This 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Fastback is a solid car that would make a great restoration project. Of course, the option is also there to drive it as it is, and just enjoy the car for what it is, which is an original survivor. Located in Brevard, North Carolina, you will find the Galaxie listed for sale here on eBay. At the time of writing, bidding has reached $12,500, although the reserve hasn’t been met.
I do have a soft spot for these ’64 Galaxies, as we had one as a family car when I was a lad. The two things that I remember most about ours was how much space there was inside it, and how it could really get up and moving if my father buried the right boot. This one is a fairly solid vehicle. The paint is pretty tired, but the chrome and trim look like they would respond well with a bit of polish. Of course, if you were going to undertake a restoration, there are a few items that could probably stand a trip to the nearest plating shop for a refresh. The floors and frame of the Galaxie seem to be quite solid, and the only visible rust is a few spots in the lower quarter panels, which is pretty common. The owner does mention the fact that the windshield should be replaced, and that is one point that I definitely do agree with.
Apart from the fact that the vinyl on the front seats and a couple of trim items is starting to look a bit tried, the rest of the interior looks to be in pretty good condition for a car of this age. The owner believes that the tachometer under the dash was a dealer option, but the rest of the interior is unmodified. The original carpet was apparently quite thin, so new carpet has been fitted. Otherwise, it does seem as though there would be no reason why you couldn’t use the interior exactly as it is.
It’s under the hood where things start to get special with the Galaxie. The engine is the original 390ci P-Code V8, which is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The car also features power steering, but is fitted with the manual over-sized brakes which were part of the police package. That 390 pumps out 330hp, and the engine is said to run perfectly, and to sound very strong. The owner has fitted a new clutch, new brakes and lines, a new fuel tank and lines, rebuilt the original carburetor, and fitted a dual exhaust. That really doesn’t leave a lot for the new owner to do but to climb aboard and enjoy the car for what it is.
With a solid body and a pretty nice drive-train combination, I would be very tempted to drive this Galaxie exactly as it currently stands if I were to buy it. However, if it was fully restored, it would still be a fun car to drive, but it would also look the part. Once restored, it’s a car that would attract attention wherever it went. I wouldn’t mind having it in my driveway, and it wouldn’t be just to rekindle old memories. It would be because it’s a very nice car.
I’m in no way shape or form, a Ford guy. I would however own this baby and drive it like I stole it! Nice options on a great car!
I had one of these when I was a teen. Dad bought it new. It was handed down to my sister, then me. One night a drunk driver ran for the road, smashed into the side of the 64 and wrapped it around a tree. Needless to say, that was the end of my 64.
Drove one as a parts getter when I was a kid working in a garage….except it was a slushbox but it was a rocket in the straight a way. This one looks like a great one to buy and then paint :)
My mom had one of these as her second car – it lived until the early ’70s until it succumbed to the tin worm in rural Ohio and my dad stopped driving it because he felt it wasn’t safe anymore. He pulled some parts and pieces off of it before it was hauled off to the junkyard. A few days later, I saw a truck loaded with smashed cars headed past our house and sure enough, the still recognizable shape of our maroon ’64 was there amongst the other pancaked cars. 45 years later, the door pulls on my Bronco are partially fabricated from the seatbelts of that car.
Lot’s of conjecture here without knowing the reserve. Pretty much a waste of time discussing this car guys.
I’d repaint it a cream color and leave the
rest of the car alone. From what I see,
it wouldn’t take much to have the old gal
roarin’ down the road as a daily driver.
If his claims are true, then a repaint is
all she’ll need to look great again. Nice
car though.
I suspect the seller knows what they have and have put a corresponding reserve on it. Realist or not – who knows. Paint, a little rust work, some rechroming and trim work and it would be a great looking cruiser with enough room to take 5 out on Saturday night.
I remember the great sound and performance that could be achieved by comparable cars. No computers, no excuses, just get-up-and-go with a thirst to go along with it.
Love those. When I was a kid we had a 64 Country Squire wagon.
I like these early Fords, passed on a 64 Galaxie 2 dr with a transplanted 427 C-6 when I was a kid because it had zero brakes and at 16 $500 was a lot of chinese food delivery earnings and I didn’t know how to do brakes then……..I am liking this tank but closer/better pictures of the rusty areas say more than a pic of the headliner. Once again a seller shows a leg but not much more. Potential buyers shouldn’t have to ask for more pictures, ever.
An old guy I knew had a similar car but was a 390/4\speed four door Galaxy. I knew it was unusual. I think it was white with blue Interior including buckets and console.
