1968 Ford LTD Country Squire: Swank Suburbanite
Today if you’re looking for family transportation, your choices are limited if you want some style. Maybe a Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon or Volvo V60—are they still available in the U.S. or only Europe now? No, the common family transportation choices are largely devoid of head-turning looks. You have your choice of a spud-shaped Equinox, spud-shaped CR-V, spud-shaped Highlander, and other extremely similar-appearing options. No stand-up hood ornament. No whitewalls. No chrome-plated heraldic crests. No hidden headlights. And certainly no Di-Noc-clad, simulated-woodgrain paneling on the sides!
But, oh! Once upon a time, when America still made cars instead of trucks and the aforementioned spud-shaped rolling stock, you had all manner of attractive luxury station wagons just beckoning to you from your friendly local Ford, Chevy, or Chrysler-Plymouth dealerships. Kingswood Estates, Sport Suburbans, and, of course, the venerable Ford Country Squire. And if you wanted to spend a little more, you could get even swankier with an assortment of Bonneville Safaris, Mercury Colony Parks, and Chrysler Town and Countrys.
But even if you remained within the “Low Priced Three’s” wagon choices, you gave up little in luxury and comfort, especially if you chose the top-trim models. But if I expand much more on the state of American station wagons in 1968, we’ll be here all day, so let’s get back to today’s featured “longroof,” the ’68 Country Squire.
The 1968 Fords were essentially heavily facelifted ’67 models. Gone were the vertically stacked headlights that had been a big Ford trademark since 1965, replaced with horizontally-oriented quad lamps on the lesser models, with hidden headlights installed on the flossier LTDs—and the Country Squire.
The ’68 Country Squires came in six- and nine-passenger versions, retailing at $3539 (about $31,000 today) and $3619 ($31,687), respectively. Production was 33,994 six-passenger versions and 57,776 nine-passenger variants. The new 302-cubic-inch V-8 with a two-barrel carburetor was standard with a synchronized three-speed manual transmission. Of course, Select Shift automatic transmission was extremely popular. Bigger 390- and 428-cu-in V-8s were also optionally available.
Today’s car was spotted by my friend Jayson Coombes at a show in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, back in September 2022, in what appears to be Meadowlark Yellow. I was immediately taken with it when he texted me pictures of it back then. Of course, I forgot about it as I went to more shows and saw other fine examples of vintage Broughamage.
But lo and behold, early this summer my friend Sal Darigo sent me a care package of vintage brochures he’d run across, and one of them was the full-size 1968 Ford brochure. It immediately triggered my memory, and I spent some time tracking down the correct photo file on my computer. And here we are!
I really do miss the “standard Ford” LTDs, Galaxie 500s, Custom 500s, Fairlanes, and the like. The final vestige of that great line of Ford automobiles was the Ford Taurus, which sadly ended production after the 2019 model year. And the ’19 Taurus Limited was a great car. Sadly, today all you can get car-wise is a Mustang. Which is a shame. But for those who march to the beat of a non-crossover drummer, check the classic car listings and you’ll find all manner of fine LTD Country Squires—with style in spades!
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At the age of 19, my parents ordered this very model…only in Lime Gold with black interior; a very popular color at the time. It had the optional 390 engine and why that was will remain a mystery as my Dad wasn’t big on anything but ‘standard faire’! Our family was lucky enough to have a new Ford wagon every three years and back then it brought many innovative changes especially in styling; unlike today. What stood out with these pictures is the emblems of the horse and riding gear placed above the 390 engine designation on the front side fenders and again on the tailgate. While I don’t object to them, they were not part of the original car. As I remember it the horse emblem was apart of the ‘65 Country Squire and placed after the script on the upper front fenders on each side. A small point that doesn’t take away from this nostalgic and well written article.
Yes these Ford Wagons were awesome . My dad bought a new 1966 Ford Fairlane wagon with a police interceptor 390 . Pretty much just ac , ps , pb , third seat . He put 100k on it then I got it in 1976. It was one of the ugliest cars in school but a great sleeper as it was also one of the fastest . Great memories.
