This 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL has spent most of its life in Texas, so it is no surprise to learn that it is a rust-free survivor. With only 28,000 miles showing on its odometer, it seems that no-one has gone out of their way to wear out this spotless classic. It has found its way to Florida, and now the owner has decided that the time has come for this Ford to complete the journey to a new home. Located in Winter Garden, Florida, you will find the Galaxie listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has made its way to $10,100, and I’m not surprised that the reserve hasn’t been met at that price.
When I reflect on my childhood, one of the family cars that my father parked in our driveway was a 1964 Galaxie. However, ours was finished in Silver Blue rather than the Skylight Blue that this car wears. That means that I do have a soft spot for this car. It presents exceptionally well, with shiny paint and panels that are as straight as an arrow. One of the stand-out exterior features of this car is the condition of the chrome and trim. The bumpers on these aren’t light, and if they do suffer any issues, it is usually bubbling in the chrome. These look to be perfect, while the more fragile side trims appear to be free from physical damage and deterioration. The glass looks flawless, while the hubcaps are in as-new condition. I have always felt that one of the most striking characteristics of the 1964 Galaxie is how long and low it looks. Ford got the appearance right because the low ride height accentuates the car’s length without making it look heavy and cumbersome. I always felt that way about our family’s Galaxie, and this car reinforces that impression.
Life in Texas has paid dividends when we take a peek under this Galaxie. Those floors are about as clean as you are ever likely to find in any car from this era. The sad truth is that many American cars in the early 1960s suffered from pretty woeful rust protection, and the proof of this was demonstrated by how many dissolved before they were a decade old. The import business may have hurt sales figures for American manufacturers, but it did force them to take a step back and consider the steel’s longevity in their offerings. This impact had not been fully realized in 1964, so it is nice to find an original Galaxie like this that has managed to remain rust-free. There is a light dusting of surface corrosion in a few spots, but there’s nothing that would cause sleepless nights.
The Galaxie’s interior is another high point because its condition is well above average. The original owner wanted a touch of luxury, so he ordered the car with bucket seats, a console with a shifter, and air conditioning. All of these features remain intact, and there’s not much that this car requires inside. I think that the foam on both front seats has begun to collapse, but the covers themselves look good. Although I believe that comfort will probably dictate that the foam should be replaced sooner rather than later, the seats could remain untouched. A new set of foam for the buckets will cost around $320, and I feel that this would be money well spent. The rear seat doesn’t have this problem because it looks like it has never been used. The carpet has become slightly patchy, but its lack of wear would seem to make the idea of replacement seem to be unnecessary. The remaining trim and the dash look perfect, meaning that this interior could be returned to somewhere close to showroom condition for very little money.
Powering the Galaxie is the numbers-matching 352ci V8, which should be producing 250hp. This motor is bolted to a 3-speed automatic transmission, while the vehicle is also equipped with power steering. In this guise, the Galaxie was not a jet in a straight line. However, a ¼-mile ET of 17.1 seconds was still respectable for a car that tipped the scales at 3,975lbs. That makes me wonder about my father’s Galaxie. It only had a 289 under the hood, but my father liked to push the envelope a bit. He had the little V8 rebuilt to K-Code specs, which means that it swapped 195hp for 271hp. I wish that were parked in my garage today! The news with this Galaxie all appears good. The owner says that it runs and drives well and is ready to be driven anywhere. He also claims that it has a genuine 28,000 miles on the clock, but he doesn’t indicate whether he holds evidence to confirm this.
I wish my father were still around because he would take one look at this 1964 Galaxie and acknowledge it with a wry smile and a twinkle in his eyes. We had a succession of exciting cars parked in our driveway during my younger days, and some of them would be considered quite desirable today. However, if I had to choose only one to own today, it would be the Galaxie. It is a car that had that indefinable something that made it so attractive. I can’t justify buying this car, so maybe I can recapture my lost youth by living vicariously through the person who buys this classic. Could that someone be you?
