Three-Speed Project: 1965 Ford Galaxie 500
There’s no doubt about it, I like old American full-size cars. Even when they were common-place, I enjoyed their presence. Particularly, models from the early-’60s into the early ’70s caught my fancy and they didn’t have to be Pontiac 2+2s, or Impala SS’s, or Plymouth Sport Furys, or Ford XL’s; more generic versions were good too. But as is always the case, you don’t know what you have until it’s gone and domestic “E” segment cars (full-size) are almost now, non-existent. That being the case, let’s check out a full-size Ford from their big redesign year of 1965. This Ford Galaxie 500 is located in Maysville, Kentucky and is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $12,250. There is a make an offer option too. Thanks to Larry D for this tip!
Styling changes abounded at Ford, GM, and Chrysler in 1965. The “full-size” Plymouths and Dodges actually returned to full size while both Ford and Chevrolet went with clean and fleeting designs that projected airiness and speed. These new looks were the way forward for the ’60s. Ford also introduced its upscale Galaxie 500 “LTD” while Chevrolet did essentially the same thing with their mid-year Caprice addition. Still, the standard Galaxie 500 was Ford’s bread and butter full-size model, and 157K two-door hardtops, such as our subject car, rolled off of Ford’s various assembly lines.
The seller tells us that this Galaxie is an original, he has owned it for two years and mostly uses it for weekend drives. It’s uncertain if he’s still motivating around with a sizable amount of the front-end removed. At least the lights are still in place though a significant amount of other stuff isn’t, having been reduced to a pile-o-parts. The body is pretty straight but there is some rust visible, both surface and a bit worse. With a project like this, you always wonder if all of the necessary parts are included and whether or not they are serviceable.
The interior is a mixed bag, the rear seat, as is usually the case, looks fine. Upfront, the door cards have been tossed off and the dash pad has problems but the front seat’s upholstery shows well. The carpet’s scary looking, it’s faded to a dirty brown – it’s a minor matter but will need attention at some point. The headliner actually shows pretty well, there is some obvious staining present but it’s not gravity-bound and the panel seams still look tight. It’s hard to get a good look at the instrument panel but what can be seen looks OK.
The powertrain in this Galaxie is a bit unusual in that it is a 250 HP, 352 CI V8, referred to as a “Thunderbird V8” in Ford’s promotional material, but it’s connected to a three-speed manual (three-on-the-tree) transmission. The 352 engine is not at all unusual, but the manual gearbox is. The seller claims that this Ford “runs great“. Other than the open-element air cleaner, the engine appears to be stock though the gold-painted valve covers on top of an otherwise black painted block and heads seem non-standard – a potential rebuild perhaps? This Galaxie’s mileage is reported as being 87K miles but there is no claim beyond what’s recorded.
While this Galaxie is a driver, it’s a project too as it’s going to require some reassembly and finishing. It seems perplexing that so much of the trim and other parts have been removed, and now it’s time to sell. I’m always reluctant with the thought of stepping into someone else’s project though this Galaxie’s current state is a lot less complicated than some other projects that have turned up here on Barn Finds. So, what do you think, at this price point, is this a project worth pursuing?
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Comments
This is a common sight in Mexico. Most of the full sized Fords and even the Chevys had the three on the tree.
Of course the Chrysler products as well, such as my 1963 Plymouth Savoy.
Here’s a similar ’65 Galaxie 2 dr ht with 390 & 3 speed + overdrive -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygMzkegk5Fo
My father bought a 64 Country Squire, used, that had ” 3 on the tree ” but also had a factory option of overdrive. A somewhat unusual car, it was white with a red interior, had the seat in ” the way back “, power steering but no other power accessories, and rolled on body-colored wheels with small hubcaps. It even had blackwall tires the whole time he owned it.
However, unlike this car, it just had a 289 with a 2 barrel.
As far as this car goes, I think that I would be A LOT more comfortable spending $12,000 for it if it was put together. Admittedly, in this condition you can get a (slightly) better idea of any potential rust than you would otherwise. And parts for a car like this are reasonably easy to find. But you have to wonder who pulls a car apart like this…then continues to drive it unless there is accident damage or hopeless mechanical/electrical damage.
Nice Ford.
Base line full size coupe with a big block 352 v-8 and 3 on the tree in place. My kind of car. Simple. And with a clutch. I’m ready.
First car I remember from when I was a kid was our green 65 Country Squire. We fit 13 people in that car where ever we went. 2 parents and 11 brothers and sisters. Not many doing that anymore!
Will always love a clean 65 Ford.
Now let me see what kind of offer I can make.
