From 1950 through 1991, the Country Squire was the absolute top of the line in Ford station wagons.

The Ford Motor Company was in the station wagon business almost from the start with its Model T depot hacks—“depot hack” being an uncanny synonym for “station wagon.” That’s where the station wagon originated: as a specialized vehicle for transporting passengers and luggage from the rail station to hotels and country estates.

Through the thirties and forties, Ford was one of the few automakers to produce its own bodies in-house for its woody station wagons, from its Iron Mountain plant in Michigan’s timber-rich Upper Peninsula. (The scraps were used to produce Kingsford charcoal.) All these wagons, from the depot hacks to the flathead V8-powered woodies, have since become classics. Ford continued its prominent role in the wagon market with the Country Squires of 1950 through 1991—the flagships of the Ford station wagon line.

1951 Country Squire 

When the Ford passenger car line was completely overhauled for 1949, the station wagons now used considerably more metal in their construction, includinng a one-piece steel roof. However, the doors and quarter panels were still mahogany plywood framed with birch or maple, like the familiar Ford woodys that came before it.

For ’49, the wagon was part of the Custom trim line, but in 1950, Ford began to use the term “Country Squire” in its print materials, with “Country Squire” always in quotes, though there were no corresponding emblems on the vehicles. For 1951, a chrome Country Squire badge was fixed to each door, and now it became an official model. While these ’49-’51 wagons (which shared their bodies with Mercury) included three rows of seating for eight passengers, they had only two passenger doors, restricting their utility.

1954 Country Squire

For 1952, the Ford wagons  were upgraded to true all-steel bodies with four doors, greatly improving their durability and marketability. The sheet-metal door and quarter stampings were now covered in 3M Di-noc vinyl film to simulate wood, but the surrounding trim was real ash and maple until 1954, when fiberglass was substituted. The wagon line now included additional models with names such as Ranch Wagon, Country Sedan, and Del Rio, but the Country Squire remained the top of the line and always offered the simulated wood trim.

1968 LTD Country Squire 

In 1966, Ford scored a significant coup in the wagon business with its two-way Magic Doorgate, engineered by Don Frey. (See our feature here.) Optional third-row seating featured Ford’s distinctive Dual-Facing arrangement. For 1969, the flagship wagon was slotted into Ford’s top-of-the-line LTD trim level and became the LTD Country Squire. Through the years there were Falcon, Fairlane, Torino, and even Pinto Squires, but the full Country Squire designation was reserved for the top-of-the-line full-sized wagons.

1978 LTD Country Squire

By 1978 the Country Squire (above) had evolved into an all-out luxury cruiser, but one with full family-hauling and towing capabilities. More than 225 inches long with a wheelbase of 121 inches and a curb weight of  4,800 lbs, it was as roomy and comfortable as most anything on the road, and it could be powered by Ford’s biggest passenger car engine, the 460 cubic-inch V8 with 202 SAE net horsepower. The price was hefty, too: At $6,447, it was by far the most expensive model in the Ford full-size line. EPA-rated fuel economy was 11 mpg city, 17 highway.

When the full-size platform was downsized for 1979, the Country Squire tagged along, now on a more fuel efficient 114.3-in wheelbase and powered by a standard 302 CID V8. The eighth and final generation received a facelift in 1988, but sales continued to dwindle as minvans took over the family-hauler role. When Ford’s big cars were restyled for 1992, the wagon body styles were discontinued and the Ford Windstar minivan and front-drive Taurus wagon dropped into the Country Squire’s former market role. Today, the Ford Expedition SUV is the brand’s luxury people mover.

1991 LTD Crown Victora Country Squire