390-Equipped: 1966 Ford Country Sedan
Necessity is the mother of invention, and a lack of options within the new car market means buyers are turning to vehicles like this 1966 Ford Country Sedan if they seek a station wagon to transport a larger family. These classics offer enormous carrying capacity, and when equipped with a 390ci V8 under the hood, they can effortlessly devour long distances. This Country Sedan is a structurally solid vehicle, although it has superficial rust issues requiring attention. The seller listed it here on eBay in Pebble Beach, California. They set a BIN of $7,900, although they will consider offers. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D, who has used his finely tuned classic radar to spot this wonderful Wagon.
By modern standards, the 1966 Country Sedan is a big vehicle. That isn’t a bad thing because it is ideal for transporting a family and all of the baggage and paraphernalia involved with such activities. This one wears Wimbledon White paint that shows its age. The panels sport a selection of dings and dents, and visible rust requires attention. However, none of the rust is severe, suggesting some well-crafted patches might be the perfect answer. The Wagon is structurally sound, with the floors looking as clean as you could hope to find. There is visible surface corrosion, but this classic carries the hallmarks of a vehicle that has resided in a drier climate. The glass looks excellent, but some trim pieces show damage that may prove beyond restoration.
Lifting this Ford reveals the iconic 390ci V8 that sends its 275hp to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. The original owner’s decision to equip this giant with power steering and brakes should make life behind the wheel pretty easy. It may not be a high-performance model, but its ability to cover the ¼ mile in 17 seconds makes it pretty spritely for a vehicle of this type carrying 4,347lbs and capable of comfortably seating six. The seller indicates they recently revived the Country Sedan after ten years of hibernation. The V8 roared to life with only minor tinkering. It runs and drives, with the transmission shifting smoothly. They supply this YouTube video which includes a walk-around and allows us to see and hear the Wagon in action. The carburetor needs work, and it sounds like it would benefit from exhaust work. However, the impression is mainly positive.
This Ford’s interior offers plenty of space, making it the perfect weapon for cross-country adventures. It will seat a family of six with ample space for all the luggage you can imagine, and room for the family dog! I would describe it as serviceable, but it requires attention to lift it to the next level. The front seat has significant damage, while the back seat heads in the same direction. There is some wear on the carpet, and the deterioration of the dash pad suggests that splits and cracks aren’t far away. However, the door trims appear excellent, with the same true of the headliner. There is some plastic discoloring in the cargo area. Still, with no apparent physical damage, it would be the ideal candidate for a refresh courtesy of a high-quality plastic dye or paint. The interior isn’t loaded with luxury features, although the air conditioning is undoubtedly welcome on warm Californian days.
In its current state, this 1966 Ford Country Sedan is unlikely to win any beauty contests. However, the bones are there for a new owner to perform a remarkable transformation. The seller’s price places it within the affordable category, and addressing its rust issues would seem straightforward. The icing on the cake is its healthy 390, and I won’t be surprised if it soon finds a new home. Could it be yours?
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Comments
Growing up our families 1966 Country Sedan was powder blue with the blue interior. That red gives me headaches. Ours had the 390 as well and once in a while dad would blow the carbon out of it with some brisk driving. Dad bought it when it as five years old and the body was ok after five Wisconsin winters. When he sold it at 10 years old, the rust through problems were terrible. Lots of memories induced from looking at this wagon.
Seems like every family in my town growing up has one of these- the fancier folks had the Dinoc paneling and glas (?) wood imitation trim to give it the Woodie look. Just to be able to sit behind the dash and see metal and not plastic would make my heart sing. Being on the coast I get he rust….but there’s more than we can see for sure. I do like the red interior though-)
I’d rebuild the carb, fix that exhaust
leak, add a dual circuit master cylinder, and just drive it as is for
awhile. Who needs a $100K SUV
when you could have this!
This is a cool old wagon, but I think the first sentence of this writeup is just so far from reality. No one is going to buy vehicles like this to haul the family around daily. Aside from having virtually no safety features, the fuel cost alone would make it too expensive for an average family. That and the fact that parts just aren’t as plentiful or easy to get as they once were. One little fender bender and it would be written off.
