If you’ve ever wanted to say, “I have the only one,” here’s your chance to be able to speak those words truthfully. This one-of-one 428 cubic-inch 4-speed equipped 1967 Ford Country Squire was sent to us by an anonymous Barn Finds reader who found it here on Bring-a-Trailer in Davidson, North Carolina. After 17 bids, the price has been pushed to $25,500. If you’ve ever followed a Bring-a-Trailer auction, you’ll know there’s often a fury of bids in the final minutes.
I couldn’t be any happier to report that the exterior of this Country Squire is in mostly original condition. The Sauterne Gold paint is faded, the woodgrain is worn, and there’s signs of corrosion. Understandably so, the current owner repaired some corrosion on the frame and underside. Personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s refreshing to see someone repair what actually needs to be repaired instead of repairing everything that could be repaired.
The parchment interior appears to be original and in rather good condition. The special-order bucket seats and console almost make you forget your sitting in a woodgrain-adorned station wagon. Apparently, the original buyer of this Country Squire wanted to be comfortable while going fast, as they opted for power steering, power brakes, power windows, AM/FM radio, and air-conditioning – which is currently inoperative.
The side-facing third row jump seats provide that extra space to bring the whole family. The second and third row seats do fold flat if you need to carry non-human cargo.
This Q-code 428 (and it’s backing 4-speed manual transmission) is what makes this Country Squire 1 of 1. The engine was rebuilt in 2003, but we don’t know how many miles have been added since then. The current owner has made some modifications that should make this powerplant more reliable and easier to drive, including FiTech throttle body fuel-injection and auxiliary fuel pump. The clutch was replaced in 2019. Flowmaster dual exhaust has also been added because, well, 428.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I love this car. Really, everything about this car. This would be a wildly impractical daily driver for my family, but a fitting and fun occasional family hauler. Unfortunately, for me, the latter isn’t in the budget. So, wild impracticality aside, does anybody want to try to talk my wife into ditching her Chrysler Pacifica for this?
Naturally, I’m a bit skeptical, I’ve never seen a 4 speed console like that, but apparently, it’s the real deal and has been written up before. Now, maybe it’s just me, but one would think, with a car as rare as this is, shouldn’t it look nice? Right now, it looks like some derelict old wagon. Come on, people, ( slapping them behind the head) what’s wrong with you ?
Howard, this car’s lineage is well-known, all the way back to when the original owner got “permission” by Lee Iaccoca to have the car built. Chevy never built a Kingswood estate like this; nor did MoPar. This car deserves a frame-off, and no doubt WILL get one some day. It belongs in a blue oval collection second to none. I’d love just to sit in the driver’s seat for a minute; it has to be a blast to drive!
Real deal, well known car among Ford collectors.
plenty!
Apparently you have not seen the original episode of “Barn Finders” with Tom Cotter featuring this car. It has been stored inside a commercial storage space for years. Apparently the original owner wanted to preserve the original patina. What’s important is that he kept all of that original documentation. This documentation was showcased in that episode.
Isn’t this the “barn find hunter” wagon that he discovered a few years ago?. There should be video on utube about it as well.
Yes it is! This episode was made before Tom Cotter bought it. Carter used it on some of his barn finder episodes. Perhaps the gas pains got to him or he was conscious of not wanting it to possibly get wrecked (being the one off that it is). I think he made a wise decision.
This is Tom Cotters car, it’s been in several episodes of his YouTube show, Barn Find Hunter.
It’s the real deal and quite cool.
It’s been for sale for some time. I like it, but it’s hard to see it bring the asking price, but you have to start somewhere.
Four speed wagons are rare, but not unheard of. In high school a friends mom had a 68 Chevelle wagon with one. I’ve seen several other factory 4 speed Chevelle wagons on forums including a 65 2 door L-79 and a 72 big block. Magazines have also featured other makes and models of 4 speed wagons in the past too.
Steve R
@SteveR. There might be a few 4 speed wagons around but this is the only 1967 Ford Country Squire 428 4-Speed built and Tom Cotter has the paperwork to prove it. Whether or not that makes it special is another story.
Especially the letter from Ford that verified the factory allowed this to be built.
Oh you better believe that paperwork makes it special. If I had a garage to put it in, I would seriously consider making a bid on it.
Is it just me, or wouldn’t this have been optioned this way back in the day for the purpose of trailer towing and nothing else?
And/or a distrust/dislike of automotive automatic transmissions technology of the time?
The 4sp./428 isn’t the rarity, although I doubt many were made. The fact it is a station wagon with buckets is the rarity. According to stories I’ve read about this car, it was supposedly ordered by a Ford executive. I’ve seen this car in person on the street in Anderson, SC. one night. I thought it was special then, and later saw the articles about it.
So how did this one get past the misses?
Honey i got this wagon to assist you with groceries and errands. I of course will have to run 1/4 mile errands myself on weekends.
