If you walked into a Ford dealership in 1963 intent on buying a Galaxie 500 XL with genuine performance credentials, this car would have been as good as it got. It is a numbers-matching R-Code Galaxie. That means that its engine bay is occupied by a barnstorming 427ci V8 backed by a four-speed manual transmission. This car is a solid survivor that would need little to lift it to the next level. It is original and unmolested, and most of the parts that have been swapped over the years due to ongoing maintenance are included in the sale. Located in Blanchard, Oklahoma, you will find the Galaxy listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $12,100, but this remains short of the reserve.
It appears that this Galaxie has led a colorful life. The seller believes that this commenced in Colorado before the vehicle found its way to Arizona. After seeing active duty for a while in that state, a previous owner placed the car into storage for more than two decades. It doesn’t appear that this Ford has ever undergone any restoration work, suggesting that its Corinthian White paint is original. It has accumulated a few marks and imperfections, but presents nicely if this car were to be retained as an original survivor. The panels are pretty straight, which is particularly surprising when you consider that the seller indicates that the vehicle has a competition past. He doesn’t elaborate on the comment, but I suspect it probably involved traveling fast in a straight line, a ¼-mile at a time. The underside has little more than the occasional dusting of surface corrosion. The only penetrating rust in the entire vehicle is some small spots at the bottom of the trunk drop-offs where they attach to the quarter panel. Repairing these areas would be a straightforward task and would not break the bank. A few external trim pieces are damaged, but most are in good condition. All of the glass is original and is free from flaws or defects. If the buyer seeks an original survivor, this Galaxie would seem to fill the bill.
The worst photos in this seller’s listing are of the component that defines this Galaxie. The engine bay houses an R-Code dual-quad 427ci V8 that should be churning out a ground-pounding 425hp. Bolted to this monster is a four-speed manual transmission that feeds the power to a 4.11 rear end. At more than 4,000lbs, the 500 XL is anything but a lightweight. That makes its ¼ mile ET of 14.3 seconds pretty impressive. The seller indicates that the Galaxie saw competition use under a previous owner. The engine is numbers-matching but required a rebuild after an oil pump failure caused bearing damage. That was in the car’s early days, and that beautiful V8 is now in excellent mechanical health. The rest of the drivetrain is also numbers-matching, and any parts that have been removed as a matter of maintenance are sitting in the trunk. These include the original shifter and linkages, along with the failed oil pump that caused the drama in the first place. The car runs and drives but isn’t roadworthy. It will require a thorough inspection and some brake work to achieve that status, but it sounds like it won’t take much work before this mighty Ford is terrorizing the tarmac again.
The person who buys this Galaxie won’t need to spend much money on its interior. The Arizona sun took a heavy toll on his seat upholstery, and a previous owner replaced the covers many years ago. They remain in good condition, as do most of the upholstered surfaces visible in the supplied photos. The carpet is also excellent, as is the console. The headliner is unstitched in one spot, but it isn’t clear whether the problem is repairable. The dash is complete and unmolested, but the pad shows evidence of harsh UV exposure. This shouldn’t prove a problem because the owner includes a red replacement pad from another vehicle that is in excellent condition. Swapping them over is something that the next owner could do in their garage, and that’s about all this interior seems to need. There could be more, but only an in-person inspection could confirm that.
This eBay listing represents a repeat performance for the current owner of this 1963 Galaxie 500 XL. His recent previous auction reached $50,351, but this still fell short of the reserve. When you look at the overall condition and supplied photos, it appears that it won’t take much to have this muscular Ford classic presenting at its best once again. That raises the question of what it could potentially be worth once the work is complete. If the new owner completes a restoration to a high standard, it should command a value of $80,000 any day of the week. If the buyer achieves perfection, it may crawl towards six-figure territory. Even in its current state, once returned to active duty, there is potential for it to pass $70,000 if the right two (or more) buyers emerged from the woodwork. We know that the reserve is probably beyond the $50,000 mark, and it’ll be interesting to see if the seller has more success with this listing. I think I’ll be watching this auction closely. Will you?
