Gear-heads yearning to unleash the power of Ford’s 1964 NASCAR entry couldn’t get much closer than a 427-powered four-speed Galaxie fastback. This 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL in Pacifica, California left the Twin Cities assembly plant in Saint Paul, Minnesota with the hot R-code dual-quad 427, bucket seats, and a four-speed floor-shifted manual transmission. Amazingly, the original block remains, though sadly with a hole in its side. The listing here on eBay asks $11,250 for the car as it sits, and a Make Offer button if you’re feeling lucky. Thanks to reader Larry D for spotting this abandoned blue beast.
Forget this depressing sight and picture the original dual-quad (twin four-barrel carburetor) setup shown here on cdn.motor1. Making an advertised 425 HP, the race-minded solid-lifter 427 featured a 1.12:1 bore/stroke ratio for sustained high-RPM operation. Thanks to 427GalaxieRegistry and Hemmings for some details. While common in its day, imagine relying on that soup-can-sized single master cylinder and manual brakes to stop this full-sized Galaxie. Finding a correct dual-quad induction setup could be challenging and expensive, along with the quest for a wizard to weld the cast-iron block.
The rocket-style tail lights pay homage to the Space Age. Ford’s 500 XL added bright trim and other niceties above the more common Galaxie models. Around the time of this high-powered Ford, automakers were shifting focus from the established philosophy of keeping the hottest engines in larger models like the full-sized Galaxie toward offering them in performance-oriented packages on mid-sized cars such as the Fairlane.
The bucket seat interior looks intact but fully roasted. This is the best shot of the inside other than pictures of the mostly solid-looking floorboards. It looks like the center console still resides between the buckets, though only an edge of it is shown. Rust sullies every picture, but we’ve seen worse, and it’s not every day you’ll find an R-code Galaxie under $15,000. The 3.50 rear axle gears suggest the original buyer had more than drag racing in mind, and this would have been one hot car on the streets in its day. How would you restore this rare dual-quad 427 Galaxie?
Step right up, step right up! Who wants to play our little game we call “Try to make a crappy POS clapped out car sound like something worth over ten grand?” How about you, Sonny?
Atta boy Rex tell it like it is I hear you were many don’t 👍🏿👏
So tired of the teasing headlines when you can see right below it that the engine bay is empty, or in this case the short block has a hole. Trying to put this back together would be Herculaneum effort, and cost the equivalent of a congress sponsored spending bill.
How about more truth up front?
If the engine block is usable, and has the 4 gear, looking at the rest of the car…. It’s no more than $5k, all day long…2 for the car, 2 for the block, and 1 for the trans…
427? Looks like I’d rather have an 024.
I say put the Galaxy on the start line next to the half of Mustang in a winner take all quarter mile.
I doubt this car will get restored. You can buy a decent R code Galaxy for under 50k and it very well could cost that much to restore this car.
$94,600 on this one in January 2021.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-452057/1964-ford-galaxie-500xl/
Or this one asking $59,000.
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1265841/1964-ford-galaxie-500-xl-for-sale-in-halton-hills-ontario-l7g-4s6
A car like this is a pet peeve of mine; it USED to be an R-Code 427, it’s not anymore. When the original driveline is gone from a performance car, it’s literally just a shell of it’s former self. Replacing the engine and gearbox won’t be cheap and it will never be numbers matching. I have to agree with Arthell64, a full restoration will probably cost more than you could buy one for. That said, I do hope it gets restored.
Gone. Someone bit.
As we say in car sales – there’s an ass for every seat …
Remarkable……
Goes to show wtf I know.
‘Ahll tell ya whut, Clem, nobody in their everlovin’ mind would ever pay that much moolah for this here tired old carcass…HOLY SHEEIT!
At best $5000, original block although there probably cannot be salvaged. This is a massive expensive project! This is a vehicle that has a very small market of folks who actually know the significance of an R code Galaxie, and that limits its market and value. That said I would love to own if I had the time and would build it as tribute/restoreomod.
Do you know the history of this car? My Dad had one exactly the same and after he traded it was sent to California, just curious.
Bruce it has a Colorado license plate. Is that possible where are the traded it in?
Where your dad traded in
It has Colorado license plate
Maybe someone is buying the VIN?
Do you guys ever get tired of wailing about how ever car that’s not been restored is:
1) a piece of junk
2) rusted beyond repair
3) not worth over $12
Oh, wait. Someone who’s wearing their big boy pants already bought it.
LOL.. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.
Someone would need to spend at least $30k just to turn it into a presentable Galaxie driver, and by that time, you’d have a $20k – $25k Ford Galaxie. Good luck to whomever spent $11k to start their project R code project.
Test comment
Just heads up! 1964 didn’t have numbers matching. It would be date coded. What makes that R code different is The Transistorize Ignition System. Not to many left assembly plant with that option! Yes needs major restoration, but it’s a R code. I am lucky enough to own a couple and one in that exact color combo beautiful! Love them Big Fords!
PT Barnum comment works here.
It does seem to have a period correct windshield washer bag!
😂👍🏿
This one went for $94,600 at Mecuum Jan 7-16, 2021.
No reserve, estimated was $125,000 – $150,000.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-452057/1964-ford-galaxie-500xl/
Here is R-code convertible that went for $121,000
https://www.mecum.com/lots/FA0820-432783/1964-ford-galaxie-500-convertible/
Since Fords don’t have “numbers matching” engines, a correct year block would be the choice to maintain it as an ‘original’ R Code…
Does a 427 with a hole in the side of the block make it a “Side Oiler”?
No. It makes it a V9. Whoever bought this pile wanted the data plate only. I’ve seen nothing but a rusted and stripped frame with a good tag go for almost as much.
He traded it in in Homer, MI with 18000 miles on it and supposedly it was purchased by a museum in California.
Make a Nascar clone or your own race team car out of it. Bare steel interior, cage, two bucket seats, linex the floorpan and paint the rest of the interior, vintage Nascar pieces. Find another 427 to build up with cowl air cleaner. Street driven with electric exhaust dumps. It would be awesome.
My best friend’s dad had one when we were growing up. It sounded like thunder when he’d drive it down the street everyday to work! It wasn’t until ten ten years later when it got totaled by someone running a red light that we realized what it actually was!!! His dad bought it new, special order and drove it everyday!!!
No. It makes it a V9. Whoever bought this pile wanted the data plate only. I’ve seen nothing but a rusted and stripped frame with a good tag go for almost as much.