1981 Ford LTD Country Squire

This one looks pretty nice in the photos. It is for sale by a dealer in Burlingame CA (SF area) for $5,995.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/ctd/4090477237.html









It is an interesting color combination, sort of a reddish-brown, inside and out. I like it. The woodgrain appears to be in exceptionally good condition, so I'm guessing it was garaged.

Here is the ad text:

Rare Ford LTD Country Squire Woody available from Highway One.

69k original miles. 2 owner car.

Brand new brakes. Recently serviced.

Excellent picnic/family car. Drive across the country.

Cool car!

PRICE: $5995.

Bargain price for a Woody!

Call for more info 650.342.7340 or 415.308.4499

Shipping Available. Trades Welcome.

Highway One Classic Automobiles
1035 California Drive
Burlingame, CA 94010

www.highwayone.com

 

looks to be the same base color as mine with the wood.

I still by far think the front end on mine is way cooler looking than the double headlights.

 

81 Squire

So,
Where's the rack ???????

 

I suppose a roof rack wouldn't be too hard to find off a salvage car. It would pain me, though, to drill holes in that pristine sheet metal.

 

Been for sale a long time. Nice looking, but too high priced for a low option Country Squire from a low demand year.

http://www.stationwagonforums.com/f...=25935&highlight=1981+Ford+LTD+country+squire

 

JW, you are so right. Nobody really lusts after this age of car, and this one is quite lightly optioned. First, no luggage rack, no power windows or locks, no power seat, and worst, the single front bench, not the twin lounge seats, and no front seat recline, all upholstered in vinyl. Looks like it has the base 14 inch wheels on it, and good luck finding a decent 225/75R14 tire these days, without spending an arm and a leg. Maybe if it were down in the $3,000 range, but at this price, he's going to own it quite a while.

 

Now another internet bargain guide price list. Who care's about a very undesirable early 1980s wagon?

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/4075322258.html

 

just curious as to what makes this vintage undesirable...

mike

 

Comparatively low output HP engine for '81/82 era would be my reason for less desirable.

 

hey, hey, hey, what?

Some of the guys in the Wagon Train want GTO wagons, or Thunderbolt wagons... They want to burn rubber from stop sign to stop sign.... Others of us, would be happy just going from stop sign to stop sign. Doing it in as little time as possible really isn't in the mission statement, like it is for "them"

 

Have you driven a 81/82 or 83,84,85.86,8..........stock full size GM lately>?

 

Oh yes, Tedy, I agree completely in comparison to a contemporary GM full size which never adopted fuel injection for the their box wagons. Keep in mind - I have a '89 Caprice Estate with the 307 - I know how leisurely the acceleration is. I meant for the Country Squire as compared to other Ford full size wagons for that time period. 1980 was the last year for the 351 V8, and fuel injection for the 302 did not arrive until 1983. That's why, for me personally at least, 1981/82 would be the least desirable 1980s years for a Country Squire with a carbureted 302 V8.

 

JW, the 351 did hang around longer, but it was not readily available in the U.S. Here in Canada it was an RPO on all body styles through 87, and on the sedans until 91. It was available by special order for professional vehicles, though, as I have seen an 89 Country Sedan from the U.S. with it. It was originally ordered as a Coroner's car.

The 302 is a perfectly good engine with lots of torque. Just get rid of that VV carburetor and put on a good 4 barrel Edelbrock. Add a dual exhaust and the thing comes to life. Swap in the slightly newer AOD, and watch the fuel economy become quite acceptable. Because these years are the 'undesirable' ones, they are the best ones to get. They cost less, and are every bit as good as the ones everyone wants.

 

hey, hey, hey, what?

From what I read, here and there, the 1984 Mustang was voted "Worst Mustang Ever" by many Mustang aficionados, because the 5.0 dropped down to 140 advertised bhp that year. Four bhp less than the Falcon 260 of the early 60's. The very next year, Ford had pumped it up to an average rating of 158 bhp. And left it there. Unless your 5.0 came with aluminum heads, then it dropped to right around 150, or so they said... There were other problems with the 84 Mustangs, that helped them get the horrible treatment they got, but in the context of the full size Fords they were putting the 5.0 into,,, things were worse. Mustangs weighed less than 3,000 lbs. A Country Squire or Colony Park weighed 4,400 lbs. The wagons were not quick cars and, because of the tranny they got, were lucky to get all the way to that 85 on their speedos. That's why some members say, they would hold out for a wagon, of that era, with a 351 in it. The extra bhp you would get with a 351 would make the wagon move quicker, and even use less gas doing it.

 

I plan to be in the right hand lane just cruising along . Having a grand old time in my 30 year old Woody . Good enough for me .

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