When cars come across our desks here at Barn Finds, for some of them it is obvious why they are for sale. For some though the reason is less apparent, and we’re left wondering what the back story really is. This car is one of those. Located in Edmonds, Washington and for sale here on Craigslist is this 1966 Galaxie 500 Convertible. With a clean title and an asking price of $79,995 I would dearly love to know the story of this car and the reason for its sale. Barn Finds reader Michael referred this wonderful looking car to us, and I thank him for it.
Why do I want to know the story? Well this car is 52 years old and the seller is only the second owner. I can guarantee that they are not a flipper, as they’ve owned it for the last 33 years. I’m just intrigued as to why they are now selling a car that they have obviously loved and cherished for more than 3 decades. Regardless of the reason, this is a nice looking car. The seller describes the condition as “like new” and claims that the paintwork is original. If this is true then this is an owner who truly knows how to look after a car. It reputedly has a mere 32,200 miles on the clock. If this is also true then it would explain the overall condition. All bright-work, chrome and badges appears to be present, and all appear to be in good condition.
The interior is also in great condition for its age. Once again the seller claims that the upholstery is original. If I go over the photos with a magnifying glass I can identify some tiny potential imperfections, but these are so small that they may well be tricks of the light. The soft-top is also claimed to be original, and appears to be in great condition.
Under the hood is the original 390ci engine backed by an auto box. Once again this is the original drive-train. The seller makes no mention of the car having undergone any major mechanical work. To me the engine bay looks about as honest as an original 52 year old car should, although maybe slightly dustier than I expected (and please throw those red hoses in the nearest bin!). An interesting aside for this car is that the seller did not originally buy this from an unknown source. They bought it off a family friend, and have therefore known the car, and the care and treatment that it has received since new. That’s a pretty good way to buy a car.
I am well aware that this car is by no means cheap. In fact, it is one of the most expensive examples of this model that I have been able to find. It appears to be really well cared for, its history should be easy to verify, and it appears to be about as original as a 52 year old car can be. Is it worth the high price? I will guarantee that it will be to someone. In a high-stress world maybe more of us need to relax in a top-down cruiser.
You would think for that kind of money, this car would have the right hub caps on it…those are ’67’s…love the car, love the color, love everything about it…but the price…this is a mid-20’s car, at best…
wow, just wow…, I am thinking the owner has been watching too much Price is Right and to get the car you need to remove a digit for the actual price.
Have seen numerous comments about getting rid of the red hoses. What is the deal here with that?
And never a word about the flexible “one size fits all” radiator hoses.
Scotty, one of the BF writers, despises red radiator hoses.
Apparently there are two.
@Paul. My query exactly. It would appear to me that red hoses were an original item on a lot of cars, judging by the amount that appear here on BF. If it were my car I could care less if they were any colour you like. The car is beautiful. No idea as to whether the price is right or not, living in UK, but if I had that amount of spare cash lying around, I would be on it like a heat rash.
To put the price in perspective the price guide I use which is from Old Cars Weekly and the 1966 7 litre convertible in #1 condition at $33,000 and the regular Galaxie convertible like this one at $20,000.
He wants $60,000 more than that price.
Red heater hoses were common replacements back in the early ’80s when I worked in gas stations. Back when the gas stations were actually service stations and also had mechanics. I installed rolls of it myself.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen OEM red heater hose.
I personally don’t have a problem with red heater hose, UNLESS the seller claims the car is all original. I assume that is behind the BF comments.
Ugh. Double ugh. Trying not to be negative today! Not worth it at half the price and I’m a fan of full-size Fords from this era (family owned 59 ragtop, 60, 66, 67, 68 ragtop and 71 ragtop). 1966 wheelcovers were much nicer and should’ve been installed for the photo shoot. There are a half dozen 1966 Galaxies including two convertibles on my city’s Craigslist and all combined would not reach $80k. But, you’d have some extra scratch to keep gas in the tank!
Someone typo’d an extra 9 in that asking price. I love 66’s, it is sharp but it’s still a bench seat 2bbl Ford. He obviously doesn’t really want to sell it, and I guess I don’t blame him.
Wife said it was time to sell the car, husband finally relents. Takes nice photos, make a cl listing to appease her. Ask 3x the cars value. Well played sir.
I think you’re right. Nice car, though.
Beautiful car! $80K? Not happening.
Maybe if it was a 7 Litre.
With even lower mileage and every possible option…
Beautiful car, but the seller has been watching too much Barrett Jackson.
Now that I’ve said that, take it to Barrett Jackson and run it through at no reserve and lets see what the market says.
Perhaps the story may read something like this…with the steady increase in market appeal and value that these mid-century land yachts bring, it’s time to cash out for some serious retirement funds. I’ve always loved these ’60’s era cruisers. In addition to a variety of muscle cars, and sports cars, I never ‘tire of getting behind the wheel of one of these “stockers” and just drive to anywhere. I do just that in my 1963 Chevrolet SS Impala rag top…327/ 2spd power-glide transmission, stock 14″ steel wheels with SS spinner hub caps. Of course, with a (sh_t -eating grin)😁
The ironworms got the frames on these here in the rust belt of NY. Never see 65,66, 67,68,69 70 here. This thing is a beauty and fun to drive but the owner has been watching too many Me-cum auctions.
good luck trying to get that kind of coin!!!
The price is so outrageous it makes no sense, it must be a joke, I just don’t get it.
Is it just me, or does it look like the paint on the hood does not quite match the rest of the car? It looks a shade more silver and less blue than everything else.
