The originality of a special, not so commonly found automobile is always an attention-getter. It is especially a draw when it is a model with sporting intentions. Add in some Ford Motor Company executive ownership and you have this 1969 Ford XL with the optional GT package. It’s located in Los Angeles, California and available here on eBay for a current bid of $1,802, no reserve and seven bids tendered so far.
Full-size cars were still in the performance realm in 1969 but they were on the way out. Impalas, Galaxie/XLs and Fury GT’s were all over-shadowed by Chevelles, Camaros, Mustangs, Torinos, Road Runners and Barracudas. The big cars were a vestige of a prior period that was only about five or six years in the past. Big cars meant big weight which required big power to move out in a competitive style. That being the case, often the big “performance” models were more about appearance and unique equipment than necessarily having big oomph. They could be so possessed but this wasn’t always the case.
The story around this Ford is that it belonged to the owner’s father who was a Ford executive; it was his company car back in 1969 when he was assigned to Ford’s St. Louis area operations. The father passed the car on to his sons who drove it through high-school. The current seller (and son) moved this Ford to Southern California back around 1989 and has kept it stock and original all of this time. Knowing that this XL has been in the land of eternal sunshine helps to explain its current appearance. The sun has taken its toll on some of this big Ford’s horizontal surfaces. The seller tells us that, “The body is pretty good shape but does few small holes near bottom quarters.” A brief YouTube video has been provided that explains this car’s story. Interesting to note is that while the original GT stripe is faded, there is a NOS one that is included with the sale. We are also informed that the floors are in great shape for being original, typical for a SoCal example.
Our subject car today, though being the Galaxie with the optional GT package, came equipped with an entire range of different engines. Power extended from a 150 HP, 240 CI in-line six-cylinder engine all the way up to a 360 HP, 429 “Thunderjet” CI V8. This example has the middling “Y” code (as validated by the VIN), 265 HP, 390 CI V8; not exactly a powerhouse but certainly enough juice to give this big Ford some pleasing go. The seller has a very complete list of documentation and tells us that this Ford, “Pretty much all stock & retains its original drive train. Running & driving, brakes/shifts.” Typical for big Fords of this era, this XL has a three-speed, automatic transmission.
The parchment interior looks surprisingly sharp for be 50 years old and the bucket seat/center console is a great inclusion on the XL GT. The carpet looks faded but the rest of the surfaces/upholstery appears to be in good nick. I find it interesting to note that Chevrolet, Buick, and Ford all had a version of the inverted “U” shaped shift selector.
So, what’s special about the GT package other than the stripe? According to Ford promotional material of the time, the GT Performance group included: Power front disc brakes, competition suspension, high ratio rear axle, GT ornamentation, rim-blow steering wheel, simulated mag wheel covers, and H70-15 belted wide tread tires; all great “go” stuff. Missing, is the requirement for big power; you could get it, as outlined earlier, but it wasn’t required.
I’ve seen plenty of ’69 Ford XL models, I can’t recall ever seeing a ’69 GT equipped XL. This example is fantastic with its originality, extensive documentation, and one-owner, Ford executive provenance. I’m a sucker for big Detroit iron and I really like this swept-back roof line Ford. There’s no reserve and the bidding is low, for now; four days to go… It’s tempting, what do you think?
I registered a white version of this in California in 1990 and my plate was 2UTH.
This plate was issued quite a time after that.
Maybe the narrative is wrong on the dates.
Calif. DMV is sort of “weird” about plate #s. I had a Toyopet that I did a gray market import back in 1980. My first plate was 1AWV*** . A few years later I “up graded” to a “Golden State” plate (’cause I liked it (1BRR***). I then parked the car for a number of years(10+). Went to re-reg and start using it again. Calif, DMV >WOULD NOT< let me use the golden state plate(?) and issued me a new set of plates(I was not happy, I wanted to keep my golden state plates.) Perhaps, like my self, if the vehicle as been out of "reg" for "X" # of years in Calif, and dmv issues new plates? I have also have run it to this with vehicles being "re-reg-ed" on "lien sale papers"
In Texas they issue new plates every seven years.
God bless America
I’d love to have this ’69 Galaxie as my first car was a ’69 Ford Custom. This one is really appealing as it’s pretty well optioned and a rare GT. It’s quite a bit fancier than my ’69 though my old tank had a much more powerful engine than the 390. While this GT needs a little TLC, it seems to be in pretty good shape and may not need too much to return it to it’s former glory. It’s an impressive car and might bring decent money by auction’s end.
I would have thought a “Ford guy” would know this is not a Galaxie.
Ford wanted a Charger so they built themselves one. Nice!
This vehicle would literally crush a Charger … weight-wise. Ford’s competition for a Charger in this era would have been the Torino / Cobra. Check any vintage NASCAR video for verification.
Pretty sure Chrysler was trying to play keep up with Ford and GM back then…..I doubt Ford was worried about anything Chrysler built in those days at all.
Looks like a good cruiser to me. Reasonably priced and not a lot of repairs to do from what I see.
sweet with great backstory. a good painter could match the paint on the trunk and panel behind the window. Tried and true 390 with a c6. Cruiser. Do Check it out well with attention to the frame as they rusted out in the corners. It did come from MO. Good luck to the new owner!
