It’s really a shame that American manufacturers don’t build family wagons quite like this Country Squire. As great as SUVs are, very few look as great as a classic family wagon and truth be told, they don’t really offer any more utility. A wagon like this with a modern drivetrain would get good fuel mileage, look awesome and have more than enough space for the average family. Which makes me wonder, would this rare woody wagon be a good candidate for some modernization or should it be restored back to original and only be driven to car shows and on special occasions? Take a look at it here on eBay in Mill Valley, California and let me know what you think!
When this Ford was new, it was one of the most expensive vehicles in the Ford lineup. This one came equipped with the 312 cui V8, but there’s no word on whether it’s the 215 or 225 horsepower version. It’s difficult to tell if this car is also equipped with AC from the seller’s photos, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it was given that it was optioned with the 312. There’s no word on the condition of the engine, but it looks pretty rough. If it’s seized, I’d be seriously tempted to install a modern V8, transmission, and brakes. You’d have more power, better fuel economy and vastly improved braking. Pair that with modern AC and you’d have a very comfortable highway cruiser!
Before doing any kind of engine swaps, you are going to have to fix some rust. There are several serious looking holes in the floor that will need to be repaired, as well as some in the quarter panels. Given all the visible rust issues in the photos, you will want to inspect this one very closely for serious structural issues. If the frame is solid and you don’t mind repairing rust this could be a worthwhile project though.
Once the body, paint and mechanical work is completed, you’ll need to put the interior back together and replace all the glass. The seller does have some glass for it already, but it sounds like you will still have to hunt for some of it. The interior could get expensive, especially if you want to go a custom route. Personally, I’d just want to restore the interior back to original. These were comfortable cars when new and with modern AC and fuel injection, you’d have something just as comfortable as most modern SUVs, but that’s a whole lot cooler! Thoughts?
When I see a bumper on the ground like that under the car, I think of a skull that’s dropped its jaw bone.
Just an fyi about factory air- at that time, on a Ford wagon, factory air would have been a very rare option. Gradually it became more common until the late 70’s when air finally became a common box to check on Fords and Chevies.
When a 1955-1956 Ford was equipped with factory air conditioning, cool air ducted from vents on top of the dashboard that flanked the radio speaker. The photograph from the rear gives a glimpse of the top of the dashboard. It does not appear that this is an air conditioned example.
When I was a little kid, a neighbor had a ’56 Country Squire…I thought it was so cool as we had a plain jane ’59 Plymouth in grey!
There are a number of these in the Woodie community on the West Coast..referred to as ‘Tin Woodies’ as they aren’t y a wooden body on a frame.
Anyway this might be so rotted out that going the modded rod route would make more sense.
I guess the big question would be – how long was the glass missing ? Obviously this baby needs a ton of work and I don’t know what a totally restored one would be , but assuming the frame is good , the driveline shouldn’t be to bad to redo . The body looks decent, and there are a lot of junk 56 Fords around to donate parts if needed . The interior would be the killer for me- all the seat upholstery, door panels , floor and roof panels , and the miles of weather strips and seals would be very expensive . I would like to see it restored , it would look great cruising down the highway !
MODERN V8?? This is an overhead valve V8 with over 200 horsepower, 12 volts (first year), and a nice shifting automatic. It was available with PS, PB. This thing can cruise all day long at 70 mph. And who cares about gas mileage if you have a classic car?? Heavens, don’t rip its heart out and destroy all its originality and history!! Then it is no longer a classic car; just a hotrod. What an interesting car in its original configuration!! That thing could have come with a six cylinder motor, but it came with the larger of two V8s. I say leave it BONE STOCK!!
This is a 225 hp 312 Y block since it has an automatic. The manual transmission was 215 hp.
I remember when my Aunt & Uncle had one of these. Theirs had a so called Thunderbird engine, what ever that was at the time.
For holidays, my parents and my Aunt & Uncle would sit at the front and whoever had a leg in a cast, depending on which leg sat in the second row behind the front seat with one of the adults on the seat as well. In the back the tailgate opened up as a clam-shell, and so we only had the top gate was opened. Out the back the rest of the kids including myself would fly kites and/or unrolled toilet paper rolls out the back.
The Interstates were under construction at the time, so we sometimes had to reel in our kites. We really liked National Park toilet paper as it had no perforations and was really tough and an entire roll was unleashed and we hung onto the roll with the last paper stuck to it. Great fun.
Such great memories.
I’d restore this Squire. You can always put on a 4bbl. to the 312 for more oomph. So few `56 models got factory AC; I’d be highly surprised if this had it. Upholstery kits are available, but some critical glass is missing, which might be tough to locate if it isn’t delaminated already. This would be gorgeous in its original Spring Green. Not positive, but I think someone is replicating the shelf-paper for the sides. Please don’t street rod or resto-mod this; these aren’t falling out of trees exactly anymore.
Potentially nice car, but with all its problems you’d have to be on crack to pay $6k. Considering all the rust, I wonder if it’s actually a CA car. No plates (intentional?). I live in Mill Valley so I can personally share this opinion with the owner… :-)
That is a four-barrel. They were tall and scrawny looking and, because of their were commonly known as ‘toilet bowls’. Only the 272 came with a two-throat carb in 1956.
I completely agree with you about how sad it is that American manufacturers don’t build family wagons any longer. I have probably had close to a dozen wagons over my 60 plus years of driving starting with a ’41 Merc woody. Instead they have shoved these Stupid Unsafe Vehicles down our throats. I’m currently driving a 2017 Prius v wagon, which is a pretty poorly designed wagon but there aren’t a lot of choices out there. I looked at the 2017 Ford C-Max Energi which seemed reasonable until I looked in to the cargo area and there was a big box right in the middle housing the batteries. What the hell were the engineers thinking, they couldn’t house the batteries under the rear seat or someplace else.? I looked at a number of other wagons and the problem with most of them was having less cargo space than the Prius.
I wish I had my ’41 Merc woody back.
The Australian produced version had a wind-up back window.
Wagons were American pride, family movers, and good for the occasional lumber yard run, today’s SUVs are the most obnoxious oversized rattle boxs, I don’t see the allure, you have 3 kids, they all red they’re own row of seats? You have 1 kid, you need a PA system for the child to hear you in the back of a Dinali or Cadi SUV, just silly
I couldn’t agree more. I just don’t get why anyone one would want to have one of those over-sized, overweight, unstable, gas guzzling monstrosities in a city. I can understand the possible usefulness of one in the country with dirt roads but driving and parking one of them on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills just proves that you have more money than brains.
The Ford Flex is pretty much a modern full sized station wagon without fake wood and rear facing back seats.
I am sure you didn’t intend it to be, but in saying that you make clear what is wrong with modern American auto design.
A factory 312? Quite interesting. They had a five year run, but mostly in Mercurys. A 292 had a ten year run (55 to 64) much easier for parts.
Boy, that engine looks pretty damp. Not sure what they planned to do by cutting the upper radiator hose? Anyway, about 7 hours left and 0 bids.