Beschreibung
Best winter (post) lockdown project?
This 54 Country Squire 9 Seat Sedan is a very sound project crying out to be a shop truck or cool surf wagon. In UK and with current V5C in my name and registered as 1954 Ford Country Squire Estate.
Has 3 digit and 3 letter age related plate, It’s even currently taxed!!!
I’ve been meaning to get this on road for a couple of years but simply have to many restorations on the go. With my sensible head on, I need to prioritise which to finish.
Car details
Genuine 9 Seat (3 rows) Country Squire not a rebadged Country Sedan or Wagon
'54 is the first year of all independent front suspension which is highly rated in USA, stock stance is good - only higher now only because engine is out .
Genuine original Black plate California car and you’d tell that from how sound she is.
The car is in it’s original Dove Blue over off white (which has clearly patinated with sun in USA mainly on roof, bonnet and wing tops)
Majority of brightwork is stainless so easy to polish yourself saving £000’s on tropical Old Tank rechroming cost.
Has its original 239 V8 “Y” block which has same firing order as Ford Flathead giving old school sound with OHV performance (engine fires up and have video of it running with petrol poured down carb)
Plenty of performance parts and specialists in US for Ford Y block (but see below)
Front seat trim has suffered under sun, as has headlining and both have trim removed. The second and third row of seats are in a great light blue / fawn brocade material and in very good condition for year, no need to retrim.
All door cards in very good condition, complete with all metal handles and armrests
Very very little metalwork needed, bottom of fenders already repaired, doors solid and shut like new. Sills solid, just a couple of small (non-structural) holes on floorpan mainly in rear.
The car is stripped of brightwork but it is believed to be all there - the photo inside barn only has bumper laid across panels not bolted on - ends of upper grill are both there too
The difficult to find fake wood panel surrounds are all complete and stripped
Engine and trans are out and on a pallet
Car stripped for painting and has been dry stored since it came into UK circa 2013, we think directly from California.
Photos taken inside the barn are from less than 1 week ago
My plan was to:
1) install a 351W which a number of guys have successfully done in USA with a AOD overdrive auto. - I bought an MOT failure but mechanically good Dayvan, removed engine and trans and these is priced separately. This was a running 351W with Fuel Injection if required (EFI been removed as has smog equipment and was planning on using Carb / Holley EFI). The engine ran well before it was removed from Dayvan. It comes complete with matching AOD overdrive auto trans and best to fit as a complete unit.
2) Trim the front seat - I was sent samples of material available from USA which very nearly matches the original.
3) Disc brake conversion is available in USA as is Borgeson Power steering box.
4) The plan was to paint car around the fake wood panels and then get vinyl cut with logo inserted in panel and have it as shop truck. It’s ideal for that with 2 rows of seats plus large carrier area or single row and more than enough carry space. Unlike other (later) Wagon’s this is also a manageable size, its 16 1/ 2 ft long and 6’ 1’’ wide.
For a car in UK, as solid a start point as this is, and as complete as this is with latest V5C it’s not dear.
I want it to go to someone who will put this back on road. A genuine Squire is getting rare in USA and I only know of 2 in UK.
It won’t need masses of time and money spent on welding, panels chrome etc like many American cars.
Asking £7, 795 for car and £2, 495 for the 351W and AoD combined.
Car Located nr J8 of M11 Bishop’s Stortford.
