Ranch Wagon a family heirloom

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This article was published 31/05/2019 (2512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lex Langston’s 1959 Ford Ranch Wagon is a part of his family’s history.

The wagon was first purchased brand new by his dad in 1959.

His father purchased the Ford from Dominion Motors in Winnipeg, trading in a 1953 Meteor Sedan Delivery.

For years, the Ford mainly served as the chariot to take Lex and his brother Brad on sports trips and summer getaways to Killarney Lake.

However, things changed when Brad turned 16.

“He pushed the wagon to its limit,” Langston said.

In 1972, the Ford cracked under the pressure and had to be towed home.

“An inspection revealed that the oil pump had pumped its last drop, causing the engine to seize. As well, the second gear mysteriously was missing.”

The car sat on blocks for 15 years.

Langston and his father got to work restoring the wagon in 1987. His son Scott, who was three at the time, did his best to help out as well.

“Dad and I had restored it to its original condition, so it is pretty much like that (currently),” Langston said. “But it was getting pretty tired.”

He had a fun time restoring the car with his dad — Langston covered the mechanical aspects of the car while his dad took on restoring the headliner and carpet.

The Ford was originally a lighter blue, but Langston chose to modify the paint job and make the car two-toned with chrome running down the middle.

“You don’t find a lot of two-door station wagons, so that adds to it as well,” Langston said.

It was painted about five or six years ago in stages, starting with the exterior.

He took the engine out the year after and painted the engine bay followed by the interior part of the doors so that everything matched.

“I had to get the windshield changed so at the point of time we painted the dash and all the interior trim,” he said.

“I think it’s done now.”

The work the family has put into maintaining the Ford has helped make maintenance of the vehicle easier.

“Once you get the work done, it’s not that hard,” Langston said. “There’s always updates and new things, but as far as the maintenance, it’s just the oil and that’s pretty much it.”

More than anything, it takes a little tender loving care, paired with keeping it clean, and the wagon is ready to rumble down the highway.

Langston officially took over the wagon in 2004, when his dad came down with Alzheimer’s Disease and could no longer maintain or drive it.

He made some modifications to the engine, changing the cam, the heads, exhaust, intake, carburetor and putting an aluminum rad in while pulling out the six-cylinder engine and three-speed transmission and replacing them with a 351 Windsor engine he rebuilt with some performance parts and an automatic overdrive transmission. He also replaced the front drum brakes with power discs while adding a console with some custom gauges and bucket seats.

“I wanted a little more power, and I like the sound of the headers, it just runs a little stronger,” Langston said.

He carries on the family tradition of summer getaways by visiting a cabin at Ditch Lake near Erickson.

He has considered getting another car to work on, but would need to sell the wagon.

It is a difficult decision because the Ford is a vehicle filled with cherished family memories. He said he hopes to one day see his son follow in his footsteps and take over the lease.

“I’m hoping possibly my son would be interested in, that would be nice.”

» ckemp@brandonsun.com

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