This generation of full-size Fords, and the following generation with the vertical headlights, were attractively-styled, well-executed cars. This example is particularly nice. It carries a bit of a different vibe, with the four doors but with the XL trim. More of an upscale family cruiser feel. I suspect not very many equipped this way. The blue bucket seat & console interior is very cool. I’m with Adam, this is a terrific car.
Well done, Adam.
How rare is the four door hardtop?
What is that under the glove box?
That’s the “tissue dispenser” for the wife to touch up that lipstick when needed.
The four door hardtop is rare enough, but this one is an XL car on top of it. The rarest combination for 64 galaxie’s were 4 door hardtop XL cars I believe only 14,000 or so were made as a 4 door hardtop XL.
This car could use some disc brakes and then it needs to be parked in my garage so I can cruise in it all summer. I love it! Great color, nice interior, and one of my favorite Ford cars of all time. I envy the new owner!
With this one; Four doors? No problem.
Beautiful.
I remember seeing one of these 4dr hard tops back in that year with a 4 speed ! I believe it was the XL as well !
@John that’s how I’d have ordered mine. ;)
Back then, you could order nearly anything from the parts bin.
Spectacular.
In the mid 1960s , my parents neighbors had a grey 64 ragtop. I was only about 7 years old, but I like the looks of that car , so much so that ,more than 50 years later I can still see it sitting in their driveway . Being in CT. , I’m sure that car is lone gone . For some reason in New England, the 64s rear bumpers rotted out, while the older and newer 60s Fords didn’t. I assume it was a plating issue .
1964 … I was 12 and a car-crazy kid. Every year in the ’60s the area car dealers would display the new year cars at the shopping mall. The Ford Galaxie displayed was identical in every way to this one. Interesting that this car is from Texas because I lived in Houston and the mall was the first air-conditioned mall ” Sharpstown Center”. Maybe it’s the same car? The Chrysler Turbine car was displayed that year as well. I am curious why the steering wheel looks so warn? The front buckets also had that V shape … not sure that is a collapsed condition.
I didn’t live in the Houston area until much later. Was Jack Roach Ford just up the road from Sharpstown in ’64? Interesting we car-types can remember details of car-related things from when we were kids.
The Ford dealership that you are thinking of was Luke Johnson … Jack Roach was further in at Buffaloe Speedway exit. I agree with you about remembering things about cars when I was a kid. I remember getting my Motor Trend magazine and they would show drawings, previews, and spy photos that I just ate up. I was a fanatic.
Beautiful! Back then one of my friends was the son of the local Ford dealer, so I got to see them and ride in them, though not a 4-door XL like this. Great color as well!
Nice car!!! Really beautiful.
This is sort of a strange comment:
“The import business may have hurt sales figures for American manufacturers, but it did force them to take a step back and consider the steel’s longevity in their offerings. This impact had not been fully realized in 1964…”
Like imported cars, especially Japanese cars until at least the mid 80s, didn’t have rust problems? Japanese cars were known for that in the 70s and early 80s.
It seemed to me like American cars, even if they did rust out, weren’t nearly as bad as imported cars until maybe 1990.
Mom and Dad both had one of these. Dad’s was Maroon, Mom’s was Blue. Sedans, though. Dad’s was a Company car. I’m guessing Mom’s was bought used as I remember she had a ’58 Plymouth (hideous yellow Christine) before that.
Look at that! How’s that for a mid-60s automotive masterpiece! 1964 has always been my favourite year for the Galaxie 500. And to see a 4 door, that’s not something you see every day. I remember there was one in my neighbourhood when I was a boy. I couldn’t tell where the gear shift lever was, whether it was on the floor between the driver and front passenger, like with this car, or on the steering column, like most cars of this vintage. Sweet!
