From the 1959 to 1974 model years, the Galaxie was the mainstay of Ford’s full-size automobile line-up. The Galaxie 500 was at the top of the food chain until the LTD arrived in 1965. This 1962 Galaxie is a sharp-looking survivor that has a bit of a drivetrain surprise (six-cylinder engine and a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission). Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this vintage Ford may only need minor repairs and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $9,500.
The Galaxie 500 was one of several 1950s and 1960s cars with names connected to the burgeoning Space Race. Others included the Dodge Polara, Mercury Comet, and Chevy Nova. The second generation of the Galaxie ran from 1960 to 1964, and the ‘62s were the first to exclude tailfins in many years. While the 1963 models are often cited as the best-looking, the ’62s were the cleanest IMO. Buyers may have agreed, as more than 722,000 Fords produced that year carried Galaxie badging.
According to the seller, this 4-door sedan is a low-mileage car at 61,000, averaging less than 1,000 miles per year. Since the Ford has the standard 223 cubic-inch six-banger, we assume the options list was held to a minimum. We’re told it runs well but needs some exhaust work. The Galaxie has new tires all around, so it should be ready for Cars & Coffee after your visit to Midas.
The body, paint, and interior all seem to be up to snuff. The Ford originated in Minnesota, though we’re not sure why that’s a selling point. If you like these 1960s Fords and don’t think that four doors are too many, do you see this Galaxie in your rocket collection?
Yumpin’ Yimney, coming out out the woodwork they is, gubnor,,I know, the 3 speed, but I hope I’ve made my point on that, and not changing my stance by any means. So looking beyond that for a sec, it really is amazing to see something like this again, and not forelorn at the bottom of a stack of Toyotas. I can just hear it, “look kids, a car just like my uncle Louie had, hmm, $9500, there will be plenty left in Howards swear jar,,oh, wait, a stick, back in the Toyota,,awww,,I know, I kid, about Toyotas, but it will hold back future sales. I’m telling ya’, a car like this with an automatic, wouldn’t even show up here. I think just about everyone had someone on their block that had this car.
And that’s the way it is, NOW, can anyone tell me what’s not right about the front view? You have 10 seconds( playing silly theme music)
Is it just me or should the lamps in the bumper have clear lenses?
Congratulations, you win an all expense paid 6 week vacation in the BarnFinds facility in Hawaii,,,what, no Hawaii BF’s? Amber turn signals became mandatory in 1963, so someone must have had a boo-boo.
After searching “Ford Galaxie” it seems like clear lenses were approved as long as amber bulbs were installed. Some ’62s had clear lenses, others had amber. Some later models had clear lenses.
I owned a ’66 AMC Ambassador which had amber lenses and clear bulbs. The two ’67s I owned had clear lenses and amber bulbs.
No doubt the manufacturers weighed the costs and chose the less expensive configuration.
Beautiful old Ford sedan. I must admit, I was a little surprised by the six and a 3 speed stick combo. I was definitely expecting a V8 and an automatic. But that being said, its condition looks terrific for its age. And I’d actually love having the 3 speed myself. It looks like fun and room for the whole family to get ice cream on a nice summer night.
What a great car. My friend in high school had this in a two-door. Wish cars are still made this well.
Grandad had this car with a 289 and an AT. Blue interior, “neckin’ knob” on the steering wheel, and the fuzzy dogs with the bobble heads on the rear seat deck! Great car, and if I had a space in my garage, it’d be there. 6-banger and a 3 on the tree don’t scare me!
The 289 wasn’t offered until 1963. Maybe your granddad had a ’63, or his ’62 had the 292 Y-block or one of the FE big blocks?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; three on the tree is fine by me. And if I am in the minority these days then that’s okay too. My guess is that many more people share Howard’s view than mine. Also,I really expect that the six cylinder will not add sizzle to the sale either. But I like it. This is a great example of how many of the cars in this era were equipped. It was what families on a budget bought. I would be quite happy sliding behind the wheel and heading to the local cruise in. GLWTS
When I saw “Drivetrain Surprise” I figured there’d be an FE big block with three two-barrels and a four on the floor. Good thing I hadn’t placed any bets.
Yeah, my first thought was it has a 406 under the hood.
I had the 223 6 in my 1954 F-100 pickup about 30 years ago. Nothing wrong with that engine. And this car looks very nice, decent paint, good chrome and clean, even the engine compartment, though probably incorrect black paint on firewall. Just maybe replace the trunk mat and the door “windlace”, if I am using the right word for the rubber that keeps out the wind. Not great for stop and go traffic in the city but ready for the country with the manual transmission.
