1978 Ford Country Squire Wagon: A Last Hurrah for the Super-Sized Family Hauler!

Learn more about this awesome wagon, the 1978 Ford Country Squire!

[@Cadillac61]

Although I prefer a Caprice or Buick estate, everyone respects the Country Squire!

[@BlackPill-pu4vi]

The entire auto industry began losing its panache in the 1980's and it was all over with in the late 90's. The last hurrah for American cars with American styling cues was the Buick Roadmaster of 1996.

[@harrymills2770]

@@BlackPill-pu4vi It started in the '70s, with OPEC and skyrocketing energy prices. The Japanese unapologetically made 4-cylinder vehicles with good gas mileage and began stealing market share.

[@BlackPill-pu4vi]

@@harrymills2770 True and the Japanese cars and trucks of the 70's were visually honest and pleasantly balanced with their classic 3-box layouts. But, my gripe is when U.S. automakers began removing American styling cues of speed, power, sess appeal, and visual harmony in the downsized models of the late 1970's. The U.S. automakers went out of their way to make their vehicles ugly in the late 90's; starting with the Pontiac Aztek and Solstice, Chevy HHR and SSR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, and the ugliness just spread into the 21st century. The Japanese picked up on the uglification of cars later with cars like the Scion xB, Honda Element, KIA Soul, and other cars like them.

[@fob1xxl]

Ford made beautiful wagons. I love wagons better than SUV'S !

[@robk9685]

Buick brought one back a few years ago. I almost bought one but America decided overnight that Buick is "an old man's car". .....so off Buick went to China....to outsell BMW, Honda and Benz there.

[@kcindc5539]

My best friend Joey’s family (5 kids under the age of 12) had a ‘77 Country Squire in this exact color. It was a battle barge and had such a floaty it felt like it was in perpetual motion. I remember Joey’s Mom could parallel park that aircraft carrier like no one I’ve ever seen since, in two swift motions snick-snick twirling the wheel with a single finger.

[@DS-wo8wr]

Man, look at that interior color… Anyone else sick of Black, Tan and maybe grey interiors?

[@LlyleHunter]

Same here. They started limiting interior color choices in the late 1980s on American cars when domestic manufacturers found out that Asian manufacturers saved on production costs by limiting color choices and picking the options based on the exterior colors. It’s so boring now

[@jaygatz4335]

I AM!!

[@624radicalham]

@@LlyleHunter I always wanted to know why as well, and it seems costs may just be reason. Kind of like colored toilet paper went out around the same time!

[@ddavidson5]

I am with you. Black on black on black with perhaps a dash of grey -- boring, boring, boring and a bit dreary to boot. Sometimes a tan interior looks positively refreshing if only because it isn't black or grey and even then tan is usually available only with select exterior colours (typically white). Speaking of exterior colours, the choices seem to be only black and white with shades of grey/silver (basically black and white mixed together) in between. So boring. There are a few manufacturers that offer red and I've seen a few blue cars lately though they tend to be a midnight blue that's almost black. I assume the manufacturers are just meeting customer demand but jeez. I wish the customers, that's us I suppose, were a little more adventurous in their colour preferences. .

[@AFTER_MIDNITE]

Maybe gray?! Certainly you meant most definitely gray. In my opinion, it’s the worst interior color, it’s so drab, dreary, and utilitarian.

[@mikenb3461]

I love these cars. I remember admiring them as a kid in the '70s. Thank for the great review!

[@TheJmich2001]

Beautiful vehicle and piece of history.

[@jamier1124]

This is my literal dream car. Looks so beautiful in green. ❤

[@mikebell2750]

We had a 1974 County Squire in gold, with the tan vinyl interior and a 400 under the hood. It wasn’t the fastest car around, but it sure was comfortable on the highway.

[@AFTER_MIDNITE]

Nice color. We had a ‘78 with a medium blue interior/exterior, and with a 460. At speed, it was like riding a magic carpet floating over everything.

[@lucashenderson2775]

HOLIDAY ROOOOOOAAAAAAAAD

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

If I owned that, I'd tie a dog leash and collar on the back bumper.

[@opiumtrail7032]

SOC

[@dustin_4501]

Great time for the Station Wagons, before the Minivans came into the scene.

[@Paul1958R]

The 79-91 Panther platform Ford Country Squire/Mercury Colony Park wagon was smaller but still fairly big

[@jamespolcyn8441]

I love wagons

[@josephgaviota]

Me too! I wish they made more of them.

