I don’t know how many of the 31,930 ’65 Galaxie 500 convertibles produced are still around, but this is probably the only one with a Mercury 410 V8 under the hood and factory air. The seller has owned this Ford for 15 years and has restored it to be a full-sized mid-60’s muscle car. He claims that virtually every part on this Ford has been replaced, restored or upgraded, and is selling it because he’s moved to the mountains, doesn’t drive it enough, and a fractured left knee in a motorcycle accident makes pushing in the clutch a bit tedious. This beauty is currently located in Lake Elsinore, California and is for sale here on craigslist for $27,499. Thanks to PRA4SNW for sending this great-looking Ford drop top our way.
The restyled 1965 Ford’s were “new from top to tires” and are still good-looking cars. Their crisp styling, stacked headlights, and hexagonal-shaped taillights (a departure from Ford’s usual large round taillights) made for a well-proportioned package and they were a sales success. Overall, sales surged 25 percent over 1964, and more than two million cars were produced, putting Ford in second place behind top dog sales leader Chevrolet. The Dynasty Green paint is beautiful on this Ford with an impressive shine and no visible flaws. The panels are straight and the chrome, trim, glass, and lenses all look great, too. The white convertible top compliments the Dynasty Green exterior well, but the seller admits there’s a small tear at the hinge and the power top pump works, but is leaking fluid. The Ford’s current mag wheels give the car a more aggressive look, but they would look more sporty complimenting a red, black, or white paint scheme in my opinion.
The black pleated vinyl interior is tasteful, kind of sporty, and looks very sharp. The seller says the front bench seat was restored with marine-grade vinyl and the back seat might be original. The factory Selectaire A/C is built into the instrument panel and blows cold with an updated compressor. The seller admits that it works great but can only be shut off by shutting off the fan. The Galaxie 500 is also equipped with power steering and power brakes.
This Ford originally left the factory with a 289-cubic inch V8 that was paired with an automatic transmission. The seller shares that at some point, a previous owner installed a 390 under the hood and replaced the automatic with a 4-speed manual transmission with a floor shifter. The seller replaced the 390 and states, “I replaced the 390 with a ’66 Mercury 410 that is a beast built by L and R Engines of Santa Fe Springs. The 3,503 miles on the odometer reflect the miles on this engine. She is barely broken in.” He further describes the powerplant with “the carb is a C9AF-4 tuned by C and J Engineering mated to a Ford factory aluminum Sidewinder intake. If you cannot read the script on the beautifully chromed valve covers, they say Mercury. She has a Comp Cams 33-238-4 and a 3:00 closed rear end. But the icing on the cake are the Ford factory long tube headers with Flowmasters.” We’ve only featured three Galaxie 500 Convertibles on Barn Finds, but they all needed restoration. This one appears to have been restored to a high level and although it’s not “factory correct,” it can be driven and enjoyed with the top up or down from day one. What do you think of this 410-equipped full-sized Ford Convertible?
That sure seems like a lot of car for the money. The owner is right that you can’t build one for that price. Beautiful car!
Love that car the 410 is it
The car needs a top but otherwise worth every penny.
Agreed, a huge amount of car and motor for the money.
Top of my list? : You’re looking at it… big cam and all.
Carb: When seller says C9AF -, with the number “4” (?), I think he has shortened the complete Ford number referencing the Torino/Mustang Holley 4 barrel, 735 cfm =
C9AF-9510-U/or M,
Holley list 4609.
This came on the 1969 428 Cobra Jet and Super C. Jet.
Came on my SCJ.
Restored these factory fitted carbs are $1,200. + and date coded (C9 = 1969, then month and day left off here).
Looks rich in parts and you just may never see another Ford 410, FE series in Mercurys for 1966-67.
Wow – needs a special home for this runner.
A beautiful Ford Classic for ’65 ! My oldest stepsister and husband bought a ’66 convertible almost new , and it looked almost exactly like this one ! We had a lot of happy times in that Ford Galixie convertible but eventually us kids grew up and bought our own cars , but that’s another story . This featured car will soon have a proud owner and a new home as well ! Remember Fords motto ? ” Your ahead in a Ford all the way !” Happy Motoring
C9AF The A is for full-size An O would be for Fairlane/Torino A Z would be for Mustang. Although I’ve never seen a Holley 4barrel on a 69 Galaxie, that’s what that engineering number is implying
410’s have the stroke of a 428 and the bore of a 390. In 66′ you got the tall canted Mercury valve covers. 67′ 390,410,and 428 had reglar common covers. The 410 and 28 are externally balanced and the 390 is internally balanced. Now all three of these engines are physically the same on da outside. So unless you are sure that the engine is original. There are only a couple ways to verify what size engine you have. Take a look at the flywheel or measure stroke. Ask me how I know.
