With a total length of 216 inches and an overall width of 79 inches, this 1972 Ford Galaxie 500 represents a lot of metal for your money. Speaking of money, the owner has set a BIN price of $8,900 for what is a very attractive car. You will find the Galaxie located in Orlando, Florida, and listed for sale here on eBay.
The presentation of the Galaxie is very impressive. The Dark Green Metallic paint has a great shine and consistency to it, which is nicely matched by the dark green vinyl top. The exterior trim, chrome, and the glass all appear to be in really good condition. One thing that isn’t consistent is the hubcaps. In one photo the car wears full wheel trims, while in the others it is fitted with different caps, so it would be interesting to know which ones will actually come with the car. I say this because, to me, the full trims give the car a far nicer appearance.
The green theme continues inside the car, which looks to be in virtually as-new condition. I initially thought that there was a crack in the dash pad, which wouldn’t be unusual, but I think that it’s just a trick of the light. The Galaxie is also equipped with ice cold air conditioning, and it also looks like the car might still be fitted with its original radio/8-track player. Unfortunately, the owner provides no engine photos but does tell us that under the hood is the 400M V8 engine that is fitted with a Holley 4-bbl carburetor and Edelbrock aluminum intake, and an 8-into-2 exhaust which is very quiet. He states that the car runs and drives amazingly well.
This 1972 Galaxie 500 is a car with true physical presence. It is also a car that appears to be in extremely nice condition. This is a car that would be best suited to someone who wants to own an affordable classic car but doesn’t have the time, knowledge, or the skills to take on a project car. The new owner will have a car that they can just get into, drive, and enjoy the experience. That makes the Galaxie a very attractive proposition at the price.
I would open up the exhaust and run it with poverty hubcaps and blackwalls. Nice ride.
The full wheel covers were a factory option so I would presume they are original to the car and would be the ones I would want with it.
They guy seems to be a Ford fan. The one picture shows a late 70’s Ford truck that looks good and a late 60’s two door Tbird..
Is that opera window factory? I’ve never seen one on a ’71 or ’72 Full size Ford.
It was popular back then to have shops add them after purchase.
Just my opinion but between the non factory opera windows and the 66 Ford dog dish hubcaps, he really screwed up the originality.
The opera window is period correct, most dealers had the ability to ad opera windows as a dealer installed option. Like so many other things added after the fact for higher profit margin, rust proofing, pin stripes, body side molding, vinyl roofs and opera windows, all part of some of the Large Dealers of the day ability to make more money, I’m 100% certain, the guy didn’t ad them.
Good, good. The 400m is part of the Cleveland family if I recall. It was a direct replacement for the outdated 390. This might be a little detuned, but pre air pump strangled.
It’s pretty gutless.
Looks like a number of nice Fords on the property.
The 400 is just a 400, no “M”. That only applied to the 351.
Those opera windows are a bad scar. These cars have a ride that certainly rivals lincoln, and I do appreciate that comparison in discussion. Just be thankful there is not a hood ornament on it too. 1971 Ltd hubcaps would look good on this one.
Those wheel covers were optional on the LTD model, not the Galaxie. The hub caps shown are 1966 Ford caps. This is a great looking car. My dad had one, so did my grandparents, as well as my mom’s brother.
This car has been for sale before. Much more in the way of details with the original ad including some pretty severe rust under the vinyl top and some paint work. The original 2-barrel carb and stock intake have been replaced with a 4-barrel and performance intake also.
http://topclassiccarsforsale.com/ford/276501-1972-ford-galaxie-500-low-mileage.html
Almost a twin to my ’72 Galaxie 500; green on green. Matching mileage, too. Mine doesn’t have the opera windows and this one has had the seats re-upholstered with cloth/vinyl seats; mine has it’s original vinyl seats. The base engine was the 351 Windsor, so the 400 is an upgrade from base on this one. The Turbine-style wheel covers came with the LTD and Brougham Galaxies I believe; though mine had the same Turbines on when I acquired it from the original owner.
These are great cruisers; the ride is very smooth, quiet and these were well-built for the time. Not often seen any more but when a nice one shows up for sale, they’re usually very affordable. For what’s offered here, you’d be getting a pretty good car for the money though the rust under the vinyl with need to be addressed.
I’ve tried to improve the performance of the 351 Windsor in mine as there are lots of performance upgrades available. It’s a big car that weighs about two tons so I’ll never be First On Race Day. But I won’t be last. And a ’72 Galaxie stands out among all the Mustangs and Camaros at the local cruise-in/car show. Good enough for me.
