1968 Ford LTD Country Squire

POA

Part of our own personal collection for a decade
Stunning Highland Green with matching interior
Top trim level LTD example
As driven by Steve McQueen in The Getaway (1972)
Powered by the coveted 390 Big Block V8
Genius 2-way opening "Magic Doorgate" tailgate
Without doubt the finest example available today

There are many words for the estate car across different cultures. The British have the terms Estate of course as well as Shooting Brake, the latter most associated with two-door estates. In Europe, they're known sometimes as Breaks, Familiales, Safaris and in America they are best known as Station Wagons and Woodies. These trace their roots to bespoke vehicles with square rear ends, usually constructed from wood, designed to pick up hotel guests from the train station and transport them and their luggage to the hotel. There were occasional, bespoke prewar offerings on both sides of the pond but these cars only became real production models after the war. Germany had Mercedes-Benz Universals, France had Citroen DS Safaris and Peugeot 404 and 504 Estates, England had the Morris Traveller and the Humber Super Snipe Estate. America meanwhile had dozens of choices, all innovative in their own ways. Early American station wagons still used Wood and Woodies were immensely popular in the late 1940s with Chrysler even offering Town & Country packages on their Convertibles and Saloons.

As the 1950s progressed and the production increased, the heavy use of wood became unsustainable and so it was phased out. Nevertheless, the look became iconic. In the late 1950s, few station wagons had wood and were entirely painted in body colours though some featured faux-wood panelling to maintain the traditional image. Intriguingly, as styling went away from the Jet-age tailfins of the 1950s to the more restrained designs of the 1960s, faux wood panelling became more popular on Station Wagons and soon, most Wagons in America came with Faux Wood, particularly on the more upmarket variants as it came to represent luxury.

In 1968, American buyers could choose the Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon, the Dodge Coronet Wagon, Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and countless others. For many though, the absolute top of the Totem pole was the 1968 Ford LTD Country Squire. New for 1968 was concealed headlights which came standard on the Squire, a feature which was an option on all other wagons from the time. They were at the top end of Ford, "The Wagonmaster" overall lineup of Wagons. The pinnacle for these Country Squires was an LTD with the big-block, 390 V8. LTD was the highest trim level and big block American cars have always held a level of added desirability and allure.

Perhaps the most notable feature on the 1968 Country Squire was the genius Magic Doorgate, Ford's cleverly engineered tailgate which opened two ways, out to the side and down flat. 68 proved an incredibly popular year with over 91,000 units sold, an increase of 22,000 units over 1967. The car was a star and not just in American suburbs. It is forever immortalised on the silver screen, appearing in dozens of films and TV shows throughout the decades including Mad Men (2007-2015), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) and most famously of all, Steve McQueen's getaway car of choice in The Getaway (1972).

Just like the car Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw drove in that 1972 thriller, the beautiful Country Squire we proudly offer you is a 1968 Ford LTD Country Squire with the 390 cubic inch big block V8 and the 9-passenger seating configuration. Notably, our car is finished in the legendary Ford colour of Highland Green, a dark metallic green which is best known for its use on another famous Ford driven by McQueen, the 1968 Mustang GT390 Fastback he drove in Bullitt (1968). It notably was powered by the same big block engine as our Ford. It retains its original dark green vinyl interior which remains in exceptional order, especially considering its near 60 years of age. The car is equipped with a radio (original to the car), power windows, power steering, power seats, air-conditioning, winding quarter windows and a power rear window in the tailgate. It runs and drives beautifully and it really is a pleasure to guide this automotive icon down the road. In our own personal decade of ownership, the car has always performed faultlessly and proved itself as a consistently reliable station wagon that offers excellent comfort, refinement and performance. It is an incredible estate car that is hugely practical, a great addition to any collection and perfect for a family who want reliable, classic motoring. It really must be seen to be believed.