By this time the trim level was identical to the Country Squire apart from the absence of simulated wood exterior paneling.

(Originally from Ford Country Squire) Prior to 1961, all Ford wagons utilized a two-piece tailgate assembly that required the operator to lift the rear window and lock it into place via a mechanical support, and then drop the tail gate down to fully access the rear compartment.

A safety lockout measure required that the rear window had to be fully retracted into the gate before it could be lowered.

With the introduction of the 1966 models, all Ford wagons introduced the Magic Door Gate which allowed the tailgate on the vehicle to function as a traditional tailgate that could be lowered, or a door that swung outward for easier access to the seating area.

General Motors, Chrysler, AMC, and Toyota would adopt a similar configuration by the end of the 1960s.