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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
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| Production | 1950-1991 |
| Class | Full-size station wagon |
| Body style(s) | 5-door station wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
The Ford Country Squire was a full-size station wagon built by the Ford Motor Company from 1950 until 1991; it was based on the Ford full-size car line available in each year. The Country Squire was the premium station wagon in the Ford range (see also Mercury Colony Park), and always featured real- or imitation-wood trim on the doors and tailgate. As a full-size wagon, it could carry up to 8 passengers with the unique dual-facing rear seats option which was fitted in the cargo area, as opposed to the usual rear-facing seat. The Country Squire was the iconic top of the line American family wagon, with similar "Squire" wagons as top of the line for other cars, including the Pinto in the Ford line up.
The Country Squire was based on the Custom DeLuxe series in 1950 and 1951, the Crestline from 1952 to 1954, the Fairlane from 1955 through 1958, Galaxie 1959 through 1966, and the LTD/LTD Crown Victoria from 1967 through 1991.
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First generation (1950–1954)
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| Production | 1950-1954 |
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| Related | Lincoln Continental Ford Customline |
The Country Squire was a "woodie". Actual wood was used on the sides until the mid-1950s. From the mid 1950s onward, the framing of the wood was fiberglass and the remainder a plastic appliqué.
Second generation (1955–1958)
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| Production | 1955-1958 |
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| Related | Edsel Bermuda Lincoln Continental Ford Fairlane |
Third generation (1959–1966)
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| Production | 1959-1966 |
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| Related | Ford Galaxie Ford Country Sedan Mercury Commuter Mercury Colony Park Mercury Meteor Mercury Monterey Lincoln Continental |
Prior to 1961, all Ford wagons used a two-piece tailgate assembly that required the operator to lift the rear window up and locking it into place via a mechanical support, and then drop the tail gate down to fully access the rear compartment.
For the 1961 Ford adopted a tailgate assembly that used a self-storing window feature which could either be rolled down into the gate via crank on the outside of the gate, or by an electrical motor actuated by the key or an interior switch. A safety lockout measure required that the rear window had to be fully retracted into the gate before it could be lowered
In 1966, all Ford wagons introduced the Magic Door Gate which allowed the tailgate on the vehicle to function as a traditional tailgate that could be lowered, or a door that swung outward for easier access to seating area. The Magic Door Gate was made possible through a use of a traditional stationary hinge on the right, and combination of hinges along the door's right side which carried the weight of the gate as it swung outward when used as a door.
Fourth generation (1967–1968)
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| Production | 1967-1968 |
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| Related | Ford LTD Mercury Colony Park Ford Galaxie Mercury Marquis Lincoln Continental Mercury Monterey |
Fifth generation (1969–1972)
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| Production | 1969-1972 |
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| Related | Ford LTD Mercury Colony Park Ford Galaxie Mercury Marquis Lincoln Continental |
The fifth generation Ford Country Squire (1969-1972) rode on a newly-expanded 121-inch wheelbase. Engine choices began at a 302-cubic-inch V8. In mid-year 1969, this engine was phased out in favor of a new standard engine, the 351 cubic-inch V8. Optional engines included V8's of 390 and 429 cubic inches, and a 400 cubic-inch V8 became available in 1971. Squires from 1969 and 1970 used the same body panels and varied in terms of front grille and bumper, as well as interior trim and other mostly minor changes. The later two years of this generation saw an extensive revision of the exterior, with only the roof and tailgate as panels in common with the 1969-1970 models. This generation was the first to use Ford's new "Three-Way Magic Doorgate," which allowed opening the tailgate as a door with the window in the up position (not possible with 1966-1968 wagons).
Production figures:[citation needed]
- 1969: 129,235
- 1970: 108,914
- 1971: 130,644
- 1972: 121,419
Sixth generation (1973–1978)
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| Production | 1973-1978 |
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| Related | Ford LTD Mercury Colony Park Ford Galaxie Mercury Marquis Lincoln Continental Ford Torino |
Seventh generation (1979–1991)
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| Production | 1979-1991 |
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| Assembly | St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada |
| Platform | Ford Panther platform |
| Engine(s) | 5.0 L V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 114.3 in (2903 mm) |
| Length | 216 in (5486 mm) |
| Width | 79.3 in (2014 mm) |
| Height | 56.5 in (1435 mm) |
| Related | Ford LTD Mercury Colony Park Ford LTD Crown Victoria Mercury Grand Marquis Lincoln Continental Lincoln Town Car Mercury Marquis |
When Ford was beginning its restyle of the full-size "Panther" platform in the late 1980s, demand for full-size wagons was on the wane. Instead of investing money in a separate body style for a new wagon, Ford decided to steer buyers towards its newly facelifted Ford Aerostar and Ford Taurus. Due to mixed reactions to their styling, full-sized GM B-body wagons would also be discontinued in the 1990s, with the Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster being discontinued in 1996. Chrysler would re-introduce a full size wagon in the form of the Dodge Magnum which is sold in Europe under the Chrysler 300 Touring nameplate. The Ford Freestyle would re-introduce the 3-row wagon as a crossover design, sans fake wood sides. However, the light truck market chose the Ford Excursion as the "full size station wagon" but as an SUV as SUVs were station wagons on truck platforms.
Unique options and features
With certain versions of the Country Squire one could install an AM/FM-Cassette stereo with a combined and fully-integrated Citizens' Band (CB) two-way radio, and replacement dual-purpose automatic antenna (with only one visible difference that the aerial mast was a larger diameter, and black-band at approximately half-way up). The radio would then have the appearance of an original equipment, factory radio.
Optional were opposing side-facing rear seats, which could be folded down to make a durable cargo surface. Available for use with the side-facing rear seats was a folding table with integrated magnetic checkers board. Magnets under the plastic checkers pieces would keep them from sliding on the board while the vehicle was in motion. Behind a rear fender well was a hidden, lockable compartment, not visible when the rear seat back was in an upward position.
GM, Chrysler and AMC would adopt a similar configuration by the end of the 1960s. An advanced version of this was the 3-way tailgate which permitted opening the door sideways with the window up.
 Magic Door Gate as seen on an 1985 LTD Country Squire |
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External links
- LTDworld.com-A website that features a 1975 Ford LTD Country Squire.
- lovefords.org
- StationWagon.com-Station Wagon fans site.
- ASWOA.com-American Station Wagon Owners Association; Station Wagon national club website for any and all Wagon Enthusiasts.
- International Station Wagon Club
- Grandmarq.net Forum dedicated to the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury Panther Chassis
- Ford Country Squire in television and film
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
