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1959 Ford Station Wagon Series

The 1959 Ford Motor Company's list of vehicles included the affordable Ford, the mid-priced Mercurys which continued to share a family resemblance with the Fords, the newly introduced and floundering Edsel which was awkwardly priced in the Mercury territory, and the range-topping Lincoln.

The Lincoln vehicles rested on a 131-inch wheelbase platform, were powered by a 430 cubic-inch V8 with 350 horsepower, and were offered as sedans, hardtop coupes, and hardtop sedans. The Continental Mark IV added a formal sedan, executive limousine, and a convertible. A station wagon body style was not available on the Lincoln.

The Edsel Station wagon

Most of the Edsel vehicles rested on a 120-inch wheelbase platform and were powered by either a 223 CID inline 6 cylinder engine, or a 292 or 332 CID V8 engine. For buyers seeking a station wagon, Edsel offered the Village utilizing a 118-inch wheelbase platform with a length of 214.8-inches and powered by the 292 CID V8 with 200 horsepower. The six-passenger version was priced at $2,970 and the nine-passenger at $3,050. A combined 7,820 examples were built in 1959.

The Mercury Station Wagon

Mercury's station wagons were called the Country Cruiser and were offered in a greater variety of trim and engine options. The Commuter trim had either two- or four doors ($3,035 for the former and $3,100 for the latter), seating for six, shared its trim styling with the Montereys, and was powered by a 383 CID V8 with 280 horsepower. The Colony Park, priced at $3,930, shared its styling with the Monclairs and had simulated wood panels. The Voyager was priced at $3,800 and all shared its trim with the Montclair. Both the Colony Park and the Voyager had four doors, seating for six, and were powered by a 383 CID V8 with 322 horsepower. The most popular body style was the four-door Commuter wagon with 15,122 units sold. The total Mercury Station Wagon production for 1959 was 24,628 units which accounted for approximately 16 percent of Mercury's automobile production. Mercury's station wagons were slightly longer than the Edsels with an overall length of 218.2 inches. Both were similarly priced but Mercury's delivered 80 more horsepower (122 more with the Voyager and Colony Park).

The Ford Station Wagon

Most of the 1959 Ford vehicles used a 118-inch wheelbase platform and measured 208 inches in length. The Ford station wagons were offered with six- and eight-cylinder power, two- and four-door configuration, seating for 6- or 9-passengers, along with a more extensive array of trim levels. With prices that began at $2,570 for the two-door Ranch Wagon with six-cylinder power and rose to $3,075, the Ford wagons dabbled in several different price points, appealed to the budget-friendly consumer, and ultimately outsold its Mercury and Edsel siblings by a vast margin. A total of 269,378 examples of the Ford station wagon were built in 1959, much higher than the combined 32,448 examples of Edsel and Mercury station wagons.

The attractive yet restrained styling of the 1959 Ford vehicles was awarded the Gold Medal for Exceptional Styling at the Brussels World Fair. Design cues included a long flat hood, dual headlights, little use of chrome trim, swept rear fenders that contained the back-up lights, and large round taillights. The station wagons included the low-priced Ranch wagons, the intermediate Country Sedans, and the top-of-the-line Country Squires.

The Ranch Wagon received accouterments and the level of exterior styling found on the Custom 300 which included an armrest on the driver's door, one sun visor, a horn button, chrome window moldings, and a single chrome strip on the bodyside. The six-cylinder, two-door Ranch wagon was priced at $2,565 and the four-door version at $2,635. The base eight-cylinder engine boosted the price by approximately $120. The four-door was more popular with 67,339 units built compared to 45,558 of the two-door. The total Ranch Wagon production for 1959 was 112,897 units.

