For more than 40 years, the Country Squire was the full-size Ford’s top-of-the-line station wagon. Initially a wood-bodied (aka “Woodie”), the Squires were based on the Galaxie 500 in the early 1960s and the LTD after that. This 1964 Squire looks like it would make a great surfing safari wagon if left untouched as it’s said to be mechanically solid. Located in Palmetto, Florida, this third-seat transport is available here on eBay where it will take more than $5,250 to break through the seller’s reserve.
In 1964, Ford built nearly 141,000 big wagons, solidifying the company as a major player in that space. Of those, about one-third were the Galaxie Country Squire while the others were the Custom-based Country Sedan (trim differences and faux woodgrain paneling). In the Squires, production was split evenly between six and nine-passenger products.
Decoding of the VIN indicates this ’64 Ford was built with a 352 cubic inch V8. That engine has no doubt been replaced with the next step up, a 390, which we’re told has been “restored” along with the Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. As a result, the seller says it starts up easily and runs smoothly. We’re also told the rear has been “lowered on ‘2-inch’ blocks” so does that make it a low rider? The tires are fairly new and are said to have plenty of meat left on them, as do the brakes.
While the outside of the wagon looks a bit rough, corrosion doesn’t seem to be a major factor. That’s because the rear quarter panels and floors have just been replaced. That didn’t take care of all of it, but what’s left is said to be minor. A new rear bumper has been added and a functional spare front bumper will come along for the ride. Among the spare parts the seller has to offer are fiberglass quarter trim and corner pieces that aren’t in the photos. The interior is okay, though work is needed in the back area. Would you continue forward with a cosmetic restoration or drive it as-is?
Ford, the “Wagon Master”, there’s another one from commercials years ago, I wonder how many can remember, although it may have been a bit later than 64. At times it seems like they’re getting more rare, then it seems like they’re creeping up from nowhere. I hope they keep creeping up, I love old wagons, and this one looks it could be “really nice, at a humane price”
Ford took the “Wagon Master” tagline a few years later. The 3-Way Doorgate was introduced in 1965, and turned out to be a tremendous hit. Sales hit records; Ford had another segment they owned, and sold their lineup as “From the Wagon Master.”
GM never copied the three-way gate. They put their money into the clamshell wagon that came out in 1971, and true to the times, it was nothing but problems. I believe (not certain) that the doorgate went away at Ford with the 1979 Panther platform. By then, station wagons were a shrinking market, and intermediate and compact wagons were competing. The top-hinged hatch lid was the popular way of that era.
My 87 & 91 Country Squires both had the two way tailgate.
’77-’90 GM B-body wagons had their version of the door/gate on all full size wagons.
So, you think GM didn’t have a 3-way tailgate? I suggest you go back and find some pics/lit on FULL-SIZE GM wagons from 69 and 70, Check the pix–apology accepted;
I’m sure they did, after they copied Ford. Something new? Lol
Sweet. The neighbors had one of these when they moved out from the city. Maybe a different year, I don’t recall, being 4 or 5. You could sure pile the kids in them which is how we rode back then. These early sixties Fords just work for me.
I do have a soft spot in my heart for the 1964 Country Squire. We were a family of five boys in the 60s, dad always bought station wagons. We always had a camper trailer to pull around. We had a 1959 Country Sedan, yellow and white, probably had a 352. Traded that for a 1961 Merc Colony Park, red and red with a 390. Then one day dad drives up to the house with a 1964 Country Squire, white with black interior, every option you could get back then. He had been to the FORD dealer in downtown Colorado Springs and the 64 was on the lot. It was the personal car of the wife of the dealers owner. We drove it all over town until late that evening. The one thing that impressed the crap outa me was the dash lights, that soft green lighting. We never seen anything like that before. My brothers and I took turns standing behind dad and just looking at that dash and saying, COOL! Ah, the good ol days…..
