Rolling Droptop Project: 1963 Ford Galaxie 500
Both Chevy and Ford largely carried over their 1962 full-size cars into 1963, but both received styling updates of which (IMO) Ford’s execution may have been a bit more attractive. But that didn’t help Ford in the sales arena as Chevy outsold Ford in the big car field by a margin of more than 2 to 1. If you wanted a big Ford convertible in ’63, you only had one choice: the Galaxie 500 Sunliner, like the seller’s car. This one had a 390 cubic inch V8 and a 4-speed manual transmission at some point, but both have flown the coop. Located in a driveway in Tucson, Arizona, this rolling project is available here on craigslist for $4,100. Once again, Gunter Kramer comes through in the tips department!
Ford matched Chevrolet model-for-model in the full-size arena: Ford 300, Galaxie, Galaxie 500, and Galaxie 500/XL vs. Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala, and Impala SS. While Ford produced 790,000 big cars in 1963 (a respectable figure), that was no match for Chevy’s 1.7 million. But Ford did have something Chevrolet wouldn’t get until 1964, a mid-size car wearing Fairlane badging. Perhaps the Fairlane siphoned off some Galaxie sales are they looked like smaller versions of the same car.
We suspect this Galaxie 500 was once a pretty hot droptop. The front fender insignia says that a 390 V8 once lived under its hood and the seller says it had a 4-speed. The hole in the floorboard/console suggests that was the case although I suppose the 390 could have been paired with a 3-speed (really? Nah!). This is one of nearly 30,000 Sunliner convertibles that Ford built that year (the Sunliner name adorned Ford droptops since the 1950s).
Perhaps this Ford is a project that the seller isn’t prepared to undertake. The rear quarter panels appear to be eaten away, at least on one side. And the interior looks to need an extreme makeover. We’re told the convertible top moves freely up and down, but surely the canvas will need replacing. And you’ll have to source another engine and transmission, which we’re guessing were removed to put into another project that required less work. This would be a great car once restored, but its rebirth will not come about cheaply.
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Comments
if it came with a 3 speed it would have been 3 on the tree looks like came with 4 speed
The postmaster in the small town I grew up in bought a new Champaign colored Galaxie 500 Convertible powered by a 390 with an automatic. He took me for a ride in it one day. First time I ever rode at over 100 mph. I was 9 years old at the time. No seatbelts, bias ply tires, drum brakes. Those were the days
yes they where I had a 335 HP 390 4 speed in a new 1968 Torino gt fast back loved that car married bought first house kids traded it for a new maverick a few years later
Never forget the day my dad brought home a brand new one like this, except an automatic, I was 6 years old, great car, great memories. That 2-1 production differential is a bit off. Too bad this one got neglected to this point, gonna be quite a project
This brings back memories
When I was in middle school one on my brother’s high school buddies had a red 63 convertible bucket seat 4 speed by he had dropped a 427 in it chrome reverse baby moons and low in the back he had those flame throwers on the exhaust sadly he was drafted in 68 and did not come back not sure what happened to the 63 rag top
At least the interior looks nice.
Nice write Sad car almost beyond salvage at this point
This brings back memories
IMO, the 64, 66, and 67 full size fords were the best looking ford’s of that decade, and in that order.
If I had a 60s 390 laying around my place and also a 5 speed transmission, I’d be tempted. Better to find one thats in better shape or at least driver condition. Hard to beat a 63 Galaxie with a big block and a manual trans. Sad this one got this bad.
I’ve seen worse brought back from the dead. 60’s Fords all suffered from rust problems, the rear quarters were usually the first to go. Convertibles sitting with leaky or no tops usually lose the floors to the tin worms, depending on how long this one has been in dry AZ it might have been saved from that fate, a good inspection would surely be in order. One of my Uncles had a 63 two door hardtop, red with red interior, 390 3 speed, I loved that car. I wasn’t old enough to drive when he sold it to his brother, who in turn sold it to his brother in law, after that I lost count of it. I would have loved to have gotten it, it would still be here with my other toys if I had.