It does have surface rust. No rot. The car was driven regularly, until it was parked. All motorcraft OE stuff including battery etc...

It came from a hoarders house, so the car smells awesome inside. I will likely Just drain the oil, dump gas in and give it a whirl.

I will give it a turn by hand, and see what happens. Just waiting for a sunny day! I will post more pictures when I get time, before and after.

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Eugene

10 E63 AMG
93 300te 4matic
07 BMW X3
14 Ford F-150 Fx2

I agree. Pull the plugs, fill it with oil and crank it. It will spin easily w/o the plugs, and it should build oil pressure. Replace the plugs and have a go.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Oh, I can just imagine!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

That car is worth getting up to nice condition. Even if you have to paint some of the surface rust and detail heavily. You cannot buy full size rear wheel drive V8 wagons anymore, and in recent years they've been creeping up in value.

Look at eBay completed listings for these and the Mercury Colony parks. There's some ridiculous asking prices out there, but I would think $3000-$4000 would be pretty easy to fetch if you can get this car sorted out and looking nice. You also ensure its long term survival by selling it to an enthusiast, rather than an individual looking for a beater. Enthusiasts are more pleasant to deal with as well.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I TOTALLY agree with Tyler and here is why:

Back in 1988 I bought a 1988 Crown Victoria (the newly refreshed style beginning in 1988) model of this car, and it has been - over 47 years of owning over 22+ different cars, by far the most reliable, and dollar per mile the cheapest car I have ever had in my whole life!

I especially like the 1988-1989 models because they were the last year of the pre-airbag models, which made them easy to honk the horn.

The final models, 1990-91 had driver's airbags,and the"horn" was two tiny buttons - one on each side of the steering wheel, VERY hard to find in an emergency or when turning the steering wheel.

The cars are anvil reliable, and served well the grueling and unforgiving police and taxicab service they were put to; IOW, they HAD to be really really tough and really good.

By 1988 the SUV's were replacing station wagons, and these - the 1988-1991 Ford Country Squire, along with the Mercury Colony Park, were the LAST of FoMoCo's station wagons - EVER.

The 302 V8 EFI engine was excellent, and is famed in Mustang circles to this very day.

Also, these wagons all carry the legendary US cast iron V8 block, body on frame construction that US manufacturers built really well, although technically these were Canadian wagons, built at the STAP (St Thomas Assembly plant) in St. Thomas, Quebec, across the bridge from Detroit, USA...









Check the car out,carefully: Does it have the"trailer tow" package?

If it does, it'll have dual exhaust, a 3:55 rear end, a full size spare tire, heavy duty battery, radiator, and transmission cooler for trailer pulling duties, and a great setup for every day nontrailer hauling duty.

VERY few of these 1988-1991 Ford and Mecury wagons ever were sold, and fewer yet, survive today....

For those in the know,these are VERY good cars and very rare.

Even MORE rare with the trailer tow package.

If I needed a reliable comfortable, durable,roomy spacious big wagon I would grab this one in a heartbeat.

Definately worth getting it going, and KEEPING. (rather than "flipping".)

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Even rarer since they were built when Quebec was across the river from Detroit.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Your knowledge is most valuable. Next time your in Cleveland let me know and I'll buy you a steak dinner.

I just got the key today, and got the title sorted. I dumped a bunch of baking soda in it to soak up some of the stench. Not dead body stink, but musty basement funk.

It does not have the towing package, it has a doughnut spare (literally looks like a doughnut) and only has one tailpipe.

I will do the full detail, in and out, and likely will do some minor body touch ups. The price will depend on how nice it cleans up. I will certainly aim as high as possible because dealing with bottom feeders is terrible.

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Eugene

10 E63 AMG
93 300te 4matic
07 BMW X3
14 Ford F-150 Fx2

If their first question about a car is what kind of financing I have, or what kind of down payment is needed, especially on a cheap old car no bank would finance, I say cash only and get off the phone as quick as possible.

Happens at least once a day... Really wish I could just hit a button on my phone and play this song instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hom7hEV1QHw

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Out of curiosity i went on local craigslist looking for these things, and boy, they sure do seem to command a premium in at least advertised price. Some guy is looking for 4500 bucks for one of these wagons thst looks like he hoisted it out of the bay.

Nice score, should be a good flip

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

I once used a couple cups of coffee grounds inside of a car that was owned by a three pack a day smoker that also absorbs odors. But that was after shampooing carpet and cleaning the leather interior.

I found that a hot day, open windows and LOTS of fabreze works really well.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

What do you mean by "used"?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I think we need to start a poll. Everyone offer a few
Options and I will start the poll. Options such as; it'll start right up, it will never start, cylinders will have to be freed up, etc.

Give me a few more options and I'll start the poll. It should be fun.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Just some unused coffee grounds in some emptied fast food cups that were cut down. I just let them sit in there a few weeks then discarded them. Must have gotten that tip from a car Mag as it seemed to help absorb tobacco odors. Just left them on the floor pans front and back and under the seats.

That sounds like fun! I can try and start in this order:

1.Gas and oil only, no pulling plugs.
2. Plugs pulled, with oil
3. Full tune up
4. Partial tear down

Can you Add it to this thread? If you start a new thread you should name it
"what to do when you haven't used your woody in more than a decade"

Once the weather gets better I can air it out. It's been a bit too cold, and now has been raining.

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Eugene

10 E63 AMG
93 300te 4matic
07 BMW X3
14 Ford F-150 Fx2