[@LlyleHunter]

Me too. They were a way of life for a long time. It’s why I have a crossover today. I couldn’t live with a coupe or sedan. I need a car that I can use for different things and sometimes load up.

[@Henry_Jones]

​@@josephgaviotayoure living in the golden age of wagons man. 3 row suvs are all just station wagons on stilts.

[@Henry_Jones]

​@@LlyleHunteryou drive a station wagon on stilts

[@simonmarch7783]

You must be the Toy Story Dinosaur then!

[@geraldsnyder6482]

Imagine. Once upon a time auto interior weren't only black or tan.

[@phillippacker5920]

Right... and the word "tan" is being overly prosaic for what you actually get! I think manufacturers should rename the interior color offerings as Ugly (black), and Butt Ugly (tan).

[@RustyZipper]

Gray …

[@j.kevvideoproductions.6463]

I own a 1965 Rambler Ambassador 990 4 door sedan. The seats are white, black and light yellow fabric. The Carpets are black and come up on the lower part of the door. The car is a Pale yellow (Solar Yellow). Even though AMC was always pinched for cash, they always tried to put as much as they could into their cars. Style used to matter back in the day.

[@georgewilson1184]

@@geraldsnyder6482 back in 1965 my Dad bought a new Ford F/ 150 the correct colors according to the bill of sale was a tu tone dark Navajo Beige & Light Navajo beige same in side chrome grille &front bumper chrome mirrors &wheel covers rear bumper was argent he had chrome dual exhaust put on and dual chrome spot lights and a custom fit leather tonneau cover and he had his name on each door in red lettering it was the Law in Illinois in those days even though he was not in a business Illinois considered that half ton pickup as a commercial motor conveyance

[@benzo560]

Good times

[@JohnWhite-xc3md]

I remember growing up, my friend's parents had a black version of this car. It was the smoothest, quietest car. Being a kid at the time, I asked "Are you guys rich or something?" 😂😂

[@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9we]

I know what you mean. I rode with a friends family in jr high to basketball games in the '80s. They had a chevy suburban, I was so jealous, I thought they must have been rich😂

[@Michael-lk4oh]

So much green! This car should be driven in a St. Patrick’s Day parade.

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

I was thinking that, you'd probably make money exporting it to Ireland.

[@hq21]

Ford did a really good job with this interior color. Although it's easier with the darker shade, a green interior is difficult in general to execute well. Nowadays even if the interior isn't all black, they cheat by throwing in as much black as possible to hide the cheapness.

[@johnstapler5956]

Wicked nice. I love the big wagons, especially the Fords. Grew up riding in a wayback of a pea green 64 Bel Air. My 21 Ridgeline has a dual action tailgate. The Ford wagons were ahead of their time.

[@georgewilson1184]

This one I can tell is super well equipped I’m drooling the rocker panel moldings are optional I grew up in a country squire family personally I use to drive my parents crazy I would say I would love a Colony Park my Dad would say your spoiled & ungrateful I bust my ass all week hauling structural steel around Chicago and I treat ya’s to a new station wagon but no it’s not nice enough this one here wants me to go spend about $2,000 more for the same car because he likes “Colony Park “ better than Country Squire !! 😢😢😢

[@brandywell44]

When people paid hard earned cash instead of rented. I can see your Dads point.

[@jwelchon2416]

My parents had a 78 wagon that was yellow. I was at that age where I didn't want to be seen in it. In hindsight, I would love to have it today!

[@LooneyFarmGuy]

OOOOOOOOH , I just love that interier ! 🥰 Wish we had tose color options now 🫤

[@floydt2029]

Remeber these, the green interior needs the Pine air freshner too!

[@LlyleHunter]

Oh I think pine scented air freshener is obligatory with the green interior. What else would you use?

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I'm a GM guy. But I would love to have it. I love wagons and the green interior is awesome

[@LooneyFarmGuy]

For those who wanted a Van .... But Didn't want a "Van " 😂 But I love all wagons 🥰

[@Foxonian]

The 460 was only available in the Country Squire wagon with the optional towing package. It stopped being available in the LTD Landau after '76.

[@paulbourgeois4491]

My folks had one identical to this, 1978, but it was a beautiful dark blue, with a matching blue interior. It had a 400 c.i. engine and had pretty good pick up. Damn that was a comfortable car!