The Country Sedans were equipped with items found on the Ranch Wagon, plus those of the Fairlane, including a horn ring (instead of a horn button), two sun visors, armrests on all doors, and more elaborate, two-piece trim on the body. The two-door Country Sedan with six-cylinder power was priced at $2,675 and the four-door versions at $2,745. Again, the addition of the base eight-cylinder engine boosted the price by roughly $120. A total of 94,601 examples were four-door Country Sedans and 8,663 were the two-door. These figures represented the most and least popular (respectively) of the 1959 Ford station wagons. The combined Country Sedan production for 1959 was 103,264 units, a total of 9,633 fewer examples than the Ranch Wagon.

The range-topping Country Squires had all the amenities and accouterments of the other two trim levels, plus those found on the Galaxie including an aluminum panel surrounding the rear wheel opening that traversed to the rear bumper. Only a four-door body style was offered, however, it could be ordered as a six-passenger version priced at $2,830 or a nine-passenger version at $2,960. ($120 more for the base V8). The six-passenger version was the more popular of the two with 28,881 units built compared to 24,336 of the nine-passenger. The combined production was 53,217 examples.

The standard six-cylinder engine displaced 223 cubic inches, had 8.6:1 compression, overhead valves, a Holley one-barrel carburetor, four main bearings, and developed 145 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. Ford's range of eight-cylinder options included a 292, a 332, a 352, and a 430 CID. All had overhead valves, five main bearings, and a cast-iron block. The 292 CID V8 received a Holley two-barrel carburetor, 8.8:1 compression, and produced 200 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. The 332 CID V8, known as the 'Thunderbird 332 Special,' had a Holley two-barrel carburetor, 8.9:1 compression, and 225 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. The 352 'Thunderbird Special' had a Holley four-barrel carburetor and 9.6:1 compression, developing 300 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. The 430 CID V8 had a Holley four-barrel carburetor and 10.0:1 compression, offering 350 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. A three-speed manual transmission was standard and had a semi-centrifugal-type clutch, helical gears, and synchronizers on the top two gears. A Ford-O-Matic torque converter transmission was optional.

by Dan Vaughan

9-Passenger Country Squire

For 1959, Ford was awarded the Gold Medal for 'Exceptional styling' at the Brussels World's Fair. The wagon design was pleasing, and seemed quite restrained when compared to GM and Chrysler rivals. Confounding pundits, the conservative Ford waged a hot battle for sales supremacy with the bat-winged Chevrolet.

The simulated wood-side Country Squire was the prestige ride, although the mid-level Country Sedan was the volume seller in Ford's station wagon line-up. Standard features included 'Iris Eye' safety taillights, 'Lifeguard Double-Grip' door locks, 'Luxury Lounge' interiors and 'Diamond Lustre Finish.'

This Country Squire was originally sold by Three Rivers Motor Co. of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. With only 56,000 miles from new, it remains unrestored and is presently in the hands of its fourth owner. Optional equipment consists of a 332 cubic-inch 'Thunderbird Special' V8, Cruise-O-Matic transmission, power steering, radio, electric wipers, padded dash and visors, back-up lamps, and full wheel covers. Dealer-added accessories include a luggage rack, safety door locks, seat belts, and dual mirrors. The original invoice indicates it sold new for $3,723.65.

9-Passenger Country Squire
Chassis number: B9FY319974

For 1959, Ford introduced a newly revised Country Squire with new design features including round taillights, wider front grille, and reverse lights integrated into the top of the fins. These features would remain for the just 1959, as the following year Ford replaced the classic 1950s styling with a more modern and updated design.

This 1959 Country Squire is a 9-passenger model with power steering, air conditioning, and is powered by a 332 CID V8 engine.

by Dan Vaughan

6-Passenger Country Squire

The current owner of this 1959 Ford Country Squire has been riding in the car since he was eight years old. It was purchased new by his parents on May 25th, 1959 and they gave it to him as a High School graduation gift in 1968. It has been registered and driven every year since new and maintained as needed to keep it looking factory original and running well. It was driven to New Jersey in 2012 (from Florida) for the 30th Lead East and currently has been driven (approximately) 196,000 miles.

