Believe it or not, cars from the late 1980s are classics now. It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long, does it? And American station wagons are relics of a bygone era because none of the Big Three build them anymore. Many of the longroofs that came out of the Reagan era lived hard lives as family-haulers and even harder second lives as hand-me-down vehicles abused by resentful teenage drivers and their rowdy passengers. However, our Pick of the Day wasn’t one of them. This 1988 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Bradenton, Florida.
The 1987 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon had a square-jawed handsomeness and includes an innovative doorgate that could be opened sideways like a door or lowered like a tailgate. Picture any family TV show or movie — real or imaginary — from the late 1980s or early ’90s, and it will probably come to mind. The 1988 model year brought a facelift that gave the people-mover a sleeker front end as well as minor interior updates. If you ask me, this final-series version of the wagon looks the best. The one highlighted here doesn’t have the undeniable Americana of the faux-wood-sided Country Squire Wagon, but in Deep Shadow Blue Metallic, it does have a certain elegance, which is accented with bright trim and whitewall tires.
There are more reminders of yesteryear in the gently used Shadow Blue vinyl interior. It’s been while since you could get an American car with a front bench seat and a column-mounted shifter, but this rear-wheel-drive wagon has both. Most importantly, it has several features that are useful for road trips: power locks/windows/mirrors, tilt steering column, cruise control, power steering and brakes, and air conditioning. There’s also an AM/FM radio, but if you want to pick the music to play through the speakers, be sure to bust out your collection of cassette tapes. There’s also a retro Nynex car phone, which can be used as an amusing prop to make passing the miles a little more entertaining.
Whoever rides in the third row will (hopefully) become the best of friends because they’ll be facing each other the whole way to your destination. Those seats do cut into cargo space, but don’t worry — there’s a luggage rack on the roof.
Speaking of miles, there are only 19,797 of them on the odometer. That low number means there should be plenty of life — and highway adventures — left in the fuel-injected 5.0-liter V-8 and its four-speed automatic with overdrive.
Some cars are great for solo drives, but vehicles like this 1988 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon are meant to be shared. You can get it for $19,997. After that, start calling your friends and family members to see who’s free to pile inside and join you for a road trip.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
