My personal favorite year for Ford’s Galaxie series: the 1965 models were new, modern, and crisp, and they had stacked headlights and an upright grille. This 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 XL two-door hardtop has a mystery V8 engine, and it can be found here on craigslist in Kent, Washington, and the seller is asking $6,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Curvette for the tip!
I love this clean front-end design. The third-generation Galaxie was made from 1964 for the 1965 model year until the end of 1968. Either a two-door or four-door configuration would work for me; I’m not fussy. The Galaxie 500 XL was one of the top trim levels, but I’m surprised not to see a power brake booster under the hood of this one. It was a $43 option, $457 in 2026 dollars. It was more of a sport trim level and was only available with two doors, in either a hardtop or a convertible. This isn’t a brochure, but this website is fantastic for facts and figures.
Most ads show the Galaxie 500 XL with a black vinyl top, and I admit to being a fan of vinyl tops in this era. As with pool or pond, anything would be good, to misquote Carl Spackler (Bill Murray) from Caddyshack. Vinyl top or a smooth, sleek, painted steel top as shown here, there is no bad answer in my world. This Rangood Red car looks almost too good for the asking price, doesn’t it? You have to realize that it isn’t 1988 anymore, and you can’t get a perfect Galaxie 500 XL for $1,500, so dump those memories out the window and think about 2026 pricing for vintage vehicles. Here’s what it looks like inside the trunk compartment. There is visible rust under the trunk gasket and obvious paint here and there. Plan on putting some time into this car when it shows up on the trailer.
The sporty 500 XL came with front bucket seats, a console, and the transmission control/shifter right where it should be. In this case, that’s a three-speed automatic. I can’t quite tell if the steering wheel appears to be a bit different from a factory steering wheel on a Galaxie 500 XL or not. Dave, you’re the steering wheel guy; what do you think? The interior looks great for the most part, with a split in the driver’s seat, and the rear seat looks like new. Unfortunately, the seller’s description says the rear window has been blown out, but we aren’t sure what that means, and there are no photos of it without a rear window. If it’s been parked outside without a rear window, that puts a big dent in the asking price for me.
The mystery engine is another… uhh… mystery. The seller says they’re listing this car for their nephew, who bought this car 22 years ago, right after the engine had been rebuilt, and he put a ton of money into it, and then let it sit for the next 20 years. They list “blue aluminum headers,” but I’m assuming that means Blue Thunder aluminum heads? I thought they were only for small-block V8s, which would have been the 289-cu.in. OHV V8 with 200 hp in this case, but other sources list big-block engines as well. Whatever engine it is, I’m assuming that 90% of Barn Finds readers could have this engine humming again in no time. They say it has “new struts,” which I’m assuming means shocks, along with the “blue aluminum headers,” and also new electrical, new brakes, and more. Depending on the rear window situation (I’d sure want to see an updated photo if it’s really missing now), this could be a great deal. Hagerty is at $13,200 for a 289-equipped 500 XL hardtop. What are your thoughts on this Galaxie 500 XL?
An XL would (usually) have a 390 and in a rarer sense a 427. And since this one sure looks like a big-block (FE) it probably is. I can’t see the engine call-out badge on the lower front fenders, but…its probably a 390.
That makes sense; excellent deduction, sir. It doesn’t look like a 289 to me, so I’d bet you’re right.
The info on that great website link in the second paragraph says that the 289 was the base engine in the 500 XL series.
Yes and Happy Sunday to you Scotty!
I believe it could have had a 289 but one might have to perhaps checked a special box, as again, most of them were 390s. But all I know is You Never Know…
Steering wheel not original. Seats not original.
Looking at the valve covers, 1965 289s had 6 bolts and the 352/390s had 5 bolts. This engine has 5 bolts in the valve covers.
Uuuu! That is excellent PhD-level information, sir. Thanks much. I wasn’t sure what “blue aluminum headers” meant, or if they meant the heads?
Looks like a 352 to me but could be wrong. Nice looking car though!
It’s definitely a Y block – AKA big block. And the 352 and the 390 look strikingly similar as they basically had the same (external) architecture but what’s inside is what counted. And even a 390 will have 352 casting marks on the block and even the intake manifold but don’t be confused…
but really, is it a European Sparrow or an Africian Sparrow…
Ha! +10 for a Monty Python and the Holy Grail reference!
