Ford design did little wrong in the early 1960s. All the cars looked great. The Falcon was perhaps a scaled-down Galaxie, but both of them worked. From the glory years, here’s a 1963 ½ Galaxie 500 in the form they look best — as a two-door fastback in red. It boasts a 406-cubic-inch V-8 and a four-speed floor-shifted manual. The car is here on Craigslist in Sparks, Nevada (near Reno), and previously was a California resident.
It looks good and sounds good in the description, with some honesty applied. The car runs well and heads down the road straight, and the exterior looks good “from a distance.” The red paint is 20 years old and probably in need of renewal. Further, “I have not checked it out for numbers matching, but all the Ford gurus say it looks correct it’s a great and rare car.” Anyone seeing the car “won’t be disappointed.” My guess is that it goes like scoot. The car has 67,000 miles showing, and the owner is asking $26,500 for it.
I think some exterior badging is missing on the rear deck, but maybe it comes with the car. The ’63 Galaxie had a lot of chrome, and most of it is there. The interior is lovely, and probably looks good even close up. I’m partial to bench seats, having had one in my 1963 Dodge Dart convertible, and this one was likely reupholstered fairly recently. No problem getting six people into this car. The carpet looks in nice nick, and the Ford Racing floor mats are a nice touch. I see a hole where the radio is supposed to be, but a correct unit shouldn’t be hard to find.
The Galaxie, as the Impala’s rival, has a long and colorful history in the driveway and on the track. It was introduced for the 1959 model year, just in time to get the Skyliner retractable hardtop option. This is the era when models changed radically year over year, and the ’63 is clearly distinguishable from the ’62 and ’64. As the vendor notes, the fastback roof marks this car as a 1963 ½ model, because it was introduced mid-year.
The sports hardtops considerably outsold the less-racy versions. This particular Galaxie 500 is near the top of the line for engine spec. The 406 V-8 required the Borg-Warner four-speed manual. Four other transmissions were offered that year. The new 427 was sold to consumers in limited numbers and replaced the 406 at the track.
The ultimate in 1963 ½ Galaxies is the lightweight fiberglass-fitted “R” Code version, which was sold only in white with a red vinyl interior, and cost $4,200.
Considering this is a highly specced-out example of a very desirable car that can be driven as-is, the price seems reasonable. What do you think?
A beautiful Galaxie with a desirable big block, 4-speed and tri-power. For what you’d be getting, this big Galaxie is a bargain. The rich red color suits the car well and the smoothie wheels with the baby moon hubcaps are a nice touch. The red interior looks very good and seems to need nothing. If you like a full-size classic car with power, you’d be hard pressed to find a nicer one for the money.
Too bad he didn’t list the VIN. It should be a T or V code car if it’s an original 406 – V being the tri power version. Probably more rare then the 427.
My mistake – the codes are B and G
G – code for Trip 406 B – code for 385 hp single 4 barrel!
Rated at up to 405 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 448 lb⋅ft at 3500 – pretty stout.
I remember seeing the 64 1/2 when they first came out. One of the sexiest cars that year, such a beautiful body line on it. Remember seeing them run in Nascar and how they led the pack.
Typo’d, 63 1/2
(Sigh) It’s a two-door thin-pillared hardtop. NOT a fastback. Whatever you call it, it’s a nice car with the right mechanicals too!
That was considered the fastback as the earlier 63’s had the thunderbird roofline.
It was never called a fastback. The term was first used when the Mustang fastbacks came out, and a fastback has no notch at all after the rear window.
Terry, these have colloquially been called fast backs for well over 50 years.
Pretty in red….next owner will be a proud person
2 minutes searching the internet reveals the proper VIN code for a 406 powered 1963 Ford. If you were selling a car for $26,500, and the issue of whether or not the car was factory equipped with a 406 makes a tremendous difference in the value, wouldn’t you look it up? My suspicion is that the owner knows this car did not come from the factory with a 406, and he is trying to be clever by not disclosing it, hoping someone will nake an assumption in his favor. I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Numbers matching or not that’s a darn nice car and probably a fair price.
Aaaaannother stout Ford Galaxie, not quite as strong as the black 427 dual quad Galaxie from last week, but still. You just dont see these everyday!
352-390-406-maxing out in 427 cubes, Fords legendary FE served well in the “Total performance” campaign back then. Not to leave out race only high riser and single over head cam versions of the 427.
Beautiful car up there but for some reason I thought the 406 was simply replaced by the 427 in early ’63. Didnt know the 406 tri power was still available.
I also dont know why Ford dumped the 406 and kept the 390, for years really, A ’66 406 powered Fairlane GT would have made some noise! Fearsome Fords!
Troy when Ford switched to the FASTBACK design the Ford brass wanted to use up all the existing tripower 406’s before installing 427’s so without knowing the Vin my guess is it came this way from the factory some years back there was an older couple that used to attend all the local car shows had the very same thing fastback roof line and a 406 Tri power motor that was his explanation they wanted to use up the 406’s 1st and he ordered the car brand new
Very nice looking fastback. Never heard it called a thin pillar or anyone else use the term. My uncle had one like it. His had the 427—2- 4, s with bucket seats. Its a beauty from the pictures. Only change I,d do is get the original radio and change the mats. Then I,d enjoy the ride. Sure wished I had the money to buy it AND A GARAGE TO KEEP IT IN. I like the bench seat. More comfortable and you don,t have to get in the back.
I be very surprised if it’s a G code 406 3×2 since it was discontinued by 63 1/2 since that’s when the 427 Q code and R code was introduced and a first for the fastback roof line for NASCAR! That’s why it’s a 63 1/2! A early car in 63 was a box top looking car that was a B code or a G code. Still a cool car! Love Them Big Fords!!!!
But when you order a car back then you could order anything available.
Fantastic Car! Great Price!
These were early BBF muscle cars!
Miiiiight have to get the checkbook out on this one. This should finalize divorce proceedings.
Several things wrong under the hood.
Those are 65 or later valve covers
There should be a fuel filter mounted above where the coil is
Its got the wrong fuel pump.
Wrong later rad tank. Fill should be on the other side
All that leads me to think its a later 390 and someone simply added 406 fender emblems.
Definitely would need to do more research.
Also true 406 powered 63 1/2 fastbacks are rare as the 406 was discontinued and the 427 was introduced with the 63 1/2 fastback bodystyle.
Nice car! Detail the engine compartment within an inch of its life. Presto! You have a very nice car. These are hard to find in this condition and color combo.
I remember as a kid in the late ’60’s there was a dark brown 406 4 speed car running around town, but it was a 4door hardtop with buckets and a console. Really nice car, but I wasn’t a 4door fan. Sure it was one of very few.