page_title: Ford Country Squire
section_title: 1969–1972
hierarchical_section_title: Ford Country Squire / Seventh generation (1969–1978) / 1969–1972
caption_attribution_description: English: 1969 Ford LTD Country Squire with German plates, at Power Big Meet in Sweden 2008
context_page_description: The Ford Country Squire is a series of station wagons that was assembled by American automaker Ford. The premium station wagon of the Ford division, the Country Squire was distinguished by its external woodgrain trim. From the 1950 to 1991 model years, eight generations of the Country Squire were produced. Following the discontinuation of Edsel, Mercury marketed the Mercury Colony Park as a divisional counterpart of the Country Squire, sharing bodywork and trim.
  As part of the full-size Ford model range, the Country Squire was the station wagon counterpart of several model lines. For its first two generations, the Country Squire was based upon the Ford Custom Deluxe. For its next three generations, the Country Squire was a distinct model range; initially sharing its trim with the Ford Fairlane, the Country Squire later adopted trim of the Ford Galaxie. For its final two generations, the Country Squire became a counterpart of Ford LTD.
  The Country Squire was discontinued as part of the development of the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria.
context_section_description: For the 1969 model year, a new generation of Ford and Mercury cars made their debut; station wagons for both divisions rode on a 121-inch wheelbase shared with the Ford sedan line, a gain of two inches. The "Magic Doorgate" tailgate was updated to a 3-way design: it could now swing down as a tailgate or swing out with the window down or up (the latter was previously not possible).
  As part of the LTD line, the Country Squire wore similar interior trim; with the obvious exception of its simulated woodgrain paneling, Country Squires wore the same bodywork from the windshield forward as their LTD sedan counterparts. For the 1970 model year, visible changes were limited to detail changes in bumper and grille trim. In 1971, the Country Squire would be given an extensive facelift (with only the roof and tailgate carried over from the 1970 model); as with the LTD, it would lose its hidden headlamps in the grille.
  Initially, the standard engine was a 302 cubic-inch V8, replaced by a 351 cubic-inch V8 midway through the 1969 model year. As with its LTD counterpart, the 390 and 429 V8 engines were options. In 1971, the 390 V8 was replaced by a 402 cubic-inch V8 (though sold as a 400). For a variety of reasons, 1972 saw a major decrease in powertrain output. That year, gross horsepower was replaced by SAE net horsepower. The addition of emissions controls and adoption of unleaded fuel required lowered compression ratios and retarded ignition timing. In one example, the range-topping 429 V8 would see its output drop from 365 hp to 212 hp from 1971 to 1972. In 1972, the 429 was joined by a 224-hp 460 cubic-inch V8 seen previously in the Lincoln lineup.
  Production figures:
  1969: 129,235
  1970: 108,914
  1971: 130,644
  1972: 121,419
caption: 1970 Ford LTD Country Squire
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