Ah, the car that ended my drag racing period. When they showed up in our class they blew everything in it away. The 300 hp engine, 4 speed automatic and the 4.10 rear in my car was no match. Impressive cars.
Thor’s hammer!
Great car, the amazing thing that it has survived all these years. Beast then and still is!
Very impressive and rare combo! Would look great next my 63 split window. One can dream
Ebay auction ended with reserve not met…..
“This listing was ended by the seller because there was an error in the listing.”
Nice find and write-up, Adam. Great cars, and I’d drive this one as-is (with safety items fixed of course). Not a single picture of the whole car, something I’ll never understand. Auction ended early with no sale. Hopefully someone will get it in the wind soon.
Very cool, nice color combo with the red gut and the three pedals are a bonus
Blue Ovals finest equipment from the parts bin, loaded into a plain wrapper. Fantastic and seriously fast cars
What does numbers-matching drivetrain mean? The engine number might be on a chassis plate (or is it the chassis number on a tag on the coil?). But is the chassis number also on the transmission?
I wonder if they ran shine in Colorado? This car would have been good for that.
Omg! I had the same model and it was my first car in 1981. I ran it at the high school drags and a raceway. Not to mention taking guys on from cruising to the interstate, who thought a “chick” couldn’t handle it! Should’ve taken their pinks when they bet me! Loved the power! So many good memories!
Numbers matching- as I understand most cars have numbers stamped in areas on engine,trans and rear axel. Case in point,I have a 1971 Plymouth duster. Years ago when i got the car it had the short block of a 318 which i tossed away(sat open to the elements,figured its junk) .Wish i had not done that! Away from that when I was cleaning the 3pd trans. I found numbers that match the fender tag, looked at the rearend-8 3/4 with the same numbers. Also there are with tags such as the drivers door tag,radiator support frame and in the trunk seal area. Not all manufacters did that but mopar did. All that except the engine make it a # matching car. I had a 1968 camaro Z-28 The engine was a correct “MO” 302 no numbers that matched the vin but mo 302 was a 68 302. I bought the “White Book ” camaro info and it had me look at the fuel line ,it had the correct big line,No real numbers in vin.or on body and other thing that where correct 68 Z-28.
I’m no authority on these cars, but didn’t the r code galaxie have seats from the ford van and would not have had a console. Not to sure about this, but the one’s I have seen had very spartan interiors. Also rubber floor mats no carpet?
only the light weights had those seats
BZ, possible. The Hemi, Dodge Darts used the Vans seats, being lightweight.
relisted and at just over $40K with a buy it now of $52,500. Probably worth it, but a little to rich for me.
I would love to have that much change in my swear jar and wish I quit smoking a lot sooner than I did so I could afford the BIN price. I’d have a blast getting it road worthy, polishing a few details, and definitely take it to the nostalgia drag races. Can’t imagine loosing money and not sure I’d want to sell it solely for profit.
It needs only a Holman/Moody Sticker to complete the return to the dreams of my ill-spent youth. Seldom have I wished for a whole bunch of money to spend on something that I have no need for, couldn’t afford to put fuel in to, and probably wouldn’t have the ability to drive it if I could afford the fuel. Yessir, EXACTLY like my mis-spent youth. It needs Goodyear Blue-Dots.
Yeah, these present best with 9 inch slicks mounted on steelies, the fore mentioned Holman-Moody decal and Tasca Ford painted in big letters… rumbling the fillings out of the driver’s teeth with open headers…and then that glorious sound of a full on 427 sucking atmosphere thru dual quads at full throttle banging gears ! She’s all business and takes it serious…
Andy Griffith could have torn up the streets of Mayberry in this beast! Nice! A collector’s dream.
Sure thing, but I dont think deputy Barney Fife could handle it,
would be an episode of a demolished once glorious 427 Galaxie,
I can just see the look on Barney’s face!