'66 Ford Country Squire 428ci V8 in TN

Greetings wagon folk!

I'm new here. Well, actually I've lurked around here for a while. I just never have posted anything. I just never had anyting to post about.

A little over a year ago I came across an ad for what I considered to be a rare wagon. No photo. Just an ad describing the basics of the car. My curiosity peaked, I called. He was the second owner and gave me the long and short of the story. He told me he had it stored in the shed.

I wanted to go see the car, but he told me that I couldn't because he would not be around. Before I even got the chance, someone beat me to the punch and placed a deposit on the car. Somewhat discouraged, but hardly devastated, I chalked it up to fate.

About a month later, the old gentleman contacted me again and told me the car was still available. The previous buyer had left the deposit, but never contacted him again. Seemed strange, but who was I to question? Maybe fate had kicked in again.

I jumped at the chance to go see the car in person. To say the old guy
lived in the mountains was an understatement. After a drive through the
country, we arrived. The car was, indeed, in the shed.

After a long conversation, we fired the old girl up. The engine was
surprisingly quiet and smooth. It and the transmission had recently been
rebuilt. The interior, although in need of a good cleaning, was in nice
shape. We drove the car. I was impressed.

Needless to say, I left a deposit on the car and made arrangements to come get it later. Well, later finally came and I went and loaded her
up and brought her home.

The car I am speaking of? It's a 1966 Ford Country Squire. It was special
ordered by the owner of the Ford dealership in Jamestown, TN. According to the original sticker/delivery sheet this is how he ordered it.

- Country Squire 4dr DFRS
- Wimbledon white
- Base 289 2V 8 cylinder engine
- 428 4V Thunderbird 7 litre
- Cruise o matic
- Courtesy light group
- 845x15 4PR WSW tires
- Chrome luggage rack
- Power windows
- Power front seat 6 way
- PWR strg & power disc brakes
- Selectaire Conditioner
- Stereosonic tape system
- Radio AM FM
- Deluxe seat belts frt and rr
- tinted glass
- visibility group
- HD suspension

Keep in mind she is a "work in progress." She is all original. The only thing missing on the car is the 8-track tape player. The previous owner removed it and put it away.

He also removed the woodgrain and trim in preparation for paint. I have since purchased another set of trim and plan to have the lower portion of the car painted while buffing out the rest. I want to keep it as original as possible.

She still has the original spare tire and jack as well as the owner's manual.

She is a great old driver that turns heads every time I get it out. I plan to post photos soon.

I am hoping to get to know some of you. I also hope I can rely on you for advice along the way .

Thanks

 

to the wagon train, prof. Great intro and I can't wait to see the pix! You list 2 engines...which one is in the car? Sounds like it's loaded with all the goodies! Glad you found us.

 

'66 Country Squire engine

Thanks for the welcome.

I listed what was on the delivery sheet. She came with the 428ci V8. She will definitely get you home from the store before your milk gets warm. hahaha

 

Yup! Nice car, nice engine.

 

Sounds like a good find Professor. Look forward to some pics.

After I bought my 66 Ranch Wagon, I was looking into recreating a window sticker. Looking at photos of original window stickers, I too noticed that sometimes two engines were listed. The best that I can figure is if the model did not come standard with a V8, and a V8 was ordered, the base 289 V8 was listed first (with it's associated cost). Then if one of the FE engines were ordered, that was manifested separately as an upgrade. If the car came standard with a V8, such as the LTD, and one of FE engines was ordered, then only the optional engine was listed. Believe it or not, the straight six was still standard in the Country Squire in 66, though it was seldom that one of the V8s was not ordered.

An excellent source of information for you to check out is the 66 Ford Registries
http://66ford.fordregistries.com/
The only bummer is that Ford trashed all their records through 1966. It's only 1967 and up that you can order a Marti Report based on Ford's records.

 

Professor. Nice wagon find. It might get you home before the milk gets warm. But sounds like it could end up as a milk shake! Just proves they're still hiding in the hills and barns...or sheds!

 

Hey - that's never stopped a lot of us........

Anyways, welcome to the forum, Professor. That's a rare loaded Country Squire you have there, and in my opinion, one of the best-looking big Fords of any year. In later years, starting around '77 or so more and more of them came equipped with all the 'goodies', but not so much back in the 60's. Also rare to have the 428. Most of the SoCal didn't seem to go for the 289's in the big Fords for some reason - maybe some in the lower-line sedans.....most wagons I saw had the big block.

Please post up some pics of that CS for all of us to enjoy......


Marshall

 

Welcome Professor

 

Sometimes it feels like Gillian's Island around here, and with our Professor, I believe we are just about complete

So, it took getting a wagon to get you to stop lurking and start chatting...cool Keep it coming OK?

Welcome

 

------------Okay fannie, does that make you Mary Ann or Ginger?----or Lovey?

 

depends on the day

 

Or maybe Mrs. Howell!

 

A powerful find for sure. Can't wait for the pics. I'm sure it must have the 428 emblems on the front fenders, am I right?

 

Well Fannie, I've actually had wagons in the past. I've owned a '59 Ford Country Sedan, a '57 Olds Fiesta 88, an '87 Buick Estate, a '59 Edsel, and a '60 Mercury Commuter. All were great cars, but it just seems different with this one.

 

Yes, Snooterbuckets, it does, indeed have the emblems on the fenders.