I was born in 68′ and My parents bought one of these every couple of years until I was in My twenties,they alternated between Squires and Colony Parks!
These cars were cool. Even when the only thing on the side was the decal as the metal rusted out.
It is a shame so many of these cars are gone as they were styled unto their own. I recall the Olds with the windows in the roof. Also recall riding around North Carolina in a Greenwood Estate with the retracting tail gate. Sitting in that back seat was cool
Too many of these cars ended up in mid west demo derbys.
Shopping on a budget in ’68, my Dad found the Mercury version of the Country Squire was labeled Commuter and had all of the wagon meat, but little in the way of garnish. Equipped with the 390 it would climb the Colorado mountain passes, but was just a basic family wagon, the full wheel covers were even optional. No power anything, and even the rear cargo area was basic, with just an uncarpeted metal deck. It was reliable and was eventfully replaced by a ’72 Country Squire with a 429, even faster up the mountain passes.
I have a 68 Galaxie Fastback. It is red with black interior. It has a 390 2 barrel and an automatic. I did a body off restoration on it 10 years ago and have only driven it 500 miles since then. We brought our baby girl home from the Hospital when she was born 54 years ago. She and her daughter drove it to their weddings.
I put XL bucket seats and console, hidden headlight grill and Mustang wheels on it several years ago.
I want a comeback of muscle wagons, and wagons in general. My first car was a wagon, and I loved every minute of ownership. My dream is to someday own an Olds Vista Cruiser with a 455.
I wish Ford had never given up on cars and still had some wagons in the lineup. It’s fun to see these things in action today.
Wow, fond memories! I learned to drive in my Dad’s 1967 Country Squire. It was shiny black with a red interior, and was powered by the 390-4V Police Interceptor engine with the trailer towing package. Nice car. When it came time to replace the ol’ Ford, Dad bought a 1973 Chrysler Town & Country wagon. It was a garnet red with white leather interior and was posed by the 440-4V Police Interceptor engine with trailer towing package. As you might have guessed, we had a travel trailer that needed towing. Since I grew up around those big wagons with the fake wood sides, I’ve always been a fan. Every time I see on these days, it catches my eye!
I’m going to have to close out the Hagerty.com page and my MS Edge browser because I’m drooling too much over this Country Squire wagon. I had the good fortune growing up to see most brand new Mercury cars and trucks delivered to the dealership across the street from Dad’s hardware store. Given that, I was almost the first kid to be able to look at unique new vehicles when they arrived. Fancy vehicles, whatever they were, were always the cause of me drooling down the front of my t-shirt!!
Not necessarily a big fan of crossovers, but the Highlander certainly does not look like a “spud”. It is not so very attractive, but that “spud-shaped” description is overused nowadays.
That said, it would be nice to have a big wagon, but something newer and safer, like a Roadmaster. Get a 1994-96, and power will NOT be lacking – and MPG will be significantly better than a Ford 390, 428, or 429.
My dad bought a 68 Country Sedan wagon new in 1968. I took my drivers test in that car at 16, and then proceeded to beat it to death over the next 6 years. It was the party wagon every Friday night. I could fit 10 of my friends into it when we went field partying. I still can’t believe my dad let me continue to use it, every Monday, he would find a fresh small dent or scratch, and the smell of beer, cigarettes, and weed was always constant. The one issue I can recall now with the 302, it had a timing chain problem, I can remember having to be the tool hander to him at least 3 times to 1974 when he bought a new F150 , and we had to change out the chain. I wish he was still here to reminisce with.
Our family owned a Ford Mercury dealership in the ’60’s and we always had the latest wagon to haul around “the herd”. Many memories of traveling and my brother and me always jumping in the “way back” so we could get away with shenanagans! Always marveled at the “magic 3 way tailgate”.