[@624radicalham]

Excellent historical detail which I thought that only I knew lol. Glad to know someone else looked at those details

[@johnlincicum6390]

My dad had a 1976 with the 460 and towing package in yellow exterior with the woodgrain trim, C6 transmission, 9 inch rear end, with 4 wheel disc brakes, a "pony gas tank" where you had one filler neck but it was a secondary smaller gas tank besides the main gas tank, and it had a plaque on the rear bumper that said you could put either 800 or 850 pounds on the 2 inch ball hitch and tow 7500 lbs! The car weighed 5800 lbs and it was bench seats front and rear without the 3rd row jumper seats. The interior was green from the carpet to the headliner, but in a different shade of green with vinyl seats. 0-60 was kind of slow, but 60-90 took the snap of your fingers when that 460 kicked it in gear.

[@ljmorris6496]

IIRC, you could even get the 460 police interceptor motor in an Custom till '78 but it had to be directly ordered.

[@jeffb6786]

My mom's '77 LTD Landau 2-door had a 460 in it. I don't remember if it had a tow package. I never saw a hitch on it, but I know it had the 460 in it. I got my first ticket in that car, though only doing 37 in a 25 through our residential neighborhood at 16.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam, The return of the Country Squire is overdue. 🤩🤩

[@leonardpoindexter5289]

I love station wagons. Automakers should bring them back .

[@williamegler8771]

Why? Several automakers have offered station wagon models but not enough people have bought them to make them economically viable. Everyone wants SUVs and CUVs.

[@drno-xc1yt]

These are such interesting cars of a bygone era - as birthrates decline and since buyers don't seem to want anything other than trucks, minivans, and SUV's, I doubt we'll see the station wagon coming back any time soon. An LTD wagon was the family car of one of my grade school friends, and that thing was enormous on the inside.

[@michaelwhite2823]

Now you're cooking with gas. I learned to drive in a 1978 Colony Park the Mercury sister car. It had leather, 460 and all the options. I think you'd be able to do an interesting video on the downsizing of EACH MAKE AND MODEL during the late 70s. The different statistics, sales figures, and even the design and engineering challenges.

[@mairelisegraham4750]

That's the car I learned to drive ~ grew up with these (family of eight)

[@cycleguy666]

My grandfather had a 1970 LTD wagon w/wood sides all through the 70s in maybe till 85!! It was a boat but a hell of a car. Got over 20mpg on the highway. 351W-2V. The rear diff I think was in the 2.70 area. Finally my aunt gave him a 78 Chevy Nova......ne needed a smaller car!! I wound up with the Nova after he died. I had that car for another 10 years!! Another great machine!!

[@davidgrisez]

I am 73 years old and I grew up in a family of six children. Over the years my parents owned a number of full size station wagons. One of them was a 1964 Ford Country Sedan that did not have air conditioning. A vacation trip with driving across the Nevada desert convinced them that the next car needed air conditioning. The next station wagon was a 1971 Ford Country Sedan station wagon. This was a large vehicle that had air conditioning. When I was growing up my family would take traveling vacations in these large station wagons. The station wagon would be loaded with mom and dad and six children and a top carrier full of luggage.

[@drewintampa]

What a beautiful wagon. I have always wondered if the original owner(s) purchased these low milage, true survivor cars knowing that they will go into a time capsule and resurface one day. They are getting harder and harder to find. I am in my early 50s and when I grew up, every family on the block had a huge wagon in the driveway. I took my drivers test at 16 using my mom's 1985 Buick LeSabre Estate Wagon. I had to parallel park the beast. I miss seeing them all over the road like in my childhood. Thanks for posting.

[@randyfitz8310]

I bought one of these from friends of friends when it was eight years old for $50; it needed a battery and some ATF. So much: comfort, space, wood grain vinyl, gasoline! The ‘75 I had was fitted with to 400 2V and dual luxury lounge seats up front!

[@jamesonwells6405]

The Subaru Outback is the closest to a real station wagon we have today. And that is called an SUV now.

[@Henry_Jones]

And it started as a lifted legacy wagon with plastic cladding. It still is that today but the legacy wagon is gone so its an suv lol

[@donaldwilson2620]

Volvo still sells the V90 wagon in the U.S. as well. It's mostly sold in limited numbers, though.

