We always appreciate the input from our readers at Barn Finds because, without you, the site would never have evolved into what it is today. Whether it is via feedback or leads, you are an almost infinite source of knowledge. Therefore, I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting this 1968 Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible. It is an unfinished project where the seller has completed the heavy lifting. They replaced the frame, eliminated the floor rust, refreshed the engine, and performed a few other tasks. All the buyer needs to do is add the finishing touches. The seller has listed the Galaxie here on eBay in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They set their BIN at $18,500 with the option to make an offer.
The seller states that they have completed significant work on this Galaxie, and the indications are that the remaining tasks should be straightforward. They removed the body, cut out and replaced the floors, and bolted the body to a structurally sound replacement frame. They haven’t eliminated all the rust, as a few spots remain visible on the lower extremities. However, they aren’t bad enough to justify replacing the offending panels when patches would solve the problems fairly easily. That would provide the ideal opportunity to refresh the Lime Gold paint so that this classic really popped. The car retains its original power top in contrasting Black, and the seller confirms it functions correctly. The trim and glass are in good condition for their age, and the sparkling Magnum 500 wheels are new.
Powering this Galaxie is a 302ci V8, with shifting duties performed by a three-speed automatic transmission. Add power steering to the equation, and life behind the wheel should be pretty relaxed. Ford quoted power and torque figures of 210hp and 295 ft/lbs for the 302, and this motor should easily match those numbers. The seller recently rebuilt the top end and has just bolted on a new carburetor. They fitted new brakes last year, and the tires are also fairly new. That is all good news for potential buyers, because the Galaxie is a turnkey proposition that runs and drives well. The buyer could fly in, hand over their cash, and develop a relationship with the Ford as they drive it home.
The seller’s cash splash continued inside this Galaxie. After repairing the floors, they installed sound deadener, new carpet, and a replacement front seatcover in the correct Green vinyl. They retained the original door trims and back seat, and apart from a small tear in the back seat, the upholstered surfaces look excellent. I believe the dashpad has begun to crack, and the buyer could attempt a repair using a product like Polyvance. That would undoubtedly be cheaper than spending approximately $530 on a reproduction pad, but attempting a repair would depend on the buyer’s confidence. The first owner didn’t load the interior with factory options, so the seller added a modern underdash stereo with speakers cut into the door trims.
We’ve previously seen sellers adopt interesting strategies when parting with their classic, but this 1968 Galaxie 500 Convertible is a head-scratcher. The seller previously listed the car in an auction with a BIN option of $17,500. They have abandoned the auction process, but raised the BIN to $18,500. That is a strange approach, and it will be interesting to see whether it proves successful. Having said that, you now have insight into their earlier expectations, which might give you some negotiating leverage if the seller is flexible. Is that enough to tempt you to pursue this Galaxie further?
Nice looking car, decent price. Kinda funny, but, with the junk new cars they are selling these days, people will be fighting over cars like this soon…