“Ford builds the most beautifully proportioned cars,” so opines their 1960 sales brochure. A subjective claim at best, though I’d say this 1960 Galaxie Town Victoria has pleasing lines. The Victoria part of it relates to its open hardtop body style, and it is well executed. Beyond that, this Galaxie is in fair condition but is displaying some of the normal woes of 66 years of existence. T.J. gets the nod for this tip, and those with an interest will find this “Queen of the Hardtops” (Ford’s description, not mine) in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, where it’s available here on eBay for a BIN price of $8,220. There’s a “make an offer” option available, too.
Ford managed a number two finish in the great domestic automobile production race in ’60 with 1,439,000 automobiles. Ford full-sizers ran with three models in ’60, Galaxie on top, Fairlane 500 in the middle, and the standard Fairlane bringing up the markers. Galaxie body styles included four-door sedans, hardtops, and station wagons, as well as a two-door sedan, a hardtop (the Starliner), and a convertible known as the Sunliner. Four-door hardtops were all the rage by ’60, having been introduced a few years earlier, and Ford moved about 39K Victoria hardtops that year. It’s a body style I miss; it’s not only the styling, but also the open, breezy feel and the unobstructed visibility that are such positives with this design. Unfortunately, the Fed. meanies at the NHTSA put the kabash on this body style in the mid-seventies – concerns about rollover protection. This car’s exterior is complete and appears to be straight, and the seller adds, “NICE AND STRAIGHT BODY WITH GOOD PANEL FIT AND DOOR GAPS,” but it has that typical New Jersey rust streaming thing going on. This Vicky, however, is wearing an Arizona tag, so maybe what we see here is the result of an unyielding sun blast out west. Overall, the exterior is not bad, mind you, it doesn’t look like a Liberian tanker, but its overall vibe invites one to dig deeper looking for more serious rot. Included in the listing are two images of the underside, though there is nothing obvious from a structural perspective. The five-spoke alloy wheels are a nice touch, but it’s a bit like putting lipstick on a pig.
A Y-block is on duty under the hood, in this case, in the form of a 185 gross HP, 292 CI V8 engine coupled up to a Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. The mileage recording is 128K miles, and the seller states, “IT RUNS AND DRIVES WITH A NEW GAS-TANK, WHEELS AND TIRES, AND STOPS WITH POWER BRAKES.” Note the dual circuit master cylinder, a recent swap perhaps?
The red fabric and vinyl upholstery is in better shape than I would have thought. Sure, it’s worn and dull, but it is intact. I suggested earlier a concern for hidden rot, but as you can see, some of the carpet is missing, so that gives one an up close and personal view of the driver’s side foot well. Yes, it’s rusty, but I can’t tell from the image how invasive, if at all, the rust might be.
So, what’s the next stop for this old four-door hardtop? Hard to say in this case. I’d suggest that the hardtop aspect of this Galaxie may make it more desirable than a sedan, but still, there’s really nothing remarkable going on here. What’s your thought, does this Ford have two doors too many?
So Andy Griffith hot shots, what was the 1st Ford police car they used? 1960, you say? Nope, since I was too young to remember the original pilot of the series, which appeared on the Danny Thomas show, dated Feb. 15, 1960, the 1st Ford they used was a 1959. The 1960 shown here is what most remember from reruns as the first.
The ’60 Ford ( a ’64 what?) was the joke, but a 1 year wonder, and sold like hotcakes, although I’m not sure about that reference. I thought the ’57-’60 Fords were the sharpest, before settling into boxy sedans of the 60s. Funny how the mags turn the absolute mundane into a nice looking car, that the 1960 Ford already was. These are the cars people will want in the future.
First thing that comes to my mind is this car could some flat black on front/ rear quarters, a whip antenna, gold star on front doors, and to be parked on the street in front of the Mayberry courthouse.
doesn’t look like a Liberian tanker, LOL. Good write up Jim. Normally I would say two doors too many but these four door hardtops added some real style to a sedan. Same with the vestigial fins, tasteful. Unfortunately I see a lot work ahead for very little return. But if you love this model Ford it may pay off. Personally I like what came a few years later from the blue oval.
