14,000 miles!? 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible
Gleaming and claimed to drive “flawlessly,” this 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible in Los Angeles, California has only covered about 14,000 documented original miles, according to the seller. The 20 year-old respray in the original Light Blue Metallic looks great, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a flaw in the sale photos here on Craigslist. As the year nears its end, the low-mile cruiser seeks a new owner willing to trade $42,500 for the chance to add more miles or simply store this beauty and admire it like a giant Matchbox car.
We had one of these when I was growing up, a convertible in the same color, but our top and interior were black. I might still have upholstery-pattern brand marks on the back of my thighs from jumping onto the sun-baked seats one August. Speaking of August, this Galaxie’s body tag shows a born-on date of 24 August 1965 with a sequence number of 100487 i.e. the 487th Ford assembled in Chicago for model year 1966. It seems ironic that one of the oldest 1966 Galaxies was only enjoyed an average of 250 miles per year. Thanks to So-CalGalaxies and tpocr for some details.
The marina makes a fitting location to photograph a top-down land schooner like this graceful Galaxie. Twin chrome exhaust tips add some bling, and the burble out back while cruising in the open air may recall nautical adventures as well.
The 352 matches the VIN’s X-code four-barrel 352, a common and capable upgrade in the Galaxie. The 352 cid (5.8L) “FE” V8 is most closely related to the much-revered 390. Though far from concours, the engine bay might look like this after half a century of normal maintenance.
The new owner should go wild and spend some of their 250 miles per year idling in a local parade. Remember not to gun it with a local politician or Dairy Princess riding on the boot. What’s to complain about, other than to ask “Why didn’t anyone drive this car for all those years?” Assuming the documentation checks out, would you park this low-mile Galaxie like a real-life toy or drive it every chance you could?
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Comments
Very nice Ford. The 65-67 vertical headlight big Fords are attractive and desirable. Should be easy to live with. Great summertime cruiser, and (as Todd points out) for use in the local parade. Mid 60’s Galaxies were common in my town back in the day, but most were four-doors; I sure don’t remember anyone having a convertible.
Nice, but not $42.5K nice. Fastback, 4-speed, maybe 7 Litre money.
There seem to be a lot of those ’64-’67 Galaxies around our area.
I seem to come across more & more of them,although most aren’t in
this good of shape.
Stunning condition and agree with Bob the vertical headlights were a good look across many Ford products of the time. They almost look as though they are already moving. Good write up.
I think most will agree on this one,,what a sweetheart, no foolin’. I believe, this was the zenith in big Fords. Neighbor friends dad had a ’65. At 10 years old and noticing cool cars from not, it made an early impression. It was a 4 door LTD, and a 352, 4 barrel, he had a heavy foot,it had plenty of steam, to a kid in the back seat, anyway.
This one? I don’t know, couple things. We, in the midwest saw very few, if any ragtops, and any examples of any kind are long gone, so a place like California is about the only place you’ll find one, like this, anyway. One doesn’t buy a car like this for performance. Oh sure, fun to blast around that KIA, but really, not for a changing automotive scene and I guarantee, this motor will be a turnoff in the near future.
Now, if it had some economical motor, even a 6,( please don’t suggest electric) or even a turbo 4, just to cruise along the,,______( fill in blank where you might do that), top down,Tom Petty blasting, that’s for me. Guess I’m showing my age, huh. Very nice car.
Hey Mr A,
I respect and appreciate your input on the vehicles covered here. Your knowledge and experience adds considerable weight to your statements. I gotta say, you hit it square on with me this time. When out for a cruise along the back roads of A-Town in my ’66 Fairlane 500XL convertible, the first tune my speakers bellow is “Runnin’ Down A Dream”.
I’d be a player for this Galaxie, but not at 42. It’s a well cared for example, but the low 20s is where I’d value this ride. At least the windows were all down in the top-down shot. One rule I insist on when enjoying my ragtop is the windows go down before the top does, and the top goes up before the windows. One glimps of a car with the top down and a rear quarter window sticking up like a snag in a forested lot would have me questioning why.
~Keep on Keepin’ on. ~S
My sister had a ’65 XL with a 289 and when she got married in 1969 I inherited it. I wasn’t crazy about it because I loved Chrysler cars but I needed a ride so drove it for 3 years. I owed a friend 100 bucks so I gave him the car. Sure wish I had kept it.
