs tons of work.. BUT,, someone will buy it..

    It amazes me how these older cars have become so desirable with us boomers lately.. Mecum, Barrett Jackson,, and others are all cashing in on us.

    Oh well, with however much time we have left on the planet before the mother ship comes for us, we might as well have fun..

    Nice find..

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Jason Houston

    One of my most sought-after dream cars as a kid. My first was a Rangoon Red with black gut, 289, and 3-speed Overdrive. It left PA when it was two, and never rusted since arriving in San Fernando, Calif. The Calif. black license # was SSS717, or as we called it, Stick Shift Squire from the PA 717 telephone area code.

    I kept it several years, until the jerk I sold it to stored it out in the desert, uncovered, for the next thirty-five years, during which time it was completely destroyed by the elements. The clown he gave the remains to claimed he was going to paint it Sunset Coral and put a 6-cylinder and 4-speed in it.

    There is NO accounting for taste…

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    • Avatar sir mike

      717 area code…my area code also..so it left in 1966 when I was 14….might have seen it…not a real big area code back then…still want one in Ford baby blue/white roof….

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  3. Avatar Ed P

    I remember when wood grain trim was high style for wagons. It never held up well though. Does anyone know how difficult it is to replace?

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    • Avatar Jim

      Occasionally at swap meets I see guys who have assortments or complete sets of original woodgrain for 60’s cars but it’s cheaper to replace the factory hard vinyl with the new wrap style vinyl, its different material. Easier to replace and way cheaper than factory. Just one option, at Hershey a few years ago I saw a Torino wagon a woodworking guy made real wood moldings and veneer on the car, looked amazing but I think it’s a small niche of car guys who wood(!) go that far.

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  4. Avatar ydnar

    This will end up in a ’64rders hoard as a donor car. Better that than letting it ruin further.

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    • Avatar Jason Houston

      Then let’s hope that someone with too many 1964 Fords won’t want it and a serious hobbyist will!

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  5. Avatar Jason Houston

    Most of the people who bought genuine wood-bodies station wagons never took care of them. If they had bought a $2 million yacht, they’d treat it the same way. Real wood is expensive to replace, but the cars that feature it are almost always deserving of the investment. Fiberglass cars are cheaper, but still valuable if done right. Trouble is, most people don’t research what it looked like when new, so they get it wrong. I’ve seen way too many 1958 Edsel Bermudas restored using Ford wood-grain standards and they look absolutely ridiculous. But like many cars and colors, ads and brochures are rarely accurate templates for restoration purposes. So, one that’s really done properly is always going to repay its owner well.

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  6. Avatar St. Ramone de V8

    I’ve always liked these wagons, but prefer the “Country Sedan” without the wood. Love that rear glass. The interior is likely where the value is here, I think. Looks great. Especially in black. Lots of good trim, too, but sadly seems like a parts donor to me. Oh, and a 390 would make it right for me.

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  7. Avatar fred

    My dad was very proud to have custom ordered a Country Sedan with the “Squire” interior package. No air though- air was for sissies. Until 1972 when he finally relented and ordered A/C.

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    • Avatar Jason Houston

      The Squire was not an interior option package. Country Sedans and Country Squires are two, separate, distinct models, and share the same interiors.

      Like 0
  8. Avatar GearHead Engineering

    This one has been on CL for a while. I seem to remember the price being less – in the $2k range maybe, but I may be thinking of a different car. I spend WAY too much time on CL and things sort of blend together…

    It was inside in the original ad so maybe it was picked up by a flipper.

    I like these but I also noticed the painted over rust. Lots of obvious rot here, and probably more hiding under the paint. I would expect the frame to be rusty too. Sadly, probably a parts car at this point.

    – John

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    • Avatar Jason Houston

      Probably, if you already have several that are better. But I really doubt a serious hobbyist wouldn’t go after this with a vengeance.

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    • Avatar stp

      Yep, saw it too around a month ago in Craigslist where it had been advertised for awhile. I believe it was around $2K, possibly less, like $1,800. Rust also frightened me away. Good luck to this seller, and even more good luck to the eventual buyer.

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  9. Avatar Jason Houston

    Yeh, they could even be painted white to match the car, like it did when they were new.

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    • Avatar Jamie Staff

      Look at the right rear closely. There’s a large portion of bumper completely rusted away…

      Like 0
  10. Avatar Jim Marshall

    50’s and 60’s Country Squires are very collectible but in this case the tin worm could be to hard to overcome. You know it’s seen it’s share of salt on the roads in it’s 20 some years of being driven up there.

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  11. Avatar Brian B.

    Oh man I love these old Country squires, this one does seem bad for rust but who knows, someone may save it? If not as one of the other comments mentioned it might be better for parts. I have a ’62 Galaxie Town Victoria 4 dr hdtp and sure wish it was a Country Squire. At least my California car has never seen salty roads like that one has!

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  12. Avatar CattooButt Member

    Back in 1991 my roommate had a Country Squire with a 390 4v and 3 on the tree. Don’t remember color of interior at the moment but it was white had these little wings mounted vertically(-ish) one either side of rear window that operated properly. Rad car with a healthy exhaust note coming from the dual exhaust.

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  13. Avatar Russ

    Saw a 63 Mercury equivalent to this on the Internet, sold for $23,390. 390, air, power windows and seats, original rust free, with what looked like Cragar SS rims. Stunning inside and out. The difference was, that one was probably worth its price. I wouldn’t buy such a rust bucket as this one for any price.

    http://www.summitford.com/used/vehicle/1963-mercury-colony-park-id319434.htm?vehicle-image=true&currentImage=19988080.jpeg&altTitle=1963%20Mercury%20Colony%20Park%20%20in%20Toronto

    Like 0

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