Help With Car ID

[Morris Minor]

Anyone know what the red woody wagon is in the background? The photo was taken in 1966. I *think* it's a '66 or '67 Ford Fairlane. (The Impala is impressive)

[hotrodalex]

Ford Country Squire! (Same thing as a Fairlane but with the wood)

[Morris Minor]

Ford Country Squire! (Same thing as a Fairlane but with the wood)

I'd thought that too, but the grill does not look like that of the Country Squire of that era.

[GoCougs]

My first hunch was a Mercury version of the Ford Country Squire (Comet?). However, the '66 Ford Fairline wagon looks like a dead ringer:

[Soup DeVille]

My first hunch was a Mercury version of the Ford Country Squire (Comet?). However, the '66 Ford Fairline wagon looks like a dead ringer:

Yep.

For the record, the Fullsize Mercury version was the Colony park; the Comet wagon was called the Villager and was the upscale version of the Falcon wagon (called either the deluxe or the squire)

[Morris Minor]

So this is a Fairlane with vinyl woody bits?

Edit - got it: it's a '66 Fairlane Squire. My wife (that's her in the red coat) thought it was a Country Squire, but that was one size up from the Fairlane.

[hotrodalex]

Was it really a size up? Guess I've never seen the two side by side to notice.

[GoCougs]

As a side note, I'm always taken back by the color and richness of high quality pre-digital age photos; the B&W stuff from the turn of the century is absolutely stunning in its "resolution."

[Cookie Monster]

As a side note, I'm always taken back by the color and richness of high quality pre-digital age photos; the B&W stuff from the turn of the century is absolutely stunning in its "resolution."

I was surprised that was taken in 1966. I thought it was a more recent picture (maybe from the '90s).

[Morris Minor]

Was it really a size up? Guess I've never seen the two side by side to notice.

Well I'm having all kinds of self-doubt now, but, from what I can see, the Fairlane has a flat grill with the circular badge in the center. The bigger one has a slightly protruding center grill in a ship's prow style.

[Morris Minor]

As a side note, I'm always taken back by the color and richness of high quality pre-digital age photos; the B&W stuff from the turn of the century is absolutely stunning in its "resolution."

It occurred to me that, if my then 39-year-old father-in-law stepped forward 50 years, he would still be looking good: slim-cut suit, skinny tie, pocket square, glasses.

[hotrodalex]

Well I'm having all kinds of self-doubt now, but, from what I can see, the Fairlane has a flat grill with the circular badge in the center. The bigger one has a slightly protruding center grill in a ship's prow style.

You're correct. Wiki shows a lot of info about the two models - Country Squire is a full size, also known as LTD on later models. Fairlane is "mid-sized" but in '66 was redesigned to match the fullsize models. The Fairlane Squire was reintroduced in '66 as well, which would be what your mystery car is. Confusing, since it's literally only the grill and maybe an inch of overall length.

[Byteme]

Was it really a size up? Guess I've never seen the two side by side to notice.

Ford's full size platform carried the Custom, Custom 500, Galaxie, Galaxie 500, XL and LTD, Plus the full sized wagons.

The intermediate size cars were Fairlane, fairlane 500, etc, plus wagons based on that body.

Compacts were Falcon based, with their wagons as well. 

Here's a 66 brochure:

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1966_Ford/1966_Ford_Full_Line_Brochure/dirindex.html


and the 66 lineup:

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1966_Ford/1966_Ford_Full_Line_Brochure/1966%20Ford%20Full%20Line-16.html

[hotrodalex]

Ford's full size platform carried the Custom, Custom 500, Galaxie, Galaxie 500, XL and LTD, Plus the full sized wagons.

The intermediate size cars were Fairlane, fairlane 500, etc, plus wagons based on that body.

I've just never noticed a huge difference between Fairlane wagons and Country Squires to realize the Country Squire was based on the larger sedan.

[Byteme]

I've just never noticed a huge difference between Fairlane wagons and Country Squires to realize the Country Squire was based on the larger sedan.

Sources I've looked at say the Fairlane was 11,8 inches shorter.  Not a whole lot.  Plus it was a bit narrower and lighter.  Still a large car by today's standards.

[Soup DeVille]

Nice picture layout of a '67 Country Squire, for comparison.

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ford/country_squire/1670663.html

[Byteme]

Nice picture layout of a '67 Country Squire, for comparison.

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ford/country_squire/1670663.html

From the days when Ford was known as "The Wagon Master".