Vehicle Description
It's an unabashedly full size car, but this 1968 Ford Galaxie XL
also features a number of styling cues that are unmistakably part
of the muscle car realm, including that trademark combination of
short deck lid and long hood, under which sits what's almost
certainly its original big block. This expansive cruiser is more
than streetable in its present state, and it offers a solid
foundation to work with, making its transformation to vintage
awesomeness a fairly direct process.
Besides a journey to the paint shop somewhere in the distant past,
this vintage Ford has yet to have seen much restorative attention
over the years, so it retains legit survivor status. As such, while
it won't strike fear in the hearts of local car show competitors in
its present state, with the right work performed it certainly
could. You really don't see too many Galaxies on the road any more
and this one - being an upper crust XL version with hidden
headlights and all - already packs plenty of visual impact. A big
plus lies in the condition of its unibody frame - any work
performed on this classic will be sitting on a solid foundation and
won't require the arduous peeling back of layers of sheet metal to
set things right, which is necessary when things are compromised
underneath. Draped in dramatic black paint, the exterior alignment
on this lengthy ride looks to be on point and when you come around
to view it from the side, you can get the full effect of that
sloping, fastback-style rear roofline. Aesthetically speaking, this
is very much a supersized muscle car.
Inside those sizable doors is an interior that's likely been in
place since this Galaxie rolled off the line and, considering both
the mileage logged and the passing of the years, it's still in
pretty good shape. Its black color makes it more prone to showing
the effects of UV exposure, so you can find discoloration on some
of its vinyl surfaces, but overall, there would be no issues
climbing inside and getting out on the road right away. The seating
in particular, as well as the headliner and door panels, presents
surprisingly well and the burlwood accents on the dash still look a
lot like they did at the start. The factory instrumentation works
as intended and the original AM radio still holds its place at the
center, teaming with an 8-track player to inject plenty of late
'60s authenticity into the mix. Among the most obvious dividends
yielded by the Galaxie's generous proportions is its substantial
interior room, cooled by factory air conditioning that's blowing
plenty strong, but could likely benefit from a Freon charge.
Plenty of vintage power comes via the 390 cubic inch V8 resting
between the shock towers. Ford's FE engines, of which this big
block is a member, developed a strong reputation for durability and
can still be found propelling a number of Ford classics. Among the
powerplant's other strong suits is its abundant torque - with the
390 crowned by a 4-barrel carb, it's good for more than 420 lb-ft
of it as it teams with a 3-speed automatic transmission. The
surrounding inner fenders and firewall are structurally sound but a
thorough detailing would elevate the aesthetics of the engine bay.
There have been a number of recently added components to improve
reliability, including the fuel line, power steering hose,
distributor cap and wires, as well as an assortment of new belts
and hoses. Power brakes that feature discs up front bring this Ford
classic's set of 15" stock wheels wrapped with Hankook tires to
reliable, fade resistant stops.
With its distinctive appearance and solid foundation, this 1968
Ford Galaxie XL presents a great opportunity. Call today!