I was thinking that too. Also, the back seat upholstery around the center speaker is wrinkled in a way that looks to me like new/newer upholstery installed that wasn’t quite fitted right. I sold my 66 Galaxie 500 XL 390 convertible last year, white with blue buckets interior, with a/c, and got a respectable $23,300. Great cars, I like the 67’s front end better though. Something just doesn’t seem right about this one to me. But if they can get $80k, more power to them!
BOP, that’s an excellent price you got for yours. It must have been very nice.
I love the ’65 and ’66 Gals. The sharp lines just look really good to me. But the market doesn’t seem to agree, and prices are usually below the ’63 and ’64 versions. And way below most contemporary Chevies.
– John
Yeah GearHead Eng, it was fully restored. It was a 66 500 XL, and had a 67 XL bucket seat interior in tri-blue. The 390 was fresh from a complete rebuild and shakedown, although I could never figure out why they went with a 2 barrel carb. It had new a/c and power everything, alarm, new navy blue canvas top, off white (I forget what Ford calls that color) etc. Makes me sad to think about it. I really didn’t want to sell!
A guy I know here in Mexico brought in a 1967 Galaxie convertible with a factory 428 engine. I wouldn’t think his car is anywhere near this price, even though it is absolutely gorgeous.
Has anybody mentioned the insane price??
Reason for selling? He thinks its worth 80 grand and is delusional and wants a big payday.
Agree about the wife says sell statement otherwise an arrogant out of touch seller. Or a typo LOL.
Could be since he’s owned the car 33 years, he’s getting up in years with possible medical bills to pay. Problem with getting older, if your health is not good and your not 65 their may be no health insurance, yet bills continue to come in. Sad state of affairs for our nation. My wife being 62 and in poor health is in this situation.
Certainly could be. I’m 45, and had a bad back injury on the job 9 years ago. And although the medical care should be covered under workers comp, they fight tooth and nail to not pay for anything. I actually had to sell my Galaxie last year for that very reason, to pay medical bills. It sucks.
At age 62 your wife qualifies for social security income for life, and at age 65 your health care is now free for life. Its called Medicare.
My mother has to pay over $100 a month for her health care insurance. It comes right off the top of her meager social security check. She worked all her life and just as long as she could.
I had one of these which would have been the same color originally, mine had a 352 which I had balanced and rebuilt which went like the powers, I sold it to a nephew in N.Z. about 10 years ago with 67,000 original miles, the guy who had it in the U.S had a cheap yellow paint job done on the car and a factory black roof. Wow though the price on the one is way over the top alright and for a moment I did get kind of excited thinking here is the replacement as I have kicked myself ever since selling that car. But soon dropped my lip when I saw what this guy wants.
What a weird thing to latch onto .. why are they selling it? That’s not even important. What’s weird is the price – it’s not even in the ballpark in regard to value as others state. This is maybe on the best day ever a $20k car. That’s the bizarre part.
Plus the hood is a different colour to the rest of the car.
Growing up we had a black ’65 Galaxie 500 hardtop sedan that was a pretty car. No window posts like our ’56 Ford had. The ’56 remained in the family long before and after the Galaxie came and went. The carburetor was really temperamental on the ’65 Galaxie though. If you dared to drive it before the cold light went off, it would flood out and die. My father never learned to be patient with it and usually would only make it a block from the house before it would quit. I learned some of my best swear words from him during those adventures! Ha ha! I have a ’69 Olds 98 now that has the cold light, but it has never quit on me if I had to move it before she finished her warm up cycle. Out of courtesy, I like to let her get warmed up before I drive her. So out of curiosity, have any of you who have owned Galaxies from this vintage had issues with temperamental carburetors? And if so, have you invented more colorful language from those experiences? Ha ha!
We could drive our 66 Galaxy before the blue cold light went out. No problem.
I remember looking at that cold light one frigid NY night and actually shivering a little.
With proper choke/pull off settings,carburetors worked very well.Even back in the day,few people knew how to properly tune an engine.With the weak ignition systems we had back then,a proper tune was very important.Worked for AAA in the early 70’s,and people would call every time it rained,because they were too cheap to replace distributor cap,and wires.
“Silvering” of the horizontal surfaces was a signature trait of early Ford metallic paints, particularly the lighter shades. Not entirely unexpected for a car of this age.
True for the hood, but the horizontal tops of both fenders do not show the same silvering as the hood between them. Assuming all three were painted at the same time with the same paint, why would the hood “silver” but not the flat tops of the fenders?
I don’t know, but I have seen the phenomenon before. I would have to break out my paint meter on this one to see what’s going on.
Engine heat, maybe? Hows that for a definite maybe?
I had a 66 when I was in the Army. It was also my honeymoon car when we got married. That was 49 years ago. wish I had kept it. Car was Red w/ white top. Traded it in on a 68 442. still have the same wife!
I already had and used that language hahaha, no mine never ever had a problem, just two pumps on the gas peddle and it would fire right up even after sitting for a few weeks in the shed. I did put heavy wire coils in the back as well so the car sat level even with people in the back seat plus made a tow bar for it so I could move my project around. Just adding the heavier coils and radial tires made this a pretty good handling car, not a sports car but improved it way better.
I refuse to say anything about the price of this one! I will say without hesitation tho what a awesome car! I will probably dream about this one tonight! LOL
Interesting debate about the red hoses. While I agree the black ones look better and are more consistent with the vacuum lines, the red ones do play a part in helping identify exactly where they go to be connected. Those of us that enjoy wrenching on cars, myself included, don’t need that visual guide, but it is helpful for a novice getting to know a car.
LOL I saw this and thought, $8k, that’s a good deal, it’s probably worth $12k.
HAHAHAHAHAHHHAHA seller GFY.