Praise For 4 Doors! 1962 Ford Galaxie 500
OK, it’s not equipped with a 406 CI V8 engine, no four-speed manual transmission here, forget about 500XL trim, heck this 1962 Galaxie 500 isn’t even a two-door hardtop or convertible. Nope, it’s a traditional four-door sedan, the body style and trim level that saw 174K units assembled – Ford’s number one trim level/body style for ’62. This beauty calls Fort Lauderdale, Florida home and it’s available, here on craigslist for $18,500.
The days of an automobile model being offered in both two and four-door body styles are mostly gone (though Dodge’s 2025 Charger will restart the practice). While the twos are the more popular from a collectibility perspective, it’s the fours that sold in greater numbers, I imagine, due to functionality. It may be hard to wrap one’s head around the concept of a four-door body style with performance or sporting intentions but consider the recently discontinued Dodge Charger and many models of both Mercedes-Benz and BMW that have been anything but shrinking violets. Back in the ’80s, Nissan’s Maxima wore a “4DSC” sticker on the driver’s side rear door window which translated into “four-door sports car”.
While not specifically stated, this Galaxie 500 appears to be powered by a 220-gross HP 352 CI V8 engine and it’s hardly going to be a strip burner though I imagine it moves out smartly. The seller adds, “Full tune-up runs and drives like a dream. Feels like it’s floating on air“. An automatic transmission handles all things gear-related but what’s not said is whether it’s a Ford-O-Matic or a Crusie-O-Matic, both were available. The mileage listing is 75K miles, not a lot for a car like this, but that reading is not authenticated. There is, however, some nice documentation included.
“This beautiful garage kept classic is in immaculate condition and is in showroom quality” opines the seller and it does look sharp. I’ll state right from the start that I’m not a fan of fender skirts, particularly chrome-plated ones, but it is a matter of preference (and they’re removable). The Rangoon Red finish is spectacular, no word if it’s original but regardless, no complaints. The same goes for the chrome and stainless steel bits – this Ford has been carefully stored and gently used over the years. As body styles go, this Galaxie 500 wears its four doors well.
More goodness is found inside with an environment that is resplendent in its two-tone red and white vinyl upholstery. This is another facet of this car that is hard to believe is 62 years young. All of it, the dash, headliner, door panels, and carpet are just so right. Long legged? shouldn’t be a problem, front or back in this four-door sedan. Oh yeah, the dog’s not included.
The price for this Ford may be a bit enthusiastic but this is a real time capsule. My thought is that the extra doors may hold it back a bit, but the reality is, many won’t remember a time when cars came with two or four points of entry and exit so I doubt this Galaxie 500 will have a problem finding a new home, wouldn’t you agree?
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Comments
Good job Jim. No, it’s not any of those things you have listed which classic car enthusiasts find preferable. That said, this is a very sharp car. The red and white, both outside and in, are particularly attractive. I too would ditch the fender skirts. Overall, a very nice car.
Beautiful, worth the ask.
Nice, very nice in and out.
The contrast of white and red is gorgeous – just lose those fender skirts that distract from the clean lines.
Some brake upgrades would be wise and money well spent.
I think this one is winner.
Oh c’mon guys, skirts were the “thing” in the 50s and early 60s, to each his own I guess. It’s a 352, anything bigger, it would have engine badging on the front fenders saying otherwise. Beautiful car, 4 doors and all
you could also get them with a 292 i believe
Yes, this was the last year of the 292 in full size Fords. They did continue using it in trucks through 1964.
My first car had the 292. Good motor.
While they may have sold a bunch, and most likely the car your friends parents had, cars we threw up in, but very few red cars. Too many “where’s the fire, Chief?” jokes. However, I say leave the skirts, as no fire chief car I’ve ever seen had skirts, or shiny ones for that matter. I think this was called the “Town Sedan” and J.D.Power lists the original base price of $2776 new. Options sent it well over $3500. This car looks pretty basic, gee-gaws added later. Things were good in America, income had “jumped” to almost $6grand/year, so a new car was clearly within reach for a 2 income family, and this was the car they chose.
I don’t know what’s right today, money wise, I mean, it sure is the best you’ll find, appeals to a wide group, and like it or not, it will take 5 figures to have it. It’s still got 1962 engineering, “mash the brakes” brakes, and what looks like “armstrong” steering and if that’s worth 5 figures, well, I suppose time will tell, huh? Got to admit, Ford had some great cars then.
