Requires Restoration: 1959 Ford Country Squire – Sold?
July 20, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.
June 14, 2021 Update – We just came across a new listing for this ’59 Ford station wagon we originally featured in May. The description, price, and pictures all remain the same.
We always love a good excuse to visit the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. Bringing this 1959 Ford Country Squire Wagon we originally found in June 2021 on Craigslist near Keuka Lake in New York back to our already-packed garage is as good a reason as any to make the trip. The current caretaker reports their Country Squire was originally a California car that is in need of a “full restoration.” Currently offered for $12,000, the Collector Car Market Review indicates the current asking price falls between this guide’s #4 “Fair” estimate of $8,250 and its #3 “Good” appraisal of $14,800. Similarly, the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms the seller’s asking price falls between this guide’s #4 “Fair” (Daily Driver) estimate of $8,300 and its #3 “Good” appraisal of $13,500.
Ford produced its fourth-generation Country Squire station wagon from 1957 through 1959. A major shift for this generation was that Ford station wagons no longer shared a body with Mercurys. Rather, Fords shared bodies with the newly launched Edsel Division. Thus Country Squires now shared bodies and a longer wheelbase with the new Edsel Bermuda. All 1957 Fords adopted several design elements of the 1957 Ford Thunderbird, including its wraparound windshield (restyled with a forward-slanted A-pillar), short tailfins, and large round taillamps. To further expand load capacity, Ford engineers redesigned the folding mechanism of the middle seat that provided a completely flat load floor when stowed (the rear seat still had to be removed). To improve loading, designers widened the top half of the liftgate by extending it into the D-pillars.
For 1958, the front end received quad headlamps that were the rage that year while four oval tail lamps replaced the prior year’s two round units. For 1959, coinciding with the wheelbase extension, the Country Squire grew over five inches in length. Adopting styling elements of the Mercury Colony Park and the Edsel Villager, the Country Squire had a less angled front fascia with a wider grille, two large round taillamps, and redesigned tailfins (with turn signal lenses). In a major change, the simulated wood trim around the roof pillars was replaced by stainless steel, leaving the wood trim below the window line. The third seat was redesigned, allowing it to fold flat once the seat cushions were removed and stowed.
The US Auto Industry YouTube Channel has this vintage 1959 Ford Station Wagon Line Overview
While the seller reports their Country Squire needs a full restoration, at least from the pictures provided the exterior appears presentable enough for now that we would focus our attention on restoring the interior. With a more modern 351 cubic inch V8 and C6 automatic already replacing the original power train, there’s no harm, no foul in making this Country Squire a nice surf wagon.
Here’s the seller’s one-sentence description:
“FOR SALE MY 1959 Ford Country Squire. This is a very original wagon from California and is in storage in my garage here in Dundee New York. The motor and transmission have been replaced with a Ford 351M and a Ford C6 auto trans. The rear end has been restored. I replaced the front windshield. It has little rust, there has been a small partial rear floor pan replaced. The car needs full restoration. Contact me for questions, pictures, or an appointment to view it. Clean California title in my name.”
Restore or Restomod: What would you do with this ’59 Country Squire? Comment below and let us know!
What was the original price back in 1959
NADA Guides indicates the 1959 base price was $3,076, which is about $30,000 in today’s dollars.
I was 10 years old in 1965, and by then I knew every car manufactured by the American big 3. The 1959 Ford sedans and wagons in my opinion were the best looking cars ever to come out of Detroit. The front grill is beautiful with its quad headlights and sculptured lines of the front fenders, elegant and classy. The stainless spears along the sides continues the classy look and it’s sexy rear styling was strong and well done in an era of absolute excess it managed to maintain a strong but subtle look that fits the rest of the car perfectly. Those huge Ford, round, taillights are mesmerizing. However, the small lights at the end of the little fins were backup lights not turn indicators as stated in the description above. I remember clearly they had clear white lenses that if equipped, were backup lights. The interior was well appointed and the instrument cluster and dash was very handsome, although I always wished the instrument illumination was the bluish green that appeared in most Fords in 1963. Chrysler’s “Panelesent” lighting wins first prize for the best ever dash lighting, I loved that look, and still do.
I always wonder why the ’59 Fords don’t demand more attention than they seem to get for one of all time greatest looking cars to ever come out of all time.