So, do you fancy an Arizona holiday with an affordable project car that you could drive home as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? That dream could become a reality with this 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 Hardtop. Its 390ci V8 is in excellent health, with the car running and driving well. Its minor rust issues make it an ideal candidate for a first-time project. The Galaxie is listed here on Craigslist in Benson, Arizona. The seller has listed it on behalf of a friend for $7,500, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for using a finely-tuned classic radar to spot this beauty.
The Body Tag confirms the original owner ordered this Galaxie in Wimbledon White, a shade it continues to carry. It is unclear whether it underwent any prior restoration or cosmetic refresh work. Given how harsh the Arizona climate is on paint, it would require an in-person inspection to uncover the truth. The sun may have baked the paint but it has largely preserved the steel. There are rust issues requiring attention, but they are minor. The worst appears to be in the lower rear quarter panels because the rest of the exterior looks clean. The seller doesn’t mention under-car issues, and I would expect to see nothing but dry surface corrosion if this Hardtop found its way onto a lift. The exterior sports accumulated dings and dents, but these look repairable. The glass is excellent, and while some trim items are damaged or missing, the remainder seems acceptable for a driver-grade build.
The Galaxie’s interior is a genuine surprise packet because it is far better than I expected. The dash pad looks like the San Andreas Fault, courtesy of its splits and cracks, but that appears to be the worst of its issues. The driver’s seat has a repairable seam separation, although the remaining upholstered surfaces are excellent. I believe it has undergone a retrim because the combination of Blue cloth and vinyl isn’t on my trim list. Other issues include a cracked wheel and worn and faded carpet. A replacement pad will lighten the buyer’s wallet by around $550, a carpet set retails for $260, while good secondhand wheels consistently appear online for $400. I can speculate on the cost of the seam repair, but this interior should pop for under $1,500. The car includes factory air conditioning that doesn’t currently blow cold and a factory AM radio. Aftermarket additions include a gauge cluster to monitor engine bay health and an Air/Fuel Ratio gauge to ensure the V8 doesn’t run too rich or lean.
Lifting the Galaxie’s hood reveals the 390ci “FE” V8, which sends 275hp and 405 ft/lbs of torque through a three-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels. If the buyer seeks an effortless driving experience, they will welcome the power assistance for the steering and brakes. At 3,950 lbs, the Hardtop is not the lightest car on the planet, but neither is it the heaviest. It should carve its way through the ¼-mile in 16.6 seconds. That isn’t bad for a fifty-seven-year-old classic that can comfortably carry six people. It may have recently received a new brake booster, master cylinder, and aluminum radiator. That last item is critical in a warm climate, with the seller saying it shows no signs of overheating. This classic runs and drives perfectly, raising the possibility that the buyer could fly in and drive it home.
Affordable classic project cars are out there for those willing to search; some are better than others. However, finding a car like this 1966 Galaxie 500 Hardtop with a healthy V8 under the hood in a roadworthy state is a treat. Driving it home would allow the new owner to build a relationship with the car and prioritize its restoration needs. The lack of significant rust is unsurprising for a vehicle from this region, and neither is the baked paint. It is a case of “swings and roundabouts” in cases like these because we rarely get anything for nothing. Considering the price and all this Galaxie seems to offer, would you consider pursuing it further?
I’ve never seen a ’66 that looks like this….
that because it’s a 1967 Ford not a 1966
I agree. 1965 and 66 both had vertical headlamps, but the 67 had a more pointy front end.
Absolutely right that is a 67 Ford Galaxy 500
67
That’s a 1967 Galaxie 500 good buddy
1967 was the first year Ford/Mercury put the “donut” on the steering wheel.
Seems like a fair price but a little high I thinkin 5-6 k. Still gonna need a lot of work. 390 is a great engine. Great car to get into the hobby and tinker with and improve as funds allow while you enjoy it.glwts.
If I won the lottery, yes I would get this for a resto. My dad had one of these Galaxies, and it was the nicest car he had in the 60’s. Not sure if I would keep it Wimbledon White after addressing the body issues. Candy Apple Red is close to the color of my father’s car.
This car is just down the road from me. At first glance it looks worse than it actually is, I think it could be a quick easy re do. However I would suggest doing it right, especially the interior. I think the final cost will be at least double the buy in price. I think it would be worth it! This car is just down the road from me, good thing I don’t have $7,500 bucks burning a hole in my pocket.
