This! I’ll admit it, while I’m not an overt Ford fan, I have my favorites, and the 1966 Galaxie 500 is one of those that I hold in high esteem. And today’s discovery, courtesy of Mitchell G., is a fabulous example of “The Better Idea” from 59 long years ago, and…it’s a convertible to boot! This Vintage Burgundy beauty is located in Washington, Pennsylvania, and is available here on craigslist for $15,000.
The mid to late sixties were a magnificent time for domestic automotive styling: svelte, breezy, and powerful are some of the adjectives that I would use to describe cars from this era. Ford’s Galaxie 500, along with Chevrolet’s Impala, really had the tiger by the tail in those years. Ford knocked out about a half million Galaxie 500s in ’66 (including both the XL and 7-Liter models), but only 27K were convertibles, with another 8K or so divided between the XL and 7-Liter editions. The listing for this Ford droptop is light on details, but the images paint a pretty picture. The finish, stainless trim, and chrome are all quite strong, there’s no evidence of rust, and the body panels are as well aligned today as they were in ’66. This one’s sitting regally on steel wheels dressed with styled steel wheel covers – a very popular option found on various trim levels. There are two included images of the top in up-mode, and what can be seen checks out.
Moderation is the case in the power department as this Galaxie makes do with a 200 gross HP, 289 CI “Challenger” V8 engine, married to a “Cruise-O-Matic” three-speed automatic transmission. The mileage recording is listed as 57K miles, but there’s no authentication provided. It’s unlikely that this 3,800 lb. convertible would be considered a “spirited” performer, but the 289 should definitely provide better than adequate forward propulsion.
The black vinyl upholstery, adorning a bench seat interior, appears to be in sound condition, and that includes the door panels and dashpad as well as the carpet – it’s not faded. It’s standard Galaxie 500 fare all the way, and it’s a pleasant environment, though not what one would consider to be sporting. I would suggest that planting one’s tuchus on the front seat after a bit of top-down time on a brilliant sunny summer day will be an attention getter.
The seller states, “Put the top down and enjoy the ride,” and I’d second that thought. I do have a thing for older full-size cars, convertibles in particular – there’s just nothing like one that’s available in the marketplace today. This Ford calls to mind, unfortunately, that old song: “You don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone.” Well, it’s not completely gone as $15,000 will hook you up with this beaut. I like it (obviously), how about you?
Good write-up Jim. The mid-60’s full size Fords (i.e. the vertical headlight years) have always been a favorite of mine. They were crisply and attractively styled, this sharp Galaxie being a prime example. The Vintage Burgundy/Black gives it a classy look. Not a ton of pics or info, but does appear to be in good shape. Taking the grandkids for ice cream in it would be fun.
As hub caps go- this style looked great on a Galaxie.
Agreed! I believe they are from the Galaxie 500 7-Litre. Not sure if they were optional on the regular 500. I think they’d also look great on my ’66 Mustang hardtop, which wears the same color combo as this car.
Well I am an overrt Ford fan and I love these too! It’s my opinion that the quality of the late 60’s Fords was a high point in the company’s history.
Carpet on the tunnel is a little stretched out, but a molded carpet kit would fix that. As an owner of a 72 LTD Convertible, I would buy this in a heartbeat if the funds were available.
Hey Marvin, are you diagnosing “carpet tunnel syndrome”?
I also own a 1972 LTD convertible with the 400 engine, and a 1965 Galaxie 500 with a 390. Both great crusing cars. My 72 is for the dirt back roads here in Vermont (it rides so smooth), and the 65 for the paved roads (new paint job). Love them both!
Nice write up, nice car, and I like the “Thumb ” idea.
2nd day home from Viet Nam (1968) I went to my Local Ford dealer and bought a 66 Galaxie Convertible. It had just 5,000 miles on it, so I got a real bargain on it. It was Red with a White top and a 390 cu in motor. I had 1 more year to serve in the Army so I took it to Ft. Bragg with me. Upon discharge I came back home, got married (it was our Honeymoon car) and we enjoyed it for a while before trading it in on a 68 442. Alas all I have are photos and pleasant memories. By the way we are still Married!
Being a Pennsylvania car I would be concerned about undercarriage rust but otherwise nice looking car fly out and drive it home
Decent old stove – but doggy with a 289 …
Nice car! Beautiful survivor! I happen to like the 1967 L.T.D. 4-door better yet — but, if I had the space and the money, I’d take this just the way that it is. I’ve kind-of out-grown the “convertible” thing, though. I like the comfort of a four-door sedan, myself. But this is a beautiful example, and quite affordable for a convertible. And not one of those 10.5 m.p.g. gas-guzzlers. How could you go wrong? About rust in snow-prone areas: for the most part, with an American body-on-frame vehicle, I find that rust gets obvious in the rockers and around the rear wheels, long before the frame rots. I wouldn’t expect rust-problems in this probable garage-queen, summer-only driver.
Nice looking car, I had a yellow one with the 352, I had a new roof fitting and rebuilt and balanced balanced the engine etc. I had a nephew in New Zealand who pestered me every week to sell it to him and in the end relented and kicked myself ever since. His Bro took it to work one night as he was a Saw doctor at a large saw mill, coming home from night shift he got hit in the rear by a drunk driver.
I always said I should have never sold that car and the wife always said well no one made you sell it, so I looked around out here in Oz for 17 years for a replacement and just as I was about to buy a Mercury from the U.S and friend sent me a message on F.B saying this is a touch of you, it is a 1967 Galaxie convertible and already right hand drive and a 390, So I fly down o Melbourne and buy it, drove it straight home back to Brisbane just super comfortable and got out feeling like I had just got off the couch, I have a new roof for it as the car had been stored in a car port with the roof down which wrecks a convertible top being left down all the time, yes this one is yellow also but no I wont be selling it or letting my nephews drive it haha.
First new car we bought after we married was the 66 Galaxie 500 2 dr hardtop . . Bought it from dealer inventory . . Spring Sport sales trim package or something similar . . It included the 7 Litre wheel covers . . Beautiful car . .
I own two 1966 7 litres one coup one convertible I did so by default and that’s a long story however I love them both and they are mint nub match with upgrades my son calls the raven black on black convert the punisher I drove it 2 days ago and we were one 1966 was good for cars also have 64xl500 that we call blue flame 390 buckets blue white interior I like leg room fords seem undiscovered versus their Chevy peers but I ain’t selling happy trails