Great job, Todd.
Do I detect a GM master cylinder? And an I-don’t-know-whose power steering pump?
Is that the right grille for a 500?
IMHO, the grill is correct although there may have been an emblem that was removed. That doesn’t look like a GM master cylinder to me. Just saying.
The master cylinder/booster appears to be an aftermarket unit commonly used with a disc brake conversion. It is a dual master also, not installed normally until 1967 when they were mandated. I kind of like the valve covers, but the cheap Cal Custom/Mr. Gasket air cleaner would have to go! Nice looking car!
Definitley changed out since 67 was the first year for split braking front to back for safety reasons of course
great looking car
I suspect this car may have been converted to disc brakes, as there is a popular modern conversion using that very master cylinder & booster. The normal M/C was a single cast iron unit with a round screw-on cap.
The P/S pump is probably a generic replacement unit purchased at a local auto parts store.
Not many left in the rust belt as they had trouble with Rotten frames. And don’t underestimate that 352, good stout mill with a lot of snot! love this beauty!!!
Cheers
GPC
A guy at the local body shop I use to use….had one of these. I think it was the same year….and it was a convertible.
He drove around in it with a life size Pink Panther….in the passenger seat. lol
His Galaxy 500 and this one are beauties.
114k miles, maybe. People didn’t buy cars back then to not drive them, especially in SoCal where the miles add up quickly. And why all the aftermarket “gingerbread” under the hood if it’s a low-mile original? Air cleaner, valve covers, oil filler cap. If you had a low-mile original why would you add that stuff? Seems you would want to keep the factory items. Dual master cylinder is an add-on as well. Why bother changing it if you’re not driving the car?
Tiger66,
I suspect this car was in secure, dry storage for decades, hence the low mileage. It’s easy to explain the new additions to the engine compartment if the car was taken, not to a restorer, but to a local repair shop, where they simply replaced and added parts to make it a reliable running and stopping vehicle, without concern for originality.
I spent 35+ years restoring cars, and I’m an appraiser of vintage cars, as well as a court recognized “expert witness” for vintage vehicles. Based on the photos, I am reasonable sure this is a mostly original car.
That said, I also think the asking price is a little bit high.
My dad bought a brand new Galaxie in 66 ,however it was a white 4-door. It was a special edition ,4-doors, a few upgrades to make it appear better and reasonable price. Strictly a marketing ploy to sell cars to people like my Dad who would never buy this beautiful convertible.
66 is my favorite yr for Galaxie. I had a 65 4 door as my first car @ 16 yrs old. That thing would hold a bunch of teenagers! The stock 352 was good for ~105 mph (AMHIK).
This example looks good but the price is rich for a not quite correct car and with the 352 IMO. That Cal Custom air cleaner would have to go. I may have missed it, but do the original parts go with the sale?
great size, options ! Love nuttin more than the stacked head lights (fairlane, comet, chero, any). Wouldnt mind a peek (museums, shows, auctions) as I sure cant afford it.
1968, 1st day home from Viet Nam I bought a 2 year old 1966 Galaxie Conv. It had been traded in on a 68. Bright Red with a white top. 390 cu in motor. Loved that car. A year later it was our Honeymoon car as we toured Canada.
Love it. Call me a heathen but the only change I would make is bucket seats and a T-bar shifter and center console.
A bucket list car for sure! The colors are fantastic and she is a beautiful low mileage vehicle, but highly overpriced IMO. Naturally, if that is what you want and you are willing to pay that kind of coin….you are a lucky S.O.B!!
That is the correct grill for a Galaxie 500. Just a stamped piece of tin. An XL, LTD, or 7-Litre got the upgrade die cast metal version. With the two park lamps on each side. I do believe this is priced rather high for just a 500. I would buy an XL or 7-Litre for that price.
I agree with Bill McCoskey, the owner has stars in his eyes with the asking price. I’m figuring the value, from my experience between $17,500 and $22K. Even Hagerty only values it in CONCOURS CONDITION at $30,800. IMHO this is a high #2 or average #1 condition car. That being said, think about this “Honey I put the car up for sale like you wanted, but nobody has even called on it. I guess we are just going to have to keep it” (lol)