This one is clean and a 4door 6cyl 3 on the tree was very common in the day, this configuration may seem rare today only because they were bought by regular folks with not a lot of money but needed a roomy car to haul the family, hence driven into the ground scraped and bought another just like it.Not a barn burner by any stretch but these moved families around with no problem. For the money it would make a cool daily driver for nice days of course, fun at cars and coffee.
My parents had a brand new 62 Chevy Biscayne 2dr post silver with red interior 6cyl 3 on the tree vinyl floor no power steering no power brakes I think it had a am radio and of course a heater.
While V8 automatics were becoming the norm in full sized sedans by 62 there were still a lot of 6 banger 3 on the trees sold.
I love the 6 cyl, 3 on the tree. Learned to drive stick back in the mid ‘70s in a 2dr ‘70 Torino with same set-up, and rubber mats on the floors. No nonsense budget model.
Nice clean Galaxie, a winner just as it is. Of course me knowing me the first thing I’d do is swap on 15” steelies with some proper rubber.
And for those who don’t know this Galaxie, as is, will cruise at speed on any interstate. It may not fly but it will cruise with traffic fine. After that Torino I had a couple full size American cars with 6’s and 3s on the tree. Never had a problem keeping up on the road.
Back when I was “middle-aged” (I was, once, though hard to believe, looking at my old self now) in 1989, and I drove a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor sedan with a 239 V-8 flathead, I came upon the blue version of this car, four doors and all, sitting in a Schenectady back yard, with grass growing up under it and all around it. A grey-haired man was mowing the lawn, and he gawked at my Ford. So I stopped. I asked about the ’62 Galaxie, and he told me, “That was my Dad’s car, his pride-and-joy. But he suddenly died at age 91 about 12 years ago, and it’s been sitting there ever since.” “What do you plan on DOing with it?” “I probably SHOULD junk it — but I haven’t got the HEART — I just wish someone would come and TAKE it; do YOU want it?” “I hadn’t THOUGHT about it.” “Tell you WHAT: if you can START it, you can HAVE it; how’s THAT?” It was the non-500 Galaxie (like having a Mainline instead of a Crestline), 6 cylinder, three-on-the-tree, no radio, and no clock. I could turn the engine over by hand (I was younger and stronger then!), so THAT was HOPEful, at least. I got a friend to come over with a 12-volt vehicle (my ’46 was 6-volts), hooked up jumper-cables, sprayed some starter-fluid into the carburator, and she started right up! After the starter fluid had dissipated, it sputtered on the gas that was in the line, then gradually smoothed-out to a fine idle. Got the title, had it insured and registered, put on the new licence-plates, and drove it away on its own power! — to have new TYRES put on it right away and its battery replaced! The BAD news came when it went up on the lift: the frame was like Swiss cheese, where the grass-blades had actually eaten “worm-holes” all through it — and into the brake-lines and exhaust system — all of which (except for the frame) had to be replaced. But I could now save the ’46 for more “special occasions” and tool-around this weathered ’62 “beater” for every day use. The surprising thing was, except for some sun-fading, the interior wasn’t bad at all. And no rodents had fashioned any homes in it. I can honestly say, it was one of the most reliable vehicles you could find — easy to work on, started right up on 30° below zero mornings, and never gave me any problems. With its faded dull paint that would not take a shine no matter what, it wasn’t “elegant”; but it GOT you there, and back! I ran it close to nine years… until the frame broke when I hit a pothole. I still miss it, in a way — it was like a friend that I had “rescued”, and then showed me its gratitude by running its heart out for me. Seeing this one is wistfully nostalgic.
Hey, it’s “pick your $9,500 classic Ford” day here on BF!
You can choose from this here ’62 Galaxie, or a ’71 LTD droptop.
I would take the droptop, thank you.
My dad had one like this except it was black and had the T-bird 390 w/4-bbl. I once had it up to 120mph. Scary! Looked just like this one
Love all the knobs on the dash.
HI Nelson, I do too, except it turns out they were an incredible safety hazard in a crash, and why most switches became flush rocker types.
Should have said “look at” rather than love. Push-pulls and turn controls were easy to use but dangerous in a crash.
I never thought of the danger of knobs, but here we are and here I am in my 66 F-100 with knobs. I do use the lap belt, and I do have a padded steering wheel, but nevertheless.
I never thought of the danger of knobs, but here we are and here I am in my 66 F-100 with knobs. I do use the lap belt, and I do have a padded steering wheel, but nevertheless.