One of the 2,000-plus vehicles that sold at no reserve during the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona earlier this year was a 1982 Ford Crown Victoria station wagon modeled after the famous “Family Truckster” from the movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” The car was offered as part of the Dr. Stewart Berkowitz collection and, throughout the course of “auction week,” it was a huge conversation piece among attendees.
While perhaps not as eye-catching in appearance—it’s missing the quad stacked headlights, after all—this car could make a great candidate for a similar tribute.
The Pick of the Day is a 1990 Ford LTD Country Squire station wagon listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Most notably, for those seeking an authentic 1980-90s station-wagon look, the car is adorned with plenty of wood-grain trim. It also comes equipped with a roof rack for maximum cargo-hauling utility. Inside, the cabin is the pinnacle of versatility—check out the optional inboard-facing rear seats that cleverly fold down into the floor. There are eight seat belts in the car, making it possible to haul around an average-sized family along with a friend or two. Creature comforts include power windows, power door locks, cruise control, power driver seat, and air conditioning. The seller says the air blows cold, too.
The full-sized LTD Crown Victoria was produced from 1980 through 1991 and could be ordered as a two-door sedan, four-door sedan, or station wagon. Underpinnings came from the rear-wheel drive Ford Panther platform architecture, characterized by a double-wishbone front suspension and a coil-sprung live rear axle. Across the decade-long production run, relatively few aesthetic changes took place with the Crown Victoria, although it did receive a facelift in 1988 to give some of the edges a slightly rounder look.
Power for this big people-mover comes from a 5.0-liter Windsor V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The seller says the car runs and drives great. One thing to note: in advertising, Ford talked about how the Country Squire could be optioned with a heavy-duty trailer towing package that was capable of lugging an extra 5,000 pounds around. The station wagon was without a doubt the king of the hill when it came to capability.
Wally World, here we come! The asking price is $16,500 or best offer.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com