Restored Black on Black Galaxie 500 XL 390 4 Speed

OK, Ford fans, we have a real treat for you! When one thinks of the mid-1960s, Chevy often steals the spotlight with their Impala SS409, and Chrysler has their hard-hitting “industrial strength” Belvederes and Polaras; but what about Ford? Sure, a few 427-powered Thunderbolt racers slipped out, but a lot of folks just plain overlook the big Galaxies, and that's a shame, because they are great cars with a strong following.

Presented for your consideration is this gorgeous black-on-black, Z CODE, 390 powered, 4-speed, air-conditioned Galaxie 500 XL coupe, just like the ones Ford used to dominate NASCAR in the '60s. A true two owner car from one family in Missouri fully restored and showing 56,129 original miles, this is one awesome piece of Ford history. It just received a thorough polish and looks absolutely radiant in that silky Raven Black paint and the amazing trim that Ford used on the top-of-the-line Galaxies.

Speaking of paint, the surfaces on this car look recent, and are done in a 2-stage system for a deep, rich finish that acrylic lacquer and enamels from 1964 just can't touch. Sinister and imposing, this is the car you always wished your father would buy instead of the stodgy 4-door with an inline six and automatic transmission. The flanks are very straight, and I have no problems believing that this was a clean car before restoration. All sheet-metal on this Galaxie is original to the car and panel gaps are better than average all around. Look at the pictures again and remember how hard it is to make a black car look good under the harsh lights in the photo booth—bad prep can't hide from the camera, and there are no cut corners on this Galaxie, it's all first-rate workmanship. And as I mentioned, our own detail shop put the final shine on the paint just a few days ago, making this car show-ready today.

In 1964, Ford added a lot of trim to the Galaxie, and enthusiasts are often split on the results. I like the long sweep-spear along the sides, and there's no question that the fastback roof line (done largely to improve performance on the big ovals of NASCAR) is a big upgrade. The grille is in excellent condition, with the slender bars that stretch from end to end and little relief bends along the way that adds interest. The bumpers have been re-chromed to show standards, and all the stainless has been polished and straightened. The side mirrors look original and are more proof that this car was in outstanding condition before restoration. All the Galaxie emblems are intact, and I like the red highlights on the XL badges on the sides, which really stand out against the black paint. You've probably also noticed the accessories like the headlight visors and the rain shields over the side windows, all of which can be easily removed but add a real period feel to the car.

The assembly line installed 390 cubic inch “Thunderbird Special” V8 under the hood has been detailed and looks awesome in its original gold color. It is dominated by the big, round air cleaner housing, and, in this particular car, the air conditioning compressor, which was factory equipment. Hoses and wiring are new, and RKM just installed a correct Autolite battery the other day. The original single master cylinder is still in place on the original power brake booster, but note that this car does not have power steering, strange, but just a part of this car's mystique. The bottom of the hood has been finished to a much higher standard than original, too; look at the reflection of the engine in it!

The muscular 390's power is transmitted rearward through a bulletproof Toploader 4-speed manual, which absolutely transforms the car's personality. Luxury car? Muscle car? Both? The transmission is plenty stout enough to bang through the gears. And speaking of gears, of course there's a rock solid Ford 9-inch rear out back, the same one that has been transmitting power for all the big horsepower racers for decades now. The floors are solid, as is the frame, and all the mechanical pieces have been recently rebuilt and serviced, making this Galaxie a turn-key hobby car. True dual exhaust feeds a pair of Flowmaster mufflers that sound great behind the big 390, not too loud, but enough to let people know this isn't grandma's grocery-getter. It looks like there's a new shock absorber at each corner, the brakes are firm and stop the car well, and it rides on relatively recent 225/75/14 whitewall tires and original spinner hubcaps.

The interior features black vinyl deluxe bucket seats and a center console that houses the shifter for the 4-speed. The front seat covers, headliner, and carpet are new, while the rest is a combination of outstanding original pieces and items that were replaced in the past. It shows extremely well, with very little wear and tear on any of the surfaces. There's an original Ford pushbutton AM radio with front and rear speakers, with the rear one in the center of the rear seat behind a gorgeous chrome grille. The steering wheel is gorgeous, with the Galaxie 500 XL emblem in the center and a rim-blow horn ring. I really dig the gold anodized appearance of the gauge faces, better than plain black or the more common brushed silver, and it's amazing how “right” it looks in this black '60s cruiser. The trunk has been nicely finished with a new mat, matching wheel and spare tire, and a correct jack assembly.

Documentation consists of the original owner's manual that also contains the original warranty information in the first owner's name, plus the second owner's name and information as well (there's a special tab in the manual to list subsequent owners for warranty purposes).

Nice car doesn't even begin to cover this Galaxie. The 2-door hardtop was the most popular model in 1964, but a scant fraction of them were powered by the 390/4-speed combination, and even fewer were equipped with factory air. Add in the beautiful black on black color combination and you have a great driving Ford that will draw crowds at just about any show you go to. Even people who aren't familiar with cars recognize this one as something special, and it looks fast just sitting still. Best of all, Fords are still relatively under-valued when compared to their GM and Mopar competition, making this gentleman's express a screaming bargain. This is the car your father wished he would have bought instead of the 4-door sedan with the automatic. Time to live the dream; call us today!