P.S. i am not sure how the kids sip cups with kool aid keep hitting the back window or getting lost out the window when I drive either…. 😉😂😂😂😂
I remember a write-up on this car, from nearly 20 years ago. The story (summarized in the BaT listing) included how the original owner managed to spec out the car with the four-speed. The window sticker itself is pretty cool to see.
I also remember seeing it once. I’ve used it in conversations of how ‘back in the day’ cars could be optioned in strange ways, completely different from today’s methods.
I’m on the fence here. Like Howard says, maybe the car has lived out its usefulness with the ‘barn find look’ and now deserves a high-dollar restoration.
Being from the Carolinas, possibly a race car hauler.
The 4-speed is for practicing before arriving.
Nascar, or drag racing tow car. Bet pictures exist of it doing so.
Now, I am curious.
Oh well, get out to shop. Car show-breakfast tomorrow morning.
Not “from the Carolinas”. This was ordered through the dealer in Miamisburg, Ohio.
Just happens to be the town I grew up in. And yea, I was there when it was delivered, was a teenager at the time. But have no idea whether or not I ever saw it roaming the local streets. Have to give that a big “Maybe”.
I can’t believe Tom is selling this car. This is his back up car for when he doesn’t want to or can’t use the Woodie.
Ad says the frame has been repaired; these had frames that rotted fast when they were new, so inspection is mandatory. Auction will set the value and its almost to 26 large. One of one with paperwork. Would love to run it thru the gears once, but you would need to use care with the carburetor foot with an Iffy frame. Anyone ever restore the wood grain stuff? This was a great car stock, I can only imagine its a peach with the 428 4 speed. Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
I’ll save you from reading all of the information available (there is a lot)
The body was lifted from the frame. Where needed, rust was repaired, and new body/frame cushions were used when they came back together. No carburetor, has EFI (probably a throttle-body) now, improves everything about how the car runs, including economy. Front disc brakes swapped on, good ones.
Old brakes and carburetor setups come with the car. The only other parts which are not original is the exhaust, and I’m thinking that the old setup was not saved, and I think the radiator. AC has been converted to 134.
Go to Hagerty.com and read Tom Cotter’s article on this car. The way he tells it the original owner managed to get Lee Iacocca himself to authorize production.
An A/C, power windows, 4 speed, big Block LandYacht. It really doesn’t get any better than this. If I had the money I’d buy it, don’t care about the cost. Love looking at the origianl widow sticker. Great find!
My admiration for Tom Cotter just took a dive. I watched his latest video on Hagerty, and he opens the hood for the first time on Barn Find Hunter to show the engine, and it’s a Chev Corvette mill. That’s absolute blasphemy in my mind. What a let down.
That engine is in the 39 woodie, the 67 has the original 428 ford engine
Quite correct Larry Z, I forgot to mention that it was the woodie. That’s what I was getting at. How can you put that Chev motor in that Ford? Sacrilege.
Opened the hood on what? Not this wagon – it’s got its 428 right there.
I would sell my 50 year old Corvette in a flash to buy this very cool wagon. My dad bought a new 68 Country Squire but it wasn’t like this. To the guy saying GM never built oddball wagons. I have a photo of a 1969 Kingswood Estate with a 427 factory Muncie 4 speed. Dark blue with woodgrain and hideaway headlamps. The car was raced during the 1973 season at Island Dragway, still open in Great Meadows NJ. Has to be the only one. Dual exhausts from GM.
But did it have factory installed bucket seats and console? That’s what makes this a special order one of a kind.
I think it’s very unique and would be very interesting and wonderful to own.
One would really want this specifically equipped, to do this: get it back to first class and drive it forever. Never mind market values. This will do all those things that you want it to do, it’s versatile, and probably moves very fast.
Restore it and save it.
Guy: We need a new car.
Wife: Get something practical. We have 3 kids.
Guy: Umm, how about a station wagon?
Wife: Sounds great!
To think, back in 1967 it only cost the buyer $559.20 to make this a one-of-one, and to make us gearheads salivate fifty three years later. $559.20!!!!
$4,367.78 in 2020 dollars
Still CHEAP!
This car deserves and will get a total restoration at some point, what a cool car. A jeweler in the town I grew up in had a 67 Cutlass Vista Cruiser with a factory 4 speed, buckets and console as well as power everything, and a set of Super Stock l wheels in Crystal Blue paint. Being in the Chicago area, it likely rusted to pieces. I was 15 at the time, maybe that is what started my affinity for the 442 and Cutlass.
This car deserves a heated garage, which I think does it better justice than that “porta-garage”. Also, I would have the rear door power windows and the rear tailgate power windows fixed, as well as the air-conditioning. Also “perma-seal” the original patina and buff out the faux wood siding, then drive it once a month to keep it exercised and to car shows. But if this historical masterpiece were fully restored, it would actually make the market value go DOWN. People want to be able to instantly recognize it from the “Barn Finds Hunter” videos. Not even if you could show proof that it’s the same car (when fully restored) would it matter.
“buff out the faux wood siding?” You’d have nothing left but old adhesive and a whole lot less vinyl/wood. I believe the original owners manual suggested no harsh chemicals and nothing more than a soft cloth saturated with soap and water. Those stickers look the way they will until someone strips and reapplies new ones. Doesn’t look like that is gonna happen.