[@rightlanehog3151]

The Crown Signia has gone on sale in recent weeks.

[@MrPoppyDuck]

Got that Subie. But I would love to have a big Ford like Adam pictured. Maybe when I move from the rust belt.

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

In Australia we had Ford Falcon station wagons right up to around 2010, and they still had leaf springs all the way through to when they stopped making them. Great for heavy loads.

[@mowmanjones3353]

I owned one of these in 1985 best car ever had, would go through snow like a 4x4

[@LlyleHunter]

Same with the sedans. Though they didn’t have the steering feel like the concurrent GM’s of the early 70s the chassis had a better natural front to rear weight balance than the GMs so they were much better in snow and on wet roads and less prone to fishtail.

[@cruiser6260]

​@@LlyleHuntermore overhang more weight over rear axle, but ford were better with putting LSD as standard on V8

[@sergioleone3583]

140 hp with that rear axle ratio? Calendars needed for 0-60...

[@anthonybollini]

WE did have one ,400 -2v windsor . sand color, made in canada at St. Thomas Ont. the mavrick plant, later as panther plant

[@DanEBoyd]

Not Windsor. Windsors are only the 351 Windsor. 351 Windsors are Small Block Fords, 221, 255, 260, 289, 302, and 351W. So all Windsors are Small Blocks, and not all Small Blocks are Windsors. Ford produced the Small Block Ford family from 1962 till 1998 or '99. The 400, like the 351M and 351C are from the 335 series of Ford Engines. They were a sort of small-to-mid sized block with the 351M and 400 having a taller block, The 351 Cleveland was used in md-size and smaller cars, while the 351M and 400 were used in mid and full sized cars, and in pickup trucks. the 335 series only lasted from 1970 till 1982 or so. 335 series engines all use Cleveland heads, causing people to mislabel the 335 family as the Cleveland family. The 351W came out in '69, followed by the 351 Cleveland in '70, and the 351M in '74 or so. The Windsor lasted till '96, the Cleveland till '75 or so, and the M until the late '70s or early '80s.

[@markbehr88]

That car looks familiar 😀👍. The Chevrolet wagons were on a shorter wheelbase than the Olds for example as far as I recall?

[@dj33036]

I owned a '73 Mustang with a 351 Cleveland engine, it was not slow.

[@caribman10]

Gee, and it was only about 1500 pounds lighter!

[@hm12460]

I had a '72 with the factory 4 barrel. It was fast.

[@jamesrodriquez2863]

He didn't say the Cleveland. He said the M. The Cleveland was already out of production when this car was made. And he's right. The 351M was a dog in terms of just about everything.

[@quincyq-radio6300]

Very cool 😊

[@adamsneidelmann8976]

Zero to sixty measured on a sun dial…

[@LlyleHunter]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@j.kevvideoproductions.6463]

Or the optional hourglass if you wanted to splurge!

[@Iove75]

But could cruise at 85 mph at 900rpm lol

[@lrich8181]

Ford used a calendar to measure 0-60 in this car.

[@benzo560]

Indeed. Those were the days vehicles served specific purpose and were great within their purpose. Compared to today where vehicles are trying to be crease galore sports crossover truck sedan coupe(everything) while being great at nothing.

[@MarioLT4]

My dad had three of these growing up it was my favorite memories jumping over the back seat to go to the third row jump seat he had a small corner grocery store he used these wagons as a truck

[@trudygreer2491]

Same here! except my Dad used our 10yo Colony Park! Kept a garden hoe in the car to pull out boxes that slid forward~ Memories! 🍻

[@gerryhorruitiner887]

Buick made a a "Super Sized" Road Master Estate Wagon from '91 til '96. 218" L.

[@paulncvic]

Those carpet insert floor mats wore like iron! Loved them. And the Fords had the dual comfort lounge seats or something like that. And the tilt wheel, lots of options. Maybe even the automatic parking brake release. Cool stuff.

[@RickCT2000]

Great review

[@Sundancer268]

1966 was when the dual action tailgate came out. I had a 65 Country Sedan and always wish it had the fancy tailgate. I do miss Station Wagons and wish they still made the wagons that could hold a 4'x8' sheet of plywood. Other than Pick-ups now days, I don't know of any SUVs that can do that.

[@Henry_Jones]

Quality stain resistsnt interior fabric is a lost standard. None of todays family cars have such a fabric. The result? Trashed interiors on the used market, even after being detailed.

