In the tropical Lower Peninsula of Michigan that I call home, my outdoor thermometer currently reads all of 17 degrees Fahrenheit, so thinking about dropping the convertible top on anything is a stretch, perhaps literally. If one lets one’s mind run away with itself, however, it doesn’t take much prodding to imagine a sunny winter day in Florida behind the wheel of a Wimbledon White 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible. The seller says that it’s a 29,959-mile car, but regardless of whether or not that’s true, I’m seeing a very nice old Ford with a three-on-the-tree and a nearly pristine interior. Barn Finds reader Curvette sent us the eBay link, where you can find the car in Orlando, Florida, with an asking price of $29,495 or best offer.
The engine bay is clean enough that I’d be careful where I set my tools, and the 352 has been treated to a chrome dress-up kit and a few other aftermarket goodies, including an aluminum intake manifold, Edelbrock carburetor, and Mallory distributor with electronic ignition. In 1965, the 352 had an Autolite four-barrel as standard equipment, which helped it produce 250 horsepower. Fun fact: the 352’s 4-inch bore and 3.5-inch stroke are the same as all 351 Ford engines. The math works out to 351.86 cubic inches for both, so Ford called the later engine the 351 to differentiate it from this FE-based 352.
What differentiates this Galaxie from most others you’ll find for sale is its clutch pedal; this is a three-on-the-tree car, and the transmission is (thankfully) a fully-synchronized unit designed to survive behind a torquey FE. The interior is immaculate, and although the seller says that it’s all-original, the upholstery is tight enough that I just can’t imagine how it hasn’t been reupholstered at the very least. The door panels and fabrics match period images pretty well, and the only variances I can find are the horn ring bezel and the woodgrain dash insert (which would have been standard on an LTD). The color combination is a handsome one: The aforementioned Wimbledon White with a red interior is a combination that we should still be regularly using on new cars today.
There is no evidence of any rust on the car, and the seller says that the undercarriage and frame are solid, but I’d like to see the car on a lift anyway; 1965 Fords often have frame rust right behind the front wheelwells, and many an example has met an untimely demise as a result. Generally, they’ll show other signs of rot, and there’s no reason to think that this one will suffer that fate. The trunk looks solid (and huge).
With a new stainless-steel dual exhaust system and some neat-looking dog-dish hubcaps (from a ’57 Ford?), this convertible (with a glass rear window, by the way) is ready to cruise as soon as the mercury rises above freezing. Or maybe you already live in Florida and can enjoy the big Ford right away. It makes me a little warmer just looking at it.
Sharp car; I agree, the white/red combination (in this case, with the black top) looks great. Overall the car is clean and attractive. I suspect the seller is using the term “original” to mean “the same style as the original equipment,” as (for example) the interior has surely been redone.
The unique (odd?) feature is of course the three-on-the-tree. When I saw it, a long-buried thought flashed to mind… I’ve taken a ride in a ’65 Galaxie with this transmission. All I can figure is, must have been one of my older sister’s boyfriends, from back in the day. I would be fine rowing my own gears.
Good write-up Aaron. Hang in there; in Michigan it will be convertible weather in…. well, several months.
Nice car. As for top down weather, it’s 59 degrees here in south Florida with 81% humidity and 10 mph wind. Top stays up with those numbers.
And yes I know what real cold is after living in Goose Bay Labrador, Oslo Norway, and upper Michigan.
No need to defend your comment, Bob. I’ve driven my Corvair convertible on 65-degree mornings with the top down, and with the damp air of the morning, it’s not as much fun as you’d hope.
Closer to 70 today and had the top down. A modern ride not a classic like this but a nice drive.
Bob: Just before I went off to war, my girlfriend at the time’s father bought one of these new, and was so proud of it, he let me drive it around the block (while he directed my proficiency at the wheel, with he being the copilot) with the admonition that I change it from 1st to 2nd with a two-fingered lift “it will find 2nd on it’s own” and then like normal to 3rd. He was right! Lifting it up to neutral, the gearshift “found” it’s path to 2nd! Seeing this car brought that back.
Odd to have a 3 on the tree in this Ford but is pretty cool. Probably was special ordered back then.
Yeah back in the early ’70’s saw a ’68 Galaxie convertible, dark blue/red/white top with a 302 and 3-spd manual on the column. Surely it too was a special order. Wish I had the means to have coralled it back then. $800 is the price I remember, at the time might as well have been $3K for all the good it would have done me . . .
Like most manufacturers Ford’s standard base-model drivetrain was generally a six cylinder engine and a column-mounted three speed. That’s the case with this car. An automatic transmission for this car was a ~$188/~$190 option depending on if a Cruise-o-matic or Ford-o-matic.
If your new car was equipped w/a manual transmission, there’s nothing ‘special’ about that. If an automatic wasn’t specified, EVERY car until the middle-to-late ’71 model year was a 3-on-the-tree manually-shifted vehicle, except Lincoln & Cadillac. A buyer didn’t need to specify a manual shift because new cars came STOCK w/a stick-shift.
