Ran When Parked: 1968 Ford Galaxie 500
As NASCAR’s aero battle heated up for model year 1968, Ford yoked the full-sized Galaxie off the track in favor of a new fastback mid-sized called Torino. Aerodynamics influenced the overhauled Galaxie too, and the front of this 1968 Ford Galaxie 500 fastback in Warminster, Pennsylvania marks a radical departure from previous generation’s stacked headlights. Note the nicely integrated side marker lights, newly mandated for 1968, a classy alternative to other car’s low-budget rectangles. The door tag indicates this car’s changed paint and interior colors and its engine, so let’s take a closer look.
Missing carpet on this 20-year storage find shows the original Brittany Blue paint as indicated on the door tag. The car came with a blue interior as well, so someone expended great effort changing this ride. The air conditioning compressor and other parts come with the sale despite not being installed. Power front disc brakes should help slow this full-frame Ford down with no wandering.
Unlike the bow, the ’68 Galaxie stern honors the outgoing ’67 styling, and this shot shows the fastback glass, slightly recessed below the sloping rear pillars.
The original two-barrel F-code 302 (5.0L) V8 vanished at some point in favor of this claimed 390 cid (6.4L) V8. Those look like 351W valve covers on a wider FE, but I’ll stop typing my foot into my mouth and let our Ford experts decipher this in the comments below. The Holley four-barrel and ignition updates from the ’80s or ’90s suggest more power than the original mill. Functional air conditioning likely demands more engineering than bolting on loose parts.
The hidden headlights bring a classy look on this Galaxie, after appearing a year earlier on the Thunderbird. Pennsylvania wouldn’t be my first choice when hunting for project cars, but Galaxie fans may perk up for nostalgic reasons. Three bidders here on eBay have the market value on this Galaxie 500 approaching $2000 with two days left. Two decades in storage didn’t do this color-changed, motor-swapped Ford any favors, but it might give up its parts or claw its way back to the roadways as a safe-to-drive beater. On the opposite end of the spectrum, could you picture this low entry-point Galaxie coming back as a corner-carving Pro-Tour ride like this hot ’64 Galaxie? What’s the most interesting future you can imagine for this mixed-bag Ford?
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Comments
This was the era where Ford put clean, attractive car designs on their cars. If this guy doesn’t have too much rust it certainly will be a fun car to put on the road again. Nothing like good looks and lots of power.
Unless this is an XL in disguise, I believe the hidden headlamps were added when all the other modifications were made. Galaxie 500s had exposed lamps. The conversion was thorough, however, since the trim between the taillights was swapped to match the grille.
I’ll say it 1st. Check the frame. A Pa. car with rusty floors, checking the frame on these is a must. ’65 to ’68 Fords and Mercs were notorious for frame rot. I had a ’67 Merc. 2dr. with a solid body. floors, good paint and a rotten frame, same with the ’67 Merc. 4dr my brother got from my parents. Back in the 90’s I went to look at a ’67 Ford with only 30,000 on the clock. When I asked the guy “how is the frame” he said the car didn’t have a spot of rust on it. A look underneath reveled about a foot of it completely gone on each side. He was a dealer that had bought it auction, and never checked it close. They can be fixed but that is costly if you’re not a welder. Looking back I wished I could have put some money into my ’67 Merc. It had a sweet running 390 and was sharp looking car, but at the end of the day it was just a $150.00 beater and not worth it at the time.
XL! XL grille, XL tailamps, XL trim under the deck lid. All could be swapped I spose. Also has the premium interior that came with the XL and LTD. Looks like an F.E. engine to me. Fifth letter of v.i.n. Y is 390 2 bbl. S =390 4 bbl. and Q is 428 equipped.
The VIN decodes as a Galaxie 500 fastback, not an XL.
I had one of these. 390 2-bbl. Great cruiser
We had a blue 68 Galaxie 500 (Harbor Blue I believe) that was was my mother’s daily driver for like 4 years. Nothing special, 302 with PS, AM radio, and a black bench seat. These aren’t a “radical” design, but they sure are a fastback. Maybe Ford’s experience with the Mustang convinced them to add one to every product line (and beyond, look at the 1st gen Maverick).
Yes, it’s an FE engine. Probably a 390
as the owner states. Those are aftermarket valve covers which change the appearance slightly.
Looks like an FE to me. Look at the driver’s side intake manifold / cylinder head junction. You can see that intake form a portion of the valley side of the head under the valve cover. Sure sign of an FE. But which one?
Just came back from our local cruise in. There was a guy there with a beautiful ’68 XL. And now I see this “hybrid” 500/XL. He did the same 302 to 390 swap. A rare and desirable Ford.