1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL

Description

With a slick fastback roofline and a numbers-matching 352 V8 under the hood, this 1963 Galaxie 500XL was a factory muscle car before there were muscle cars. Restored to high quality standards, this fast Ford has barely left the neighborhood in the last half-century.

It's hard not to get excited by a story like this. The Galaxie you're looking at was purchased new at Bill Currie Ford, one of our local dealers in the Tampa area. It had the same premium appearance back then as it does today with the Rangoon Red and Corinthian White top. But the reason why a car like this can endure 50+ years is because its three owners have all treated this coupe with respect. It also greatly helps that it has been through a full professional restoration that resprayed the factory colors in a modern gleaming clearcoat. That's also why the bumpers have a mirror shine, the intricate grille is complete, and the sporty full-length side trim is still race-ready. As time went by, we respected the granddaddy of the Ford muscle car a bit more, and that's why you see the Mustang Cobra-style 10-spoke wheels on it today.

The factory-correct red interior received just as much attention as the exterior during the restoration. So everything inside is fresh and bright like a 1963 time machine. This level of care is fantastic to see in the top-of-the-line, full-sized Ford because there's plenty of great bright trim incorporated into the weave of the door panels and seats to makes this a very cool place to send some time. Bucket seats are rarity in these family-style Galaxies, and so you'll really enjoy the individual comfort that even comes with a stylized center console. The three-spoke steering wheel with bright inner trim is a vintage Ford favorite, and so is the long horizontal speedometer flanked by the round gauge pods. As you gaze across the dash, you realize the level of care in this Florida-only car with everything from the AM radio to the heat/defrost controls in remarkably well preserved condition. The huge trunk even has the correct mat and a full-sized spare in the same upgraded Mustang wheel!

Open the hood for a true treat. The original 352 cubic-inch V8 was rebuilt during restoration. Now the chrome air cleaner and Ford valve covers as well as the glossy black engine bay and accessories give the full impression of factory-correct with nice upgrades. This is the kind of overall execution that impresses car show crowds and the judges, too! But the coupe is more than just for showing off. This V8 is the ideal early '60s powerplant, both brawny and refined, making the performance seem almost effortless. It fires up easily, and the addition of the dual exhaust hints at the muscle car future. This is a power steering car with a three-speed automatic transmission and modern BF Goodrich Reaction T/A tires at each corner. So while this restored classic might have only averaged around 1,800 miles per year, you'll have no trouble adding to that tally on your own.

A well restored coupe with a great story and even the owner's manual. This is an affordable classic with all the right moves, and that's why we know it will be moving out of our showroom soon, too. Call today!!!