The unusual part of this car is the engine. These “police” engines differ from the usual 390. They use mechanical lifters and other heavy duty/performance parts, so the indicated 30 hp increase is meaningful. Cars were certainly large in those days!
One of the best 390s Ford put out!
That’s some car. The tired paint seems to look great on this one.
I’m back studying this car. Did these police engines have some kind of cast iron headers ? I can’t tell from the engine photos if those are the factory interceptor headers. Can anyone here determine if they are from the engine photos provided? I’m just curious about that point. Thanks in advance.
I have seen old pics of 427s with Cast Iron Headers but never a 390
Although I’m not a Ford man it seems to me Ford did cast manifolds that had an appearance similar to a header. My buddy aquired a NOS 289 crate motor through a family member who purchased it from the dealer in 1966. And I was impressed with the manifold design.
Another low rider candidate like the shoebox Merc seen today. The Chevy equivalent of this car is going for big bucks out here in CA.
That would be a total crime. This car is far to rare and valuable to destroy by making it a low rider. Solid lifter 4 speed Galaxies don’t come up that often.
Fixing the FERD as is the ONLY OPTION for this car. If you want a lowrider go for a newer Chevy.
Fixing this car up to be a driver is THE ONLY OPTION for this Ford. If you want a Lowrider get a newer Chevy.
I remember a friends Dad having one like this but his had a Black Vinyl roof & Black interior, otherwise a twin to this one. I’d stand in his driveway & stare at it thinking what an awesome looking car it was. So now after 55 or so years I still think so.
There were a Lot of these in NC mostly due to NASCAR and a little bootleggin ;) Great Cars
Great car, always really liked the looks of these early sixties Galaxies. I mean really, hot looking car with FE power, any of those years be it the hi performance 390, 406, 427 whatever, Ford was all in back in those days. Good stuff…
My old man had a red and white 58 with the 390 police motor and boy did it move. I was in first grade but I remember that sucker like it was yesterday.
I wonder who put that engine in there. Ford didn’t know they had a 390 till 61.
It was the mid sixties so it probably was a swap. If my old man wasn’t embellishing the truth ;). I remember it was faaaast and he blew a few small block Chevys off the road with her. I remember a particular yellow 57 that seemed to be going backwards once that mother got rolling.
My ’64 XL-500 had insane highway gears. I could bury the speedo in 3rd gear and still had 4th. This car would look great with a new white paint job with a mile of clear on it. Great road car!
There are quite a few of these in Mexico and since Ford was the only car maker allowed to use a V8 engine, they do have the V8.
This green car has the buckets along with a floor shift automatic. There are others here with the stick on the floor.
As for the featured car, is the high bidding for the engine or the four speed? It is a bit of a common car after all.
I bought it, incredible documents the seller did not mention. Big book with original bill sale from dealership, sales contract to 1st owner, letter from Ford, 5 KH wheels, original owners manual, and build sheet found in the car , incredible. Going in with the Galaxie collection. These real P codes are hard to find not messed with. Very lucky to get this one, stay tuned.
What did you do with the Galaxie?
Here’s my back in the day mid ’60s story, there was this guy , Johnny Lee Johnson AKA: Johnny Bulls@%t, some how he had this Red/Red 63 1/2 Fastback Galaxie 500 with a dual quad 427 4 speed it was fast, very fast. He would call out whoever he thought would give him a good race. Some races he won others he lost. There was Barry Hopper with a ’64 Tri Power 421 GTO , they usually ran neck and neck with a 50% win record, Bobby Holmes with a ’65 327/365 Corvette Coupe and they usually won 50% also, a few guys with ’63 409 Impalas that gave the “RED DEVIL” a good run but usually lost. The funniest thing I remember was when Johnny Lee blew 3 rd gear out of his trans so any one he raced that had a 4 spd. would have to bypass 3 rd. to make it fair. To see that they would adhere to this Johnny Lee would have his friend ride with the opponent to make sure. There werent many guys running automatics , the fast Mopars didnt street race too much. Once while cruising around for no apparent reason, I got stuck in the back seat when Johnny Lee decided to go thru the gears, when he came out of the hole and then banged second gear it was like being launched off of the launch pad at Cape Canaveral. It was a quick car and pretty much ruled the 1/4 mile bridge to bridge drag strip on the Palisades Parkway in Rockland County New York. Fun times for sure.
Hi
My name is Tony and i live in Sweden, i own One of these p-code Galaxies.
I didnt really now that this is a rare car. Now i wonder if anyone could tell me
Whats was in the police package, i have the bigger 3inch drum brakes, i am rebuild it to stock.