[@paulbourgeois4491]

Cars today are just ugly period. Especially the cheap ass interiors. Learned to drive & parallel park on a 78 'squire, thanks Mom & Dad, and I'm still sorry for the accident 1 week before Christmas of 78... Miss you both every day.

[@frederickbooth7970]

@@paulbourgeois4491 I miss both of my parents as well! Without their tremendous sacrifices this high functioning autistic almost 69 year old man would have a real limited life.

[@edbarker8636]

So much nicer than an SUV and far more comfortable

[@MillerMeteor74]

I wish you'd do a video on the last of the big Chrysler Town & Countrys. We had a `75 that was the brochure color, whatever that was called. It had the optional 400 with ignition lockout on the front seat belts. It had power windows, but no power locks, except on the rear tailgate/door. Also no cornering lights, no intermittent wipers, no cruise and no auto climate control. It also started rusting out when it was about 3 to 4 years old, and had terrible carburetion problems when it was new. But still I really miss it. My brother and I always rode in the 3rd seat on the family road trips. That Ford is beautiful.

[@LlyleHunter]

You can play bongos with the D pillars on this series of Country Squire or Colony Park and it plays with perfect pitch. No joking if you play drums on the pillars with your hands it sounds like a real bongo. I grew up doing it on my mother’s car in our garage every day when I was bored.

[@624radicalham]

Fascinating story that only a true owner of this vehicle would know!

[@RC-gf8cs]

Great wagon cousin had 1 .i had 78 chevy caprice wagon 350 engine auto back window 3rd mini back facing row for 15yrs....I SAY..BRING BACK BENCH SEATS.....!!

[@DSP1968]

Ah, when these behemoths roamed America's highways. A dream to look at and ride in, with great quality for the day. But boy do they embody "road hugging weight!" This particular example is the best color, by far. And the rare Duraweave interior in Dark Jade, no less! I always liked that. And you are correct, it was only available in the big Ford and Mercury wagons of this era. This car also looks pretty darn loaded with optional equipment. Wow! The reason that they combined the OIL and TEMP lights into the ENGINE light was to make room for the optional "Fuel Economy Warning Light" introduced in 1976. It lit when engine vacuum was low, letting the borrower know to lay off the accelerator. A great video on this car, Adam.

[@phillipbouchard4197]

Thanks for an excellent video Adam on the last of the big Ford wagons. I am the proud owner of the downsized Panther platform wagons - being a 1987 and a 1991 Crown Victoria LX 8 passenger models. I tow my boats with them having rear air shocks to take the load. Nothing like the cushy ride of the big wagons except for my 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis LS sedan which is sprung a bit softer and more plush seats. Your feature car is absolutely stunning - that Jade Green color is beautiful as well as that interior. Reminds me of Tony Car Cares example.

[@jefweb5043]

Great feature! There was a small Ford-powered group that got together recently; there was a '77 or '78 Country Squire with a set of Magnum 500 rims on it! It had a great look to it. I think wheels absolutely make the look of any car.

[@howebrad4601]

Absolutely love that color combination and if I could get those colors today, I'd order a new pickup tomorrow! The other nice color Ford had around that time is Medium Green Glow Metallic.

[@67marlins]

We had a 351M in a 1977 LTD II mid-size....the engine ran over 500,000 miles without rebuild. It still ran OK when the frame rust took it to heaven.

[@jamesengland7461]

Wow that's amazing!

[@67marlins]

@@jamesengland7461 We took really good care of it, maintenance, etc.

[@steelehere1]

I remember when this particular low mileage car went up for sale a while back and all the car review sites were blown away by its $30k sale price. As someone whose parents drove the same year Mercury Country Squire with the wooden trim and painted blue, I get it.

[@csumme7]

My ex had a 71 country squire wagon she got for her 16th birthday from her father. It was used (5year old at that time) and had been hit on the rear passenger side fender but popped out however it was painted with a paint brush mustered yellow. It was the rolling banana she said. It had a 400 or the 429 under the hood though.

[@67marlins]

Thanks for posting.

[@Shiba_Inu_Des]

When I was 7yrs old, this was my dream family mobile, to sit and play with hot wheels in the back, not seat belted while dad would cruise down I-5. This was the best!

[@ponch38]

When I was a kid we had a silver ‘78 Country Squire with the 460. That thing floated down the road

[@nthused]

Brings back some great memories.

