1971 Ford Galaxie 500

Description

I wouldn't have expected this big 1971 Ford Galaxie 500 hardtop to respond so well to a modest makeover, but this is one cool-looking luxury car. Combining elements from the funky 1970s and today leaves us with an unusual hobby car that will attract a ton of attention and still provides that incomparable big car experience.

Yes, even the mint green paint works rather well on this car. This was still Ford's top personal/luxury machine in 1971 and yes, it is every bit as big as you think it is. However, the nice finish work that was completed a few years ago means that it looks great going down the road. Having spent its life down south, you don't have to worry about the stuff our northern neighbors fret about and the crisply detailed sheetmetal on this big Galaxie shows off just how good these cars really were. We like the fact that they didn't add stripes or other add-ons to change the car's personality, just gave it an honest look that contrasts brilliantly with the oversized rolling stock. Nice chrome bumpers, a handsome dark green vinyl top, and a slightly chopped look (it is not chopped) all combine to make a car that nails the "dare to be different" vibe.

The stock green vinyl upholstery is pure 1970s American luxury car and given that it appears to be almost entirely original, it's in fantastic condition. There's a small split in the driver's side seat cushion, but you really have to know where to look to find it, and beyond that there's really not much to note. The seats are firm and all-day comfortable, the carpets are so nice that they almost have to be more recent, and the door panels have just a splash of faux wood to warm it up a bit inside. The wide speedometer is flanked by a gas gauge, but that's it for instrumentation, but this car is hardly basic because it includes factory A/C and an AM/FM/cassette stereo. The back seat, as you'd imagine, is big enough for full-sized adults to ride in comfort and if you want the ultimate car for that next family vacation, just check out the size of the trunk on this Galaxie. You'd practically need a ladder to climb out of there!

A robust 400 cubic inch V8 moves this big car with ease. Never intended to be a performance car, it's instead torquey enough to keep all the accessories spinning while the car cruises serenely at highway speeds. The big Ford Blue air cleaner announces what lives underneath and the big A/C compressor dominates the rest of the engine bay. We can spot upgrades like a recent dual master cylinder, R134a refrigerant in the A/C system, and routine service items that keep it running smoothly. Power steering and brakes are, of course, standard equipment and for a car nearing its 45th birthday, it doesn't smoke and feels willing to play. The 3-speed automatic transmission is never asleep and it spins 3.00 gears in the 9-inch rear, so it definitely feels effortless on the highway. The burbling Flowmaster dual exhaust system gives it just a bit of an edge, a sound that's exactly right for a car hunkered down over 20-inch Boss Motorsports wheels with 235/45/20 front and 255/35/20 rear performance radials.

Unusual? Yes. But it's also handsome and a pleasure to drive and the price is shockingly reasonable. Suddenly affordable means stylish, and that doesn't happen very often. Call today!