FE block
Steve R
Y block??? Similar to FE. Hoo boy??!!
Such a great ’60’s executive’ looking car. Really nice.
Sure is not a 289,a couple of them would fit under that hood.
Good friend had the 4 door version, lots of room for pals and a cooler. A lot of adventures, usually because of the poor decision making of 17-18 year olds.
That had a 390 and took a beating, really tough car.
Gotta be an FE in there, the aluminum intake manifold extending underneath the valve cover is a givaway,…
Good write-up SG. I agree, the styling on these was clean and attractive, and still looks good today. I remember when grade-school-age me first saw sketches of them (undoubtedly, in Motor Trend Magazine— it was must-do reading for me), I wondered where the front turn signals were.
Overall this example looks pretty good. It even has the stock wheel covers, but not the stock steering wheel. It would be sharp with some work.
Agree it fe motor,I bet 352. My ??not drive after a (rebuild).If no issues then should get it running to sell. ? How long glass gone?…rust in floor… See in person to know what you are buying. There are a ton of these, looks clean as shown..on the out side.
Agree it fe motor,I bet 352. My ??not drive after a (rebuild).If no issues then should get it running to sell. ? How long glass gone?…rust in floor… See in person to know what you are buying. There are a ton of these, looks clean as shown..on the out side.
Here is my 1965 Custom 2 dr 427, 4 speed and yes it has the Corning headlite covers
M first new car was a 1965 Galaxies 500 XL 2 door hardtop Burgandy with black interior. 352 with 4 barrel. 250 hp. 3 on the tree. I paid $2600.00
Wish I still had it.
For sure an FE. Lister doesn’t know anything about it? Doesn’t know basic terminology? Uh what? Caveat empter
I wanted to buy one when I got back from Vietnam. Could not afford it. I wounder how much it would cost to have it shipped to Maine. Dream car.😍😍😍
Thank you for your service J P. I served from June 1964-May 1967, but was a non combat veteran serving 30 months in Germany after basic and AIT at Fort Ord California.
God Bless America
Welcome home and thank you for your serice
Thats no small block Ford brothers and sisters. Nice car, I like it. Needs a stick.
That’s an FE , look at how the valve cover goes on top of an inch or so of the intake.
if you want to know which FE you could look at the color on the engine badge, 352 had no color, the 390 was blue and 428 was red but I’m too lazy to go look.
The badge callout means it’s an FE and I don’t remember ’65 big Fords with a callout for 352’s although they were definitely available. Back in the day FIL had a Custom 500 with a 352 and no badge, no repaints. I’m in the 390 camp along with the majority of previous commenters.
Some 65’s had the 352 as part of the emblems on the front fenders. Definitley not aluminum cylinder heads on this one as there appears to be rust on the exhaust flanges of the heads. Blue Thunder headers and possibly intake is my best bet as the intake is aluminum and the factory Autolite carb it would have come with is no longer there. Looks like a good price on a good solid car. The console and bucket seat interior alone is worth close to $2K if not more.
The ad states the back windows “just got blown out.” So I’m assuming some nice neighborhood kids spied the For Sale sign and used it for target practice.
My first car was a ’65 Ford Galaxie 500, 4 door, hardtop. The air filter looks funny, but that’s a 352 under it. I still dream of that car.
A fine automobile for sure. My father bought me a 65 Ford Custom 500 4 door sedan with 289 3 on the tree with overdrive in 1967. It was a great car and got 25 mpg. My first wife and I drove it to Lake Tahoe for our honeymoon. We stopped at a Sambo’s in Sacramento for lunch when a young man noticed us and complimented thinking it was new. Of course in those days my first wife was a strikingly beautiful girl with 38” double D breasts, so he might have been actually referring to her.
Anyway, I like this car, but at this point in my old age (79) I just want a really nice drop top.
God Bless America
I see a 65′ Custom 4 – door $ 6,500 in Mesa AZ today on FB Marketplace
that’s no 289. looks like a 390 to me. good looking ride. no surprise it sold with that interior and a decent looking body. well bought for 6500.00. if i were looking for 1 of these i would have bought this for sure.
Looks like a pretty good deal at this price
GONE!
Definitely a great place to begin. I agree kinda weird not to opt for the power brakes. Absolutely love the interior and manual windows, I’d be all in.