Robt go for it and good luck. Check the frame real good, they rusted out fast here in the rust belt. One wonders why the grille etc was removed, did this take a shot in the nose?? I also think the price is a little much, but Like you say, make an offer. Its just a stones throw away from a 4 speed. Dont underestimate the 352, its a great Mill. Stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
In 1967 a few months after my return home from my army days my dad bought me a 65 Ford Custom 500 4 door sedan with 289 three speed manual with overdrive and air conditioning. What a great car that was. I was recently married with a child on the way. We drove that car to Lake Tahoe for our honeymoon. What great memories. The marriage only lasted 6 years, but the memories live on in my disturbed mind.
Johnmloghry
God bless America
Miserable driving, those 3-onda-trees. Kill me now.
3 speeds were fine in applications like this. The front seat could be used fir the third person, the initial cost was less, and there were virtually no problems with these 3 speed transmissions for the life of the car (including the clutch if you were careful.) These were the recently introduced fully synchronized 3 speeds used in both Ford cars and light trucks. They were a good enough gearbox that GM bought them from Ford for their own 3 speed manual vehicles, if I recall. They weren’t the abomination that people recall them as being. I think worn-out linkage caused many column shift vehicles to be falsely maligned. I drove many three on the tree vehicles throughout those years and never found it a burden.
Rowing a floor shifter is a joy. Almost all my cars are manuals. But a 3-onda-tree ? Not a chance, That area of arm extension might be OK for occasional movement. For constant shifting ? Kill me now. I don’t give a rip how smooth or reliable the unit is. My gripe is the ergonomics. Put that shift ball on the floor, and we are in business !
I had a ’65 Country Sedan. The 352 was black with gold rocker covers and air cleaner.
OK, good to know. I guess that’s normal but it didn’t hit me right at first glance.
Thx
JO
They pulled our demos back in 1977 so I had to buy a car in a hurray.We just took in a 65 Galaxie 500 in the light green metallic color with the 352 V-8.They sold it to a used car lot down the street but the owner let me buy it for $350 and kept[ the original wheel covers..Put some Stop Leak in the radiator and drove it from Portland to San Fransisco and back on my one week vacation during Cinco De Mayo. It had 92,000 on it and was in perfect one owner condition.I cleaned the seats and wiped the vinyl down with Armor-All and you had to hang onto the steering wheel to keep from sliding sideways on the bench seat.I install a Jet-Sounds Cassette Stereo and Pioneer speakers in the rear shelf and it sounded great with all the interior room.Sold it for $600 a few months later.Who knew?
I think it would be cooler for about a week,then I’m with burger, I’d convert to a Hurst floor shifter.
like the style, esp the stacked hdlghts. A later model (w/the row of circular padded gauges and a 4 speed on the tunnel) I’d like better. A 352? must B the smallest FE motor?
Fine mo`chene w/a started interior…
Paint looks buff-up quality?
The 332 was the first and smallest of the FE engines introduced in ’58.
Yes ,found on “58 and ’59 years only. Believe they were only available with a 2 barrel carb.
The black paint on block, heads & intake is original, as are the gold rocker covers and air cleaner housing,. My father purchased a 65 Galaxie 500 2 dr hdtp 352-4V and it’s been in my care since 1971. In 1974 I purchased another, 500XL 2 dr hdtp, 390-4V factory 4 speed. Same colors on both engines. I don’t believe they went to blue engine paint until ’66. Both cars are manual brakes & steering, no A/C. That is how I like them
Doug
“Both cars are manual brakes & steering, no A/C. That is how I like them”.
Couldn’t have said it better!
Less weight equals more go on less gas. Most power brake systems make it too easy to lock up the brakes and skid the tires. With manual brakes it’s so much easier to modulate the brakes to stop the skid. Thus you don’t need the anti-skid systems with their complicated electronics on today’s cars. Power steering ? I’m 73 years young and only weigh 140 lbs. Manual steering keeps my upper body stronger. I don’t need to go to any stinkin gym ! I’ve never had a 3 speed with overdrive car, but that’s a good setup. Those cars had lower (higher numerically) rear axle ratios so accelerated better. But when OD was engaged there was a 30% reduction in rpm, so high speed cruising was easier on engine and consumed less gas, along with less engine wear. If I had an overdrive car, though I’d put in an aftermarket floor shifter.
1965 Fords had black engine blocks wit gold valve covers and air cleaners.
Ahhhh … the old “3 on the tree” – had many of them (at least 6) over the years. So, given the opportunity, my 65 Galaxie convertible is getting the T85 R11 treatment = 6 forward gears using a solenoid vs cable to engage overdrive. Mate that to a stroked 352 coughing up over 500lb/ft of torque and 450hp on 9.8:1 cr and pump gas and you have a tire burner that cruises easily on both mountains and interstates. Sure, the fox body boys will be in front of me, but I won’t go easily into the rear view mirror distance.