NEW! Award 109: 1959 Ford Ranch Wagon Sport Edition – SOLD!

November 8, 2022, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “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.

October 18, 2022 Update – The seller reduced their asking price from $48,800 to $46,900.  They are likely starting to experience what we already predicted: despite the lowered asking price, they are hoping for what would be a new record for one of these wagons.

October 11, 2022 Update – The seller replaced their expired Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. While the description remains the same, we’re impressed the seller took a completely new set of pictures (you’ll need to click through to the Craigslist link to view the new set). The seller also lowered their asking price from $53,300 to $48,800. A sizeable decrease. However, it’s still lofty enough to continue earning our “NEW!” (short for “No Effin Way!”) Award.

Two-door wagons remained popular in the 1950s for consumers who tended to need room for their stuff rather than children.  In response to Chevrolet’s stylish Nomad wagon launched in 1955, Ford’s response was the one-year-only 1957 Del Rio Two-Door wagon. Slow sales of that model combined with Chevrolet’s wagon model consolidation for 1958 motivated Ford to offer the two-door Ranch Wagon Sport for the 1959 model year.  This restored 1959 Ford Ranch wagon, originally listed in October 2022 on Craigslist in Phoenix, Arizona, received a comprehensive frame-up restoration that touched every cosmetic and mechanical aspect. The seller reports, “it’s as new again.” The seller also describes their wagon as featuring a correct 292 cubic inch Y-Block; we assume the powertrain is not numbers-matching, but you’ll need to confirm that with the seller.

Currently offered for $53,300, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask would be a new record for similar 1959 model Ranch Wagons based on the five-year rolling average of this guide’s summary.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the wagon featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls well above this guide’s #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $31,600. As a third data point, the often-optimistic Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms the seller’s ask is way above this guide’s #1 “Concours” appraisal of only $35,500. Consequently, we’re awarding the seller our latest “NEW!” (short for “No Effin Way!”) Award for asking such an optimistic price that is not in line with recent sales.

Ford built three generations of its Ranch Wagon from 1952 to 1974.  The Ranch Wagon was a full-size model, except in 1963 and 1964 when it was part of the intermediate-size Fairlane series and represented the lowest-priced selection in its respective line.

The two models were renamed Ranch Wagon and Custom Ranch Wagon in 1955 when the entire Ford station wagon set became a series of its own. Responding to Chevrolet’s stylish Nomad Two-Door wagon, in 1957, Ford introduced the Del Rio Ranch Wagon, which replaced both the Custom Ranch Wagon and the Parklane), sporting special ranch-pattern upholstery. That same model was the basis for the new 1957 Ranchero and a Mercury version called the Mercury Commuter, which was a hardtop-inspired wagon without a “B” pillar.

There were three Ranch Wagons the following year, as the first four-door Ranch Wagon was added to the model range. The Del Rio was dropped for 1959, replaced by a one-year-only two-door Country Sedan as full-size two-door station wagons were fading in popularity by this time.

The US Auto Industry YouTube Channel features this 1959 Ford Station Wagon commercial featuring actor Ward Bond as its pitchman:

Based on the excellent pictures, this 1959 Ford Ranch Wagon appears to be a nicely restored example in a pleasing color combination.

Here’s the seller’s description complimenting their excellent photographs:

Show or go: What would you do with this restored 1959 Ford Ranch Wagon?  Please comment below and let us know!