Just as Pepsi has always tried to outsell Coke, the Ford Galaxie had the same challenge with Chevy’s Impala in the 1960s. A case in point would be the 1965 model year. The Galaxie was restyled and had the Mustang to help draw folks into the showrooms. Yet Ford sold 564,000 Galaxie’s to Chevy’s 803,000 Impala’s – two years before the Camaro arrived. This ’65 Galaxie 500 convertible is a one-owner, numbers-matching automobile that may have been owned by “Grandpaw” and can be found in Eads, Tennessee. It’s available here on eBay with the starting bid of $5,000 has yet to be cast. Another great tip from Larry D!
Ford pulled out all the stops in redesigning their big cars for 1965 and proclaimed they were the “newest since 1949.” That included new bodies, perimeter frames, curved side-glass, boxier styling, and vertical dual headlamps. They looked completely different than the cars that came before them just a year later. Ford would boldly claim that these cars how more sound deadening materials than the Rolls Royce, making it a quieter machine to ride in.
The seller’s 500 convertible was likely an awesome sight back in ’65, possibly bright red with a contrasting black canvas top and all-vinyl interior. If that is red paint rather than primer on the Ford now, the color was changed at some point because the seller says in was originally Burgundy Poly. It has been sitting for quite some time (probably outdoors), but the body looks straight and some minor rust in the sheet metal and undercarriage is present. Hopefully, nothing serious.
This Galaxie may have babied in the beginning as the seller says it was never subjected to salty roads or harsh climates. The car’s original motor is still under the hood, the 390 cubic inch “Thunderbird Special” V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor. The seller says it ran when it was parked and has managed to get it to nearly fire by pouring gas down the hatch. The motor is flanked by an automatic transmission and power steering and the actual mileage is said to be 112,000.
Ford built 32,000 Galaxie 500 convertibles in 1965, along with nearly 10,000 more in XL trim. So, they weren’t scarce back in the day, but you don’t see many nowadays. This could be a grand machine when redone, but it’s going to take a good amount of effort (and a corresponding bank account) to make a comeback. As an incentive to the buyer, the seller will transport the car for $1.25/loaded mile depending on the distance.
It’s got the right size engine and a convertible top. The 65 is a sharp Galaxie. There is no harm to the value by chopping it up some. Add power front disc brakes, some stabilizer bars, consider going for broke and change it to a 5 speed manual transmission.
rare as hen’s teeth here in the rust belt due to frame rot. Would look magnifient restored, look it over good! Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
This Galaxie could definitely fit in my Universe.
What a fantastic project this would be! Rare find to not be rotted out.
luv ta have this’un (any stacked hdlghts, begining ’64 Calente`) esp since its a vert. Nice straight lines (after the bulge-mobiles of the ’50s) B4 they went w/the ‘humps over the wheels’ of the late 60s muscle.
390 w/or w/o the C6 all ways reminded me ofa truck, tho (wrked on too many so equiped?). Not sure how an FE is punched out to 400 but the 400M is the largest square motor in production. Just a boar & lill grind on the block puts a 400 crank in the 351. That an AOD’n frnt discs in this would bring daily grins to THIS face…
Pretty big car 4 me tho (I even own a dwn szed ‘truck’ the EB) huge trunk, seating rm for 6…well comfortabel for 4, 5…no garage room tho. Aaaah, J&J allow us to dream right here on-line. Thanks for the find/write-up Russ.
I’m generally not a Ford person but I like ’65s, and I would try to buy it for less money and make a sexy driver out of it. I am too far away and have no room.
Best of luck to the purchaser; I remember these cars when they were new and
as convertibles and hardtops they were beauties. I also remember that ’65 was
a big model change for Chevrolet, which knocked everybody out.
Could be an FMX, as said, check the frame carefully. My first car was a 65 galaxie, same color only a hardtop.
I had a white with red interior 1965 Galaxie 500 convertible when I went to Vietnam I loss it now I am 72 and would love to have it but Texas DMV will not give me no information on the car.
This is what my first car was. It was wrecked pretty bad a couple of times and I put it back together. I have no clue how many miles it had. The odometer was broken and over 4 years I had it got a lot of use and at least one transmission replacement. It was still running and driving barely when I sold it. Don’t build cars like that now.
My uncle had a brand new 65 Galaxy. Black with a red interior and chrome fender skirts. I never saw it dirty and probably never went over 60 MPH. 390, automatic. One Sundays at my grandmas house he would sit in it and listen to the NASCAR race. It was cherry when he got rid of it. Beautiful car
Had one in the 70’s, a hand me down from Dad. I remember it as an incredibly good drive: smooth, responsive and quiet. Doesn’t seem highly collectable, I’d make it a good looking driver – even that is going to cost a bundle.
“Bank wire transfer preferred for payment and/or cash as it is the quickest and safest method of payment for both the buyer and the seller”
The seller is full of male bovine excrement. I’ve seen this too many times to be funny anymore. If it seems too good to be true, too cheap to pass up, then it is and you should. I think it would be safe for the $500 gamble but inspect it thoroughly BEFORE handing over the rest of the cash. Oh, and no title, NO MONEY!!!! Unless the seller is going to pay for your title insurance.
Nice car!