Rare G-Code Drop-Top: 1962 Ford Galaxie 500

You could practically order a race car from Ford in 1962. That meant checking the box for a G-Code 406 cubic inch V8 that produced 405 hp with triple carburetors. They were not built in large numbers, and most likely went into hardtops rather than convertibles like this one. The seller appears to have been working on it for years, but advancing age means it’s time to move on. The once mighty Ford is for sale in Tucson, Arizona, and is available here on eBay for $10,000 OBO.

The 1962 Fords were an evolution of the design/styling that began in 1960. The 1961s were the last of the tailfins, and the ‘62s set the pace for big, round taillights for the rest of the decade. The Galaxie 500XL debuted in 1962, akin to Chevrolet’s new Impala Super Sport. XLs came with bucket seats, among other things, and the appearance of those in the seller’s car suggests this ’62 is also an XL. The number of ’62 Galaxie 500XL convertibles with the 406 V8 that have survived has to be a small number.

As best as we can tell, the 406 is apart and scattered around the seller’s garage. In the car now lives a 390 V8 whose running condition is not described. A 4-speed manual transmission is also part of the package, but may not be in the Ford, either. We’re told that the 406 contains the “correct” high-performance parts, such as the block, heads, manifolds, etc. But is it original to the car or period correct? G-Code Fords came with larger brakes and a beefier suspension than other Galaxies.

The photos provided show the automobile in various states of restoration, which is far from complete. In one, the entire driver’s side is painted grey primer, indicating that the sheet metal has been repaired if it needed it. The seller is a big fan of these vehicles and has been restoring 1962-64 406 and 427 Fords for 40 years. This potential “diamond in the ruff” will not be finished on his watch, so now it’s your turn. Thanks for another great tip, “Curvette”.