Ford introduced the “Sports Roof” or fastback on two of its product lines in the middle of the 1963 model year, calling them 1963 ½s. That applied to the Galaxie and Falcon offerings, sleeker in appearance and providing an aerodynamic advantage to the bigger cars in NASCAR competition. The seller’s car is said to be the sportier Galaxie 500XL edition, akin to the Impala Super Sport over at Chevrolet. No doubt a barn find, this ’63 ½ Ford is on a trailer in Jackson, Ohio, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,500 OBO. Kudos to “Ted” for another cool tip!
Before mid-1963, Ford’s full-size 2-door hardtops had more formal rooflines (“boxtops”), much like the Chevy Impala. Once the Sports Roof was added, sales of the fastback versions are said to have outsold the boxier ones and took over altogether in 1964. That was the body style used with the Galaxie 500XL, which also gained a 4-door hardtop in ’63, something Chevy did not offer. Mercury was also treated to the Sports Roof for its bigger products.
We don’t know much about the seller’s car, at least in terms of its history. Considering its rough (but not necessarily rusty) condition, it’s likely the seller bought it out of storage to flip. All of the photos are of the Ford on a trailer, and it looks as though the seller plans to do nothing with it before a sale. It has a bench seat rather than buckets which you usually associate with the 500XL.
There is no mention of whether the 390 cubic inch V8/automatic transmission pairing runs, so we doubt this Galaxie can go anywhere under its own power. It has factory air conditioning, kind of rare in the early 1960s. It was so seldom ordered that Ford didn’t bother to integrate the inside unit into the dash, just hanging it down below like they would do at Sears (we had one of those). The seller will entertain trades without specifying any interests. What’s yours?
I’m with ya on the lack of buckets, Russ. As an owner of a 63.5 XL, I’d say this ain’t one – especially with a column shifter.
Galaxie 500.with the sports roof. And it may not have the 390 as the badges are missing..
The only time I ever saw an XL with a column shift was one with the swing away steering wheel.
Not an XL, badge on glove box says Galaxie 500, no buckets in front and rear not an XL. Blue dash but red door panels? I’d even doubt it’s a 390 ( should be gold valve covers) blue would be a 352
That shape’s a popular one for historic racers.
My uncle had a 63 1/2 xl. The side crome was different and had XL on it. It was solide red with the slope roof. It had bucket seats–4 speed and a 427 with 2 4 barrels. I was 13 years old and remember it .. My other uncle and I went up to Ohio(on the outskirts of Ravenna .) To bring my grandma back home. It was a hot summer too. I like this car,but would like to see more pictures. Especially of the floors.
not an XL
It’s not news that if you’re the restorer, and you do it right, you’re going to lose your gloots on resale. I have one of these for sale, and did a six figure restoration on it. I knew a third of the way in that it would be a labor of love, and not for profit. But mine turned out to be a beautiful gem of a result, to be found at PJ’s Classic Cars in Clearwater FL. Porsche Sport Classic Grey, from original Corinthian White, and with a custom dyed “Ferrari Orange” interior. It glows.
To: Stephen Douglas
Really nice restomod. Is the engine a Ford Windsor Small Block Stroked to 408?Or is it a 1963 vintage 390 bored and stroked to 445? Do you have a dyno for the engine? What is the automatic transmission C4 or C6?
It’s a “Cruise O Matic”, it’s closer to an FMX than either the C4 or the C6.
Didn’t David Pearson drive one of these in Nascar?
SD’s car a better deal even if the above was free!
Cool car but it’s NOT an XL . It’s a plain Jane 500
My brother had an all black boxtop(Victoria?) two door hardtop ,352,2bbl,with no extras but a floor shifted 4 speed! He junked it in 74!