I think anyone that bleeds Ford blue, will agree, the ’64 Ford was the nicest. Before the stacked headlights, and after the kind of old looking ’63, it was just right. My favorite, perhaps because of the guy across the alley with the ’64 XL, R code, VERY influential to a young boy, or maybe their racing success, or the fact it was Car of the Year, I know, we snicker today at CotY,, like big deal, well, I’ll tell you, back then it WAS a big deal. People put a lot of credibility in that. It was sure a shot in the arm for Rambler the year before. Also, the ’64 Ford was the hometown favorite at the Milwaukee Mile, and a sales bonanza for Ford.
Again, I read, most 2 seat wagons were Country Sedans( the old Ranch Wagon) with 6 cylinders, at around $3grand, but for another $300 bucks, you could have this. Still, these were frugal times, and many went with the Rambler Cross Country for a grand less, but make no mistake, as salaries grew, a Country Squire was next. Wonderful cars.
Except for it’s current shape, a virtal twin to my aunt’s `64 Squire. Uncle Gene sold Fords in IL. back then. When she hit 5K miles, her demo was traded for another `64, only red and more loaded with the 390. These rode especially well IMHO, and made excellent vacation-mobiles!
Nice old wagon, I am not a fan of the fake wood look so I would delete that and get some nice pinstripes painted on at just over $6k current bid I think it’s getting close to the value in this condition concerning its in Florida
Bring back station wagons!
“woodie” is a stretch. A looong stretch.
I learned to drive with a blue ’64 Country Squire Wagon 1975.
I remember January mornings with below zero temperatures trying to get that car running and out the driveway to get to high school. It had the 352 with a generator. Pump the accelerator 2 or 3 times, crank and crank, pump it again, crank… stumble, stumble, cough and die. Repeat. Somehow we pulled it off and once we were moving all was well.
Maybe that 10 year old Country Squire was due for a little underhood maintenance, a simple choke adjustment would more than likely have solved the problem
You are clueless, but good guess. The vinyl on the seat was frozen and you sat on the seat not in it. We often had to hold the driver’s door shut because the latch was frozen.
It was fun to watch the road go by through the rust holes in the floorboard. I love that car.
Not clueless, just unaware of the state of neglect and low quality of replacement parts. If only it was a simple bending of a linkage to the butterfly.
I’m not really sure what you’re talking about, those old Ford carburetors were the simplest in the world to work on, including adjusting the choke, which required no bending of anything. Glad to see you changed your tune on the “clueless” part, I’m 67 years old, and have spent most of those years as a mechanic, mostly a Ford mechanic, so I actually do have a clue lol
But you’re right, I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what condition the car was in. Btw, I remember well what it’s like to sit on a vinyl seat in subzero temperature, and the sound of cracking vinyl, where were those heated seats back then? Lol
My words can occasionally be aggressive. It is never my intent Too much time at sea.
Beautiful looking car. I’ve always loved 1964 Fords. I love the 1964 Galaxie 500, Custom and Country Squire wagon. Assuming the patina is only superficial on the surface, and there’s no rust holes in the body or frame, this would make an awesome resto project. I’d be willing to pay the asking price for the car. I’d still have enough money for insurance, inspection, resto, etc. I hope whoever buys it enjoys it.
I’ve placed my bid
good luck Nic~
May B a slip of the typing finger but I could not think of the 3 way gate (2? “Yes”).
We hada previous model (4th or 5th gen?) so my choice is w/that rounded off ol thing. 96 y/o dad drivin it in his late 30s, mom who’s passed on, beside him.
I do love 60s wagons and this 64 Country squire is up there with the best. Fairly priced and with a rebuilt 390 and trans and already had some floorpan work done, what’s not to love?
someone call sleeper dude he has a cool one he works on
My dad had a ’61 Squire and then a ’65. With four kids, those were great family cars. The three-way tailgate mentioned way above in earlier comments was introduced with the ’66 model. I wish it had been available on the ’65, because it was a chore and a pain to climb over the second seat to get to the center-facing seats way in the back. Dad was reluctant to go around to lower the power window and then open the tailgate.
Power windows?
Now?