The Country Squire debuted toward the end of the wood-bodied station wagon era when they were referred to as “woodies”. For more than 40 years (1950 to 1991), the Country Squire (with its real or fake wood siding) played a big role in the Ford portfolio across eight distinct generations. In 1988, the days of full-size cars with rear-wheel-drive were numbered, and fewer than 15,000 Country Squires were built. This is one of those wagons that seems to be in good running order, though its paint has seen better days. Located in York, Pennsylvania, you can find this LTD transport here on craigslist for $4,200. We appreciate Mitchell G.’s efforts to keep bringing on the tips!
For its last go-round, Ford’s full-size vehicles including the Country Squire were downsized in 1979 (much like Chevrolet had done in 1977). Even though they were nearly a foot shorter and hundreds of pounds lighter, they could still tote around eight passengers. 302 cubic-inch V8s like in the seller’s car took over where 400s and 460s once ruled. By 1988, the front clip got a restyle, and fuel injection had replaced carburetion.
This ’88 LTD looks to have served its previous owners well. It has covered 93,000 miles and has recently been treated to new tires, shocks, a battery, and a tune-up, among other things. So, supposedly the Ford is ready to keep on truckin’. The seller only provides a handful of photos, and the single shot of the interior is too dark to truly access its wear and tear. The burgundy paint looks as if it could stand a re-do, but if you can overlook stuff like that, you might end up with a decent wagon to haul the kids to and from soccer practice and games.
Hockey mom. Plenty of room for the equipment bags, sticks and goalie gear.
And with the support for that 302 & a Summit & Jegs catalog or on your phone things could be lively & dare I say fun at least that is what I did with such vehicles back in the day. The dragon wagon was not to trifled with at the stop light grand prix lol!
The last LTD was produced on Dec. 13, 1985. (Wiki)
Well, there sure are a lot of 1988 LTDs for sale out there. 89, 90, and 91’s as well.
I sure hope somebody can save this car from a demo derby . It would be cool to see this at a radwood car show.
I just love this wagon finds site!
For the asking price, this is a solid deal, considering the expected longevity of a tried and true platform. No reason to think anything less than another 93k miles.
A “soccer mom” wouldn’t be found dead in this wagon. They go for more generic vehicles.
They would’ve owned a minivan (they were trendy in ’88) or been an SUV early adopter. Or walked right past this on the dealer’s lot to where the Taurus wagons were parked.
In 1988 this was Dog Grandma and Boat Grandpa’s ride, bought by people who’d been driving Country Squires for 20 years or more.
Beautiful looking car. 1988 has always been my favourite year for the LTD and Crown Victoria. If only more pics were posted of the car. Only 5 pics is hardly enough to show everything the car. That being said, given its condition, I’d pay between $3,000 and $6,000 for the car.
Dad drove an 87 the same color as this. It overheated if you drove it more than 20 minutes, so he only went places within 15 minutes of drive. He drove it like that for 12 years!
gone.
lots get it wrong cuz ford did. It named 2 “LTD”s of same yrs (but different models) 1 a dwn szed 105 inch WB fox bodied & the other a big crown vic the 2nd (panther platform). Look again @ hdlght/grill & rear/bk-up/lic plate lghts.
Merc, a lill better, left “grand” offa the fox & kept it w/ ‘Grand Marquis’ of the big ‘un. I ID them @ prts orders w/”3.8 v 302″ but thats a misnomer too (the fox had 4, 6, bent 6 and bent8 motors during it’s 4 yr production. A true ‘bridger’ w/carb AND 2 injector throttle body, an AOD – 4 speed or OD auto~
– -Wagonman
The reddest(not quite maroon) velour seats i have ever seen in a car!
They dont seem tho to match the rest of the interior.
Why Ford went back to front side vent windows on some, but not all of its cars in the ’80s is a big mystery to me! Do the ones on this car open – swing out? Can’t tell from the pic. If they don’t, that would really be stupid.
They were power, and went down into the door.