Over the years, Ford and Chevrolet have generally competed on a model-for-model basis. Chevy came up with the Impala, and Ford matched it with the Galaxie 500. Along those same lines, the 500/XL was the Ford equivalent of the Impala Super Sport. This 1968 Galaxie has been sitting for 30 years, yet the seller has coaxed it to start and run, but it needs help stopping. Located in Nine Mile Falls, Washington, this Ford is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $6,900 for what may be a largely rust-free car.
While the underpinnings of the 1968 full-size Fords differed little from the year before, they were most noticeable for their switch back to horizontal headlights instead of the verticals used from 1965-67. And on the LTD and 500/XL, they could be of the hideaway variety for the first time. Ford’s overall production would trail Chevrolet at 1.75 million units of which 735,000 were Galaxies. The seller’s 2-door fastback is one of about 50,000 that were built that year, so they shouldn’t be that rare today.
Although the 500/XL could be ordered with powerplants as large as 428 cubic inches in displacement, the seller’s car has the basic 302 V8. It looks rather lost under the hood of this car, especially with no extraneous hardware such as air conditioning. But it does have an automatic transmission and power steering. The seller has managed to get this long-idle car running but hasn’t driven it because the brakes are shot. The odometer reflects 95,000 miles worth of use.
We’re told the Ford has minimal rust, but the photos provided don’t make it obvious. The pale-yellow paint is faded but might muster a shine with some wax and elbow grease. The interior also looks good for the age, although I was expecting to see bucket seats with a console rather than a bench. Neither Hagerty nor NADA show these cars having a value greater than somewhere in the teens, so this is not likely going to become a high-dollar car, especially with the small-block V8.
The opening bid is $6,900 and there are no bids as of yet. This Galaxie looks like a decent car but that little 302 isn’t too exciting. The ’68 fastbacks were good looking cars and had nice interiors but don’t command big money as Russ stated. This Galaxie would make for a nice cruiser or daily driver but you’d have to get it pretty cheap because it probably needs a good bit of mechanical work after sitting for 30 years. At least is doesn’t have a straight six which was available in the full size Fords.
The 302 was a solid little engine, but even it seems a bit small for a car this size. I can’t imagine what it was like to drive one with a 6 in it!!
I’d agree…..if you could get it cheap enough, it would make a nice driver. But it appears to be in need of a lot of work in order to get it up to show car status.
That line of thinking quickly turns an affordable entry level car into an unaffordable garage queen. If it checks out in person, get it running, buff the paint, fix the brakes and enjoy it. Not everyone enjoys bringing their car to shows, this car could be perfect for that person.
Steve R
Show car, schmoe car.
If I wanted a trophy, I’d take up bowling. There’s nothing wrong with a nice old driver, especially if it’s a somewhat mundane model that won’t set loins aflutter at The Big Show no matter how pristine it it.
I had a 1968 galaxie convertible power windows air conditioning and a 390 under the hood. I don’t remember the 302s in that model. I thought the 302s came out in 70 or so it replced the 289.
Mine was an XL and came with a 4 BBL Holley on a 390 with the high performance automatic, C4, and A/C. Pretty much the same car but no hidden highlights. Drove it for years in college (haulin my friend’s around) and was a dependable car. Girlfriend (then became wife) couldn’t stand it. Hah!
yup, bout 6 motors’n 4 trannies available: this 1, fastback, vert, wagon. No more – Y? wages no longer match products so options R out.
I like the red stacked hdlghts (I C the ‘thumbnail’ above) beddah ~
Engine looks crusty..
Near my neck of the woods. Too bad the starting price is so high. Otherwise I’d run over there and get it.
Make the seller an offer, Terry. Maybe he’ll go for it.
I loved the big Fords 65 thru 69. Especially the XL’s. Most XL’s I remember seeing over the years though had buckets and a center console. This is a pretty basic XL.
I thought that was what XL stood for was bucket seats,and console but probably like the Super Sport Chevy changed all of a sudden to meaning a big block? The 68 Galaxie line with a 302 had plenty of power ànd got excellent gas mileage for such a big car, my parents had one and it had over 160,000 miles never had much but a water pump and timing chain repair wise and was still running strong although it did get regular oil changes and maintainence, it wasn’t a race car but burned regular gas and economical car for being such a big car.
Asking price is exactly what it is, it’s a starting point for negotiations. Lack of interest will soon make the owner realize their mistake. As I have told BF readers, I sold cars for 15 years. You will get 1 person out of a hundred that signs after the first pencil. There is no law dictating profit, this owner will soon realize they have to lower their sights a bit. This car is waaaaay under powered. Drive it like it is, find a donor motor and drive it until the other motor is finished. It has hidden headlights, which is always a plus for me. Could be a nice cruiser but the initial price has to be right.
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I’m surprised it doesn’t have at least a bucket or split bench. The engine is sorely lacking, but its capable of being warmed up to a 351 with another cam during a rebuild. Brake kits for Galaxies are readily available. I’m sure the 68 came with front discs though. Other than that its a solid looking body and interior to work with thankfully. Great find!
Disc brakes came with the GT package otherwise they were separate option. If it originally came with this breaks this is how the brake pedal should look like this
http://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Ford/1968_Ford/1968_Ford_Brochure/slides/1968_Ford-10_amp_11.html
The 1967-1970 cars were known as XL, not Galaxie 500 XL. At the right price this car would be a good starting point for a nice cruiser. Somewhat underpowered with the 302, but it’s not like you’ll be going racing with it.
If one could secure it at a significantly lower price it would be a good candidate for a Coyote swap. If you could source buckets and a console that would be cool.
Back in high school, a buddy of mine (actually his dad) had one just like this except with the 390. His dad was too cheap to spring for premium fuel (extra dime per gallon I think?), so whenever Bob would ‘get on it’ the poor thing would ping like crazy…neat car though
Id say the ask and i understand its someone’s pipe dream so stop your internal dialog but 7k is 3 times more than this car will ever be worth.
I wish i had a reset button so everyone could get back on the reality train.
This would have been a rental car back in the day! I rented one exactly like this in February 1968 in Philadelphia. Cumbersome to steer on crowded city streets and gutless, but the hidden headlights made it look upscale at the time. Six people could fit comfortably on those wide seats.