How do you know?
The 428 is the ONLY externally balanced FE engine and the only one to have 2 versions,CJ with(2.08 intake and 1.65 exhaust valves)and the standard 428(2.02 intake and 1.55 exhaust valves) that were used in the 66-67 T-Bird and Marauder.
Beautiful car. Fly to California and drive it home. That’d be a great way to spend part of the summer.
Unfortunately, it’s winter.
Who cares!!?? Lol, I once bought a 23 T-Bucket with a 327 Vette engine in her an Drove it home in the SNOW for 2.5 hrs, Swapping off driving with my brother whenever our hands and Face would get to cold!!!! Nuttin to do but do it!!! Lol!!
Wow! This car has it all but doesn’t appeal to everybody. I wonder how long it took to find the clutch pedal and linkage to pull off the wonderful conversion to the four speed transmission. I wish I could see this gem. Power, looks, comfort. What else could you want?
I had me one o’ them…honey gold, black top, pleated black interior, 289 auto, got lucky and bought it for $1,700 in 1978 from an old couple who bought it new and only drove it on sunny Sundays…it was absolutely like factory fresh! At the time, I drove a ’65 Catalina ragtop–my fav car of all time—and the Ford was so good that I wouldn’t let my wife drive it. That didn’t work out well, so I sold the Galaxie a year later for twice what I paid for it to a guy who saw it at a car show and just had to own it. Ah, yes…
I had a ’65XL vert that was gold w/black interior, 289 auto. I gave it away in 1973. It was pretty clean then but I was and still am a MOPAR person.
Sidewinder intake (usually scooped up by the Cobra guys, cast iron 427 headers, all she’d missing is the “glass” headlight covers. Contact me if you need an NOS set.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=lp66JuLQ&id=E9CA57043AB52C46E2CB6C8F4E3D7D7813C8F045&thid=OIP.lp66JuLQCKWYBLw3NE93HAHaEK&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fi.pinimg.com%2f736x%2fb9%2faf%2f7e%2fb9af7ea8677eb1e6add6022d8c5615ba.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.969eba26e2d008a59804bc37344f771c%3frik%3dRfDIE3h9PU6PbA%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=414&expw=736&q=Very+Nice+Used+1965+Ford+Galaxie+427+Lh+Pyrex+Glass+Headlight+Door&simid=608055421487834314&FORM=IRPRST&ck=F9F2FBAE23F0F6953425A913FC68FA20&selectedIndex=7&itb=0&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0
Cool hot rod. Never mind it is not all original, the changes look to have been done correctly and with attention to detail. I don’t know the market for Galaxies but this seems like a lot of car for the money.
OUTSTANDING OLD FORD GALAXIE ‘VERT!! What’s NOT TO LIKE / LOVE on this car?? Merc 410 w FACTORY HEADERS and CHROME MERCURY valve covers with AC AND A 4-Spd!! If this old Air Force Vet had the cash, I’d be headed to Cali to drive that BEAUTY HOME TO TEXAS! LOVE THIS CAR!! Glws..😕 Wish I could come get it…I’d take care of it for the rest of my days on this planet and have the top down as often as I could!! 903-480-2863
Had a 1965 Galaxie 500 XL convertible – the XL came standard with bucket seats and console. 352 and automatic. PS/PB. A steal at $300 in 1974. Needed brakes and mufflers, but still a screaming deal. The MOST fun !
The 410 is pretty much a 390 with a 3.98″ stroke.Came with the same 2.02 intake and 1.55 exhaust valves,rated at 330hp@4600rpm and a cr of 10:5.1.Almost a lateral move going from a 390 to a 410.And using aluminum intake manifolds on a FE big block makes them more prone to leakage and in the event of overheating it might warp.
Beautiful!
Oh man, tempted but already have a toy. I do like those drop tops though. Best wishes to fortunate new owner.
My dad had a 65 hard top w/ a 410 he turned into a Super Stock race car. He cheated a little, because the Chevy’s were tough to compete with, so he put a 2bbl on it and Ford valve covers and called it a 390. He wasn’t winning all the time, so he never got torn down by techs, but the Chevy guys knew he was there!!! Seeing that car brings back some memories for sure!