[@danielsiminski5878]

My dad had one in 1985.....Right when I was to take my DRIVERS TEST!!!!! Needless to say....I FAILED pretty quickly, LOL!!! These things were LONG and HUGE!!!!! And I still LOVED IT!❤

[@jnucci1]

I remember wanting one of these as a kid, especially this model. I had a copy of Ford's "Car Buying Made Easier" guide that listed all the options along with MSRP for each. I practically wore the print out building my dream cars. I'd show the results to my dad, and everry time he'd respond along the lines of "I'm never spending more than $6000 on a car!".

[@SpeedyG289]

Kinda liking those wheels.

[@komradkolonel]

This brings back a lot of memories. One of my best friends when I was in high school had a 1978 LTD wagon except his was brown and didn't have the fake wood trim. It did have the 460 with the tow package and ice cold a/c. It might be 95 degrees outside but it would be like a meat locker inside. This was a time when Ford was building "real" cars or just cars in general.

[@donaldwilson2620]

I know the difference is mostly cosmetic, but I always preferred the Mercury Colony Park over the Ford County Squire. The Mercury version just feels more luxurious.

[@tomb7382]

The color is beautiful and green isn't even my favorite color! My friend's parents had a Ford Granada in this color with the same green interior. It was a loaded Ghia model with a white vinyl roof, white pinstripes, and wheel covers with white painted centers. It was almost as beautiful as this wagon. I hate today's vehicles with black or grey interiors.

[@johnh2514]

Beautiful car. I always appreciated Ford not implementing a rear-facing third row seat. As someone who got carsick driving in my uncle’s ‘85 Celebrity Wagon….i would have appreciated driving in the back of this wagon!

[@Sevenfeet0]

My parents bought a used ‘73 LTD Country Squire wagon sometime around 1978 and it was one of the vehicles I learned how to drive on. It was not one of my favorites. It was huge, even for the era, ponderous, slow and the brakes were suspect. Still, I was a teenager and it was a car.

[@rogergoodman8665]

These were OK, but my family preferred GM station wagons. My dad did buy a well optioned 1977 F-150 supercab that was the same dark jade metallic green color with matching green vinyl interior, except it was a bit darker than this wagons interior and it was his daily driver and pulled our camper for many years. I think the only thing that ever broke was the on/ off switch in the steering wheel for the cruise control.

[@MG-sj1em]

WOW, I had this exact wagon (ex rear end that I know of). I bought it used in 81 from a guy who owned a high end French restaurant in my town, same colors and options as this one, even the floor mats. It was a beautiful car but, I will say the green did wear on you after awhile. And you're right it was a dog. It drove heavy like it was having a hard time pulling its own weight. But, I loved the color that's what sold me. I miss wagons. SUV's just don't cut it sometimes. Thanks for another informative video!!

[@Henry_Jones]

Wagons are alivs and well. Todays 3 row SUVs are just station wagons on stilts. I ❤ the 2024 traverse except the motor. Turbo i4 only =(

[@blockcl]

I had a bunch of Country Squires over the years. Bought them 3rd or 4th hand. They made great work cars/tool haulers, especially in the winter.

[@wmalden]

The “ENGINE” warning lamp on our 1977 Granada always came on and stayed on until the engine warmed up. I don’t think it was supposed to do that but that’s just the way it was!

[@donaldhollums3278]

I remember my Dad looking at and talking about buying one of these at a Ford dealership while he was stationed at Andrews AFB when I was a small boy. He never bought it.

[@chriswright2250]

Pops had a 72 County Squire, dark metallic green with a green vinyl interior.

[@jtrogue]

Oh my, you found Ralph Hinckley's wagon from The Greatest American Hero!

[@ProjectFairmont]

Always though a full-size Ford of the 70s made the most sense as a wagon. Comfy, handsome and road so nice.

[@rogerhinman5427]

I think Car & Driver once described this car as a greenhouse on top of a warehouse. I had a 1979 LTD wagon and loved that car. That green is simply gorgeous.

[@LlyleHunter]

It was a real emerald green as opposed to a forest green.

