I have acquired this 1958 Ford 2 door Ranch Wagon. It has seen better days, and frankly should be crushed. This car is in the worst condition of any car I have ever bought to restore. However, it is rare enough, and it has just enough good about it that I have decided to start a quest to bring this wagon……back from the grave!!!
I have a soft spot for wagons. They were the work horse for the family for generations. They got no respect for years. Many family station wagons met their fate after years of faithful service through family vacations, hauling the kids around, camping trips, only to end up as a battering ram on wheels at crash derbies and county fair demolition derbies all over the country.
In fact, this very car was purchased from a gentlemen who was going to use this car in a demolition derby in Oregon. He didn’t have the heart to do it, knowing how rare it was. So he advertised it for sale. He didn’t sugar coat it. He described how bad it was. My friend Bob (A Wagon lover, and ’58 ford owner himself) and I just went to look. Forget the fact that we took cash. But I made the terrible mistake of looking too long. My eyes painted over all the blemishes and filled them with invisible Bondo, the dents straightened out before my eyes, the interior healed itself into a beautiful ’50s two tone vinyl. I sugarcoated it myself. Bob tried to pull me back but it was too late. I had suffered “Rust Madness” and there was no turning back.
A deal was struck and now the car sits in my driveway. I had to quickly cover it with a car cover as the neighbors were throwing daggers with their eyes. “What pile of rust did Don drag home this time” I imagined them saying.
This particular car was manufactured in San Jose, California in March of 1958. It has a 6 cylinder engine, 3 speed transmission column shift, and the optional Overdrive. The car has sat since 1969. It was under cover for a number of years, before the roof it was under dry rotted and collapsed on top of it. This allowed the car to get very wet and mossy. If this were a 4 door wagon, it would be going straight to the crusher. However the 2 door production numbers are very low, thus making this car rare. The wagon was originally a Tri-tone White and Yellow color.
This blog will be a journey of how I get this hulk back on the road. I hope you enjoy the ride. Oh, make sure you get a tetanus shot before entering. I have a feeling your going to need it.
My dad bought a red and white, 2 door Ranch Wagon in February, 1958. 6 cylinder, 3 speed manual. It came without seat belts, but he later had some installed at a muffler shop. It also came with the old vacuum operated windshield wipers. Those were dangerous! The government finally outlawed them. Ten years later that was the car I learned to drive on. In 1972 I sold it to a neighbor who promptly burned the engine up by adjusting the valves himself.
Reblogged this on Average Guy's Car Restoration, Mods and Racing and commented:
I’m going to follow along with the progress.
Very Cool.
what is happening on your car?
Mark
Calgary