This 1963½ Ford Galaxie 500 XL would look stunning if treated to a cosmetic refresh. However, there is no pressing hurry to do this. It is a rust-free classic that wears its original survivor tag like a badge of honor. It has been garage-kept, and it has a genuine 79,000 miles showing on its odometer. The owner has decided that the time is right to part with this mighty Ford, so he has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. The Galaxie is located in Timnath, Colorado, and the owner has set a price of $20,000 OBO for this 1960s classic. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Gunter K for spotting the Ford for us.

There’s a lot to take in with this Galaxie, and this is partly because, at a total length of 17½-feet, it also represents a lot of steel. The vehicle has been garage-kept, but this hasn’t stopped the original Heritage Burgundy paint from aging. The car would benefit from a cosmetic restoration, but it would be easy to understand if the buyer wanted to leave it untouched as an original survivor. There is no doubt that it would attract plenty of attention in either guise, so some buyers might be tempted to keep those extra dollars in their pocket. It appears that what the buyer won’t be doing is spending heaps on rust repairs. There are no problems visible in any of the supplied photos, and the seller doesn’t mention rust anywhere in the listing. It seems that the Galaxie has led a sheltered life, and the buyer is set to reap the reward on that front. The trim and chrome are better than average for a driver-quality car, while there are no issues with the glass.

If I am going to nit-pick with the Galaxie, there are a couple of issues in an otherwise spotless interior that could use attention. The carpet has some wear and damage on the driver’s side, while the dash pad is wrinkled on the passenger side. The latter problem could be addressed with a little bit of time and care while spending $200 on a new carpet set should fix the former. Beyond that, the interior is exceptionally tidy for a vehicle of this age. The upholstered surfaces are free from damage and issues, while there are no problems with the headliner. The original owner ordered this Ford with a console and floor shifter, and these are both present and in excellent condition. There have been no aftermarket additions, with the pushbutton radio and the clock still occupying their rightful places in the dash. A bonus for the buyer is that the original owner also chose to order the Galaxie with power windows.

The Galaxie is a numbers-matching car equipped with a 390ci V8, a 3-speed automatic transmission, and power steering. With 300hp on tap, the Ford offers surprising performance for a vehicle weighing on the high side of 4,000lbs. Point it at a ¼-mile, and the journey will be over in 15.9 seconds. The engine wears a few cosmetic enhancements courtesy of the good people at Edelbrock, but items like the original valve covers and air cleaner are in the trunk for the buyer to reinstall. The seller indicates that the car has 79,000 original miles showing on its odometer, but he doesn’t mention verifying evidence. However, he does say that the Galaxie has plenty of power, which doesn’t surprise me. He says that the vehicle is easy to drive, and with all of those horses and power steering, that’s a claim that I find easy to believe.

Decision time. If you are seriously considering making a play for this 1963½ Ford Galaxie 500 XL, what would your next step be once you had it parked in your garage? Would you retain it as an original survivor, or would you refresh the faded paint. There’s no right or wrong answer to that question because you would undoubtedly get support from our readers whichever way you jumped. Let’s skip past the hypotheticals for a moment. Is this a 1960s classic that you intend to pursue further?