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Original 428: 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 7-Litre Hardtop

If I was going to identify one down-side of writing for Barn Finds, it’s that I keep seeing cars that I would desperately like to park in my workshop. This 1966 Galaxie 500 7-Litre Hardtop is just such a car because it ticks a lot of boxes for me. This is an original and unrestored survivor that has obviously been loved and cherished by its owner. They have now decided to part with the car, which is located in Woodruff, South Carolina. It is listed for sale here on eBay, where bidding currently stands at $13,950. I don’t find it at all surprising that the reserve hasn’t been met.

It might be hard to believe, but that Wimbledon White paint is said to be original. The car has spent its life kept in a climate-controlled garage, and this has paid dividends when you look at the overall condition of the vehicle. As well as the paint presenting so nicely, the car is said to be completely rust-free. The only issue that the owner identifies is a small spot on the inside of the hood and the apron, where paint has been removed over the years by battery acid. This isn’t that rare, and thankfully, rust hasn’t developed. I would probably be inclined to attend to this sooner rather than later because I would want to keep the car free of any potential rust issues. The factory tinted glass all appears to be flawless, and the same would appear to be true of the external trim, chrome, and the hubcaps. Compared to the softer lines of the previous generation of the Galaxie, this series, introduced in 1966, had far bolder and more aggressive styling. Buyers seemed to like this bold new look, and the Galaxie sold in pretty decent numbers.

For those ordering a new Galaxie 500 in 1966, they faced a reasonable choice when it came to engine specs. While the wild and woolly 427 was still available, a total of 8,705 people chose to equip their Galaxie 500 Hardtop with the 428ci V8 engine. This didn’t possess the outright horsepower of the marginally smaller engine, but it provided bucket-loads of torque in a more refined package. That is what is featured in this car, and making it all even better, this is a full, numbers-matching car. That 428, producing 345hp and 462ft/lbs of torque, sends it all to the 3.25 rear end through a C6 automatic transmission. Unlike the 427, the 428-equipped cars could be ordered with power steering, and you will find that and power front disc brakes fitted to this car. The owner says that the Galaxie has been meticulously maintained throughout its life and that it has covered a genuine 70,600 miles. It runs and drives perfectly, with no problems or nasty vices.

By now you’re probably waiting for the bad news, but I really don’t have much to deliver to you. The interior trim, which is a nice combination of Black “Rosette” and Black “Crinkle” vinyl is in very impressive condition. The front seats show a bit of stretching in the vinyl, along with some fading of the vinyl on the outer edge of the driver’s seat, but it doesn’t appear to be too extreme. Otherwise, the upholstery, carpet, dash, and the headliner, all look really clean. The floor console is a nice feature, and there have been no aftermarket additions made to the car. Even the inside of the trunk looks to be spotlessly clean, and not only is the original jack still present, but I believe that the spare tire might also be original. If this is right, then it looks like it has never been fitted to the vehicle.

Man, this is just such a nice car. If it is as good and original as the owner claims, then it really is one beautiful survivor. It isn’t as rare as the 427-equipped cars from this model year, of which a mere 38 cars were produced. However, with a build total of  8,705 cars, the Galaxie 500 7-Litre was still a relatively rare car in the big picture. This one is a car that would look great parked in my driveway, but I think that for my own sake, it would look better parked in yours.

Comments

  1. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Dad bought one used at the coal state employees credit union in the early ‘70’s, black vinyl over white LTD w/ 390 and auto. Not fast by today’s standards but it was impressively nice considering what we’d had previously and to my kid brother and me it was a beast. I can just imagine what this would’ve been like in that respect!
    Ours went cross country on family trips several times with numerous single day runs to SoCal (a 500+ mile trip) on two lane highways..

    Very nice big Ford here, with the cavernous trunk typically of the era..

    Like 8
  2. Avatar KSwheatfarmer

    Friend of mine 4 miles from here has one of these setting outside for more than 40 years, I’ve been trying to convince him it would be in a better place over at my neck of the woods,so far no luck.Hard to believe but it could still be restored without a ton of work despite its present circumstance. I did manage to get his 61 Ranch Wagon bought and now under cover,so there may be hope.This is one of Fords coolest models in my opinion,love that bucket seat interior,floor shift and console.

    Like 19
  3. Avatar KSwheatfarmer

    My neighbor’s 7-Liter Galaxie.

    Like 29
    • Avatar 71FXSuperGlide

      That’s a shame.

      Like 9
    • Avatar grant

      Please save that car!

      Like 10
  4. Avatar Frank Sumatra

    Beautiful automobile. What a highway cruiser this will be. No short trips in this one.

    Like 6
  5. Avatar Mark

    Man…..once again the same building/seller as in all the great Mustang ads that have been cropping up….does anyone have the story on the seller? As I said before, either they are selling off their own super collection or they have serious connections to what is out there. Consignment selling?

    Like 8
  6. Avatar 71Boss351

    Wow, what a car! The spare tire looks to be original and has not even been on the car. Great looking survivor.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar Miguel

    Does it look like to anybody else that the left rear tire is closer to the wheel well than the right rear tire, or is it just me?

    Like 1
    • Avatar Stillrunners

      Agree…kinda thought that also of the left front – maybe tire size is different ?

