Vehicle Description
Some cars are interesting all by themselves, and others are
interesting for the stories they can tell, but the very best cars
offer both. This 1968 Ford Galaxie XL fastback is, by itself, a
very cool car, but if you're of the dare-to-be-different crowd, it
will really stand out.
Always a dry, southern car, this Galaxie has never needed any major
metal surgery, and when the time came to refresh the finish, little
more than a few hours of block sanding were required. Of course,
they went with something subtle like 1968's Pebble Beige, and as
you can see from the photos, this one was done pretty well. It's
not perfect, of course, but it certainly has the right look for a
car that just passed its 50th birthday and is ready for 50 more.
The soft paint contrasts beautifully with the aggressive fastback
shape, making a car that's at once elegant and brutal, which was
surely Ford's intent. The front end was completely redesigned in
1968, dramatically changing the looks of the car and taking it
upscale and you'd better believe most of the changes were aimed at
improving performance (the Galaxie was Ford's NASCAR weapon of
choice). Those sculpted fenders that kick up behind the doors give
the car an sophistication that only gets better the more you look
at it. The finish is very good, and we love that it doesn't have
the usual vinyl top, making it look very clean and sleek.
The handsome interior offers accommodations for five, which is what
full-sized cars were all about. Pretty parchment seat covers, door
panels, and headliner look great with the darker carpets, making it
feel upscale and well-designed inside. The instrument panel is a
cool pod ahead of the driver with the gauges hidden behind a
textured fascia and an AM radio perched up high. Auxiliary controls
are integrated into a band of burled walnut that runs from end to
end, and matches the insert on the steering wheel, which has a few
cracks but still looks good. Factory A/C is a nice find and makes
this an awesome cruiser, especially with that giant back seat
that's comfortable enough for full-sized adults. One look in the
gigantic trunk will convince you that someone truly loved this car,
because it's exceptionally clean and includes a full-sized spare
and jack assembly.
Power comes from a correct F-code 302 cubic inch V8, which makes
plenty of torque and moves the fastback with effortless ease. An
aluminum intake manifold and Holley 4-barrel carburetor replace the
original Autolite 2-barrel setup so it runs great and offers a
smooth idle and a great V8 burble from the twin tailpipes. It's not
over-detailed, but it has a well-maintained look with proper Ford
Blue on the engine itself along with a factory air cleaner with
correct '302' decal on top. A big radiator keeps things cool and
there's a brand new dual exhaust system underneath. The 3-speed
automatic transmission shifts easily and gives it a smooth luxury
car feel, and feeds a heavy-duty 9-inch rear. Check out the solid
floors, new shocks, and power front disc brakes, too. Those very
cool Magnum 500 wheels carry fat 235/70/15 BFGoodrich tires that
give it a sporty look.
This Galaxie is a very appealing and very unusual piece of luxury
muscle, all at a very reasonable price. Call us today!