Hi Aaron, I can’t remember just what 17 Deg. F. is in Centigrade but here in the warm part of England, on the lower South coast, it was -2 deg. C. this morning and currently it’s up to 4 Deg, C.
17.0 degrees Fahrenheit is -8.33 degrees Celsius. Thanks to my trusty HP 20S Scientific calculator, LOL!
Good price if as described. I would have to move that shifter to the floor though, and those dog dish hubcaps don’t look right on a full size car, at least full wheel covers would be be better. Better yet a set of wire wheel looking covers.
Well, what about some old fashion Keystones, How bout that?
she is clean, neat and tidy. engine is a bit over dressed for my taste. looks like the tires are sweating though
This old gal has been to the beauty parlor, right down to the Armor All on the sidewalls, LOL!
My first car at 16 in 1967, was a 1964 Ford Galaxie 500, 2 door hardtop. Had a 390 with a four barrel carb. And a three on the tree with OD. Odd combination but proved to be pretty darn fast. First cars always have the best memories.
It’s somewhat odd that, at less than 30,000 miles, the person installed 1955 Ford Dog Dish Hubcaps on the car. I have a set of 65 dog dish caps and a set of full-size caps, in case they are needed.
I don’t know if the 3-speed column shifter hurts it, but the price might be better with an automatic or 4-speed.
Like this car a lot. The dog dish hubcaps would have to go, though
Definitely a highway cruiser. In town shifting the 3 on tree, manual steering and manual brakes would get tiresome. Pretty car. I drove a stripper Galaxy one time. 352 and 3 speed. It was quite peppy. I like the early dog dishes. They are different and not bad looking. I’m a wheel Snob and I really appreciate different. I think I would keep the caps, paint the wheels body color (in this case white) and add trim rings. Then lose the white stripe tires. (It would be too much white with the painted wheels) Or, just add trim rings to what is already there. JMHO.
More than our memories, these pristine cars are tiny pieces of automotive history. Funny, as you get older, brand matters less. Always hurts when I see after market parts replacing original parts when unnecessary. Guess I am truly old.
What a great ole Ford
Yep, I hate it when I see a lovely Ford of any description that has had a Chevrolet engine installed.
I wasn’t going to comment since it’s already late in the day here in 85degree Houston, Texas but decided I will anyway.
Shortly after I got out of the army in 1967 my dad bought me a 1965 Ford Custom 500 with 289 and three on the tree with overdrive and air conditioning. What a sweet ride. My bride at the time and me drove to Lake Tahoe, Nevada for our honeymoon. It was so cool teaching her how to drive a standard transmission car. But she got the hang of it right away.
Great times in my younger days.
God Bless America
Lake Tahoe is almost always a great place to visit. I wouldn’t want to live there for many reasons. But since I’m about 60 miles away as the crow flies. I’m up there several times a year. Many years ago I used to ski every weekend there was snow to ski on. I had to do something in the winter as just before moving here I was ice racing every weekend there was ice to race on.
Lake Tahoe is almost always a great place to visit. I wouldn’t want to live there for many reasons. But since I’m about 60 miles away as the crow flies. I’m up there several times a year. Many years ago I used to ski every weekend there was snow to ski on. I had to do something in the winter as just before moving here I was ice racing every weekend there was ice to race on.
That dash-trim is authentic, it’s a faux “brushed stainless” piece.
Look closely in the pictures.
Part of the “wood” illusion is in that the red interior color is being reflected.
Ford used it on the dashpanels of many models for which they wanted to convey a ‘Sporty’ image.
I had it in an ’85 Tempo, and in an ’88 Bronco II
This Galaxie should have whitewalls with the standard, cruciform-pattern, full wheel covers for 1965.
I wasn’t referring to the part on the lower dash, Kevin, but rather the portion surrounding the clock and ignition switch. On the Galaxie 500, that part was black rather than woodgrain.
Here’s a picture…
I see now what you mean. The black trim in that area “just looks right”, as in the photo you posted. In any event, woodgrain doesn’t belong.
In fact, now that I recall, my Bronco II, which had the faux brushed-stainless instrument panel, likewise had that similar lower-panel strip in a black, faux-leathergrain all the way across.
This ’65 must have a poached dash, probably from an LTD?
The brushed-stainless strip would be easy to substitute. But that lower area behind the steering wheel, not so simple.
The guy probably figured nobody would even notice.
Your posted photo depicts the authentic design.
I learned something!
Aaron,
The frame rust you mention is indeed a problem with mid to late Sixties big Fords, but the torque boxes and frame rails that run under the doors are easily checked with an on-your-knees inspection. Hidden without an inspection on a lift, is rust in the kick-up over the rear axle, that can make the car almost undriveable.