Our 1977 Squire Didn't Pass Smog!

It's been in the shop for over two days now, EVAP system is leaking. Passed emissions but failed EVAP. Mechanic is waiting for a part. Paul just picked up the Cougar too, it had issues. One whole day in Los Angeles without any car! Omg! Luckily Paul has a small motorbike and was able to do a quick grocery rum. Man needs his beer, LOL!

 

In New Mexico a car over 35 doesn’t require smog testing. I know a lot of car owners in California whose old cars are probably cleaner than the their new ones. I think it’s a revenue grab for the state. Good luck the Cougar too. What year is it?

 

It's definitely a revenue grab for the state. I wish this wagon was '75 or older but I got it for a good price for it (11,000) and with a little money put into it I think it's worth around 14,000. Got the driver's seat redone; got the AC installed which was a 3-month project. That AC bracket was extremely hard to find. Now it blows ice-cold. Oh, I forgot about the Quadra sonic 8-track I found on Ebay. That alone cost 500 dollars but it is a correct option and brought the car up. Got the correct wheel covers too, from Ebay, the turbine kind, almost mint. The ones that were on their when we purchased it looked like they belonged on a truck.

The paint is faded a bit, and the wood has aged but it's more than presentable and gets lots of compliments. I think these '70's wagons bring back a lot of memories for people.

The Cougar is a '69. The body is laser straight with no bondo whatsoever, very solid. It gets a lot of compliments too but not as much as the Squire. I think that's because, as I said above, people remember them but never see them anymore. So many of these wagons got made but so many got run to the ground, then junked. Finding a '70's station wagon on the road today is rare. Minivans took over!

 

I feel your pain. I went through that many times before mine became exempt.
Washington has done away with all emissions testing entirely now.

 

I absolutely agree on these wagons. When I take one to an auto show inevitably people come up and tell story after story about their wagons growing up, or the neighbors mother that took them to baseball practice, or other fond memories of trips and outings in these cars. Did you ever post a picture of your wagon on the American wagons page? I was looking for a picture of it. Would love to see a picture. These Squires and Colony Parks are among my favorite era of cars. I have a ‘78 LTD wagon in light jade. It too has the deluxe wheel covers. Love ‘69 Cougars too!

 

I posted pictures of the Squire in a couple of threads here, but they weren't in the American Wagons forum. One, in a thread where I introduced myself when I first joined, shortly after I purchased the wagon. More pictures in a thread I posted about our trip to Palm Springs, hubs took the pictures, and they came out really nice. I just woke up and still drinking my coffee, maybe someone can find them and post links here? Or I'll do it later, or re-post the photos.

I think I remember asking you to post a picture of your '78, Mercman. Could you do it again, or post a link? I LOVE green cars! Was jade the original color?

I posted a pic of the '69 cougar I believe in the Post Anything You Want thread. I love it. It's all-original except for the black vinyl roof, which was redone, and one repaint in the original gold. I love the color combo. I normally don't like gold cars, but this shade is not too garish. Seems to get comments mostly from men and mechanics. Paul said when he went to pick up the Cougar the mechanics said it got a lot of buzz from the customers who came in and several asked if it was for sale.

Whenever I ride in the Squire, I have fond memories of riding in my dad's '68 Buick wagon. My dad, who passed away 3 years ago, actually inspired me to look for a wagon. My brother, who is older than me by three years, remembers going with my dad to the showroom to look at wagons. he also learned to drive with that wagon, which is some feat I think because it was quite a boat. The Buick didn't have rear seats, but my brother and I would ride together in the back anyway which was always fun times (except when we fought and my dad had to yell at us, LOL "stop it back there!")

 

Here's Thread #1

1977 Country Squire | Station Wagon Forums

Here is an interior shot of the 1969 Cougar

1969 Cougar Red Flags | Station Wagon Forums

Here is a close-up of Hula Girl in the Squire

Hula Girl | Station Wagon Forums

I can't find the Palm Springs pics at the moment. Will try to re-post.

 

Thanks so much. I love your wagon. I love cream and brown cars as well. The wheel covers are great on it. It’s funny when I bought my jade ‘78 it had ‘71-‘72 wheel covers on it, I changed them out to the deluxe wheel covers like yours. Yes it was originally light jade. Oddly enough the light jade was an extra cost option color. There were 4 optional colors in ‘78. It has the jade duraweave interior as well.

 

Car enthusiasts in CA have been trying for years to move back the year cars need to be smog-checked. Sounds sunny, but the reality is, this bill has a tough hill to climb.

 

So happy this is the case.
It is actually pretty surprising, as it seems Washington State legislators are always attempting to be California Jr.

 

Yes, the saga continues. So, I go on Ebay and search for a 1977 Ford Country Squire Fuel Filler Neck Grommet Seal. Found ONE. Got Part. Next day I took the car back into the shop because the fuel tank has to be dropped to install the new part. Walked home in the rain (a terrible fate in Southern California . 4 Hours later I got a call from shop, Oh goodie........ The car is done? "Hello?" (Got a phone call from the shop, Advance Auto). "Hi Paul, Todd from Advance Auto. Well, close but no cigar. The part does not fit." O God! Came home and searched the {Internet) world over. Every part was the same as the one I already got. Lead me to believe that it's a repo tank. OK. Right now I am putting ATV Rubber Gasket Sealer on cracks and once the part is installed, I plan to spray the outer part with Flex-Seal. If that doesn't work, I need to buy a new fuel tank, I guess. California smog laws are tough, but if they weren't the air would be blue. I guess this is why there are NO cars from 1976 to about 1985 on the road in California!

 

I lived in Southern California (La Habra) from 1975 to 1985. I know first hand why these smog laws exist. Thankfully I missed the last Stage 3 Smog Alert by a year, but experienced plenty of Stage 2 Smog Alerts. Deep breaths actually hurt. I am absolutely blown away now when I go back to visit at how clear the air and view is. Plenty of times driving through areas I have been like "wow, I didn't know there were hills over there."

Hope it all works out!

 

Thanks, me too! Fingers crossed! Hundreds needed to be spent on this wagon and more to come (it will need a second smog check ) but I'm NOT giving up on it! The wagon has more and more sentimental value the more I own it, and it gets many comments/compliments (especially thumbs up) on the road. We'll do whatever it takes to keep it rolling.

 

That's the spirit! Keep us updated