When one pictures the classic American station wagon, thoughts drift to the Ford Country Squire. A well-balanced machine, the Squire is desirable as a reminder of the 60s, 70s era. The Ford Country Squire established itself as the archetype of a whole new kind of status symbol, long before the minivan was a twinkle in any Detroit product planner's eye.

Primarily easily dependable family cars, station wagons over time evolved from commercial vehicles and buses. Similar to horse-drawn delivery wagons, the first station wagons were open vehicles that carried people and cargo, manufactured in the 1920s. A decade later the wagon became more ‘car-like' and were most often seen at private schools, country clubs and other rustic, upper-class settings. By the late 1940's the station wagon was still a boxy, limited-production, wooden-body vehicle with removable seats Postwar middle-class families began the new trend that would continue for decades. The strong demand for used ‘woodies' alerted automobile manufacturers to a larger market for this particular type of vehicle.

The wood-bodied station wagon era was just about over when Ford made a very important change to its family hauler and gave it a new name, the Ford Country Squire. A full-size station wagon, the Ford Country Squire was built by the Ford Motor Company from 1950 until 1991 and was based on the Ford full-size car line available in each year. Always featuring the imitation-wood trim on the doors and tailgate, the Country Squire was the premium station wagon in the Ford Range.

Able to carry up to 9 passengers, the Country Squire featured unique side-facing seats that were fitted in the cargo area, rather than the usual rear-racing seat. The standard American family wagon, the Country Squire was the top of the line model with similar 'Squire' wagons as top of the line for other vehicles, including the Pinto in the Ford line up. In 1950 and 1951, the Country Squire was based on the Custom DeLuxe series, and the Crestline from 1952 through 1954, the Fairlane from 1955 through 1958, Galaxie from 1959 through 1966 and the LTD/LTD Crown Victoria from 1967 until 1991.

By the 1950's, the newly redesigned station wagon was an American staple for life in the suburbs. Sales of the station wagon soared with the introduction of all-steel bodies that eliminated arduous waxing and refinishing of wooden panels. The imitation wood-grain siding and trim immortalized the station wagon's rural, elitist image. From the mid 1950s onward, the framing of the wood was fiberglass and the remainder a plastic appliqué. The station wagon very quickly became a symbol of family activity and intimacy in the outdoors. Minivans today now serve the purpose the station wagon originally held.

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 certain versions of the Country Squire. The radio then had the visual appearance of an original equipment, factory radio. Other options on the Country Squire was a hidden, lockable compartment behind a rear fender well that was not visible when the rear seat back was in the upright position.

All Ford wagons utilized a two-piece tailgate assembly prior to 1961 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. A new tailgate assembly that was adopted post 1961 used a self-storing window feature that 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. Before it could be lowered a safety lockout measure required that the rear window had to be fully retracted into the gate.

The Magic Door Gate was introduced in 1966 by Ford, allowing the tailgate of the vehicle to function as a traditional tailgate that could be lowered, or a door that swung outward for easier access to the seating area. This was made possible through the use of a traditional stationary hinge on the right, and combination of hinges along the doors right side, which carried the weight of the gate as it swung outward when used as a door. By the end of the 1960s GM, Chrysler and AMC all adopted a similar configuration. The 3-way tailgate was an advanced version, which permitted opening the door sideways with the window up.

Demand for full-size wagons was on the low end when Ford began its restyle of the full-size 'Panther' platform in the late 1980's. Rather than investing money in a separate body style for a new wagon, Ford instead chose to steer buyers towards its newly facelifted Aerostar and Taurus. Full-sized GM B-body wagons would be discontinued in the 1990's due mixed reactions to their styling. The Chevy Caprice and Buick Roadmaster were also discontinued in 1996. Sold in Europe under the Chrysler 300 Touring nameplate, Chrysler re-introduced a full-size wagon in the form of the Dodge Magnum. Minus the fake wood paneling, the Ford Freestyle re-introduced the 3-row wagon as a crossover design.

by Jessican Donaldson