While most performance enthusiasts will instantly recognize the 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 equipped with the legendary R-Code 427, it’s lesser (and lighter) cousin, the 300, has tended to fall through the cracks a bit. Ford built these cars in extremely low numbers, and they rarely come onto the market today. That is what makes this 1963 model a treat. It is located in Maryville, Tennessee, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. This car is a case where rarity does equate to cost because while the bidding has reached $61,600, the reserve hasn’t been met. The owner has also set a BIN of $99,995. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this fantastic muscle car for us.
The Ford 300 only existed for a single model year. It emerged in 1963, and the 1964 model year saw it replaced with the Custom series. With a mere 26,010 examples of the 2-door sedan built, they were already a rare car if considered as a percentage of new car sales in 1963. This one is an extremely tidy example that wears Rangoon Red paint. The owner admits that the car has received a repaint but that it remains in its original shade. It’s hard to find much to fault with its presentation. The paint shines beautifully, while the panels are laser straight. There are no significant flaws or dings visible, while the chrome and glass look flawless. In keeping with its “bare-bones” approach, the Ford rolls on a set of 15″ steel wheels fitted with their original dog-dish hubcaps.
When you look inside this Ford, it’s easy to see why they were a vehicle favored by law enforcement officials and taxi fleet operators. Buyers got vinyl on the seats, hard-wearing vinyl mats on the floors, and an equipment list that contained virtually nothing. This one comes without a heater or a radiator. However, the interior does present nicely. The vinyl on the seats looks good, with no apparent wear or issues. The mats look spotless, as do the headliner and dash. There is no visible wear on the wheel, and that may be a result of the claimed low mileage for this classic. The owner states that the odometer shows a mere 1,084 miles, and he believes this reading to be genuine. That figure might sound incredible, but as you will see, the original owner ordered this Ford to go very fast in short bursts.
This is the point in the story where we find what makes this Ford so desirable. Potential buyers could order their new 300 with a 289ci V8, and the result was a pretty spritely car. Those buyers in the know could take performance to another world altogether. If they ticked the right boxes, the engine bay of their new toy could house the incredible R-Code 427 V8. This fire-breathing monster pumped out an astonishing 425hp, and with the 300 being a light car, the performance was mind-blowing. This car features that engine backed by a 4-speed manual transmission and a 4.11 rear end. Pinning down accurate performance figures for this model is quite tricky because there isn’t much contemporary documentation. However, we can use the R-Code Galaxie as a benchmark in this case. The Galaxie could demolish the ¼ mile in 14.3 seconds, and that’s an impressive figure. The 300 is a significantly lighter car, tipping the scales at 3,743lbs versus the Galaxie’s 4,001lbs. With less weight to shift, you would have to believe that the 300 would blitz the Galaxie’s ¼-mile ET. Confirming production totals for the R-Code 300 is not easy, with various sources quoting numbers between 47 and 50 cars. This car has been listed on the Galaxie 427 Register and is 1-of-3 known to still exist today. It seems that the 300 was ordered by an Ohio Ford dealer and was used for drag racing in 1963 and 1964. It was then sold on their used car lot, with the buyer being another racer. It continued its racing life for a short period under the new owner, but the trail appears to go a bit cold from there. The owner doesn’t indicate whether the Ford is numbers-matching, but he does say that everything is correct for this car. He also doesn’t indicate how well the vehicle runs or drives, but the news should be positive if appearances count for anything.
The Galaxie R-Code is a car of legendary status, and when you look at the performance that it offered, it is easy to see why this is the case. The 300 took all of the horsepower potential on offer in the Galaxie and then shoe-horned it into a lighter package. Thanks to the limited production numbers, finding one on the market today can be pretty difficult. When they do appear, they generally start at around the $75,000 mark for a nice example. From there, values can easily push into six-figure territory for a pristine, numbers-matching car. The owner doesn’t expressly state that this is a numbers-matching car, but the BIN price would suggest that it is. If you are a performance Ford enthusiast, this auction might be worth monitoring. I’ll be interested to see if it reaches its reserve or whether someone decides to hit the BIN button because they badly need to park this one in their garage.
“This one comes without a heater or a radiator”
Perhaps that explains the mileage?
I think he meant no heater core… No fan / no heater core…
If you look at the pictures on Ebay you can clearly see that it has a radiator.