Beautiful and unique old Ford. I’d love to own it. ‘Nuff said.
I love wagons, and would love to own this one. I’ve had several Mopar wagons and one, a 1976 Aspen, did have a four speed with a Hurst shifter, all factory. It had a huge four speed transmission but the linkage was set up so that 4th gear was overdrive. Third gear was straight through like high gear normally would be, and forth speed was overdrive. Chrysler sold quite a few vehicles with this setup in the seventies during the gas shortage days. The wagon had a slant six 225CI engine and would get 25mpg highway. I sold it with 201K miles because I wanted a car with an automatic transmission. People were always surprised when they saw the Hurst shifter.
What a super cool car! I hope it does get the full restoration that it deserves.
As more of a Mopar guy, the only similar car I’ve seen was a white 66 Fury III wagon equipped with the 440, 4-speed, dual exhaust, and the trailer tow package. It did not have all the niceties like power windows, seat, or a/c. I have a lot of pics of it including one of the fender tag. Was for sale in the SLC area years ago. I’ve long regretted not pursuing that car.
I remember the owner’s manual for a 1971 Fury having the 440-6 and three on the tree as options. Can’t say if anyone built one. No Hemis in C-bodies but rumors of Highway Patrol agencies in Southern and Western states having them as interceptors were plentiful.
Thanks for the link to a Bring a Trailer auction. Nothing like a BaT auction to show me how relatively unsuccessful I have been in life LOL! ;-)
26k? No problem. Still 3 days to go.I just bought a brand new car for just a few bucks more than that at 2.9% and literally had to take my left hand and force my right hand to sign the paper. That’s a lot of money to me but it must be nice to have it and be able to breezily spend it on something like this.
Anyway, definitely a cool and unique vehicle. Certainly rare. I would be tempted to use it as a work vehicle but at this price range, that’s way too much to throw a bunch of Home Depot mulch and plants in the back.
But think about hauling three families and all their gear to the lake for the weekend. The kids in the back jump seats could choose from the cloud of cigarette smoke from up front or opening the rear window and getting gassed from the exhaust! Good times!
My inclination would be to hoon it and haul all kinds of stuff with it until the end of time. But at the price this is going to fetch, I’d more likely put it in the garage and put it in bubble wrap! This isn’t a vehicle for mere mortals. It’s for BaT bidders!
Dude, this is a one-off, original, and FAMOUS historical masterpiece! If you want a work vehicle, pay a few thou for an old beater instead. But I’m glad to see you made the right decision.
With my previously posted repairs made, driven once a month or so for exercise, and kept in a heated garage, I can see this particular vehicle (otherwise “as is”) being worth $100K in 10 or 20 years or so!
I’ve seen Barn Find Hunters shows on the car. Only wish it didn’t have wood paneling on the side. Yea I’m nitpicking.
Once upon a time my Dad had a weird 65 Ford Wagon. It wasn’t a four speed but was loaded to the gills with options including bucket seats. When we had it was semi junk and people weren’t saving and restoring it. This is one OF MANY CARS we had over the years I would like to get back in one piece and restore.
This is what looks like an artistically styled wagon with quintessential 3d effect tail lights and the double stacked headlights with a posh interior, lowered springs and partial restoration. As such chances are it will be forsaken before being considered a worthy drive. What a find. So nice to see it.
This wagon is on BAT right now
My dad bought a used police car ( 67 4door Custom, 428,4 spd, black ). My sister thought it was the ugliest til she got her license, Then found out it could beat everything in town. Quite a runner.
Being at Mopar guy and showing no interest, about 30 years ago, my next door neighbor(a lady) had a 409 in a , I believe a 63′ Chevy wagon, that had two 4- bbl carbs(I never seen the hood up), stock from the factory, I was told by her son. She did sell it to someone, not sure if it was a collector or just for the power plant. Back in the day, no one vision the future. As cool of a car this is, it’s not for me. I would build my own to my own specs. Had a guy in town that built a “440 six pack” wagon, that was “COOL”, hood scoop and all the other Goodies. Not sure if it needs restoring, but I would clean it up a little and if needed, repair any frame damage before it does fail.
4-speed / 428 or not the Lead Sled would clean its clock
https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/blog-war-checkmate-factory-l72-427-powered-1969-chevy-kingswood-capper-former-ahra-champion-record-holder/
There is a vintage Chevrolet collector here in Milwaukee whose Dad owned a Chevrolet dealership in the past. The guy has a 1969 Impala wagon, factory orange with black interior, 427 & 4 speed. Full wheel covers lol. I want that car SO bad!
As for this car, the frame having been repaired makes me a little nervous about it. But I too know of this car & love it! I want to see it once it is restored. If I had the time, money & space I would buy a rust free wagon like it from the southwest for the frame & start with that.
Sweet combination in this wagon!! I think this could get the sleeper of the year award!!!
sold! $47,750.
Did they make a 67 427 4 speed wagon too?