1969 Ford LTD Country Squire

429 V8. What a looker!!!! Black exterior with wood grain and red interior!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Ford-C...oor-7-0L-/131289542183?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

 

Gorgeous!!

 

I this a lot!

RED interior???

 

BEAUTIFUL CAR!!!!!!!!!!! why did I sell my 69 wagons?

 

Wonder if the seller was able to sell the car. Nice wagon. Phil

 

Nice-looking Country Squire! But is that a recovered dash? Would be nice if the seller were to mention this.



Anyway, car is still available. Top bid was $8,988, reserve not met.

 

Good catch! I believe it has been recovered. Brochure pics I'm seeing show no stitching on the edges like this one has. Looks like a good job though.....

 

This would be a great wagon to own.

My only reservation about this generation of Ford/Mercury big wagons is the handling and steering. My folks purchased a new '69 Galaxie 500 HT, and I had an opportunity to drive it a few times before they replaced it. The steering had absolutely no 'feel' to it, and was overly power-assisted. Almost felt like you were steering by remote control. The ride was not firm at all - could have used some higher rate springs and firmer shocks. I know what to do with the springs and shocks, but I'm not sure what you can do to fix the steering.

 

It might be a dash mat. There's definitely no stitching on the original dash pad.

I've had four 1970 LTDs (3 Squires and a 2-door), and I never thought the steering in these cars was numb or over-assisted. There was usually a fair amount of play in the steering, but I never felt it lacked feedback. Now remember, this is a 4000 lb plus full size car that's much wider and longer than anything they pass off as a full size car today. It wasn't meant to slalom like a sports car.

Try an Olds 88, circa 1973 (my driver's ed car), if you want to experience a lack of feel.

Maybe your folks' car had worn/damaged/defective suspension/steering components. Or perhaps we just have very different standards and expectations.

 

Seems that the dash pads were not too UV or weather resistant back then (my current one included). It's pretty rare to find a 69-70 LTD wagon with a good dash pad.


As for the handling, I had the 429 4bbl version with the trailer package. Plenty heavy at 4850lbs. With H78-15 poly-glass tire, you weren't going to autocross much. On the other hand, it could pull a 4000+ lb trailer at 85 mph without a whimper. I raced it at the drag strip often (15.67 sec @ 89mph) and it routinely returned about 12 mpg. Hey, It was 60's engineering! Phil

 

Nah - it was like that when it was new........

 

I can't comment on the '69 Country Squires, but the '72 Country Squire was the same. Too much power-assist and no road feel. I drove the '72 a lot, from the time it was brand-spanking new until it met an untimely demise due to rust in 1978 or so.

The '64 Country Squire had much better power steering, much better road feel. I preferred the '64 over the '72.

Having said that, I'd still like to have one of the '72s. Just for nostalgia.