I’m thinking he meant radio
Unless it was an air-cooled prototype.
How much of a radiator do you need to travel 1/4 mile? Top Fuel cars of this era had a small water tank.
This car needs to be decked out in fire chief gear. Guaranteed that the chief would get there first!
That makes sense. Sometimes I have to translate Adam’s ‘down under English’ but even that didn’t make sense in this case!
I had a ’63 Ford 300 in the late 70s. It had the 223 cu. inch six. It was a military car originally, so it had a very low geared rear-end. At 55 mph that engine was racing. But it had great get up and go.
Quarter mile times varied on who was driving, if it was tuned, stock tires or slicks, top end was incredible on these. Never seen one of these taxi cab specials with the competion 427 engine, at least factory, wont sound like a taxi when running/idling thats for sure. Another nice old speedy Ford.
Oh my…love her
That dealer has some nice models
I like all the pictures of the undercarriage really shows how clean the cars.
The Biscayne of Ford. Never saw one and what a cool car. Why no martial report? Way to much if not a numbers matching car.
Marti Report.
Way too much.
No Marti reports on pre-‘67 Fords. No martial reports either 😀
Stupid spell check is way out of wack on this computer . Funny martial report
It is a radio delete. If you look close at the engine bay you see the top radiator hose just beyondthe radiator filler tank and look next to the fuel pump you see the lower hose going to the radiator
While “radio delete” really sounds cool, a radio was an option in the 60s, so there was no “delete”.
This is a beautifully restored example of a rare ’63 Ford. We should all appreciate and respect it for what it is, a moment in history that shall never be repeated.
Great opinion on your part Larry. Not everyone feels the same. But no Fords ever in my driveway.
@Keith
I’m no Ford man either. But I still appreciate this car and many others for what they are.
Ford didn’t stamp vin numbers until 1969. So build date on the motor should be up to 90 days prior to build date of the car. Love them Big Fords!
I thought federal law made them stamp the VIN on the block starting in 68.
I think the federal law of vin stamping every part of each car was in the 1971 model year. Not 1968 or 69. Ford might have started early.
No heater- radio delete, ment it was ordered too race…
@Joe H.
Exactly right! And that’s why they ordered the 300. It was the lightest full-size Ford available in ’63.
I would’ve enjoyed this find better, with one of their models, in every shot.
Need a shot off the data plate. Note the description “painted in factory option rangoon red” looks good but for this cash it need to be verified as an original rangoon red car. Cool car!
What a cool car!!! It is a rare gem!! I just feel there’s to many people with that new disease call BJS!! Barrett Jackson Syndrome!!!
Purchased used 1963 300 in 1966. Black with white top tan interior.
390 emblems on the fenders but a Ford mechanic advised the engine was really a 406 with single four barrel. Ford heavy automatic transmission. High speed rear so not much on drag but would bury the speedometer. Tough and a lot of fun to drive.
Removed some parts, pieces from a wrecked 63 & 1/2 XL 427 4 speed with engine and trans already sold.
@CycloneJeff: Ford did stamp VIN numbers on 427s and High Performance 289s. My son has an original 1964 K Code Fairlane. I own an original 1965 Fairlane K Code. Our Fairlanes have our car’s VIN stamped on the right front corner of the block just above the pan rail.
I know the location of one of these cars in south Georgia. I am not sure if the authenticity has been proven, but everything is correct on the car. Same color as this one.
The freshman Biology teacher at my high school had this model in white with a beige vinyl interior. His was the 410 HP, single 4-barrel, 4 speed, cause he said the 425 HP model was too difficult to keep tuned. He used it as his daily driver. One of the reasons I signed up for his class.
Never will this car bring 100k on eBay. Needs the big BJ auction for that kind of number.Really surprised it got as high as it did but now it is out for the world to see.
What a cool car! It’s not $225,000
Lol. Its only worth what ever someone will give for it. Don’t think it’s over priced for a unrestored car with those mils on it.
What a fine.
What a cool car! It’s not $225,000
Lol. Its only worth what ever someone will give for it. Don’t think it’s over priced for a unrestored car with those mils on it.
What a fine.
Hey i own a 63-1/2 galaxie..r code 427..origional car..need a bit of work but what a runner..love her to death..purchased five years ago..spent all my money on her..great car..