[@georgewilson1184]

Tony in Vandalia Illinois May get over excited if he sees this

[@tonyscarcare5657]

At least he didn't attack that bodyside molding that he hates so much! 🤣

[@georgewilson1184]

@@tonyscarcare5657 hey Tony how are you & your Parents they still loving the new Lincoln

[@tonyscarcare5657]

​@georgewilson1184 Of course. We have it in Lexington, KY right now picking up another Lincoln. I'm way behind on videos.

[@georgewilson1184]

@@tonyscarcare5657 ok Tony good luck your wheeling & dealing just like that Anthony Gozzo up in CT

[@eldoradony]

I remember the advertising for this wagon touting it was the last wagon that could hold a 4x8 sheet of plywood.

[@MrPoppyDuck]

I miss being able to get a wagon like that to haul the occasional sheet of drywall.

[@trudygreer2491]

I think the downsized big wagons could accommodate 4x8 sheets, the difference was whether you could lay them flat, or close the tailgate...

[@Jerry-ok8gj]

Bring wagons back. I'm sick of SUV's!!!

[@Mr.Higginbotham]

Love it.

[@Leawoody]

Love it!

[@jimurrata6785]

My grandmother had one in white, with a 460, C6 and a 2.75 posi. That car was a rocket on road trips.🤯

[@LlyleHunter]

Actually they gently floated.

[@socalltd]

I remember seeing a few 73-76 squires with either 400 or 460's and a 3:25 rear on the door codes.

[@RunningWildFan1]

Beautiful

[@Henry_Jones]

Honda ridgeline has the dual action tailgate. Donnno why ford doesnt have it in their trucks.

[@josephgaviota]

Agree. I believe Ford pioneered this concept, why not use it today?

[@georgeburns7251]

Most ford trucks are owned by people who never use the bed. Who else would pay $80k - $120k. LPS.

[@I-Libertine]

that*so makes me want to go on a road trip. sigh.

[@valengreymoon5623]

I had a plain-Jane '77 LTD wagon with the 400 under the hood. Good reliable machine, that really needs to come back.

[@DS-wo8wr]

Ford might make it…. with a 2.0 Ecoboost with 5 screens.

[@valengreymoon5623]

Oh, Lord, no. LOL

[@LlyleHunter]

I keep thinking that once the get electric technology right we can go back to making big cars again because we won’t have to worry about emissions or gas consumption.

[@MikeSmith-ks4yg]

Good review of such a great battlewagon of a car! For all the options that the original buyer ordered... he skimped on the tilt wheel ! what was he thinking...Incidently this green was also used on the downsized T bird . That wasa aparticularly handsome car in this color .

[@jeffb6786]

I'm pretty certain this one has tilt. Ford, at the time, used the turn signal for tilt; just push it towards the dash. If you look closely, you can see the little rod right behind the turn signal lever inside the column, and that's the tilt release rod. It was also usually a package deal, that if it had cruise control, it also had tilt. The option that surprised me was the pedal dress-up ( the chrome trim on the pedals). I thought by '78 that that was reserved for Lincolns. My mom's really well loaded '77 Landau didn't even have it.

[@MickBurns-ev1nn]

Ford and GM did the same thing here in Australia in the late 70s. Ford figured that people still wanted big cars and they were correct. It was another 10 years before GM Holden built bigger cars. Unfortunately, Ford and GM Holden no longer make cars here and Holden has gone the way of the dinosaurs.

[@trudygreer2491]

They don't make 'cars' here no more, either! 🇺🇸🤝

[@davehue9517]

When I was a kid, I still remember our neighbors got one blue of these country squire wagons for her and a brown for him....2 of the same wagons for the same family 😂

[@trudygreer2491]

Now THAT'S love! (of wagons..!)

[@peterbenson3776]

That Dura weave was tough

[@LlyleHunter]

It wore like iron and resisted tears. Very good quality.

[@henrystowe6217]

The 85 mph speedometer!

[@LlyleHunter]

For something like twenty five years that was a government mandate in North America in all cars.

[@UNCFIPP]

78 malibu station wagon was my first car . First year on the downsized G, soon to be A platform

[@trudygreer2491]

(Not to be a 'knowitall' but it was first the A, then renamed G when the Celebrity et al were named A)

[@alantrimble2881]

@@trudygreer2491thank you! You’re the only other person I’ve come across online who knows this. I get irrationally annoyed when I hear someone tell me about their 1979 G-body.

[@UNCFIPP]

@@trudygreer2491 my damn dyslexia.. Thats what I meant . and im not upset you corrected me.. And I knew this having owned 93 century.. The final downsized A body.. Which happened to be my second car.. 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@lonwaslien104]

Be honest…did you like the fake wood appliqués?

