Everybody seems to like big old convertibles! And if you really don’t, I don’t mean to voluntarily include you in with all of the others that do. But, they seem immensely popular and will put a smile on your face when you’re cruisin’ along on a beautiful day and in top-down mode. Today’s subject drop-top is a ’63 Ford Galaxie 500, that’s considered by the seller to be an original, a barn find, and an “awesome” restoration project. It is located in Middletown, New Jersey and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $3,550 with the reserve not yet met. There is a BIN option of $8,500 as well.

Popular in ’63, Ford sold about 36K Galaxie 500 convertibles and the wind in your hair experience only cost about $250 more than the two-door hardtop version – those were the days! The seller states that this Galaxie has been off the road since the ’90s and there is “no visible rot in hood, fenders, and doors“. But that doesn’t seem to be true if you examine the passenger side fender and door. And that’s definitely not the case with the quarters and trunk floor. The seller advises that it needs a top and a windshield too. Considering the condition of the quarter panels, I’d be concerned about the condition of the underside –  “rusty” describes its current state, says the listing, but I would be concerned about more than just that.

Power is provided by a 300-gross HP 390 CI V8 engine that does not run but will turn over by hand. It is said to need a starter and a fuel tank. The mileage recording is 79K miles but there is no authentication provided. The big FE engine is attached to an automatic transmission, likely a Cruise-O-Matic unit. Also mentioned is the need for brakes.

The interior speaks for itself – it looks like it belongs in a car without a top.  It’s hard to say how the damage occurred but that “stored since the ’90s” claim has me wondering how and where it was stored – and in what shape are the floor pans as a result. There is plenty of surface rust and instrument panel corrosion to make one think the storage was open to the elements. The interior will need a complete makeover.

The seller adds, “Bought this as a flip so I don’t know anything other than it’s got 79,000 original miles on it“. Again, the mileage may or may not be genuine but I appreciate the seller’s honesty in stating that it’s a flip – this Ford is what it is. Back to that 36K sales number, there are a lot of these still in existence, non-scientifically based on how often I encounter them, I think I’d look for a better example, how about you?