Cheers
GPC
XL GTs are cool, I had one with the 360bhp 429 Thunderjet. This particular car was listed on ebay previously and “sold” for around $5k. I’d rather have this fully restored car. https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0117-268510/1969-ford-ltd-xl-gt/
I had a ratty ’69 XL GT for a while during college about 40 years ago. I think I remember it having red GT badges similar to a Mustang though. I’ll have to dig out some pictures; maybe my memory is faulty.
One of the more famous (infamous) XL GTs was the black with red stripe car owned by Buford Pusser. He totaled it in October 1969. Car was destroyed and he cheated death one more time. Crashing a lesser car at that speed may have had a different outcome for the “Walking Tall” Sheriff.
Pete Mcgee I’ve always been very interested in him
A very nice looking bucket seat car. I like its front end and design.
They deep trunk looks like it could of held / removed quite a few problems if you were connected 😃
I can’t believe the condition on the Galaxie! This would be a fun car to own! Put in a aftermarket fuel injection unit, add overdrive trans, and add 3.73 gears. FUN, FUN, FUN!
Personally I probably wouldn’t even repaint the trunk..this is a very well equipped car..possibly do a bit of work on the engine and drive this baby..
My grandpa Ray Laharty bought a 1969 XL new from McFayden Ford in Omaha, NE. Beautiful Aqua color with white vinyl top and interior. Not sure if his was the 302 or 390.
I always loved that car and wanted it when the time came. He passed in 1987, but the XL had already been mortally wounded by the Dark Lord of Oxidation and so grandpa sent it off to the great sky road in 1984 and replaced it with a new 1985 Mustang LX hatch; a V6 unfortunately.
I ended up getting grandma’s ’66 Mustang hardtop when she passed in ’94 and my burgundy pony has been with me since. Still love the style, inside and out, of that XL.
BTW, the car is not a Galaxie as the XL was a separate model at this point.
California plate 3NGE805 was issued in 1996. Also I see serious rust and truck bed liner in the trunk. This is exactly what you don’t see on the light blue Duster.
Buyer beware if you think you’re getting a California car.
As the seller stated in there ad, the vehicle was sold/delivered in the Mid west (St Louis). It then moved to So. Calif. in the 80s. The seller >NEVER being very "up front" about the history of this unit. Also keep in mind, because of Calif. "smog laws", the owners may have kept this unit "REG-ED" in its "home state". My parents bought a pair of '94 Fords from Honolulu Ford back in 94. (During there "matched set part of life. Same TV, VCR. Answering Machine, microwave etc. as they did not want to "re-learn how they worked evey time) The Ford was shipped to SFO in 95. They kept the HNL plates for well over 15 years. Just paid the HNL reg and had the sticker mailed to the mainland.
Rarely seen car, in decent shape. The Mecum example petemcgee posted shows what this car could look like if fully restored. I like it.
Wonder what happened to the rim blow steering wheel?
I thought the rim-blow steering wheels were strictly a Chrysler offering. How did just the trunk suffer from sun damage? Seems odd that it doesn’t even crest the rear fenders. Looks like acid may have stripped the paint instead. The hood is perfect!
Trunk lid may have been repainted with inferior paint.
I saw a novice with a 1971 Mustang at a local SCCA autocross. As he worked his way through the cones, the horn would blow every time he grabbed to tightly on the steering wheel.
Car has speed control which used this wheel in 69. Rim blow only if a 3 spoke wheel in 69. 70-74 2spoke speed control wheel was rim blow.
I love two-door hardtops of this era. Maybe it’s a fixation from my youth, but there’s no better way to go for a summer drive—day or night—than with the windows down.
My first car was a 1969 XL, with the same drivetrain as this one. Bought it from my dad in 1979, who bought it as a used car in 1971. The console and buckets made for a very comfortable cruiser. If this one was green with a black vinyl roof I would be all over the auction.
I love how the original owner is portrayed as an executive. It didn’t take too much to qualify for a company lease back in 1969; I had company leases as a Ford employee for many years and never made Executive Roll. To suggest daddy worked alongside Iacocca or McNamara, who left Ford in early 1961 to be Secretary of Defence, is likely a huge stretch. Then again, I could claim to have worked alongside Henry II, Bill Ford, or Alan Mulally … we were in the company at the same time. I did meet with and drive Edsel II around Vancouver back in the day, so maybe that counts for something?
I had a 1968 XL converable with a 390
Loaded car
Love that car
Paint jobs done right are expensive. That’s why I still haven’t had the Riv painted. I don’t have the skills to do it myself so it would be with this very nice Ford if I were to buy it. I’m almost persuaded to hit the bid button, but then I know the car would be better off with someone who could take better care of it.
God bless America
Really nice but I’ve honestly never seen paint look so good on one part of the car and the truck lid look so bad!!!
Looks a predecessor to the LTD, 302 & 390 were the mills back in the day, 351 replaced 390 in 1970, I had a ’70 Galaxie with a 351, nice car until gas jumped from .49 to .69 and kept going
The LTD had been around since 1966, so this 1969 model was definitely not a predecessor.
My first car (1975) was a jade Green, white vinyl roof 1969 Ford XL GT w/ 429 cu. paid $900. for it. Cherry at the time. Got stopped by a New Jersey Trooper doing 122mph (radar) by Turnpike exit 15W. Used to race locals with it, getting great odds being a standard trans. Man, I miss that car. To this day I still haven’t seen another green one. Think it was an unlucky color back then.