1963 Ford Galaxie

Description

Cars like this 1963 Galaxie 500XL are why Ford was dominating on the NASCAR circuits. With a slick fastback roofline and a potent 390 under the hood, these were factory muscle cars before there were muscle cars. Nicely finished in black with a gorgeous red vinyl interior, it's an upscale cruiser that can still hand out beatings on the street.

Repainted several years ago and still 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 has a nice, vintage patina to it today, which always seems perfectly appropriate on these cars, and it makes a wonderful statement at the local cruise night where it will be warmly welcomed. 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 390 badge, which reflects the engine living under the hood, but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

A 4-speed with a bench seat is a cool industrial-strength early muscle car look, and it works well in the Galaxie. Most likely restored when the rest of the car was refinished, the interior remains in very good condition with no major damage or overt signs of aging, although a few small repairs are visible upon close inspection. The handsome seat covers add cloth inserts to the original vinyl so they're comfortable when it's warm and the under-dash A/C unit is that much more effective. Other upgrades include the auxiliary gauges under the dash, an AM/FM stereo radio, and power windows all around. The 3-spoke wheel fits the Galaxie's personality perfectly, and that shifter just sticking out from the transmission tunnel makes a bold statement. Gentleman's hot rod indeed! The trunk is finished properly, with spatter paint on the pan and a reproduction mat; all it needs is a spare, which should be easy enough to remedy.

As I mentioned, the engine is a thumping 390 cubic inch V8, and it makes all the right sounds and amazing power. Dressed in black with gold Thunderbird valve covers, it's the ideal early '60s powerplant, both muscular and refined, making the performance seem almost effortless. There's a matching finned air cleaner and a Tri-Power carburetor setup living underneath that makes the most delightful sound when you crack open all barrels. Beautifully tuned, settles into an even 700 RPM idle with only a hint of the cam inside. The 4-speed snaps through the gears, and the entire car feels robust and sturdy, as if it could take the abuse all day, which its siblings did on the NASCAR tracks of the time. The chassis is quite clean with a lot of new parts and a fresh Flowmaster dual exhaust system, and it wears 15-inch Torque Thrusts with staggered 195/60/15 front and 235/60/15 rear BFGs 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 Galaxie's reputation. Call today!