Custom and street rod cars are most often built from coupes and convertibles. It is unusual, then, that this Ford Ranch Wagon has received the same treatment. The Ranch Wagon was Ford’s two-door, all-steel wagon that was introduced in 1952. Families favored the four-door Country Sedan or the wood-paneled Country Squire, so Ranch Wagons were often the transportation of tradespeople who would have required more space for storage than an additional two doors or a rear bench seat. That was likely the case for this car, which was originally built with a six-cylinder engine.

This Ranch Wagon has always been a Southwestern car, and at first glance it looks remarkably stock, with only the lack of side trim and the modern chrome wheels giving it away. Beneath the skin, though, is a port-injected small block Chevy engine and a 4L60E Hydra-Matic four-speed transmission. Its suspension is coil-over-shock, with tubular A-arms in the front and trailing arms at the rear. It features power rack-and-pinion steering and power disc brakes all around. Its Nitto 555 radial tires are mounted on American Racing wheels, with 17 inches in the front and 18 at the rear.

The black paint is excellent and exhibits a deep shine. It is upholstered in fine red leather with black seat inserts, which mate the exterior theme with the interior. Classic Instruments have been placed in the standard Ford binnacle, and it features a Chevy tilt column, electric windows, Vintage Air air conditioning, and a Pioneer sound system.

Station wagons may never have been a street-rodder’s preference, but this one is very likely to change your mind!