For sale out of Granville, Ohio, this 1963 Ford Galaxie XL looks like a remarkably solid survivor that just needs a bit of attention to shine again. Listed here on Facebook Marketplace, the seller says it’s a low-mileage car that runs and drives with an interior that’s “insanely clean and original for its age.” It’s being offered in nearby Newark, OH, and appears to have spent its life staying largely unmodified. Thanks for the tip Ted!
The photos show a car that’s clearly been sitting for a while but not abused. There’s no carpet on the floors at the moment, and a light coat of flash rust is visible on the floorboards and in the engine bay. Despite that, the structure looks impressively solid, with no obvious signs of rot or collision repair.
Outside, the body panels appear straight, and the trim looks mostly complete. The Galaxie’s design was one of Ford’s finest of the early ’60s, clean, muscular, and understated, and this XL model brought an extra dose of style and comfort. The seats still look great in the photos, hinting that the car was treated with some care over the years.
Under the hood, the engine bay shows a bit of surface rust but no alarming corrosion or damage. The seller doesn’t list specifics about the engine, but the fact that it runs and drives suggests it wouldn’t take much to make this a weekend cruiser again.
Early ’60s Galaxies have been gaining attention lately thanks to their classic proportions and smooth highway manners, and this one checks a lot of boxes for an approachable project. It’s clean, mostly complete, and already a runner, a combination that’s getting harder to find in unrestored cars from this era.
If you were looking for a straightforward vintage Ford to enjoy as-is or gradually restore, this Galaxie XL might be the perfect place to start.
Would you bring back the carpet and detail it, or leave it as a rough-but-honest survivor?
Granville! My hometown! Well, actually my hometown is a cornfield about 3 miles outside of Granville. And, I graduated from Newark High School! But who cares.
The car is nice, but it’s hard to figure if the interior (and the engine for that matter) are in some state of partial disassembly. I like that yellow Marquis behind the Ford.
I immediately latched onto Granville, since about 70 years ago I lived on Rt. #161, the Granville Road, east of New Albany, Ohio (when there were about 270 people at that little crossroads of Rts. #161 and #62): small world. never cared much for these particular Fords, but I would wonder why the carpet is gone? — mice, perhaps? (which would explain the surface rust under where it used to be). Nice overall condition, but I will leave this one for somebody else. I spent a lot of time in Granville, but I was more likely to drive west to Westerville, than further east to Newark…
With no information, I assume it is the 289. The car sits low on the backside and the skirts IMO need to go. Other than that it looks like a nice survivor at a decent price.
That’s an FE engine of some type not a 289
It’s a Z code 390 4 barrel car, note the flags on front fenders. This is a fairly rare car, too bad it’s not a 4 speed. If it’s as solid as it appears, it could be a very nice car to restore or build a period cruiser.
Decent car, decent price. Wish it was closer…
Someone spent a fair amount of money on the upholstery before abandoning the project. The seller is using the reproduction interior bits as the car’s selling point. Take away those pieces and what’s left? That the car supposedly ‘runs and drives’ is contradicted by the image of the engine. The single image of the complete car appears to show a paint mismatch to the left quarter panel. Those two images aren’t enough to judge the car’s overall condition. The seller’s description adds no value either. WTF is ‘low mileage’ on 62 year old car? For $7,500 this car is a pig in a poke-sack.
Also unusual is the car is a Z code XL Boxtop Galaxie yet no power steering and no power brakes.
What a handful to drive!
IF YOU WANT PS AND PB NOT A BIG DEAL TO DIG UP AND ADD
lose the skirts they don’t work for it
Add says low mileage but doesn’t say what the mileage is believed to be wonder if the seller knows it’s a 5 digit odometer and it starts over. Either way looks like a fun car to make a cruiser
Nice Galaxie! Will definitely need a look see underneath, but the price is right. Also like the ’64 over to the side, too.
Traded a Type 3 VW fastback for one of these back in 73. Guy wanted it for his Collection of VW model he had everything from Type 1to Type 4 all restored and driven regularely. The Galaxie was a 390 4 speedbut had bench seat, radio delete.no power anything fun trying to stop with those non-power drum brakes,ran very well, definitely put you back in seat.Don’t hate me people but traded 3 months later for
1969 Porsche 912, which we swapped built dual port VW motor which was making 200 hp. fun car til first wife destroyed it racing a 911.
Different subject tried to join several times and the website kept kicking my application back, still want to join.
Robbo, I had the same issue, but Jesse said there was a $5000 entry fee, so I paid it and voila! I’m a member!
Sure hope that’s a joke, that’s my budget for the interior of 69 Coronet 440 with a Torqureflite, yellow with white interior, almost stock except wheels, driven it with old upholstery,runs extremely well with fresh rebuild on all major driveline components, did blowout old tire with massive burnout for Great Grandsons.LOL