      Like 1
  8. Avatar Arby

    My all time favorite “big” Ford.
    Too bad no A/C on this one.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar bigdoc

    Over 19,000 already.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar OIL SLICK

    All that’s missing is a 4 spd on that White Lightning car.

    Like 3
  11. Avatar PeteMcGee

    Ford advertisements of the day referred to the 427 equipped XLs as “The velvet brutes”. The 7 Litre had the same vibe – smooth ride, plush accoutrements, and brutish torque!

    Like 2
  12. Avatar Bill Hall

    About forty years ago a customer of my Dad had one every bit as nce only yeller. We wanted to buy it but as usual it got sold before we had a chance to get it.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar JEFFREY BRADSHAW

    Look close at the dash – fitted with very rare (now) factory AM/FM radio! Great cruiser!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Gary

      Good eye! I was going to make the same comment

      Like 0
  14. Avatar TouringFordor

    I believe this styling started in 1965, when Ford went to stacked headlights and squared versus round taillights.

    Like 5
  15. Avatar Bob C.

    The 428 was definitely more street friendly than the 427. Still a super FE motor.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Tom Member

      427, 428….it’s one more….the extra one to push you over the cliff !

      My favorite Galaxie tail lights ever!

      Like 2
  16. Avatar TimM

    Can’t say a bad thing here!! What a great car!! Just don’t want to amagine what the reserve is???? The interior is sweet the motor is a torque monster!!! I would love to own this gem!! It be a great car to own!!!

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Joe

    A co-worker had a white convertible around 1968. It had a lot of torque. I had one ride in it at night with top down. I knew it was special, but I was into small cars at that time.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Bob_in_TN Member

    I’ve always liked these models, and this is a very nice example.

    Mecum Las Vegas last weekend had a 7-Litre convertible, in attractive Emberglo outside and in. A super nice car. I just checked, “Bid Goes On” at $37,000.

    Like 3
  19. Avatar Troy s

    Very well kept old Ford considering just how long this machine has been around.
    Big difference between the 428 and the righteous 427 in application. The 427 is mislabeled as it measures closer to 425 inches, but has the largest bore of the FE engines same stroke as the previous 406 and 390. Never offered in a pedestrian version. Which the 428 was in comparison, smooth running owner friendly pulley turner. That engine used the bore of the old 406 with the long stroke of the Mercury 410(a stroked 390), not a high performance engine at all in passenger car form…at least not what Ford would have considered a performance engine back then. Not until the cobra jet version came out much later.
    I don’t know much, but I’ve always considered the earlier Galaxies, especially the 63 1/2, to be quite aggressive in styling, more so than these if that’s what we care about. Decent highway cruiser here.

    Like 2
  20. Avatar bog

    I’m partial to these and the ’67s. Reminds me so much of my true GTA Fairlane (390 high performance), only this is obviously full-size. Proportions are great & this one’s super clean for it’s age. They look quite good in that Wimbledon white. Bidding is now up to nearly 23K with 8 more days to go. The 427s raced in NASCAR and on the drag strip….but both of those would be sticks.

    Like 1
  21. Avatar Terry

    The car is probably not from that area, as it doesn’t have air conditioning. Most cars from the South did, even back then.

    Like 0
  22. Avatar Del

    Nicest car on Barn Finds this days picks.

    Some one said bidding has exceeded 19 grand but I only see 13 plus bid so far.

    Hagerty says value up to 32 grand in this shape but there seems to be a lot of these survivors. Not much demand. 1 would say its worth 17 tops.

    As far as putting a 4 speed in these, thats silly. Its a huge car , shifting would be drudgery and I doubt that would make it any faster.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Larry Grabb

      Had one with a 4 speed. Engine was so torquey that it was far from “row, row. row your boat”.

      Like 0
  23. Avatar Del

    Whooa. Bids at 29 grand.

    Like 0
  24. Avatar Larry Grabb

    Bought one new in 1966. This is a 500XL. The 500 had a bench seat that was cloth and vinyl. This one is missing the 428 numbers that should be right behind front wheel on both sides. There are a couple of things that seem out of place. Bidding is already past value. BTW, mine was factory 4-speed. I had p/s added by dealer later on 66. Stationed at Cape Kennedy in 68 and had under-dash air added. Mine was silver w/ black vinyl top. Ah, memories.

    Like 0
  25. Avatar Steve S

    I agree with oil slick it needs the 4 speed manual transmission instead of the automatic transmission. It don’t matter if it’s faster or not but the 4 speed manual transmission would get a little better fuel mileage than the automatic transmission. It would also be more fun to shift gears manually.

    Like 0
  26. Avatar Mike

    Bid is at $33K, with 6 days to go… Beautiful car!!! Wish I had it.

    Like 0
  27. Avatar chrlsful

    luv the beginning of muscle (’64/6). Yes the stacked hdlght is a better look for me too (3rd gen’65/8) as a fav is the ’67 Ranchero in the near turquoise color.

    Buet of a car. May B an 4R70W stripped of ele or the C4 (least parasitic of any auto – or an AOD OK?) & frnt discs would do? Bilstien’s “St or Strip” suspension?

    I’ll dream on – no $ here…

    Like 0

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