The Country Squire was Ford’s top-of-the-line station wagon for more than 40 years. Beginning with the “woodie” wagons in 1950, the name carried on after the company shifted to metal-bodied transports. The last time the name was used was in 1991 and the Squires were always known for their woodgrain paneling (real or faux). This 1964 example, based on the Galaxie 500 (the year before the LTD debited), looks like a beauty with just 60,000 miles. It even comes with a factory 8-track tape player that Ford helped to pioneer.
In 1964, you had your choice between two full-size Ford station wagons, the Country Sedan (no wood paneling) and the Country Squire. They were all 4-door vehicles, and 46,000 Squires were produced, with output split equally between 6-passenger and 9-passenger seating configurations. The Country Squire was discontinued in the early 1990s as buyers were shifting to SUVs for moving lots of people.
This Ford, offered by a dealer, looks like a sweet survivor-quality vehicle. No mention is made of a repaint or a reapplication of the fake siding (we’re told “unrestored”). And the interior looks mighty fine, though the red paint has worn off the steering wheel and the carpeting may be fading a bit after 60 years. The Squire is powered by a 352 cubic-inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor (equates to premium fuel) and a Cruise-O-Matic transmission. The car has dual exhaust, so it may sound pretty cool when you get into the gas.
As far as wagons go, this one is well-equipped, though it excludes goodies like air conditioning. There is a chrome luggage rack on the roof in case you’re taking a long trip and need more space. The wheel covers are of the wire spoke variety, but two of them are hidden by rear fender skirts (which I would lose). Located in Bee Spring, West Virginia, the current bid here on eBay is $17,650 and you’ll have to do better than that to crack the dealer’s reserve.
I, for one, do not like the way those wipers are parked. Just sayin’.
I remember, and others may as well, in the 60s, Ford had a funky wiper motor, with an automatic “park” position. When shut off , they would cycle back and forth, hopefully resting on the cowl. That wore out and the wipers would park themselves wherever, as shown here. A click or 2 or the switch got them down flat.
If you shut the engine off while the wipers were running, the wipers stopped wherever they were. If you shut the engine off after turning off the wipers, they parked correctly.
One possibility.
Nice looking car. No price is listed on the dealers website, but about twice as many pictures than the eBay listing.
Steve R
Attractive Country Squire.
It sold at Mecum Indy 2022 for $44k.
Maybe someone nearby knows more about the dealer. He has a fairly large inventory online. Location plots to a very nice, but not particularly large, facility in rural Kentucky. Probably would be an interesting guy to talk to.
Feautiful 1964…One of Fords best body styles.
It should be mentioned, Ford was 1964 MTs Car of the Year. Having experienced that with Rambler the year previous, I know what that does for sales. Ford had turned a corner in ’64 at race tracks, that combined with CotY, Ford sold a lot of cars. As mentioned on the Country Sedan, everybody here has had experience with a station wagon in some capacity. It was the chariot of the people.While the Country Sedan was more popular, I do remember some Country Squires, just not in my neighborhood. Mostly from the east side. This car listed for over $3200, the 2nd most expensive Ford behind the convertible, and most “settled” for the Country Sedan. I read the 6 passenger was more popular with the Sedan, as it seemed 9 passengers were more for big families, the 6 was more utilitarian. Nice cars, quite possibly the nicest Ford. Apparently MT thought so.
And another thing, of all the wagons I remember, none ever had fender skirts. 2 opposite ends of the spectrum.
I don’t think that fender skirts were a factory option for the ’64 Ford. I ordered a red ’64 500XL convertible from the factory, and I had to add the skirts after the car came in. But then I was always a fender skirt addict, slappin’ ’em on my Dad’s ’55 Bel Air and 4 Chevys and Fords after that…
Dad had the Country Sedan. Was the Ranch Wagon available that year?
My brain likes what it sees here. Red over white with the wood tone, roof rack, wires and dual exhaust. Even the out of place fender skirts somehow work. Washing it would droul water for hours. How cool to have bought this new.
GREAT WAGGY , but then I love wagons. I saw my dream a few weeks ago a 1938 woody wagon, I’m negotiating with my books buyer to get the money to me soon so I can purchase that gorgeous 1938 wagon,
What a terrific looking wagon! The only 3 things I don’t love about it are: 1) the fender skirts, 2) the non period-correct “fake wire wheel” hubcaps, and 3) the chrome exhaust extensions. All easily corrected, fortunately!
Per the 1964 Ford brochure, the wheel covers look like the optional “sports motif simulated wire wheel type” deluxe wheel covers.
In my opinion, skirted rear wheel openings do nothing for the appearance of any car. This one drives that point home!
Day late and a dollar short. I just consulted my April 1967 NADA Central edition “official used car guide” (aka screw me over on my trade and vacuum up any loose change)….found years ago at an antique mall. Average wholesale for a 9 passenger Ford country squire wagon is $1,085 with average retail of $1,415.
As Archie Bunker said…those were the days
Fun post. So the “markup” per NADA at that time was 30%.
$1,415 in 1964 is about $14,300 today. So this wagon has appreciated nicely since reaching its depreciation low point likely sometime in the 70’s.