Wednesday, May 30, 2012

2013 Flex Country Squire Sport Activity Coupe

The Flex Country Squire's woody heritage is recalled on the new Coupe in two ways. Brushed stainless steel trim strips on the body sides remind one of the famous "yacht" paneling, and the electronically assisted liftgate is adorned with a hefty and artful slab of actual American Walnut, beveled and embossed, highly varnished, and waterproofed. Click on image to enlarge. They can be further enlarged by right-clicking on "View Image" or by saving to your hard drive.

Paying respects to the original 1951 Ford Country Squire, the marque's first use of that iconic name, this completely contemporary Sport Activity Coupe is a 2-door wagon just like that '51. Prominently featured is a forward angled "basket handle" C pillar, a nod to the Crown Victoria coupe of '55-'56, the '77-79 Thunderbird and the early '80s Fairmont Futura sport coupes. And yes, I said "C pillar." Just behind the long single side doors are small triangular windows, shades of vintage Thunderbirds, which slide electronically into the pillar when the doors are opened, creating the first, true, pillarless coupe from Ford in decades.

The standard Flex's severely vertical roof pillars were ditched, along with the third row of seating. With the slanting and aerodynamic roofline, the interior has been reconfigured for only four people. Twin rear bucket seats were moved back and closer together, taking advantage of the space formerly reserved for the third row. The rear side panels have "wraparound" sections leading to the rear buckets, and with the full length central console, giving the rear seat the comfort and glamour of Ford's 1960s Thunderbirds.

11 comments:

  1. Hey Casey,

    First, thank you for adding colour to my life. I have been following your artsandcolour blogs for a couple of months and enjoy both.

    Second, you have punched so many of my buttons with the 2013 Flex Country Squire Sport Activity Coupe rendering. I resonate with your practice of honoring designers who have influenced and inspired you, starting with Harley Earl. The details referencing Thunderbirds of the past are right up my alley!

    Please continue to share your thoughts and art with those who have been fortunate enough to stumble across your blogs.

    All the best!

    Robert in California

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    1. Thank you so much, Robert! I hope to do many more chops this summer. Thanks for finding the blog and I hope you continue to enjoy it!
      -casey

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  2. Not only could this be the "American Evoque in terms of its sheer classiness, it can also be what Ford fans salivated over: a new Bronco!

    Nice job C!

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  3. Wow ,You did it again ! I love your first Flex Country Squire as it beautifully updates the fantastic
    '49/51 Ford 2 door woodies, I see this new one an up date of my other favorite wagon, '57/9 Mercury 2 door hardtop Voyagers and Commutors. I'm not particularly a fan of the Flex but as you have rendered it in both versions ,you have turned a sows ear into a silk purse! If Casey Coach works ever builds this sign me up for number 1
    Marty

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  4. thank you Marty! My cars exist only in pixels, but I'm so jazzed you like my work. Your actual customized cars are so much more!

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  5. Your chop is circulating through Ford's e-mail system as I type this.

    Casey built this for me as I don't fit in the doors of any Ford product.

    If wishes were fishes.............

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  6. that's a fun thought, Barry! We'll add this to the 2 door Caddy SRX I did for you last year...

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  7. I love this -- I've always been fond of 2-door wagons. And I'm pleased to know, via Marty, that there's another fan of the Mercury 2-door hardtops wagons, my favorite being either the single headlight 57 or the 59! This Flex Country Squire really captures the feel of those Mercs. And as to Barry's comment about fitting in the doors, I find two-door cars so much easier to enter and leave when I don't have to pivot around the B pillar as I do on the 4-doors. I don't need to put in a baby seat and I would rarely carry more than one other passenger. What happened to 2-door sedans (what the popular auto press now refers to as "posts"? And business coupes? Where are those?? I know -- I'm a dinosaur, but this Flex Country Squire would be a good competitor for the Evoque 2-door!

    Paul, NYC

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  8. Re Anonymous' comments about business coupes, they are, sadly, found in ... http://steveprestegard.com/2012/01/06/the-garage-of-misfit-cars/

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  9. ........I'm a little late but owning two Flexs and coming across this print I fell in love at first sight...........an amazing looking Flex......as of tomorrow, we are now 2016 and Ford would have to put this up as is and hell will freeze over if they don't have a winner with this machine....simply beautiful..........and I can only dream ! Thanks
    Philippe deRepentigny

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