Exactly. All the modern amenities of 2000’s to the present are missing from this brick. For that $ a used minivan will serve a family much much better.
I would much rather have this car . Then any new car today. The safety features are alot better then any new car. Awhile back,. I saw one hit a new Dodge Ram . Knocked the whole front axle out from under the Ram . The old Ford. Bent the fender a little and drove off. The Ram had to be towe3d off. The newer cars have alot of electronic. That can cause the engine to die suddenly. You can keep your new over price junk. Give me a old vehicle any day. That I can work on and still get parts for. Look at all the ne4w cars sitting on car lots–waiting for s chip. Let the grid collapse hear–all these cars and trucks with electronic gadgets–will shut down. The old POINTS VEHICLE will be running,
It does have a padded dash, seat belts, and 1966 was the first year for mandated emergency flashers on all vehicles.
These were the ideal family haulers of the 60s. I would definitely upgrade to a dual master cylinder and front disc brakes. The bottom of the tailgate looks a little iffy at the bottom, which was pretty common for Ford wagons of that era.
What a wornout rustbucket. Is there anything it doesn’t need? That oil filter looks like it’s qualified to vote….
I would be leery on the seller. He has other vehicles for sale on the Bay. Asked him a reasonable question about a certain vehicle and he never replied. He never did sell it. A shyster? maybe. Just being cautious.
Maybe $2900 is closer to the mark. The rust showing on the tailgate and by the taillights is common from the inside out. I wonder how solid the tail gate hinge mounting areas are? Good amount of rust behind the hood chrome strip and a bent grill is not an easy fix or replacement. To many dents and dings and other rust to make it a project unless you really love big wagons and have a big wallet. This one is not the one.
Cheers
kenzo
The tread design on caught my interest….knew it was old. Yes, on the enlarged picture of the tires there it is…SEARS…
Coastal California isn’t necessarily all that “dry” of a climate! This car is in Monterey, where if a car isn’t garaged-kept, it will be dripping with condensate from the year-round morning fogs that blanket the area, plus the salty ocean air. This will eventually cause body rust, especially around rain gutters, window and body trim, chrome parts, etc. where the moisture collects.
It will not cause rusting of the frame, suspension, etc., which should be perfectly fine on this wagon. This could be a good car to restore, if it’s bought right.
Must B fairlane based/era. Love the grill’n stacked hdlghts. This ‘truck’ reminds me of 1 we brought the fire wood in with. And writing of truck, every time I C the 390/C6 that’s what I think of (short bus, p/u, even dump w/different exhaust, other fomoco tricks). NOT the 429 model sold a yr ago after trotting out on social media by the smart-sales car guy (he might have even hada blog or well known uTube show). Now THAT motor makes me think “race car”.
This thing has rust and dents, whoever wrote this didn’t look at the pictures. Perhaps they should consider a different profession.
Pollyanna ain’t got nothing on a car salesman.
“Whoever wrote this” (Adam Clarke) said: “… it has superficial rust issues requiring attention”, and “dings and dents, and visible rust requires attention”, also “some trim pieces show damage that may prove beyond restoration.”
Perhaps John L. should consider a different pair of reading glasses before criticizing.
Rust through is not superficial. I am amazed at people who justify these, shall I say “junkers”?
Not a junker by any means. Simply a machine built to serve a purpose 55+ years ago that it looks like it it still readily able to accomplish. A little worn around the edges maybe but still ready and willing to do the job.
Absolutely. May be overpriced….wonder what the dealer paid the original owner :)
You want to see a junker? Down the road here in the mountains is a 1942 Studebaker..that looks like it was left outside for the last seventy years. The owner of THAT JUNKER wants 6500.00. People are just nuts!
Great car at a great price, it’s 56 years old, I bet in better shape than most of us here. Idiots speaking this is junk or unsafe. You got to be kidding, very little rust, change the tires , tune up and drive it. Rather drive this than any new town and country van or whatever, plus it’s a lot lighter than new cars. Tough, old and strong!