While there might be evidence of surface corrosion in a few spots around this 1973 Country Squire, it is a classic wagon that has remained rust-free. It could use some light restoration work, but none of this work would be classed as urgent. If you are searching for a full-sized wagon capable of seating a family of eight, this could be perfect for you. It is located in Rio Linda, California, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $3,850, but the reserve hasn’t been met. There is a BIN option available, and this has been set at $9,500.
The Country Squire is finished in Silver Blue Glow, and its overall condition could best be described as a “good 20-footer.” By that, I mean that it presents well from a distance, but the flaws do show on closer inspection. The paint has a few marks and imperfections, and there is no doubt that a repaint would do it a world of good. However, the wagon still presents well enough to be driven as an original survivor. It has suffered from that common affliction of these types of wagons. The vinyl woodgrain is showing signs of deterioration, as are the moldings that surround it. Some owners choose to get rid of the woodgrain entirely in these cases because matching new for old can be extremely difficult. As the owner rightly points out, some companies specialize in this type of restoration work. I would be inclined to follow up with one of these companies because losing the woodgrain would mean that the Country Squire would lose a defining feature. Rust is not an issue because only some minor surface corrosion will need to be addressed. The bumpers show some of this and will need to be restored or replaced. A couple of small trim items are missing, but the glass all appears to be in good order.
The 1973 Country Squire got hit with a real “double whammy” when it came to the question of performance. This generation was the largest and heaviest Ford had produced, but it was introduced when emission regulations had begun to strangle the mighty V8. That led to a situation where you found the Country Squire tipping the scales at 4,806lbs, but only having 167hp at its disposal from its 400ci V8. Combine those figures, and it is no surprise to learn that the stroll down the ¼ mile took 19.5 seconds. That would be the level of performance that you could expect from this wagon because it is fitted with the 400ci V8, 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The owner states that the Ford is mechanically sound, with the engine running strong and clean, while the transmission shifts smoothly. However, it has been parked since 2014, so it will need a thorough inspection and service before it would be classed as roadworthy.
The area of these station wagons that will show their age more than any others is the interior upholstery. Kids, dogs, shopping, and other cargo can all take their toll. The interior of this wagon is no exception, although I have seen far worse examples. The front seat’s cover has a few rips, while the armrest is missing off one rear door. The Country Squire features the versatile third-row seating, and this seems to be in good condition. The owner states that the carpet and headliner are in good order, while the dash looks close to perfect. Before I considered replacing anything, I would be inclined to clean everything thoroughly. This could make a world of difference to the interior and might mean that the next owner doesn’t buy replacement parts unnecessarily. The Ford comes equipped with air conditioning, but this isn’t blowing cold. It also features a rear power window, remote exterior mirrors, and an AM radio.
Although we would all like to believe that we are practical and logical when it comes to the subject of buying a car, the reality is that the majority of us will be drawn to a vehicle for reasons apart from practicality. This is especially true when it comes to the world of classic cars. A person with a large family doesn’t slap down the money on a Corvette because it is practical. They do it because their heart tells them that they want it. Classic station wagons offer a compromise. They are a practical vehicle that will attract their share of attention, but they aren’t as bland and soulless as a modern SUV. That helps explain why they are continuing to grow in popularity, and why I believe that this one will be headed to a new home very soon.
Strong money for a car that could be bought for cents on the dollar. Once. Hideous front, 73 really was the cliff face.
Too strong. Not worth more then 4 grand. When are these greedy people going to learn that if you want premium prices you have to do some premium work? I mean at least vacuum it out for heavens sake lol
I love when people say “It’s not worth it” Maybe not to you, but bidding is at $5000 so it’s worth it to someone.
It was only worth the $300 I paid for mine back in 80, at least in my opinion. I just can’t see paying any more than that now. Sorry
As the writer stated, this is a decent “20 footer.” It seems like a fairly solid car but it needs a paint job, the bumpers will need to be replaced and the interior will need money thrown at it. It’s a heavy car with pretty anemic “performance” but that’s the way it was back then. Wagons are a pretty hot item right now and will likely keep increasing in value so putting money into it will probably pay off down the road. Or just keep it as-is and daily drive it.
Would love to have this and the Ranchero listed
I dont think a lot of people would just get rid of the woodgrain on these cars because all those light colored frames have been attached at the corners with metal clips so if you remove the wood , you would have to fill in all the holes and repaint the whole body . Finding a company that could replicate the woodgrain , like a company that does wraps seems to be the way to go .
And to think I used to pay $50.00 or less for these and put them in demo derbies ! These were good because they didn’t have the “saddle” gas tanks, instead they put them up by the rear differential.
My family had one of these in white, which had the rear-facing third bench that folds flat in the floor. I remember sitting in that rear-most bench. Odd feeling.
Our family also had a ’73 Ford wagon, however it was the “uncrated” Country Sedan version, and the rearmost seats faced each other. They did not face the rear as in the Torino, and GM and Chrysler wagons. We just sent the rarely used seats to the scrapper when cleaning out my late father’s garage. He had removed them long ago to provide concealed storage below the rear deck.
Its really a 5000.00 car, that needs a re spray, wood and moldings, and a/c work, needs a factory in dash 8 track to play the oldies, and a big car like this, no power windows? Nah