1966 Ford Country Squire

The Country Squire is American family life in automotive form. Wood-paneled wagons carried the baby boom generation to Little League, summer camps, and cross-country vacations. The fake wood — Di-Noc vinyl with printed grain — was aspirational.

Real wood wagons were for the country club set; the Squire let everyone else pretend. By the mid-60s, Ford had perfected the formula: big FE V8 for effortless cruising, cavernous interior, and styling that said 'we made it.' Throw a surfboard on the roof and you've got an icon of California cool that defined an era. This is the Woody.

The Di-Noc wood trim is the make-or-break. Originals with intact trim are increasingly rare. Faded and peeling wood paneling has its own charm — it's honest aging. The chrome and brightwork are substantial and rechrome well.

These are big cars that need space to look right. Slight fade on those massive painted surfaces works; too much restoration makes them look like parade floats. Let the wagon tell its story.

Driving a Country Squire is an event. They're huge, slow to respond, and stop like a freight train. Parallel parking is an adventure. But highway cruising is what they're built for — that big FE V8 loafs along with hundreds of pounds of luggage and a family of five.

Parts are getting harder to find, especially interior trim and the wood appliqué. The FE engine family is well-supported, though. Find a solid one and enjoy being the coolest person at the beach.