Forest Find: 1961 Ford 2-Door Ranch Wagon
As of late, we have covered a lot of station wagons here on Barn Finds and interest always seems to focus on ’50s vintage, full-size two-door models. By 1961, however, they were starting to fade away, more than likely due to the convenience that four-doors provided. Nevertheless, Ford continued and ’61 marked the last of their two-door Ranch Wagon offerings. And for your review, we have found one though the listing is extremely limited. It is located in Roanoke, Virginia and is available, here on Facebook Marketplace for $2,500. Thanks to Chuck F. for this tip!
Ford’s full-size wagon line-up for ’61 included two and four-door Ranch Wagons, a four-door Country Sedan, and atop-of-the-line, four-door Country Squire. Total production numbers were about 122K, with 12K, or 9.9% being two-door Ranch Wagon models – a number higher than I would have thought. There is no story or details surrounding this example; the visuals, per the images, are all we have. As the seller states, “Yes there is rust that’s why it’s $2500 and not $25,000“. Surface rust is obvious, rot-through is evident too in the fender legs and lower quarters, the underside? Likely. That said, the body is pretty straight, other than where the rust has shifted the gap between the passenger door and front fender. It’s hard to say exactly what color this Ranch Wagon is, it looks like Ford Green Metallic but whatever it is, it’s safe to say that it’s original.
Being on a trailer, it’s likely that this Ford is a non-runner. There is no mention, or image, of this car’s powertrain which ran the gambit from a 135 HP, 223 CI, “Mileage-Maker” in-line, six all the way to a 300 HP, 390 CI, “Thunderbird” V8. This example is probably powered by something closed to the former, then the latter. Transmission choices included a standard three-speed manual or Fordomatic/Cruise-O-Matic automatics, depending upon the engine choice. Unfortunately, there are no included images of the interior either, so there’s no telling what one may find in there.
It’s unfortunate that the listing is so limited as there are multiple directions that this Ranch Wagon could be taken and a little more detail would help with the cause. Unless the integrity of this wagon is completely kaput, it could be a great basis for a total hot-rod remake. The powertrain options are endless and the exterior could be restored as stock or appropriately modified. Let’s dream a bit, what would be your suggestions going forward with this potentially cool wagon?
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Comments
Great find.You don’t see many 2DR wagons.
You heard the man, “gettun hard to find” so you better go scoop it up, yeah its got rust but its not 10 times the price, so it has to be a good deal.. haha.
Posted 3 days ago and still available? What’s up with that?
Craigslist link takes you to Facebook Marketplace.
There are quite a few unknowns about this car, but for the asking price you can almost feel it would be worth it.
No underside shots, no mention of drivetrain, and no interior shots.
If it were mine to rebuilt I would probably go with a warm 302, decent brakes and steering, add-on air, a slight drop, and body colored wheels with small hubcaps…not sure if I would go with blackwalls or period looking radial whitewalls. Oh, and paint it up a near matching shade of turquoise green.
Thx for the heads-up, it’s fixed now.
JO
This. This is the way.
I have this car for sale straight from California and 75% complete for sale if you are interested. It is incredibly rare and rust free.
Gap has shifted is the wrong choice of words. The fender and door have dissolved and so has the rocker. I don’t think there is much car left here
Not many 2dr. `61s left, for sure. As long as you don’t mind working with patch panels for the floors, go for it! I’m betting as basic as these were, this one’s an inline six and probably a 3-on-the-tree. If a V8, AT BEST it’s a 292.
Bummer it’s not a 3 on the tree. Someday this 61will be a real Stunner.
“Driven 1,000,000 miles” This proves you can say whatever you want on BF and FB and not be called out on it. (BTW, sold for $2500.)
When I was around 4 yrs old a woman jumped a curb in one of these while I was playing on the sidewalk and almost hit me. I felt the wind from it.
My Great Grandmother kept me during the day and she lived across the road from the factory the woman worked at. My mother worked there as well.
Was rumored the lady’s husband was so jealous of her he only gave her a few minutes to get home or he’d beat the hell out of her.
BTW her car was black and this was in 1964.
If that’s true , it’s sad, hopefully one day she had the courage to drive the other way and not look back
Sold! That’s near me,but never seen it before.
Had a pal circa 1967 that had a ’66 Nova 2 door wagon. Built in Canada, so they did things a bit different up there. :-) Terry J
Whoever took the photos was afraid to get too close to it and that’s why there are no interior, underhood or closeup shots. Also some people are afflicted with an irrational fear of green automobiles. The condition is known as Prasinoautophobia.
Not sure if I’ve ever seen one of these before, but it sure would be a cool cruiser if it could be saved. My older brother had a ‘61 2 door hardtop, same color green, with a 260 and a three-on-the-tree and overdrive if I remember correctly.
Whoever decides to tackle this one will have their work cut out for them. Doesn’t look like there’s much good sheet metal left to work with…
I came home from the hospital in 1961 in a 1960 Ranch Wagon, same color green. My dad was an electronics salesman , and the two door wagons were cheap, but were perfect for his work. He would buy a new one every two or three years due to the high mileage he racked up on them. He traded a 57 Ranch Wagon for the 60 . Because of those two, my mother, who wasn’t into cars at all , called any station wagon a “Ranch Wagon” for the rest of her life.
I dont know what this cars future is, but at least for now, its saved from the crusher .
I posted this wagon a few years back in a different state. This is what the wagon looks like today- finished up the drive train-chassis and placed the body back on her. Still looking for the next owner to come along and finish her up. As you can see, I did not get very far in the past few years. I am up around Hudsonville Michigan now.
Another angle- great car.