It's really a shame that SUVs and minivans have taken the place of the traditional station wagon, because everyone should have childhood memories of cruising the countryside in a wood-sided hauler like this 1955 Ford Country Squire. With a smooth-running V8, A/C, and a bright interior, nobody's going to complain about the journey or be in a hurry to reach their destination.The car was repainted about six years ago in its original Raven Black and it looks fantastic against the wood siding. Of course, by 1955 the real wood woodies were all but extinct, but Ford's Dy-Noc patterned vinyl looked pretty convincing. The paint is in very good condition showing minimal signs of use and only very minor signs of age, which is inevitable no matter what kind of car you're driving. The wood panels are crisp and bright, and the surrounds are fiberglass, which gives a nice contrast and replicates the framing of the original woodies. Of course, with the Country Squire, it was all about high style, so you also get Ford details like the jet exhaust taillights, that wonderful mesh grille, and a sleek jet-age hood ornament. We also really dig the rear-view mirror perched out there on the fender and the flip-down license plate bracket that still shows your plate even when the tailgate is down.The bright red and white interior is a fantastic contrast to the black bodywork and makes the handsome wagon feel very upscale, which is entirely the point. The Country Squire was the top-of-the-line Ford in 1955, and it looks the part with comfortable bench seating for six (this car was never equipped with the third-row seat option). Ford's corporate dash should look familiar, with a hooded speedometer with a Plexiglas window in back to light it from behind and a big 2-spoke steering wheel that makes the wagon easy to maneuver. Three round pods in the center of the dash house the heater controls, the radio, and the clock, respectively, with an aftermarket but period-correct under-dash A/C unit. Remarkably, the AM radio is still working properly and with "three-on-the-tree" shifting, it's actually a lot of fun to drive. The cargo bay is outfitted with heavy-duty rubber mats and the seat folds down, allowing this wagon to swallow a shocking amount of cargo, so it's a hobby car that doesn't mind doing a little work on the weekends.Ford's 272 cubic inch "Y-block" V8 was standard equipment in the Country Squire, a smooth powerplant with enough power to make the wagon feel peppy around town. It's mostly original under the hood, so it's not sparkling clean, but the way this one runs will convince you that leaving it alone is the right choice. It does show plenty of evidence of proper maintenance over the years and aside from the discreetly mounted A/C compressor, it's quite original. The 3-speed shifts easily and has nice clutch take-up, and with factory overdrive, it's effortless on the highway. Dual exhaust has been fitted, so it has a nice V8 burble that sounds great but never gets annoying and the undercarriage, while original, shows signs of clean living someplace warm. Original wheels are painted red for contrast and fitted with full hubcaps and a set of 205/75/15 whitewall radials, but just imagine how awesome it would look with a set of wide whites!Nicely finished and ready to enjoy, this is the ultimate vintage family hauler, and from personal experience, a cheerful wagon like this is a great way to see the world. Call today!