Classic cars come in all shapes and sizes, and this 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL offers a practical solution for an enthusiast with a growing family. With its V8 engine and 4-speed manual transmission, it is a vehicle that should provide its next owner a winning combination of performance and comfort. Located in Lodi, California, you will find the Galaxie listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set the sale price for this beauty at $19,500. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder rex m for referring the Galaxie to us.

Finished in Rangoon Red, the Galaxie appears to present well for its age. The paint holds an impressive shine, while the panels look incredibly straight. The car has spent its life in California and spends its time in this garage when it isn’t out prowling the streets. This has allowed it to remain rust-free, which is good news for any enthusiast who doesn’t feel up to the challenge of tackling a restoration project. The trim and chrome are in excellent condition, while the same seems true of the glass. For those not concerned about complete originality, this Ford rolls on a set of wider chromed steel wheels that should allow it to run on larger tires. That upgrade will bring improvements in handling and better braking efficiency that would assist safety. Swapping to a set of original wheels would be possible, and decent secondhand sets are pretty easy to find in that case.

At 3,968lbs and around 17½’ in total length, the Galaxie is not a particularly small or light car. That means that it demands something special under the hood if it is to achieve respectable performance levels. The Z-Code 390ci V8 should fill the bill quite nicely, as it gives the driver 300hp with which to play. Those horses find their way to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission, while power steering removes the hard work from the driving experience. This Galaxie is not a muscle car, but its 15.7-second ¼-mile ET stacks up nicely for a larger car that can seat five people in comfort. The car is a numbers-matching classic that is in sound mechanical health. The owner says that it runs and drives like it was new, and you would have to think that its 390 would sound pretty sweet breathing through its dual exhaust.

Apart from some wear on the wheel and minor discoloring on the gauge cluster, the Galaxie’s interior presents as nicely as the exterior. The owner indicates that it has been recently restored in a combination of red and white vinyl. There is no evidence of any wear or other issues, while the carpet and dash are in as-new condition. The shifter for the 4-speed pokes through a practical console that is faultless, while a couple of aftermarket gauges allow the driver to monitor the health and wellbeing of the Z-code under the hood. These appear to be the only additions, with items like the pushbutton AM radio remaining untouched. The rear seat allows room for three passengers, and the amount of space is more than enough for all but the longest-legged teenager. That makes it a practical consideration for an enthusiast with a growing family.

This 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL is a turn-key classic that is begging for a new owner. It presents exceptionally well, and with a potent drivetrain and a fresh interior, it would seem to need nothing. Values have taken a hit over the past couple of years, but they show the first signs that this trend might be reversing. If that proves to be the case, this might offer potential buyers the opportunity to buy a classic car at the bottom of the curve, making it a good buy that will appreciate in coming years. That makes it worthy of a closer look.