In its prime, this 1962 Galaxie 500 XL would have been a desirable classic featuring a potent drivetrain combination. Those days are long behind, and this car has fallen upon hard times. Its deterioration raises the question of whether it remains a viable project or if its destiny is to serve as a parts car. The Galaxie is listed here on eBay in Sutersville, Pennsylvania. The seller set their BIN at $3,800 but left the option for interested parties to make an offer.
The seller is candid about the state of this Rangoon Red Galaxie. They state it has sat since 1989 and that they purchased it from an estate. It is unclear why the deceased former owner parked it, but time hasn’t been kind. The seller says the roof, cowl, firewall, and interior structural steel are sound. Otherwise, virtually every other aspect of the car features significant rust problems requiring wholesale replacement. That won’t be a cheap process and is the main reason I question this project’s viability. Many trim pieces are in a similar state, although anything made from aluminum or stainless could be salvaged. The glass looks okay, but the seller will swap the existing wheels for a good set with tires that hold air for the new owner.
The original owner splashed some cash when ordering this Galaxie, trimming its interior in Black leather with bucket seats, a console, and air conditioning. The interior is intact, and there are many salvageable components. Most of the dash looks good, as does the console. The bucket seats might respond to a deep clean and the application of a conditioner, but I think the back seat may be sun-rotted. Some minor items, like the radio, look okay, and the air conditioning unit might find a home in a similar car undergoing restoration. If we consider this Galaxie purely for the parts it provides, the interior could be the gold mine that helps justify the BIN figure.
Lifting the Galaxie’s hood caused my heart to sink. The highly-optioned interior is the tip of the iceberg with this classic. This car rolled out of the factory sporting the firebreathing 406ci G-Code V8 that produced 405hp. The original owner selected a four-speed manual transmission and a 3.50 rear end to feed those rampaging stallions to the tarmac. If the driver unleashed its full potential, it could have stormed the ¼-mile in 14.3 seconds before achieving a top speed of 137mph. Sadly, the original engine and transmission disappeared before the seller purchased the vehicle, meaning the buyer can never achieve a numbers-matching restoration. Locating a correct engine, transmission, and associated parts like the tri-power system would be possible, but it may require patience due to the rarity of some components. This aspect probably drives the final nail into the coffin of this classic as a viable project.
Many enthusiasts will find the sight of this 1962 Galaxie 500 XL hard to take, especially considering the impact it would have made when it was new. Fully restored, it could have been worth around $50,000 with its original G-Code V8 intact. Returning it to that state will cost a considerable sum, and no matter how meticulous the work, it can never be numbers-matching. With the level of deterioration, do you believe that one of the thirty-six people currently watching the listing will hit the button to return this classic to its former glory? Or do you feel its destiny lies as a donor for another build?
Here we go again….
That’s a ’62,at least what’s left of it.
I want to correct you. That is a 62 Ford.
’62 was an odd year for Ford. If I may add a bit, this car was the hottest stick Ford had. It’s 406/3, 2 barrels boasted 1 hp/cubic inch. It was in direct response to the 409. I don’t mean to constantly correct the author, but his the 1/4 mile times are bit much. This car would do the 1/4 in 14.4@99mph. A 4 speed was the only trans. and had no power accessories. It had great success at the race track, but it was the 427 in ’63 that kept Ford on top.
I couldn’t imagine someone restoring this.
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I had one of these in 1969, my 1st car, no license as I was only 15. My brother gave it to me a week after he bought it. Broke a piston or rings in one cylinder and started smoking so bad you could of used it for a mosquito fogger. He only paid a few hundred bucks for it and at that time no one would of bothered to repair it, would of gone to the junk yard. so I ended up with it much to the consternation of my parents. After about a month of me doing three point turns, more like 20 point turns, every nite after school, they had had enough. I had a very small section of our yard to store it and I would drive ahead 50 ft, turn around and drive back 50 ft…..over and over and over…..It did teach me how to take off with a manual trans tho. I had to get rid of it so I removed the tri power intake an sold the car to a fellow that wanted it for a stock car to race at oxford plains speedway ( home of the oxford 250, which I think is still richest short track race in the country) which is a few miles from my home…..I got $200 for the car, my parents made me give half to my brother….wish I’d known how valuable the factory cast iron headers would become, I would of removed them too….Back then cars like them were just a blown motor, tranny or rear diff from the junk yard…..
