Most collections tend to favor a particular brand, or type of car, and even model years. In this case, the seller has a trio of seemingly unrelated cars that may have once been projects of the (former?) owner. Perhaps the owner has passed on and these vehicles are being sold off to clear out an estate. Whatever the case, you have your choice between a 1963 Mercury Meteor hardtop, a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible, and a 1968 Plymouth Valiant. No mention is made as to whether any of them run or what work may be needed.
1963 Mercury Meteor Custom
The Meteor was a mid-size automobile offered by Mercury in the U.S. for just two years, 1962 and 1963. The nameplate got a larger play in the Canadian market. Here, it was a companion to the Ford Fairlane, which had been downsized in 1962 to fill a void between the full-size Fords and the compact Falcon. This example is a possibly nice ’63 2-door hardtop. It appears there’s a V8 under the hood and it could be a 260 cubic-inch engine, replacing the 221 of the year before. About 7,500 of them were built in this body style in 1963.
1966 Ford Galaxie 500
This is the only convertible in the bunch and looks to be wearing a different shade of blue than it came with when new. The Galaxie competed with the Chevy Impala throughout the 1960s and they built an admirable number of 500 convertibles that year or about 27,500. Like with the other two cars, the seller offers no details on how it runs (if at all) and what type of engine (likely a V8) is under the hood. The canvas top has seen better days.
1968 Plymouth Valiant
The compact Valiant underwent a redesign in 1967 and that layout would carry the car until the end of the line in 1976. That’s when it was replaced by the Plymouth Volare, which was beset with one recall after another. This Valiant is a 4-door sedan that wears a custom two-tone paint job, and the interior has been enriched as well. Is there a small-block V8 under the hood, perhaps a 273 or 318 cubic inch V8?
All three of these automobiles are in a garage in Saratoga Springs, New York, and appear to have been projects at one time. They are available here on craigslist in a single listing and are priced as follows (all OBO): Meteor at $8,500, Galaxie at $10,000, or Valiant at $9,500. Maybe they’ll cut you a deal if you take all three. Our thanks to Mitchell G. for the triple tip!
None have air cleaners, why is that? It’s painfully obvious once again what this is. Who but dear old dad would collect cars like these? They tell a story of his life. The Merc, 1st car? The ragtop, that was a fun car for the family, and the Valiant, dads stab at a muscle car he picked the kids up from school with.
Yeah, yeah, turn the page, nothing but a liability/clutter now, and that’s what happens today. This site, while surely unintentional, seems to feature these”collections” with alarming regularity, and generally, I think these cars go to good folks, older folks, that have some connection, but again, when THEY are gone, make no mistake, THEIR kids will do the same thing.
HOA, I notice air cleaners are usually left off in these pictures maybe to show more of the engine? The Merc has the cool factor in my opinion but needs a lot of work. Four door Valiant? Hard no. Galaxie in Grabber Blue? Why not. The top can be replaced and the interior looks decent what you can see of it. The ad says the Ford has four cylinders though? Engine problems 🤔? No support for the fifty thousand mile claim .
Third generation Valiant was `67-`73.
Fourth generation was `74-`76.
It went from a 108″ to a 111″ wheelbase.
Valiant and Volare both had models in `76, as did Dart and Aspen, the introductory year for the latter.
And yes the new F bodies were rife with problems.
Exact quote from “Iacocca: An Autobiography by Lee A. Iacocca, William Novak.”
Page 169 under the heading Aboard A Sinking Ship.
“It wasn’t only the style of Chrysler products that had a bad reputation.
Among the worst examples were the Aspen and Volare`, the successors to the highly acclaimed Dart and Valiant.
The Dart and Valiant ran forever, and they never should have been dropped.
Instead they had been replaced by cars that started to come apart after a year or two.”
Also from Thomas Vellozzi:
“4106604 & 4106605 front fenders (Volare & Aspen). I was a parts manager at the time. I don’t think I’ll ever forget those part numbers. And also Honda Accords, Civics. Same recall but cars were way worse. If you live in the rust belt states they all rotted out too fast. They still do.”
You’re absolutely right David. The Valiant had its own look until 1973, with that squared off rear. From 74 on they were virtually a twin to the Dart, except for the grill.
I’d be interested in the Mercury, for around $3500. A 4 door Plymouth? Nope? And the Galaxie with the weird Grabber Blue paint job? If it’s not rotted out underneath? Maybe.
That left over public pool paint color smeared over and the Lincoln rims. It’s a look.
Looks like a ‘earl schieb’ paint job and the wheels aren’t from that era the look like a Lincoln or Mercury’s.
Nothing weird about Grabber Blue. It’s been on my race car since 1974.
That’s great. It just doesn’t look right on this car.
I always loved the early ’60s Mercury Meteor.
The Valiant looks like a BARRACUDA HEMI UNDER GLASS tribute.
The convertible has the most attraction but I’m not too self-conscious to drive a 4-door Valiant with a weird paint job.
‘66 Galaxie is obviously a V8. Look at the picture. Looks to be a 352 or 390.
I like the ‘63 Meteor as well. Too bad it’s not an S33. FYI: 260 came available in ‘63, but 221 was still offered- along with the 170/6
I really like the Mercury Meteor more than the other two. The Meteor is right up there with the Mercury Caliente IMO.These were great dependable cars and it probably is a 260 engine. The cars look to already be in a shop/garage if they didn’t need much done to at least turn over or get running, I don’t see why the seller did not do that.
Grabber blue is OK on some models, but an Acupulco would look better on this 60s Galaxie
Grabber blue is OK on some models, but an Acupulco blue would look better on this 60s Galaxie