Tom Dolle is living the dream with a ’64 Ford Country Squire
MAN & MACHINE
WE BOUGHT OUR house in Palm Springs about 11 years ago and have lived here full-time for the last four. Before that we were in New York, which was great, but it was time for a change: Palm Springs has better weather, an easier lifestyle, and fantastic Mid Century architecture that really appeals to me, since I’m a graphic designer by profession.
The Country Squire sort of chose me. I was looking for a wagon and, while it wouldn’t have been my first choice, it became available at a very good price and was clearly in really great condition. The car was in Los Angeles but friends here in Palm Springs told me about it and I jumped right on it. Originally it had been bought new in Lubbock, Texas, and then passed to the second owner for about ten years.
The first owner’s name and address are in the instruction manual and I Googled their house out of curiosity because the car is unusually well-equipped for a station wagon – it is loaded with just about every option you could get. It has also clearly been extremely well looked-after, and I thought perhaps it might have belonged to a wealthy family who bought it simply to do their grocery shopping, but the house turned out to be surprisingly modest. Maybe they just decided to treat themselves!
The options include all the extra exterior trim, such as an additional belt-line moulding, bumper guards and a roof-rack, plus fake wire wheel covers. Inside there are power windows, power seats, air conditioning, an AM-FM radio – and the amazing swing-away steering wheel. Normally you only see these in Thunderbirds, but it was available for the Galaxie-based wagons, and here’s the proof.
This car also has the big 390ci engine coupled with a three-speed auto ’box. It was fitted with drum brakes all-round, but I’ve had a front disc conversion; the last owner lived in Topanga Canyon, LA, and I can only imagine what a handful it must have been on the narrow and twisting cany