Thanks for the link to the previous listing.
That cancer underneath the vinyl top IS Frightening!!
(…&, frankly, something that the Seller SHOULD HAVE clearly disclosed in his current listing!! It is simply just dishonest to not include an OBVIOUS condition detail like this! :-( )
Didn’t the “Granny” in Lucas Oil commercials, drive one of these?
I worked on many 351m and 400’s in the 70’s and 80’s and they were crap. Some said the M stood for made in Mexico. Lots of trouble on the lower ends and low oil pressure. Customer would bring his in because the oil light was flickering at idle; put a gauge on it and saw it had almost zero pressure at idle. put a different sending unit in so the light wouldn’t flicker, and told the customer his engine was shot. Mother in law’s 75 merc’s 351m had his malady at 51k. Living proof that the 70’s cars were the worst ever. I don’t recall these problems at all with the 351 Cleveland.
Cheers
GPC
The ‘71-‘72 400’s were basically stroked clevelands. Everything was the same except the pistons and the crank.
Even the heads were the same. The ones you worked on in the 70’s were definitely the later 70’s models where everything changed including the heads, oiling systems, block production, etc similar to 351M’s. If the 71’s and ‘72’s had the oiling problems you mentioned the same year Cleveland’s would’ve also had them.
Old home week at barn finds. Me ma had one back 8n the 70s spent many of days riding around in back seat. Those were the days.
My wife and I had one of these when we first married. Paid $85.00 for it.
Old Car Guy, I read you comment and not sure why but I am LMAO !!!! $85 !!! That is hilarious !! Not even a straight up $100 bill !!
This is a poor man’s Continental.
Too bad on the opera windows. Nice car otherwise. Nice shade of green. Too bad the interior is green too…..it’s nice but that is a WHOLATTA green.
The wire rim wheel covers in the first photo are from an LTD. This being a Galaxie, the hub caps would be more correct as stock for the car. The likely reason for the rust under the vinyl roof around the opera windows is because the top had been removed/loosened to cut holes and install the opera windows. Exposure to the are and the new glue to fasten vinyl down caused this. Best to remove all the vinyl grind off all rust repair if needed then prime before new vinyl or painted roof.
The opera windows probably made it rust worse. Bad aftermarket “upgrade.” Simply adds a later 73-76 gaudiness to an otherwise clean sail panel. Also, having owned one with those turbine wheel covers — they are top/center heavy and can often fly off the car when hitting a pothole or taking a sharp banked turn. I went with the flatter full wheel covers but sold the car with the turbine style too.
IIRC the centers of the LTD wheel covers were cast metal and chrome while the rims and spokes were plastic covered with a “skin” of metal. Bad design. No wonder they would fall off! Galaxies from 71-72 came with painted tops in contrasting colors to the main body. That is what should be done here. This is too nice an example — do as someone suggested and remove the vinyl top entirely and fill the opera window. It just looks stupid.
It has been relisted on ebay with one shot of the engine. It could be a ride you could drive with pride!
Why no love for the 400 M. Never had the problems mentioned here. The M stood for Manawah Canada where it was cast. I worked for a Ford dealer and had a LTD Brougham with a 400M. 74 model, re-jetted the big 2 barrel and other carb mods. Made a big difference.Done by a guy who worked for Bob Glidden and also the factory Thunderbolt program going around the country doing impromptu drag races with anyone who would dare. Started a big fight in Kinston NC because he out ran everybody. He was a character. My old car had lot of low end torque. My 74 LTD would spin the tires and wind up tight pretty quick to 55 or 60 mph in 1st once shifted from 2nd into 3rd going around 100 a couple times, it would move. Similiar characteristics as 351 Cleveland but not the monster big block killer 4 barrel heads. Had no cats with dual flowmasters. Didnt have cats when I bought it one owner car. Maybe grand pa took’em off. Same block as 351C. The earlier 400s in 71 had high compression and were a runner.
Agreed with everything you mentioned
As far as the ‘71 400’s being runners, after a lot of research I found out regardless of the gross to net horsepower ratings and dished pistons Ford changed from ‘71 to ‘72, the horsepower only dropped by 10 and the 1/4 miles times were nearly identical in the 400’s. The ‘72’s haul just the ‘71’s and are very desirable, both being Cleveland Forge blocks