Some cars can be a triumph of style over substance, with stunning good looks hiding performance that would be considered mediocre, at best. Other vehicles can be unspeakably ugly but possess performance potential that is nothing short of mind-bending. This 1964 Galaxie 500 XL Convertible scores well in the looks department, and while its performance falls short of muscle car territory, it is still impressive for a car of this type and weight. It is another vehicle that demonstrates that Barn Finder Larry D knows how to spot the great one, so thank you for that, Larry. The Galaxie needs a new home, so it’s set to go under the hammer in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 3rd. If you find yourself irresistibly tempted, you will find this fantastic Ford listed for sale here at Mecum Auctions.

The first thing to consider with this Galaxie is its paint color. The seller describes it as Ming Green, and I’m not about to argue with them on that point. However, Ford didn’t offer that shade in 1964, discontinuing it at the end of the 1963 model year. I initially wondered whether this was a special order, but then I found a couple of spots on the car that seem to indicate that someone may have performed a color change. If I’m right, it rolled off the line wearing the much lighter Pagoda Green. Regardless of the truth, the Galaxie presents well. There are no significant flaws or issues with the paint, and the condition of the panels is equally impressive. There are no glaring dings or dents and no evidence of rust. The car’s history is unclear, but it may be a rust-free survivor if it has always been well maintained and garaged. The White soft-top fits tightly, and although it looks like it may have accumulated a few marks during its life, there are no rips, and it remains presentable for a survivor-grade car. The trim and chrome sparkle under the sunlight, and the glass looks to be flawless.

If this Galaxie’s exterior presents well, its interior takes this to a new level. It is upholstered in two-tone turquoise vinyl, and I’ve had to search hard to find any faults worth mentioning. The vinyl on the driver’s door trim just below the handle is wrinkled, but I suspect that this may be a consequence of someone cutting the trims to install aftermarket speakers. I guess that by removing the speaker, the new owner could stretch this back into place before they reinstall the speaker. The seats show no evidence of wear or damage, while the same is true of the carpet and remaining upholstered surfaces. The dash and pad are spotless, and there’s no wear on the wheel. The original owner ordered the Convertible with a factory console, although the original radio has made way for an aftermarket radio/cassette player. If the buyer craves a factory-fresh appearance, finding an original radio should not be a difficult or expensive undertaking. The door trims will hurt slightly because a pair in the right color and material will lighten the buyer’s wallet to the tune of $425. I suspect that prospective buyers may elect to leave well enough alone on that front.

Buyers in 1964 had a few options available when it came to choosing what got their new Galaxie up and mobile. At 4,144lbs, the Convertible is not the lightest car on the block. The performance provided by the beautiful little 289ci V8 was adequate for some people, but not the original owner of this classic. He chose the Z-Code 390ci unit that punched out a very healthy 300hp. Increasing this classic’s desirability is that owner’s decision to back the V8 with a four-speed manual transmission. Okay, this is no muscle car, but the 16-second ¼-mile ET represented some rapid wind in the hair motoring for this Ford’s occupants. If the driver were happy to keep the pedal to the metal, the Convertible would eventually run out of breath at 121mph. If anyone was wearing a wig, they’d want to make sure that they nailed it down tightly, or it would hit the following motorist in the face! The evidence indicates that the Galaxie is probably numbers-matching, but that would take some further investigation by prospective buyers. The current owner recently fitted new tires, a new fuel tank and rebuilt the Autolite carburetor. We receive no information on how this classic runs or drives, which represents a bit more detective work for potential buyers to undertake. However, if looks are an accurate guide, the news should be pretty positive.

This 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Convertible presents beautifully, although some evidence suggests that it might not be 100% original. That could potentially impact its ultimate value, but it is hard to gauge how profound that impact might be. If I were a gambling man, I would be tipping that bidding will probably push beyond $30,000 before the hammer falls, but there are times when auctions can be completely unpredictable. If two or more people want this classic badly enough, there’s the potential for it to rocket beyond $40,000. However, there have been numerous examples where a car like this defies all odds and fails to secure any significant bidding action. If we look at the rising values that these cars have experienced in recent months, I can’t see that situation occurring. I would expect some spirited action, and it will be interesting to see if it involves any of our readers.