More than once, Ford updated a model midway through the model year, giving us greats like the ’63½ Falcon, the ’64½ Mustang, and the 1963½ Galaxie like this one. The Galaxie saw a number of changes with this mid-year update, including a new range of V8 engines and a redesign of the body. This particular example was optioned as a Police Interceptor, so it received the 330 horsepower 390 V8 and a 4-speed! If you’d love to give this Galaxie a new home, you can find it here on BF Classifieds in Lowell, Indiana with an asking price of $4,650.
In 1964, Ford gave the Galaxie another slight redesign, meaning these half-year examples are quite rare. The 427 R-Code examples are the most sought after of the Galaxies, but with 330 hp on tap, these cars were no slouch. Unfortunately, when this one came to the seller, it’s 390 was gone a 352 V8 was in its place. It currently runs and moves, but isn’t roadworthy. You’ll at least be able to load it onto a trailer. The 352 was rated at just 220 horsepower, so you will definitely want to track down a 390 if you want to get the full Interceptor experience.
The seller notes that the car will need a full restoration, as there’s some rust in all of the typical places. From what can be seen in the photos, it actually doesn’t appear to be that rough. Rust is always an issue that needs to be addressed, but if this one doesn’t have any structural issues, you could get it roadworthy and fix the rust while you enjoy it.
This really looks like it could be a great project. Of course, we would recommend contacting the seller to set up an inspection. The asking price is low enough that it’s definitely worth a look, even with the wrong engine and rust issues. If it proves to be as solid and complete as it appears in their photos, it would be worth picking up to fix up and drive or to build into a Lightweight replica! So, what would you do with this half-year Ford?
Four poor pictures? Boy, someone’s been spending too much time looking at Craigslist ads. Is picture #4 showing us a car cover comes with it? With the right parts these cars are fast and fun and restored bring decent prices at auctions. These are the cars that ended my drag racing days. As a kid I didn’t have the Ford folks building my race cars even though I was driving a Ford.
Probably because the flipper was so excited that he got the car so cheap, that he was taking the pictures fast before the seller changed his mind !
Best looking Galaxie for me are these, they just have a presence about them. Add 1960’s style mags, nice tires, full length headers that are slightly visible and the look just keeps getting better.
Noise pollution helps too.
A solid street 428 with a few mods for fun cruising and showing, I don’t recall seeing anyone swapping in a 429/460 in an early Galaxie and I don’t honestly know if it’s worth the effort. Anyone done that before ?
Nice old Ford from better days.
Not really worth doing when a 427 or a 428 is a bolt in. I wish the car was closer, because I have a 428 that would really good under that hood.
Bob
Nice Galaxie, these were formidable with the big engines. BTW, 64.5 mustang was the initial introduction…
Why are they presenting this car with a 390..? it has a 352.. own it !! this is a deceiving classified, if a restorer wanted to install a crate 6 cylinder or a crate 427 it’s his choice, does anybody really care if it once had a 390 based on the crappy 4 pics..?
Good to know that it has manual brakes as against automatics!
Manual vs power
My first car was the 63 1/2. I got home and first thing we did was flip the rear leaf Spring shackles this raised the rear about 3 inches.
It would take a bit of effort getting this heavy beast to stop abruptly.
How does anyone expect to sell a car with only 3 pictures!! Not only that but if it’s not the original motor why do you put 390 interceptor at the beginning of the ad???
And 2 photos are blurry! I am a 63-64 Galaxie junkie but show the car a little better!
Add a 427 and race it at Goodwood!
We know the reason for the misleading ad…
It’s to draw added (and in this case, undeserved) attention to the vehicle…
If I had it, I’d put the new 7.3L crate engine in it.
Looks to have potential to be a nice car with a 427 or 428. But seller should get off his a$$ and provide some decent pics.
Hey, during the restoration, pull the 352, rebuild, adding the parts to make the 390, that’s the easiest way. All the Ford FE blocks can be built-up to damn near anything!!. I got beat at the Nationals Quarter final in Indy running D Superstock by a 64 fastback 406 tri-carb out of Milwaukee in 1964 with our 64′ 327 cheville. Those were really happy days, always broke and dirty hands.