Way back when, I recall a 1959 Ford four-door sedan occupying a place in our family’s motor pool. It was a Custom trim level, wore a dull gray hue, and was powered by a six-cylinder engine. As a wee-tike, I recall the vacuum-powered windshield wipers and their peripatetic, hurky-jerky movement based on what seemed like how fast we were moving. And that’s about it; we weren’t a Ford family, and I don’t remember another one gracing our driveway. That minimal memory has driven me to review today’s find, a sharp-looking 1959 Galaxie 500 four-door sedan. Orchard Park, New York, is where you’ll find it, and it’s available here on eBay for a current bid of $3,001 with twelve bids tendered so far.
As in the never-ending battle between the Hatfields and the McCoys, Sampson and Goliath, or Godzilla and Mothra, 1959 pitched the usual battle between Ford and Chevrolet. The bowtie edged Ford out by about 40K units or 2.8% – a very close competitive battle, as it usually was in the fifties. And actually, that result surprises me. Ford went with a fairly conservative, attractive, buttoned-down design with their full-size cars, while Chevy tripped the light fantastic with bat wings. Potential buyers seemed to love them or hate them (that’s how that ’59 Ford ended up in our stable; my father couldn’t stomach the Chevy’s overt rear end). Anyway, our subject is a Galaxie four-door Town Sedan, one of 183K knocked out so many years ago. The Galaxie was a big deal in ’59 as it was Dearborn’s answer to the ’58 Impala, and body styles were four, a two-door sedan (Club Coupe), a two-door hardtop (Club Victoria), a four-door sedan (our subject and a Town Sedan), and a four-door hardtop (Town Victoria).
The seller describes this Galaxie by stating, “65,241 original miles, vehicle was garage kept its entire life. There is some rust on the vehicle because of its age. I encourage a bidder to come out and drive the vehicle to see how great it runs and looks.” OK, fair warning, it shows well in all of the included listings. The finish is still strong, there appears to be no panel damage, and the chrome bits and trim still shine. Two observations: there’s a chromed fenderskirt on the passenger side but not the driver’s side – I’d suggest losing the one that’s attached; and the wheels appear to be mismatched or most (three out of four) are missing their hubcaps.
Red velour diamond-stitched seat covers, hmmm? Well, it wouldn’t be my choice, but it is in keeping with the era, I suppose. Beyond that, the rest of the environment checks out. As you cruise the listing images, note the three circular cutouts at the bottom of the door panels. I thought that was an individual take on how one thought the interior should be “enhanced”, but it’s not; that’s a Ford design. One last observation, Ford still utilized an exposed gear selector rod, perched atop the steering column in ’59 as opposed to integrated within – pretty out of date.
The listing’s no help with the engine, but it’s obviously a V8 and not a Y-block. No worries, the VIN tells us that it’s a 225 gross HP 332 CI powerplant, connected to a Cruise-O-Matic automatic gearbox. There’s not much else to add; obviously, the air cleaner is not original, but the rest of the engine compartment appears to be unaltered. As noted earlier, the seller claims that this Galaxie “runs great.”
OK, so we have a nice old Ford sedan – a first-year Galaxie 500 – that’s helpful. I could suggest that it has two doors too many, but my take on the comments that I receive regarding that topic is that many agree, but quite a few don’t, so maybe there’s no issue there. Based on the lax bidding, perhaps there’s a bargain here to be had, might you agree?
A 59 Ford was my Dad’s first car too. 223 six with 3 on the tree. It succumbed to the tin worm in Ohio a few years after I arrived 10 years after the car was built. I think it was green and white.
Needs a 4 speed
Needs a 4-speed like we need a ballroom.
“That minimal memory has driven me to review today’s find, a sharp-looking 1959 Galaxie 500 ….”
Decent example apart from the seat covers, but in terms of nomenclature this a Galaxie as there were no Galaxie 500s until 1962. That year the new intermediate was the Fairlane, the Galaxie name was moved down to the spot previously occupied by the full-size Fairlane 500 and the new Galaxie 500 was the top of the line.
“The Galaxie was a big deal in ’59 as it was Dearborn’s answer to the ’58 Impala, and body styles were four….”
Actually six, as they moved the Sunliner and Skyliner, which started the model year as Fairlane 500s, to the new Galaxie series after it launched.
That exposed gear selector may have looked outdated in ’59 but Ford continued to use it through 1962.
Why is there a “500” emblem on the trunk lid?
“That exposed gear selector may have looked outdated in ’59 but Ford continued to use it through 1962.” That’s “really dated” and hard to believe Ford took so long to add a little modernity.
JO
Actually, the name “Galaxie” was tacked on during the 1959 model year as an added trim level at the top to make it, in fact, the Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie.
@JO: Why the “500” emblem? I’ve wondered about that as well. Perhaps it was just easier/cheaper to use the existing Fairlane 500 deck trim (one of the “500” zeros does cover the trunk lock). In any case, the ’59 sales brochures make no mention of a “Galaxie 500” — not even in the separate Galaxie brochure. Ditto the TV ads, the Ford data plate codes, the Ford parts books and more recent reference books. These ’59s were always Galaxies, not “Galaxie 500s.” Also, if the ’59 is a “Galaxie 500” where are the ’60 and ’61 Galaxie 500s? Nowhere, because the name did not exist until 1962.
@Patrick: It was the top trim level but Ford did not call it a “Fairlane 500 Galaxie,” at least officially, though the glovebox door has a chrome “Fairlane 500” trim piece with a small “Galaxie” badge underneath. Which adds to the confusion. Again I think it was just cheaper/easier to use the existing trim, especially given the midyear introduction.
Are you sure that’s not a quilt covering the front seat? While I don’t like four doors those back ones kind of disappear with that fat C pillar and those fins camouflaging them. I think my Grandfather had something like this and even as I kid I thought it odd that the linkage for the shifter sat apart from the steering column.
Where is lived a 1959 Ford with 4 doors was frowned on by most people i knew. The Chevys looked better with better motors. Then you had a the Chrysler products that looked better. The only thing worse was a Rambler or a used Nash. Strange, I still don’t like them. This is a hard pass. The interior makes it worse.
Orchard Park,home of the. BUFFALO BILLS
I took another look and this car is just crying out for a pickup bed conversion. If you could fashion a tailgate from the deck lid and put a box liner in the trunk you’re there. The hell with originality.
I remember this was one of my first model kits. A 3and one AMT model kit. Options were Stock, Custom, and Stock Car. Lot’s of great memories.
Correction a AMT MODEL KIT
We had a 59′ Ford wagon,but being only 6 at the time I cant remember the engine or transmission.
Ford sported the exposed gear selector until 1962. Never quite understood why, but it adds character for sure. My dad’s 59 Galaxie also had the vacuum powered herky jerky wipers.
Never knew a Ford back then that
didn’t have ’em– unless you knew a guy that could convert ’em to electric power. And that’s what I’d do with this car if I owned it. And yes, it would get a full load of
clothespins to keep it from vapor locking. Other than that, it’s a very nice car I’d love to own.
this has been monkeyed with way too much. walk away quickly
The huge hole in the rear left lower sill makes me wonder, what kind of corrosion is hiding there on other places.
The car seems very tired and I would run away fast…
4 doors for family comfort, the V8 helps. A matching set of wheels, reupholstered front seat, find another fender skirt to put on it and that car would look good in front or a ballroom.
SOLD for $5,200.
35 bids.