Small world – bought mine in 1980 – first car, one hundred dollars. Both eyebrows rotted out, brake booster had gone bad, so the drill was “apply brake with right foot, pull pedal back up with left…” 352ci, “Cruise-O-Matic” trans. Just the thing to motor around a small town in.
Tube radio, too, which was cool. Fire it up and wait for it to fade in. I liked that car. Sold it for what I paid a couple years later when I went to college and needed something highway worthy.
Oh it’s possible to restore, plausible not so much. Just think the pleasure the first buyer for from this car though.
Got from this car! Man have to proof read.
Wow! So, the one I saw parked on the street back in @2016 was real! Black/red interior but with a 289/auto in place. Ladies daughter bought the day before I saw it from SF C-list for $3500. The mom said when her daughter went to buy the car another guy was there trying to buy it too. At higher price, thankfully the seller kept his word to her. After a brief talk to mom about it being a real 406 car and the potential value. I never saw the car again after that day.
If it’s a genuine 406/405 it’s worth saving,everything but maybe the trim,grille and etc..the shiney bits..are all readily available.buy it for the 3500 bucks,put 40k into it and you have a car worth 45-60k so break even or small profit.
Mark Wroman of Graveyard Cars would’ve the very person to ask. I know it’s all about Mopar product. However, on this ticklish subject, he would be just the guy to go to go ask. After all, Worman’s bread and butter is in Chrysler products, though he’s still a gearhead at heart , and would know the correct answer.
Looking at the amount of rust plus no motor or trans. this one might be worth $50.00. Another case of seller wanting to get paid for getting rid of a junk car.
I bought the identical car, but all black in and out) in fall 1962. 390 Auto. Love that car but 6 months later it was suggested that I should not drive home from a party so my “date” drove me home and on the way to pick me up the next morning she made a left in front of a 1955 Ford……..End of my dream car!
In 62 when one of these cars cruised through the Drive Inn, the first question I asked the owner was ,”what is your gas mileage”, if he said less than 6 MPG. I figured it must run pretty well. Even at less than a quarter a gallon ,that was an expensive ride. Would ask the 409 guys too and usually got about the same answer.
First Barn Finds Post. Foremost, I must thank all the contributors for their comments / reviews – daily dose of a wealth of knowledge. I guess I should become a member. I was Ford-nunate to grow up around a great guy that let me drive this car during the mid 70’s any time I wished and any how I wished. What a sleeper. The car was correct as described here by others. I think he also referred to car as having factory headers. I am not quite sure, but the exhaust manifolds did look a bit different as I recall. Was there a dual-point distributor as well?
This would be a fantastic car restored with the 4 speed and the 406. Sadly I very major doubts this will ever be saved. I could use some of the parts on it tho.
High school 1967, I was fortunate enough to purchase a 1967 chevelle SS396 /350 horse 4 speed , brand new. I worked at a local chevron station where the head mechanic owned a 1962 galaxie 500 with the 406 tri power 4 speed. I kept bugging him to race me and he kept threating me he’d only race for pink slips. After bugging him so much, he finally relented to go for it without the pink slip threat. Out in front of the chevron , along straight away, Topanga canyon blvd, waiting for no traffic we both pull out , line up and dump the clutch hole shot. A great race insued but I.m proud to say that I put to that 406 by about two car lengths . great memories. Paid 2600 dollars out the door for my SS.
Never understood why people let cars like this, get like this. I would fix it.
These 406 cars were never available with air conditioning same with 409’s 413/426 wedges, with solid lifters. Air-conditioning compressors don’t like 6,000 + rpm especially the old ones available back then
A/C back then was dealer add-on, it could be had on any model.
I have a love hate relationship with this sight.
Seeing valuable cars in this type of condition is just heartbreaking.
I wish the people that own these cars would realize that it would be better for everyone if they moved them before they become like this example.
That was the machine back in 62. My brothers running buddy had a 406/405 and our bachelor neighbor had a 409 4 speed. Close heads up racer’s but the Ford usually won. Dude was quick with the speed shifts and knew how to ride the clutch to launch well. The Good ole Days…
I have never seen one so rusty and I am from the north. $3800… Really?
Only thing to do with those is put a restomode frame underneath and a crate motor, still have 40,000 in it but it will go from 6mpg to 10mpg.