The 352 was relegated to bread and butter duties after 1960. Although you could still get the 300 hp engine in 1961, you could only get a two barrel from ’62-’66, ranging from 220 hp to 250 hp. Ford made an absolute scalded dog, in 1960, with 360 hp. Even though it was saddled with a 3 speed column shift, one magazine ran a high 14 second quarter mile time, at about 95 mph. Not bad for a 3900 lb, full size car.
My dad bought a 64 Ford Country Squire new 352 4 bbl I know because when I turned 16 my best friend and I used take air cleaner off and hub caps . We sure had fun
You’re right. I stand corrected. From ’64 to ’66, the 352 only had a 4 barrel, which brought the horsepower up from 220, to 250.
My dad bought a 64 Ford Country Squire new 352 4 bbl I know because when I turned 16 my best friend and I used take air cleaner off and hub caps . We sure had fun
My dad had a 1964 Ford Galaxy 500 4 door hardtop. Silver with red interior. I thought it was a very cool car. Dad’s friend had the year but the 2 door XL with buckets and centre console. Still a handsome csr.
My first car {in 1967} was a 64 Galaxie 500 2 door hardtop. Had a 390/4bbll. 3 on the tree with overdrive. I was 16 living in West Texas. Lots of fast cars in 1967 but my Galaxie would run pretty darn fast. Especially on top end with the overdrive engaged. It had gobs of torque and would do burnouts at will. Loved that car and drove it for several years before getting a 69 Mustang 302/ 3speed. Pop had purchased both of these cars for me. Thanks Pop!
To ADM: The 64 352 had 250 hp and dual exhaust. It was a 4bbl. Used regular fuel.
Same as 63, 65, 66 and 67.
I passed by one of these, same color, hundreds of times on my bike as a kid. Totally Chrysler here, but something about that very nautical roofline always caught my eye. Like ChrisCraft built a family car!
Love It, Just TWO Many Doors
Beautiful car. While I’m dreaming, I’d order mine in white with a red interior 289 4 speed with air.
This is very rare. 63 and 64 only years for 4 door XL. Hardtop only. Also came in 2 door Hardtop and convertible. Chevy never offered a 4 door hardtop
Impala SS. Only 2 door Hardtop or convertible. Much later there was a 1 year wagon SS. Saw a 63 4-door XL in an ad on Old Car Brochures. There was a black 64 for sale on Hemmings a while back. Quality of the interior was much nicer than a plain Galaxie 500.
Price goes up if it has a 390. Way up with 427.
My dad traded his ’60 TBird on a ’64 XL Hardtop in Silver Blue with the 390 … loved driving that car … as some may know, some are better than others for no particulat reason than just everything works together … this car would get rubber in second gear, bury the needle in the quarter mile, beating a buddy who had a ’67 GTO with 4-speed … PW had an issue in Arizona – the car was running hot pulling a travel trailer, we had to turn off the AC, and only two windows would crack an inch or so … my mom never let my dad forget about it either, and they traded it on a passenger van, with a 302, but with roll-down windows …
Hi every one glad that most people recognize the lines of the xl four dr hard top got married in one and own a over the top restorated xl 4 dr same as i got married in mine is a 390 windows seats and wire wheels white with red interior deluxe side crome bumperettes etc Ii just love this car better than my 2021 bronco sport
I’ve never seen an american 4 door car with bucket seats from the ’70s or earlier. Did the buyer “know somebody” to be able to order buckets on this 4 dr car?
Buckets with console were standard with the 500XL either in 2 or 4 door hardtops….that’s the package.
352 was blue in 64 and said “Ford” on the valve covers. Regular fuel.
390 was gold and said “Thunderbird” on the valve covers. Premium fuel only.
nice car. I’m pretty sure the 64 Galaxies all had an emblem on the bottom front fenders with the Thunderbird displaying either 352 or 390 lettering to designate the engine size. Seem to be missing on this one.
@Jon.in.Chico ” bury the needle in the quarter mile”. I think someone’s memory has become a bit embellished. Maybe in the mile perhaps, but most certainly not in the quarter.