“Cars we threw up in.” Oh Gawd I laughed at that.
What a beautiful ’62 Ford, for someone besides me to drop the cash on. I still won’t pay for more doors.
I don’t quite get that logic unless one only wants 2-door anything. If your modern daily driver has 4 doors, what’s the difference?
I dunno. 2 doors are better looking?
Was the 406 a special factory order engine? I haven’t seen it listed in ’62 Ford sales procures. All the other engines are listed, including the 401 hp 390.
I believe the 406 came later in the model year
You are correct! The original ’62 full-size Ford brochure, dated Sep. ’61, makes no reference to the 406 CI engine but the revised version, Mar. ’62, lists it as available in four (385 HP) and six-barrel (405 HP) carburetor form.
JO
Terry, Ford introduced the 406 Tri-power in the spring of `62. It was mean ass an answer to Chevy’s 409, and was Ford’s holdover until the 427 came out a year later in `63. I doubt FoMoCo ever dropped a 406 in a sedan, as it’s 3-2bbl. carbs meant it was for racing. A better choice overall IMHO would be the 390 V8.
Nice looking car. My friend’s father had one in chestnut metallic paint. I believe that 62 was the last year for the 292 in a Ford car. Although you could still get a Yblock through 64 in a Ford truck. While it’s true that the ‘2 doors too many’ thought is prevalent here in the U.S., in Europe that stigma does not seem to apply when it comes to 50s-60s-70s American cars. Best wishes to new owner. Be careful, be safe.
I have always liked four-doors, moreso now that I am approaching 78 years young. My current “old car” is a 1966 Plymouth Fury 1 (bottom line) which, for some reason, came from the factory with fender skirts. I like the way they carry the side creases and curves of the car across the wheel opening (aftermarket skirts would not do that). My car also happens to be what Plymouth called “Bright Red”, but with a matching red interior. Long live the four-doors!
I have been a faithful GM guy all my life.
Having said that, I love this car!
I also like the 4 doors. Any car with a back seat is so much more convenient to get in and out of.
I don’t mind the 2 doors on my C5 Corvette! LOL
I had some driving experience in a 62 galaxie xl 390 4 barrel automatic, would run 120 if kept it floored for a mile handled ok for a big boat had really nice interior for the time. The red was a beautiful shade but you had to keep it waxed or it would clalk up and fade, these were good cars for the money back then and quite reliable.
Beautiful car! Lovely colour-combination — though I probably would jettison those chrome fender-skirts. I would clean them to virtually “never used” condition, wrap and pack them lovingly, and place them carefully into the trunk, as a possible “option” for some future owner. I happen to LOVE 4-door sedans — especially as nice as this one is! I will take a four-door ahead of a two-door, every time — and a two-door WAY ahead of a coupe! Though the 2-door hardtop ’53 Mercury is nicer-looking than that year’s 4-door. Anyway, I once briefly owned and drove a 1962 Ford Galaxie four-door sedan. Great car! The dashboard was the same as the 1960 Edsel, the 1960-1962 Mercury, and the 1960-1962 Ford. My 1962 Galaxie was the very base model (had it been a 1952, it eould have been a Mainline), with far less trim than this one, and one-tone faded blue paint. It had no clock and a metal plate where a radio would have been, and no air-conditioning. Under the hood was a six-cylinder engine (225?), and driven to the rear wheels by a three-on-the-tree standard transmission. Word came to me that it was about to meet the crusher, and I took pity on it. It had sat out in a back yard for untold years, ever since its owner had died. The paint was faded and dull; it had grass growing up underneath it. All four tyres were flat. I was told, if I could start it, I could have it; otherwise,
it was going to the junk yard for $50.00. It had been a retired school-teacher’s daily driver since new, until she died, and it had been running, then. It had 138,000 miles (showing 38,000 and “change”). I got a tow-truck out there, and the tyres held air (though they were badly rotted). ONE JUMP-START, and it turned-over and started right-up! I knew I had to “rescue” it, though I didn’t need it — my ’46 V-8 was doing just fine. There were old nests of mice under the hood, and mice had chewed away at the front seat. Up on a lift, parts of the frame were like Swiss cheese from the grass growing underneath the car — likewise, the floor, the bottom of the trunk, and the rockers, and the brake-lines. But new brake-lines, oil-change, new tyres, and a new battery, did wonders, and the car ran fine-as-wine and drove well, despite years of neglect. Clutch was fine. The paint polished only somewhat — too dull to take a real “shine”. Lots of Clorox required to get rid of the smell of mice inside. Stuffed the springs in the front seat full of lots of cotton — put thick cotton batting on top, then a heavy blanket on top of that. A shrinking and yellowed dealer seat-cover had preserved the rear seat, and I left it in place, after pulling the seat out, cleaning it, and getting rid of all the mice-nests underneath it. My son needed a car, so I gave it to him, after I had enjoyed driving it for awhile. Nice driver! He had it for nine years — until he hit a pothole and the frame broke where it was most severely compromised by rust. If I had the money, I’d happily own and drive your featured car, here!
