It would be fair to say that America was “king of the kids” in the 1960s when it came to the question of high-performance production cars. Eager buyers could walk into their local showroom and drive away in something with 300hp under the hood without batting an eyelid. Those in the know could up the ante to 400hp or more, and some of those cars have achieved legendary status today. This 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 Sunliner is a perfect example of this philosophy. Its engine bay houses the brutal G-Code 406ci V8. The owner has decided to part with this classic, so he has listed it for sale here on Autotrader. It is located in Branford, Connecticut, and the owner has set the price at a very competitive $29,500. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for referring this furious Ford to us.
The Sunliner is finished in Wimbledon White with a Black power top. The owner doesn’t indicate whether the paint is original or whether it might have received a refresh at some point. It holds a good shine, with no signs of any noticeable scratches or marks. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and the gaps and alignments look tight and consistent. The best piece of news revolves around the question of rust. This could be a problem on these vehicles, but the seller’s comprehensive set of photos indicates that the Galaxie is completely rust-free. The trim and chrome are in good condition for a driver-quality car, while there are no visible problems with the glass.
If the Sunliner is to be considered purely as a survivor, then its interior is quite acceptable. The vinyl upholstery is free from splits and tears, but the light blue highlights on the seats are showing some deterioration. The carpet is also worn and stained, but the dash and pad present well. There are some additional gauges mounted under the dash and a tach mounted on the column, and these are sensible additions to monitor the health of the mighty V8 under the hood. If I were to buy this car, I would probably treat everything to a deep clean and replace the carpet. That would give the interior a noticeable boost and wouldn’t cost a pile of money.
Okay, I’ve teased you for long enough, so now we can take a peek under the hood. What we find is the G-Code 406ci V8. On paper, this appears to merely be an enlarged version of the 390ci unit, but the truth is markedly different. The engine block casting features thicker cylinder walls for added strength and durability. Ford fitted the engine with stronger pistons and connecting rods and boosted compression to 11.4:1. They also slotted larger valves into the cylinder heads, fitted the engine with a nodular crankshaft, and spent gases found their way out via a dual 2½” exhaust. However, it was what topped this engine that was eye-popping. The 406 could be ordered with a 4-barrel carburetor, but the G-Code brought a unique intake with 3×2-barrel Holley carburetors. Ford quoted the power output as 405hp, but as was the case at the time, many experts felt that Ford was understating the truth. While this Galaxie features that engine, it isn’t numbers-matching. The story behind it is an interesting one because the original owner intended to order the Sunliner as we see it here. He couldn’t handle the extended waiting period that was involved for the 406. As a consequence, he ordered a 390-equipped vehicle and then proceeded to have the dealership install the G-Code and the T10 4-speed manual transmission. As the current owner rightly points out, that makes this Galaxie a clone before the term even existed in the automotive world. It appears that the work was completed either when the car was initially delivered or shortly after that. With the 406 providing all of those ponies, the Sunliner offers a fast wind-in-the-hair driving experience. It should be capable of blasting through the ¼ mile in 14.4 seconds before making its way to a theoretical top speed of 139mph. That’s awfully fast for a car that tips the scales at 3,880lbs. The owner states that the Galaxie runs and drives well. He says that the 406 sounds excellent and that there are no leaks, smoke, or any clutch chatter.
This 1962 Galaxie 500 Sunliner might not be a numbers-matching classic, but the original owner who created it knew precisely what he wanted. It is a rust-free classic with no immediate needs, and it offers its next owner an enjoyable motoring experience during the upcoming Summer months. If it were an original numbers-matching vehicle, its overall condition and specifications would quite easily justify a price of over $50,000. However, I think that it has a lot to offer the right person at the asking price. I don’t believe that the owner will have a lot of trouble finding a buyer, and I admit that I will envy them when they take delivery.
As I keep saying, modifications are us. Dealer/customer/factory relationships were much different in those days with no reasonable limits on what you could get or get done to your new car. Love the story on this one. Great looking car.
This car has been listed in craigslist for well over a year at current advertised price
Did the 406 end up being another motor later?
This is the first time I’ve looked at a ’62 Ford and thought how similar the side picture is to a ’62 Chevy. Slab sided , trim, wheel well cutouts, the ange on the rear face, and bumper corners are all very familiar.
as per the main write-up…. the 406 has more in common with its successor the 427 than a regular 390.
It’s a reasonable debate to ask if this is “kind alike” a matching numbers car if those mods were made at time of purchase, by the dealer, before the buyer ever drove it home…. either way, this is a cool car.
Dad got assigned to a long term project about 200 miles from home. Decided he needed a new car, as this was gonna be at least 2 years. He had a mechanic at the local Ford dealership that he really liked/trusted. Asked him to help spec out the car. A black 4door. Red interior. 406/3×2. 3 speed on the column & overdrive. Pop was just over 50, bald & horn rim glasses. Surprised a lot of folks ( and got acquainted with a few state troopers)….
In 1980, at a car show, in Attleboro, MA, there was a ’62 Chestnut Metallic, 406 tri-power coupe for sale. The original owner was selling it, along with his young grandson. The car was in great shape, and the asking price?…$1850.
At first glance I thought oh another 62. But as I read further it really got my attention. 406 with a stick shift hmmm. Convertible in good condition that’s nice. It just got better the more I read, great write up. 62 was never my favorite year for Fords, as I’ve always preferred the 64 models. There’s no way I’d let go of $29k for any car at this point in my life, but then I come from a generation that could buy a house for less money. I never thought I’d see the day the Government would just give me money to help stimulate the economy. My son and his wife both make over $100,000.00 per year so they don’t get how I can be so frugal with the little money I have for retirement. And life goes on.
God bless America
It’s a Z code car- a really nice hot rod 390 car- no matter how long ago the incorrect motor was installed.
I am probably suffering from the loss of Brain cells but I always thought a 406 had a single four barrel or three duces and when a 427 came in mid 63 it was a single 4 or Two fours?
I will admit that as much of a Ford fan as I am (I currently own 2), I am almost completely ignorant about the big block Fords.
I never knew Ford sold ” regular ” customers anything that was factory equipped with 3 2 barrel carbs.
My family had a 60 Country Sedan and a 64 Country Squire, neighbors had a 61 Country Squire, and like others here, the 62 isn’t one of my favorites. But man, this example is a real sweetheart. I totally love the low key looks, with the blue interior being a high point.
I got my very low mileage Mustang convertible for a fraction of what this seller is asking, but it strikes me as being reasonably priced. It is not a bargain, but then again, this is far from being a run of the mill car.
My kind of ride.Keep it close to original or later fit the Coyote under the hood.Top down and 4-speed,Nice!