If I only had the cash to make an offer, both myself and a trusted friend would be making plans to
pick this car up in Joisey and do our best Derick Bieri impersonation and drive it back here to Florida where the resto
fun begins. The inside of the car
could use a redo and I do have concerns about finding that chrome stuff on the door cards,
but maybe they can be cleaned and recycled again. I’d also swap out the vacuum wipers (that really suck) for a more modern and safer electric setup with intermittent option to make the car safe to drive in our rain storms here. That 292 runs . great and a fun fact here: If you
Watch the old hanna Barbera cartoons as a kid growing up in the early ’60s, the engine sound effects were made by a 292 V-8
just like this one! Seems that HB
really liked the sound of this engine and used it in everything
from the Flintstones to Jonny Quest. And yeah they used the
Willys Jeep engine in some sequences too. Nice car, really want it!
Would be a nice start for a resto. I like it.
I read that 1960 full-sized Fords were the widest (80.1″) US automobiles ever produced, exceeding the 80″ limit set by the Feds (who graciously gave FoMoCo until the next model year to correct the violation). Despite the production numbers I have seen a lot more of the adjacent years than the ’60 on the road over my 7 decades, never really understood why, seemed well-styled and, well, there’s that size/value proposition. Perfect for hauling around the passel of young Boomers . . .
I PREFER FOUR DOORS!!! But I would not want this one without the original steel wheels and hubcaps — sorry. Custom wheels would be a deal-killer for me, absolutely.
Those original wheels and caps can be picked up super easy. Buy the car, replace the wheels, no sweat
Has nothing to do with this car, but my mother and I worked the same shift at the same factory while I was in college. I traditionally followed her ’60 Galaxie back home in my ’61 Galaxie. Memories!
How are 4 doors ever going to get the respect, especially when the title of your post is “Too many doors?”. You’ve preemptively took a dump on the car.
4 doors are practical, were what normal people with families drove. I have convertibles, 2 door hardtops, & wagons. When I actually need to drive a practical vehicle I choose the 4 door or wagon.
I didn’t state “Too Many Doors”, I asked the question “Too Many Doors?” and that’s for you, and other commentors to answer. Anyway, they’ll get respect if you respect them. Face it, the two-door versions are the ones with the collectability factor – look what sells at auctions. But if you favor four-doors, so be it.
JO
P.S. “Normal” people?
looks like a solid crew cab for sure. too much $ though. not a big following on these
Count me as a fan of the 4-door hardtop body style, which sadly haven’t been made for close to 50 years now, though I recall seeing a new one in a Tokyo showroom c. 1991. I assume roof crush safety standards led to this bodystyle’s extinction, a shame as cruising in one of the beasts with all the windows down is a treat. I was fortunate to have had four such 4-door hardtops. Mine were all Pontiacs: ’58 Star Chief, and Bonneville Broughams from ’64, ’70, and ’76, the final year for the GM 4-door hardtops.
I suspect the subject Galaxie has been mortally wounded by the insidious dark lord of oxidation, though one can hope the cancer is merely of the surface variety. Inspect thoroughly before parting with your money.
Memories from my childhood. Seeing these old Fords. I miss em, and if circumstances allowed I’d pick this old 60 up, fix whatevers wrong and drive it as my daily
Yes, it is a Cruise o matic. Kind of surprised, because a lot of big Fords between 1959 and 63 had the 2 speed Fordomatic if equipped with a six or the 292. That’s a plus.
Not a fan of BIG cars; but I am a big fan of four door hardtops. They look exotic, custom, and luxurious. To me, the 1960 Ford Galaxie Victoria comes in second only to the 65-67 Chevrolet Corvair 4 door hardtop. The ’60 Ford looks to be a better thought out design than the more expensive Mercuries and Lincolns for 1960, almost a prelude to the killer [suicide doors] ’61 Lincoln Continentals. Sorry, the rest of this 60-64 generation of Fords don’t look as attractive.
Asking price reduced to $7,222