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April 26, 2023 Update – The high bid did not meet the seller’s reserve price, so we’ve moved this vehicle to our “Rides Still Available Page.”  Click the blue button above or below to navigate to this ride’s bid page, where you can either select the green “Buy Now” button or place a realistic counteroffer in the “Bid” box.

GuysWithRides.com is excited to offer Lot 202, a survivor-quality, 56,424 original mile, 1978 Ford Country Squire, in a reserve-price online auction, on behalf of the current caretaker.

Bidding opened Wednesday, April 12, 2023, and continues for fourteen (14) consecutive days ending at 6:00 PM Eastern on Wednesday, April 26, 2023

This 1978 Ford Country Squire currently resides in Concord, California.

The Deets

Current High Bid:  $900

For the 1973 model year, Ford engineers updated the company’s full-size car line.  While still built on the same chassis and 121-inch wheelbase introduced in 1969, the addition of 5 mph bumpers would add over six inches in length to the LTD Country Squire by the end of the 1974 model year. These would also be the longest and heaviest station wagons ever produced by Ford. In 1974, 5-mph bumpers were added to the rear, all engines featured a transistorized ignition system. Additionally, a new optional 460 cubic inch V8 replaced the previous 429 cubic inch mill.

In 1975, Ford began to pare down its full-size wagon lineup. The Custom 500 Ranch Wagon could only be ordered for fleet sales. Ford marketers replaced the Galaxie Country Sedan with a non-woodgrain LTD wagon. To better distinguish the LTD Country Squire, Ford returned hidden headlamps to the model, a feature associated with top-line LTD Landau (and Mercury Marquis) models. In all models, catalytic converters were now standard equipment to comply with emissions regulations.  1975-1978 models were nearly identical except for small differences in trim and emblems from year to year. For its final production year, the 1978 Ford Country Squire now featured the 351 cubic-inch V8 as the standard engine as a way to improve fuel economy.  In 1979, Ford downsized its full-size car lines. The replacement Country Squire was eleven inches shorter and nearly one thousand pounds lighter than its 1978 predecessor.

The private seller of this eight-passenger 1978 Ford Country Squire reports the car has spent its entire life in California, only traveling 56,500 miles in the process.  The seller notes that his Country Squire starts every time and runs great.  The seller performed a number of items to make the car a daily driver.  Work included: Replacing all the rubber and gaskets, and installing new engine and transmission oil pans, radiator, shocks, tires, slotted/drilled rotors, brake pads, master cylinder, spark plugs, and battery. The original 351M V8 features a professionally rebuilt carburetor, and the seller notes the engine does not leak any fluids.

The seller notes that the power seats and windows all work aside from the rear, where it does not go up all the way without a little help getting it back up currently.  Other issues the seller transparently points out are that the power locks do not function. The A/C system needs a replacement condenser hose and a conversion to R134A in order to be functional again.  The seller reports that while there are no leaks on the frameless side windows, the seals are due for replacement.  The interior presents very well, save for the driver’s side seat which currently has two small repairable tears (refer to the pictures in the Interior Gallery below).

To help you make informed bids, we’re providing access to Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the Classic Car market, that provides an interactive graph of recent comparable sales year-to-date. By clicking on the green dots, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you make an educated bid on the car we are featuring for auction here:

Exterior Gallery

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Interior Gallery

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Underhood And Undercarriage Gallery

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Tires And Wheels Gallery

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Documentation Gallery

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If you have any questions about this 1978 Ford Country Squire, please leave a comment below or feel free to call Rudy directly at 877-468-6497.  Thank you for looking, and happy bidding!