1963 Ford Galaxie 500

Description

If you were a player in 1963, you probably drove a car like this big, red Galaxie 500 convertible. Ford's top-of-the-line cruiser with all the muscle they could muster, and loaded with luxury, it was a very big deal to show up in one of these. Today, it's no different, although this particular Galaxie has a few choice upgrades that take it to the next level.

A big, red ragtop is never subtle, and that's just the way the Ford guys wanted it. Dominating the NASCAR ovals, the Galaxie was THE Blue Oval muscle car before there were muscle cars. It is also incredibly stylish, with honest good looks that were pretty much the opposite of the flamboyant '50s. Super straight sheetmetal emphasizes the length of the car, and everything fits together so well that it looks tight and muscular, as if the body were stretched over the mechanicals with nothing to spare. The Rangoon Red paint job screams high performance and looks fantastic despite being a few years old. Gaps are very good and with that side trim, there's no place for poor panel alignment to hide. All the chrome is excellent, the ornate grille is extremely nice, and you can see the care that went into the restoration. Details like the fender-mounted ornaments, the 'Galaxie' badges on the front fenders, and, of course, Ford's jet-inspired taillights mean that nobody will mistake this for anything but a senior Ford.

The dazzling red and interior looks as luxurious as anything you'd find in a Cadillac and twice as sporty. Everything that was cool in 1963 remains in place, including the two-tone bench seats with matching door panels and carpets. The big steering wheel is color-matched and includes a stylish horn ring for an old-school look. On the other hand, the original dash is now full of beautifully installed Auto Meter gauges that have an old-fashioned look that suits the Galaxie quite nicely and offer a lot more detail on the inner workings of the engine. The AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the center of the dash looks like it was born there, and it's backed up by a set of powerful speakers and big JBL subwoofer in the trunk, so the cockpit is filled with sound even with the top down. Overhead there's a white power convertible top that is in great shape with no rips or tears and a clear plastic rear window, plus a matching white boot to give it a clean look.

Powered by a 390 cubic inch V8, it's definitely no slouch in the performance department. Fortified with a set of finned valve covers and a matching air cleaner, it's got a period performance look that should have been standard equipment on every Galaxie. There's an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor under the air cleaner plus an alternator up front to make the electricity, always a good idea when you're dealing with an upgraded stereo. This big luxury cruiser also includes power steering as well as a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission and 3.25 gears in the 9-inch out back. The newer dual exhaust system has an awesome mellow tone thanks to glasspack-style mufflers, while the rest of the chassis looks to be in decent original condition. The only external evidence of this car's potential are those great-looking chrome Torque Thrust style wheels, which carry low-profile Dunlop performance radials for a sleek look.

A very cool car that can hang with the nastiest stuff on the street. If you're a Ford guy, this is the car you've been waiting for. Call today!