TGR Staff
Some of the best classic cars on the market are often not the ones you would immediately think of, like this 1965 Ford Falcon Squire Station Wagon. While collectors are driving up prices on classic Mustangs and E-Type Jaguars, a quick search on Hemmings shows that a nice daily driver Falcon Squire can still be bought for under $20,000, making the Squire an affordable classic that still really stands out.
But first a little background on what makes the Squire so special. Ford first released the 'Country Squire' trim level in 1950, only that first-generation (1950-1951) used genuine wood body panels, made out of lumber from Ford-owned forests in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In 1952 Ford shifted to an all-steel body with simulated wood, which would remain the standard on all future Squire models.
Ford would use variations of the Squire nameplate, in nearly every catagory ranging from subcompact to full-size vehicles from the 1950s through the 1980s to denote station wagons with woodgrain trim, for even offered the Pinto wagon with a woodgrain Squire trim level in the mid-70s. The only non-wagon to receive the factory Square treatment was the Ranchero Squire.
But one of the most beloved of all the Squires is the Falcon Squire, the wood-trimmed sporty compact wagon that shared at least some of its DNA with the Ford Mustang. Launched in 1960 the Ford Falcon was the first compact car offered by the Big Three for the US market. Offered in two-door and four-door sedan, two-door and four-door station wagon, two-door hardtop, convertible, sedan delivery, and Ranchero pickup body configurations, the Falcon was an entire line in itself. It was considered small at its time, even though today it would be considered a mid-size car.
Ford, GM, and Chrysler saw the writing on the wall, with the popularity and accessibility of smaller less expensive cars for the growing post-war economy at home as well as abroad, they all needed a compact car. Ford introduced the Falcon, Dodge the Dart, and Chevrolet launched the rear-engine Corvair. Market research showed that many households were buying a second car which would be primarily driven by the wife, and polling showed women didn't like driving full-size cars. Carmakers like Fiat, Volkswagen, and Toyota were already gaining sales in the US market and had begun or had already eclipsed US automakers in their domestic markets. The Falcon would be one of the first modern "global platforms" that Ford would introduce with Falcons being manufactured in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, and Mexico. The sporty and versatile Falcon was a hit around the world and the nameplate would remain in production until 2016 in overseas markets.
This 1965 Falcon Squire is owned by Hannah Cohen who uses it as her daily driver in Southern California.
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