I had one of these in high school, back in 1972. It was light yellow, with black interior and 289 two barrel with an automatic. Had about 40,000 miles on it when we bought it and I paid $800 for it. Of course at that price, no AC :). It was a great car.
Perhaps the best solid trouble free motor I ever had in any Ford product was the 390 in my 1966 canary yellow Galaxie 500 imo.
my best was a 390 in a 1968 Torino gt fastback
I’m disappointed, Adam.
The 390 is a torque monster,perfect for this hefty classic.i had a 72 F250 with a 390.after some work done to it to make it “high performance” with a 0-60 time of about 6.7 seconds and it weighed more than this car.
as I said I loved my 390 Torino but always wanted to own a 406 tri power never did anyone on here ever have one
“own a 406 tri power “, no I didn’t own it, but a great guy that had a hand in taking care of me along the way allowed me free reign with his 62 Galaxie 406, tri-power, 4 Spd, factory cast iron headers. What an awesome car/experience for a young 16-18 yr old. That baby would haul gas and bust egos once it was awakened – yup a sleeper. Drove to High Scholl regularly. How I wish I had that car now. I was lucky enough to get a 1966 Mustang Coupe 289/auto from him two years ago after it sat in his garage beginning around 1979. He had it for his son that was born that year, but the kid never showed any interest in the car. Lucky for me.
There is a 68 just like this sitting in DRIVEWAY just down the street from my sisters house. It hasn’t moved in ages. I don’t know what is going on with it.
Looks like it’s all in one piece and not tough to restore to whatever condition you want.
1966 ?????????? …
That was established in 1st 2 responses.
The Body Tag confirms the original color was two-tone Brittany Blue lower body / Wimbledon White roof and Dark Blue Vinyl trim.
I always liked the 67 especially in the fastback style like this one, 67 was a one year only body style, for 7500 it’s definitely worth bringing back. I’m not sure I’d drive it back to upstate NY from Arizona that’s a long drive with too much potential for break down, I guess my sense of adventure isn’t what it once was…
Had a ’67 XL (Galaxie) ‘vert and was raised on a ’66 Country Squire. Both with 390s. This is definitely a ’67. Common problem on both, and you check it out first, is frame rot in the box behind the front wheels and in the front side of the arch over the rear axle. Story at the time, in the mid 70s, was Ford had used recycled (not virgin) steel which led to frame issues. Fixable, but expensive, especially if the frame fully rusts or breaks through first. Been there. Not fun.
Had a springtime yellow one, but a convertible. I paid 250.00 for it in 1982. No ac but had a 428. The car ran great, loved gas, ha, ha. 67s are very nice, in fact I would go to this over the Chevy in a heartbeat, pun intended. Mine did have the control panel in the center of the dash for the window, lock, and various warning items. The steering column tilted and swung away when the parking brake was applied. The car had a factory am fm that you pulled the knobs out and turned clockwise and pushed in to switch from am to fm and could have both station choices with whatever that button was set. Like said above rust, was the killer of these especially in the chassis. When I finally let it go there was NO interest except the engine which ofcourse went to a Mustang and well the car as the line went, “you know the rest of the story”.
I can only assume no one reviews these posts before they go out.
I can only assume no one reviews this stuff before publication
Yup, a ’67. As kid in the 60’s with a dad who’s friend worked at a Ford dealership … I’ve always been a Ford guy. This is a big car.
But I wouldn’t think twice to drive it back to NY in a heartbeat, more puns.
Somebody put a lot of effort into this one to make a solid runner.
New brakes, which from the rest of the underhood treatment leads me to believe would have included new lines and all. And speaking of underhood treatment it doesn’t appear anything was left off the rehab/tuneup list. I’d bet there is a brand new fram air filter in that housing.
I dump the weight of the ac set-up keep the four windows open and head northeast. With a little sight seeing included along the way.
Definitely a retro project as you go, or just enjoy as is.
Need to remember to reread and edit before posting …
– I’d dump … comma … keep the 4 …
– … a resto project …
Just looked this site over after a long hiatus, and now realizing I have not missed much. Still annoyed at the way this site is operated. Bye bye. So many others