I have to question the interior. I believe the seats were cloth to begin with. if one looks closely at the door insert, it appears to be cloth. Looking at other 1962 Ford Galaxie 500″s, with vinyl seats their insert was also vinyl. Also, the red seems to be too bright.
Sharp observations, Michael McEver! The red on the inside door-panel is more subdued and more typicaI for an immaculately-preserved 1962. The white also is less bright, there. Question: why did someone re-do the seats? and, why so garrish? The side-seams on the original seats had a bad habit of splitting apart with surface-shrinkage and age. I’m sure that someone redid these seats, and did not exactly copy the origibals.
originals
There are companies that make replacement seat cover kits that mimic the look of many different eras. They may not be exact copies of the original patterns, but look era-correct at a substantial price reduction.
For example: https://www.automotiveinteriors.com.
These seats look like those style of covers.
I’ve used kits from a couple of companies in the past and they are always a great deal compared to a complete/original re-do, and you can usually install them yourself with minimum tools.
I had a 62 Mercury Monterey 4door in the 80s. It had the 352 2barrel power steering and brakes. Drove like a dream. It’d only top out at about 95 but it could do 45 mph corners at that speed and not slip a bit. It road like butter and because the trunk stuck out so far, would get around great in the snow. That is until it would high centered. Lol I loved that car.
Maybe if the skirt were red ti match they’d look better. Gorgeous car!!
I had a 64 F 100, back in the 80s with a 352 in it, ran nice and sounded great with dual exhaust and thrushes.
Don’t say that 64 F100 with a 352 was original lol
Jason, I agree with you about the sheer TRACTION on these cars. My 1988 Grand Marquis, by contrast, is long in the nose and short in the rear — an ugly trend begun by the success of the Mustang’s stubby-rear look — and my Mercury’s traction is frankly poor for a full-size American car. Too bad that 1962 Americsn cars were so frightfully rust-prone! But their proportions were both practical in roadworthiness and beautiful to look at. And the lowered bodies with high roofs made for great visibility, ridding us of the 1950s hood-too-high-for-a-short-person-to-see-over difficulty. It’s not fun to drive a long trip sitting on a Manhattan telephone-book, simply because your seat is loo low to see over the dashboard!
Closer examination of an interior photo appears to reveal the shift indicators of a Cruise-O-Matic, definitely preferred since by ’62 the Ford-O-Matic was a true 2-speed.
My dad had one like this except it was black and had the T-bird 390. I had it up to 120mph. Scary! Looked just like this one
Araknid78: I like your Dad’s example even better!!!
I agree. it looks better in black
Great comments I too have a 62 galaxie 500 XL convertible all original except for the paint had it repainted in 77 I’ve had the car 52 years still runs great looks great I love the comments on the 62 I think it was one of the Ford’s prettiest ever built
The black is more dignified and less garnish, in my view. So… maybe I should look for a BLACK one!
I love the skirts on these old classics back in the day. To me they gave the car more class and style, especially if they had the dual Exhaust pipes coming at the back. Other than that it was just Another four Door family car.
Hello, Bob! You’ve hit in just what I like — a regular 4-door family car! I don’t like coupes, sports cars, muscle cars, most of the models collectors run after. What I like, is a four-door sedan with classic looks, pleasant comfort, easy to drive, an d some level of suburban American luxury — oh, yes… and reliable and not money-pits on repairs. But you couldn’t GIVE me a vintage Mustang, G.T.O., Olds 442, coupe of any sort, or hot-rod. But an old deluxe family sedan or station wagon is what I like.