If Burt Reynolds had needed a station wagon for his movie White Lightning, this could have been a contender – even though his was a ’71 Custom 500 sedan. This 1972 Ford Galaxie 500 Country Sedan Wagon has stealth restomod written all over it for me and I’m not a restomod guy at all. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in University Place, Washington and they’re asking a mere $3,800. Here is the original listing, let’s check it out.
This car is so great and I don’t mean condition-wise, I mean stealth-wise, tough-wise, and undercover-wise. I may even go as far as trading the full wheelcovers for dog dish hubcaps just to bring it down even further – as if this pretty basic Country Sedan wasn’t basic enough. Although it was a mid-trim car, it just looks like a base model car to me.
The Country Sedan started off in 1952 in the Customline range, moving onto the Galaxie and then from 1972 through 1974, the Galaxie 500 line before becoming an LTD in 1975 and the rest is history, as they say. I absolutely love the basic look, and that from a guy who complains about most luxury cars not having power windows in this era. In this case, I don’t know if I’d change anything other than maintaining it and making it a drop-dead reliable driver. The outside would stay as is.
Ok, I’d add carpet after most likely treating any rust on the floors and adding a Dynamat material. Otherwise, there isn’t much to do inside either. The seats look almost perfect both front and rear and this one has jump seats in the far back for added seating and an extra fun factor for car shows. Your upholstery shop will have to work its magic on those jump seats. Yes, this car has Ford’s “Magic Door Gate”, a tailgate that opens to the side or down like a pickup, very cool. The seller has a ton of spare parts that go with the sale and given the engine, I’m surprised that this one hasn’t sold yet.
The engine is Ford’s 460-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have been factory-rated at 224 horsepower and the seller says this is a good running, good driving car. For $3,800, would you restore this one or just maintain it and drive it as it looks now?
Keep it and drive it, as long as there’s AC.
I agree!!! You will note the A/C compressor and plumbing.. Would love this car and A/C is a huge bonus on top of that beautiful 460 :)
Fun write-up Scotty. I’m with you on what to do with this wagon: don’t change much of anything. Just make sure it runs good and have fun with it, bumps and bruises being badges of honor. Using one’s imagination, maybe it was employed in some sort of gritty role in its day, something like being a police department staff vehicle to haul crime scene equipment. Though it probably was just a regular family truckster.
After I thought about it some more, it’s….. the dull brown paint. That is what gives this wagon its vibe.
Worth a look. Aftermarket intake and an Edelbrock carb plus a Mallory box among the spare parts suggest someone had plans for the car. If there isn’t a lot of rust this could make a great low cost project for someone.
Steve R
If it’s native to Washington there should be no major rust issues.
Aha. The high speed cruiser personified. Even the same shade of paint. As near as I can tell, the only difference was that ours had the 428 (probably because Dad’s dealer could not get a 460. I can’t tell you how many trips we made between my parent’s place in the Flint Hills and my grandparent’s place in SE Kansas. Usually at around 100 mph with my Mom behind the wheel..
The top engine available in 71 and 72 was a 429. Nk 460 available so its not a stock powertrain
Oh, and as a proof of it’s stealth credentials, neither my Dad or my Mom ever got a single speeding ticket in that beast, despite the fact that I suspect that the only times that the speedometer ever displayed anything other than highly illegal speeds was during the acceleration or deceleration stages of the trips…
Now THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about! Why spend 90-100K for a new pickup
when you could have this! I’d check
into either a Holley Sniper carb or EFI
to make the 460 easier to live with in
the MPG department though. While you’ve got the carpet out, you might
wanna run some wiring for a 10 speaker stereo system to keep you and your tribe entertained on those
long road trips. Add a nice dual exhaust (2 1/2 inch pipes should be
about right) with a pair of Flowmasters and resonators and call it a day. Sorry girls, a K5 it ain’t, but
again you could save a pile of cash
doing the engine maintenance yourself. Shops here in Melbourne
want $300 to change your oil in a K5
so what’s not to like? And if you gotta
have GPS, just plug your phone into
the cigarette lighter jack near the ashtray. Did I say I want this car???!!!
I agree add some performance upgrades and drive it. This is a very nice undercover sleeper with that drivetrain.
If it wasn’t on the other side of the country from me, and the frame was good? It’d be in my driveway right now.
I had one of these in yellow with the 428, same interior color. It was a great cruiser, did fine in the winter with a good set of snow tires on it.
Scotty, your reference to dog dish hubcaps made me curious. Did Ford offer dog dish hubcaps on a Galaxie-level car? So, I checked the ’72 Ford brochure. Not only did the Galaxie 500 offer dog dish hubcaps, one so equipped is prominently featured!
Can any of you sharp Ford guys ID that engine? OEM would be 400 or 429. Is this in fact a 460?
It is a 429, unless a 460 was swapped in. No 460 in full size Fords until 1973. VIN number will be N for a 429 engine. 429 and 460 only differ by crank and pistons. rods and block are same. Blocks are all stamped 460.
351M, 400M, 429, 460 are all the same externally – so, it’s anyone’s guess.
Not exactly. 429 and 460 are “385” series; 351M and 400 are Cleveland series. Can I tell the difference by looking at them? Sadly, no.
I had two 72s with the 400 2V and the 429 4V. I was surprised no one else was saying that a 460 wasnt even available in these yet. I can only say that my valve covers were a much darker blue, and that intake is definitely aftermarket as well
The A/C doesn’t work (note – no belt) and the jump seats aren’t original to the car.
Always gota love a “dont know how to fix it so get an edelhozer” for it. But hey, with an upside down air cleaner lid youll hear it open all FOUR; maybe. Im loving those jump seats. Did they have back cushions or were those punishment seats for the kids??
They should have thin back cushions, and those bottom cushions are installed in reverse. If swapped to the opposite side, the indent gives more legroom to one of the occupants on each side. There should be 4 lap belts back there. I doubt this car originally came with the optional rear jump seats (mismatched upholstery, installed backwards, no visible seatbelts, etc.).
Best I’d do with it, would be a four speed, or put Big enough gears in the rear that it wouldn’t be great on the interstate…. and Go with a five speed.
Need to see a Marti on this.
I had a 71 with a 351. Bought it for $175 in 77. Super gas guzzler, but put the pedal down and it flew. Really a huge wagon, used it as a camper at times. Nothing really special about it, was falling apart after a year and I sold it for $100. Those were the days when you could buy a car for a couple hundred, drive it for a year and sell it for $100.