Ford introduced an upscale model in 1959 dubbed the Galaxie. The name was chosen to capitalize on the “Space Race” in the late 1950s and would be the top series until the LTD was introduced in 1965. The seller has a largely one-owner 1961 Galaxie Club Sedan, which is a fancy way of saying 2-door sedan or coupe. It runs okay but has 65 years’ worth of worn paint and interior components. Located in Portland, Oregon, this V8-powered project is available here on craigslist for $3,500.
With a redesign in 1960, the big Fords looked about as Space Age as anything on the market. Like Chevrolet, they used flat tailfins on the back, but they were significantly toned down in 1961. Ford also returned to the pie-shaped taillights they had used in the 1950s, which would remain a company styling cue for the next several years. Ford built nearly three-quarters of a million full-size cars in 1961, of which 28,000 were Galaxie Club Sedans like this one. The lesser Fairlane and Fairlane 500 were also offered in that configuration.
As the story goes, this ’61 Ford belonged to the father of the seller’s friend. He had it for years and years, and the seller took possession to undertake a restoration. But health issues have gotten in the way, and that won’t happen on his/her watch. The machine is mostly rust-free if you exclude the obvious surface corrosion and the trunk pan. The interior is original and is about as worn as they come, so new upholstery, carpeting, and a headliner are needed.
Under the hood (we think, no photos) is a 352 cubic inch V8. It probably has a 2-barrel carburetor and is paired with a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. It runs, but not well, as a tune-up is required, but the gas tank and fuel lines have been redone. So, this could be one of those fix-it-while-you-drive kind of projects, if you’re so inclined. There were a lot of these big Fords around back in the day, but when was the last time you saw one compared to a Chevy Impala?
It would be nice to see this refurbished, if not restored
A buddy of mine had the same car, but a 406 and a 4 speed. Quit the sleeper
A friend had one of these with a 405 HP 390 and three on the tree. It was a beast.
Earlier he had a 61 with a 427 3x2s 4 spd that I outrun in a GTO because he could never stop the rear tires from spinning.
If it said FORD and had a big motor he had to have it.
Great times.
I can’t tell how serious that rust is on the drivers side tail fin, there’s suppose to be a chrome trim down that fin, if it’s to rusted to hold the trim it’s a problem. Might be worth $1200 to me. It would cost a lot to get rid of all that rust and who knows what the under side looks like.
C/L. 5 pics really? show what’s bad. from the ad sounds like it’s a running bomb. not many left for sure but all i see is a 1200.00 ford here.
Could be a 292 Y block under there as well.
My brother had a ’61 Hardtop with a 390, 3-speed overdrive, and the chrome engine package. Black with a red interior, power steering and brakes. It was supposed have been a dealer demo when he bought it. I loved driving that car with the OD. He tore out the 4.11 rear gear and replaced it with a 2.80 (or something like that) so it would do about 125 mph without even trying.
Gasp 😲
Is this a barn find on Barn Finds !?
(whistling spritely tune) The ’61 Ford is probably what most remember Andy Griffith driving some memorable episodes involving the car, that got less and less and we can’t forget what happened to the ’61 Ford police car( no relation) in American Graffiti( that was great!) a takeoff on the Lumpy Rutherford prank, but Lucas denied it. It looks a mess now, but this was actually a well optioned car at the time. No seat belts? Oh, that dash looks hard. I read the padded dash was an option, can’t find the cost, but couldn’t have been much compared to a bump on noggin’. I read, Ford sold a whopping 349,000 Galaxies in 1961. Typically cost about $2500, this was the cheapest Galaxie, the automatic was a hefty $212 bucks, and this person didn’t need it. You think someone will actually restore this car? Man, I just don’t know. Another incredible find, coming out of the woodwork at a horrific rate, they is.
Now about the “Space Race”, I saw a documentary on the making of the Saturn V, and what it all took to get that monster off the ground, why just the launch pads alone, engineering marvels and the “assembly” building, unbelievable. An army of thin tie, white shirt, black glasses watching some screen. Now I think, we were grossly misled as to why the space race even happened, it was a turbulent time, and Kennedy knew it, and I bet,,just a minute, someone at the door,,,hey, hey, who are you, where are you taking ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,yep, it’s 4 am,,,
I always loved the big early to late 60s Fords. Galaxies were awesome. This car deserves a new life and I hope someone saves her. It’s going to be a lot of work and $$$ but it’s worth saving. I’m not big into changing things in a major way, resto mods don’t trip me but Id build this car with a big block and 4 speed, I’d keep it bone stock appearing with the exception of a hood scoop. White, red interior. I’d run bare steel wheels. There! My dream Ford!! A sleeper!