1963 Ford Galaxie

Description

What you're seeing here is Ford's answer to the Super Duty Pontiacs, the industrial-strength Mopars, and the 409 Chevy. This 1963 Galaxie is quite simply Ford's best example of the "Gentleman's express," a car that's both elegant and as brutal as a hammer strike. Tri-power, a 4-speed, and an exhaust note straight out of Valhalla mean that people sit up and take notice when this machine arrives.

Black isn't this car's original color, but that's the only color it could possibly be now that it's been given a serious horsepower injection. Of course, that also means spending some extra time block sanding the bodywork to make sure its straight, and despite the fact that this one is hardly an extrovert, it's really hard not to notice this car. It just stands out in a crowd like a heavyweight boxer at the opera. Finish quality is excellent, with doors that fit right and great gaps all around. Plenty of jewelry helps the upscale Galaxie look the part of Ford's top-of-the-line machine, and a fender-mounted spotlight certainly helps in the intimidation department. And I'm still convinced that Ford had the right idea with their taillights looking like jet exhaust, particularly on a car that can accelerate like this one can.

The red interior is really the only choice in a black luxury liner, and it has been restored with new seat covers, fresh carpets, and a restored dash. However, things like the door panels appear to be nice originals, along with the bright trim on the instrument panel. The gauges cover the basics, but there are no give-aways like a column-mounted tach or under-dash gauges, keeping this car strictly 1963. A T-handle Hurst shifter manages the 4-speed manual gearbox and you know you're hardcore when you put a bench seat in your street sweeper. Someone long ago stuffed an AM/FM/cassette radio in the dash, but after you hear that cackling 390 under the hood, you'll forget it's even there. And yes, the trunk is truly massive, but remember that it also helps plant the rear tires and you're going to need all the help you can get in that department.

The engine is a 390 cubic inch mill that was rebuilt 5 miles ago (yes, FIVE). But this is no garden-variety 390; no, it's been rebuilt to 401-horsepower specs complete with a 427 cam and valve train, solid lifters, fresh flat-top pistons, and three deuces up top. With gold engine enamel on the Thunderbird valve covers, it seems to glow in the all-black engine bay. Everything around the engine is new, too, from the belts and hoses to the ignition system, and it exhales through stock manifolds and a rumbling dual exhaust that sounds threatening. The 4-speed manual feeds a 9-inch rear, so you don't have to worry about breakage, and while the chassis isn't show car shiny, it's solid and functional so you can really go out and have some fun. And as the perfect finishing touch, there are black steelies with dog dish hubcaps and fat Goodyear blackwalls for a truly industrial look.

Fast and brutal, this is one heck of a find for Ford fans. With it you can intimidate lesser cars without even starting the engine, and it's one piece of muscle that truly delivers on the promises its looks make. Call today!