[@danielulz1640]

YES!

[@mairelisegraham4750]

I think the first one we had was wood frame but plastic/vinyl in the main (mid sixties maybe) we had one after another, always red.

[@morthedgebuckle227]

I love the wood accents. I'm a child of the 70s. I mean interior and dashboard wood accents❤

[@danielulz1640]

​@@mairelisegraham47501953 was the last year that Ford used real wood trim on thier wagons. From 54 on, the surrounding trim was fiberglass.

[@trudygreer2491]

​@@mairelisegraham4750The Squire trim was all fiberglass and DiNoc by 1954; 52-53 had DiNoc paneling with real maple or birch trim..

[@tomflynn4477]

My Dad bought a '78 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon at the end of '78...he traded in his '73 Ford Ranch Wagon (bought new), guess he could have gotten one of these but his with the 400 (bought before the first energy crisis, in Feb 1973) didn't get very good mileage, plus GM finally (in '77) went with the 3 way tailgate instead of the clamshell on their large wagons (even though they were downsized starting in '77). His 78 had the 305, and it ended up being his last wagon (maybe true for many, they didn't make wagons too long into the 80's, by that time my sister and I were on our own and he no longer needed a wagon (sold the camper in '82). He replaced the Caprice Classic wagon with his worst car (a new '84 Pontiac Sunbird, went through 2 engines in 80k miles despite dealer service per the schedule, car was junked less than 5 years after being bought new) so downsizing didn't work well for him; he abandoned GM for a number of years after that (until he bought a 2001 Impala and another 2006, both new, the latter became his last car. I've been driving 50 years this year (learner's permit in Feb, license in July) and the '73 was one of the cars I practiced on. It replaced a '69 Country Squire that had less equipment (it had the 351). The Ranch Wagon was his first with AM/FM Stereo, manual air conditioning, power locks (but manual windows) and trailer towing package (we towed a pop top camper at the time) and the 400/2v. His was the 6 seater; he didn't need or want the 2 side facing rearmost seats, instead he'd use the empty space he called "the well" for storage, he had packing down to an art, with a goal of fitting as much stuff down there as he could so my younger sisters had space "up top" to sleep on long trips. The car had really loud turn signals (maybe because of trailer towing package?) which clicked distinctively. The power locks were also loud. I had a job at Hertz in both '77 and '78 as a transporter, it didn't pay much (maybe actually less than min wage, we were paid by the trip no matter how long we took) but I loved driving a variety of (mostly Ford back then) cars, though we also had some Dodge (no Chrysler nor Plymouth) one AMC and a Toyota Corolla Liftback and Datsun 510 (the late 70's version) in our fleet. Also drove a Mercury Cougar wagon, though Mercury wasn't common in our fleet. For some reason no Maverick nor Pinto, though in '78 I drove plenty of Fairmonts, Grenadas both years, but mostly LTD II and Thunderbirds. Even drove '77 Gran Prix and a '78 Dodge Magnum. Why this info? My Dad owned plenty of cars in his lifetime but I've only owned 5 in 50 years, probably partly because I got a chance to drive lots of cars back in the 70's and didn't need to buy a car to scratch that itch thereafter...though I've enjoyed ones owned by others by proxy. Now that I'm elderly myself, I wish I could buy one of these new....don't care for most of what's offered nowdays, I prefer cars to trucks, don't need or want SUV or crossover...I'd just like a smooth riding vehicle like one of these. Back in the day when they were common I wouldn't look twice at them (yes, took them for granted) but now you can't get them I would like one...guess I'm spoiled, want what I can no longer get. I really need to replace my current (24 year old car bought new) but can't get excited about what's available as replacement.

[@flashg67]

I had a 73 Country Sedan with the 400 V-8. It had the older style A/C compressor and I agree, it never could keep up on really hot days.

[@LlyleHunter]

Unfortunately Ford used York compressors that didn’t have sufficient BTU output. They borrowed GM’ms Frigidaire units for their Lincoln products at some point during the early ‘70s because Lincoln customers wanted air conditioning that matched GMs as well as Chrysler’s Airtemp units that not only kept the Imperials so cold inside but that Chrysler also supplied to Mercedes for decades.

[@kc0lif]

nice wagon.