1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL

Description

Cars like this 1963 Galaxie 500XL are why Ford was dominating on the NASCAR circuits. With a slick hardtop roofline, a potent matching-numbers 406 under the hood, and a 4-speed between the seats, these were factory muscle cars before there were muscle cars. Nicely finished in traditional Corinthian White with a gorgeous turquoise vinyl interior, it's an upscale cruiser that can still hand out beatings on the street.

Recently repainted and looking great, there's no way to make the Galaxie look bad. Ford hit the styling out of the ballpark, with crisp lines and those big, round taillights that reflected the '60s enthusiasm for the jet age. The paint went down over well-prepped sheetmetal, and even on those massive quarter panels, there's nary a ripple. The finish is expertly done and shows almost no flaws yet has a soft shine which always seems perfectly appropriate on these cars. Professional workmanship makes it stand out and the other guys at the show will always be frustrated when this car shows up because it'll attract all the attention. All the trim (and there is a lot of it) is in excellent condition. Both bumpers appear to have been re-chromed, and the long stainless strips that frame the sides of the car are straight and bright. This one also proudly wears a 406 badge, which reflects the engine living under the hood, but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

A 4-speed with bucket seats and a console is a cool industrial-strength early muscle car look, and it works well in the Galaxie. Since the original interior was Chestnut, everything in the car was replaced when the rest of the car was refinished, so it remains in outstanding condition with no damage or overt signs of aging. The deeply pleated seats show exceptional detailing, which is often lacking in aftermarket seat covers, and even the metal buttons in the seatbacks have been retained. This one remains almost entirely stock, including the AM radio in the dash, and it's kind of nice to not see a group of aftermarket gauges hanging under the dash, especially on a car with this much performance potential. The 3-spoke wheel fits the Galaxie's personality perfectly, and that 4-speed shifter on the console makes a bolt statement in a full-sized luxury car. Gentleman's hot rod indeed! The trunk is highly authentic, with a reproduction mat, full-sized spare, and a correct jack assembly.

As I mentioned, the engine is the original, matching-numbers 406 cubic inch V8, and it makes all the right sounds and amazing power. Dressed in black with gold Thunderbird valve covers, it's the ultimate early '60s powerplant if you're a Ford fan, both muscular and refined, making the performance seem almost effortless. There's a chrome air cleaner with correct "406 High Performance" decal, and a big four barrel carburetor living underneath that makes the most delightful sound when you crack open all four barrels. Beautifully tuned, settles into an even 750 RPM idle with only a hint of the cam inside burbling through the dual exhaust system. The 4-speed snaps through the gears, and the entire car feels robust and sturdy, as if it could take the abuse all day and with 3.50 gears in the 9-inch rear end, it's an easy highway cruiser, too. The chassis is clean, wearing a very light coat of undercoating for noise and heat control, and it wears 15-inch steelies with vintage Firestone redline tires that look butch and stuff the wheel wells properly.

Fast with class, that's the Galaxie's motto, and this one shows you why. If you're a Ford fan, few cars can match the 406 Galaxie's reputation. Call today!