There are undoubtedly Barn Finds readers out there who read my ramblings and ask themselves, “Are there any cars this guy hasn’t owned?” The easy answer to that question is that yes, there are some. However, I just did a rough tally of the cars that I have owned, along with the ones that my father has owned during my life-time up until he stopped driving nearly 10 years ago. The total is in excess of 50…and I know I’ve missed some. This 1964 Galaxie 500 can be found for sale here on eBay. Located in Ionia, Michigan and being sold with a clear title, spirited bidding has this Ford sitting at $6,500 with 3 days to go. And yes, my father has owned one of these as well.
I will concede that dad’s Galaxie was a 4 door sedan, but it will always hold a place in my heart. For a big, heavy car it handled surprisingly well (10 inch wide tires certainly helped that). At first glance this particular example appears to be quite a good car. However, there is enough work there to keep someone busy for quite a while. All the exterior trim appears to be present and in good condition. I do think that the American Racing wheels suit this car quite well. This is not this car’s original paint. It left the factory painted Phoenician Yellow, but has had a color change at some stage in its life. The seller isn’t particularly complimentary about the quality of the paint. I would be interested to know how recent the respray was. In this shot there appears to be over-spray on the exhaust tip. To me that screams recent paint, and makes me wonder why this has been done. Is it hiding something nasty? They do state that the floors and underside of the car are solid.
The interior trim is said to be original and in surprisingly good condition for its age. That carpet is what could be termed “an acquired taste”. That’s a taste that I would have no intention of acquiring. I know that it was probably installed to compliment the exterior color, but if this were mine then it would have to go. To my mind the combination of interior trim color and external paint just doesn’t work. One would need to be changed. Since the exterior will need a respray anyway, I think I know which way I’d tend to go.
Under the hood rests the 352ci V8. The seller states that this is the original engine backed by the auto box. They state that while the car starts and runs, it would be a wise idea to go through the drive-train thoroughly before attempting any long trips as the brakes require attention. It is nice to see an air con compressor under there. It doesn’t appear to be functional at present, so getting it working may or may not prove to be a big job.
This is a car that has a bit of potential there. Just how much is the million dollar question. That over-spray on the exhaust raises some questions in my mind that would need to be answered before I would be willing to slap my hard-earned cash on the table. I really have a soft spot for these due to my childhood, but you need to have your “adult head” on when looking at a car like this. Is this one that you would consider tackling?
This is nice. My Dad had the 4 door also. When I was a kid, I was fascinated by the blue inlay on the steering wheel. The tailpipes seem to be different lengths. I would clean that up and drive it the way it is.
This looks like one I am looking at.
Nice ride! Love the rims.
He dropped his price from $150,000 to $100,000 so maybe it is worth it at this point.
There are thousands owed on the plates now.
Estado De Mexico really screws you if you have the classic car plates on the yearly fee. They will get you one way or the other financially.
A regular car pays like $500.00 a year for a regular old car but it is like $3000.00 for the same car with classic car plates per year.
I hear in Jalisco it costs the same to have classic car plates or regular plates.
I guess I am going to find out soon.
This one does have the buckets and floor shift though. It is also about the same price.
At least they are not asking 79 large for it…looks like a good, solid project for someone….
These were nice big heavy cars for the day. No doubt you needed a 352 or a 390 to move it around.
Some came with the 289. I have never driven one, but I doubt it would move it very well.
My friend had a ’63 convertible with the 260/auto in 1968. It was a beautiful car, but slow.
I never owned a 64 but Mom and Dad did, Mom drove a 4 door, aka soccer Mom, Dad owned a 2 door, aka Cool Dad. I have thought about getting a 64, but I have a 65 right now, and the Wife says I need to sell something before I buy another Project/car/truck/tractor. But I don’t want to sell anything, what a pickle I am in.
The writer stated how many cars he had owned over the years, I am 55, and have owned well over 75, currently have 17 cars, and 6 Trucks, running, that does not include current projects which is 4 in various stages. I also collect Farm All Tractors (10 all total) which all run, and my oldest Grandson loves to get one of them out behind the barn in the fields and play on them.
This is a 2 door post car .. It is very low production with only 13041 produced. I would love to see a Marti report on this one.
I think the Marti reports start at 1967.
Those buckets and shifter are particular to the XL, and look great, as I own a ’64 500XL. We are in the process of converting it to a 4spd toploader…
I’ve owned a lot of 63,64,&65 Fords. From 4 door customs with 289 to Galaxie XL 352 to a pickup 352. Some were stick shifts, some were automatic, some had A/C most didn’t. But I loved those cars and bought everyone I could get. One problem; rear axel bearings. If they get worn they can separate from the axel allowing the wheel and axel to slide out, at that point you have no brakes. Had it happen going uphill, car rolled down the hill out of control until I came to an empty parking lot I turned into and rolled to a stop. Had wife and three kids in the car. That was scary.
My first two cars were ’64’s, a custom and a galaxie. Then a ’63 Fairlane Sport Coupe.
Fun times and a lot of wrenching.
Love 64 wagons the best…wish Ford would have made a 2DR wagon.This one looks like a good project.
It would turn into a hot rod Ford if I owned it, absolutely no doubt. That look is so right, arguably the best looking Galaxies came in the early sixties.
The 352 is adequate for some folks, but I’d have to have more, this car deserves some real FE power!
I see good potential with this car! Some things need to be addressed, but it would be a very nice car when done!
A Michigan car with a rushed paint job, in this price range; you donn’t buy that online.
My aunt had a ’64 Galaxie 500 XL 4 door hardtop in the late sixties to early seventies,maroon with white bucket seat interior and the 390 automatic in it, I still remember the time Dad borrowed it when our pickup was out of service and he would complain that it would “pass everything but a gas station”.
I love this car! It may not be perfect but that can be fun tinkering with little things. My mom had a 4 door one in 1967. I was 6 and it was 3 Lol. I can’t tell you what engine it had but mom wasn’t afraid to put her foot in it at times and boy would it move! Black exterior with a red interior. I personally don’t blame them for the color change. Phoenician Yellow never was a favorite of mine. When I was 16 I had a 10 year old Mustang that color. Nice car but I found that shade of yellow boring then and I’m almost 58 and it still bores me. More power to those of you that like it. I was born in December of 1960. That’s why the years versus age may sound confusing.
My folks had the Galaxie 500 convertible, Turqoise with a white soft top, a 289 with auto on the column, could seat 5 or 6 kids across the back seat for snowball or ice cream runs