Although it wasn’t officially used at that point, the 1950 model year marked the first time that Ford coined the term “Country Squire” to describe their station wagon offering. The vehicles were officially referred to as the Custom DeLuxe, and this one is a real gem. It has come out of a private collection after being restored by its previous owner, and it is now looking for a new home. The wagon is located in Galion, Ohio, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. It has received an impressive fifty bids, and these have pushed the price beyond the reserve to $22,300.

The history of this Ford is not known, and it isn’t clear when the previous owner performed the restoration. If the panels are original, that will make it a later 1950 model. Picking the evolutionary changes between the early and later versions is pretty straightforward. This one features an all-steel tailgate, which is one of the markers. The other is that rear-seat occupants can only open the front section of the side windows. The back section is fixed and can’t be moved. The paint is a bit of a mystery because its color seems to change depending on the light. In some shots, it looks very similar to a shade called Hawaiian Bronze, which Ford offered in the 1950 palette. In other photos, it seems significantly darker and unlike anything on the color chart for that year. However, the paint is in fantastic condition, with a lovely shine. The seller refers to it as being of good driver quality, but I feel that might be under-selling it. The panels are as straight as an arrow, while the timber and the Di-Noc imitation woodgrain sections appear perfect. The exterior chrome shines as impressively as the paint, while I can’t spot any flaws in the glass.

The wagon is about more than good looks. The panels appear to be rust-free, but the vehicle’s underside is equally impressive. There is barely a sign of surface corrosion, let alone penetrating rust. It seems that the panels and paint of this Ford won’t be burning a hole in the buyer’s pocket.

When a buyer walked into their local Ford dealership in 1950 to slap down the cash for a Custom DeLuxe Station Wagon, they could choose between two engines. This one features the 239ci flathead unit that produces a neat 100hp. There was also a choice of transmissions, and the original owner chose to skip the overdrive option and stick with the 3-speed manual. By the standards of the time, a ¼-mile ET of 21.9 seconds looked pretty good, as did a top speed of 82mph. The seller believes that the wagon’s drivetrain is original, and the engine bay presents well. Thankfully, it doesn’t flatter to deceive. He says that the V8 runs well and sounds superb. The Ford drives without any vices or problems, and the brakes feel particularly good. It would probably pay for the buyer to have the vehicle treated to a mechanical inspection, but it sounds like it is a turn-key proposition.

Turning our attention to the interior, and it seems that it needs nothing. The restoration process included refreshing all of the painted sections, installing new upholstery, and refurbishing any wooden components. The result is stunning, with the dark paint and light timber and upholstery contrasting perfectly. All of the plated parts exhibit a nice shine, while the wheel looks excellent. It is worth noting that Ford supplied the Super DeLuxe wagon with 3rd-row seating as a standard feature. This appears to be missing in the provided photos, so potential buyers might have to quiz the seller on that.

This 1950 Ford Custom DeLuxe Station Wagon is a beautiful classic that most people would park proudly in their driveway. It appears to need nothing but a new owner who will continue to treat it with care and respect. Values have taken a significant hit in recent times, and they are only now showing the first tentative signs of bouncing back. If this trend continues, buying now has the potential to be a wise move. Nothing is guaranteed in the classic market, meaning that every classic purchase involves an element of risk. If recent market trends are an accurate indication, the bidding could potentially top $40,000. Would you be willing to roll the dice and submit a bid?