Vehicle Description
This Z-code 1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL hardtop is a grownup's muscle
car. It's big, it's bold, and it's got enough room for the whole
family. Add in a big block 390 V8 and a whole bunch of originality,
you have a very desirable piece of early Ford muscle that gets
everything right.
That period-perfect Gold paint is just too nice to be the original
finish, but it's likely a very faithful application that was
applied to the same standards that made these cars instantly iconic
in 1964. It's got an awesome shine that certainly looks
appropriate, and there's very little evidence that it's been
anything other than a weekend cruiser its entire life. The great
thing about stock vehicles is that you know there's likely original
sheetmetal underneath, which means no botched bodywork, no hidden
headaches, and no questions about cancerous rust. There are a few
minor touch-ups and imperfections here and there, as you'd expect
from an older car that's still being driven and enjoyed, but none
of them detract from the impressive overall presentation. Gaps are
excellent all around and the doors open and close with the kind of
precision that it's often difficult to restore back into a car;
you'll be amazed by how well they were built back then when you
have to put that extra effort into getting the driver's door closed
firmly. In the same way, all the chrome and stainless trim is in
great shape and it's still hanging where Ford workers installed it
back in 1964. The big bumpers fore and aft are in great shape too,
and the entire car shows off the results of a lifetime spent in a
friendly climate.
The interior, however, is where this car really proves that it's a
beautifully preserved piece, as there are several original pieces
that are still in great shape. Check out the elegant black vinyl
upholstery, which is all-day comfortable and ornately finished in a
way that perfectly encapsulated the era. No cheap aftermarket repro
kit could ever look that good and the black upholstery and black
carpets make the car look as upscale as its image would suggest.
It's always cool to see buckets and a console in a full-sized
cruiser, suggesting that the original owner was all about going
fast, and this one is especially interesting with the
column-mounted shifter for the 3-speed automatic transmission. The
instruments with their soft white faces are in good order, and just
ahead of them the original steering wheel is still place and looks
great commanding the cockpit. The original AM radio is still in
place, although it's due for an upgrade, as is the rather rare
factory under-dash A/C unit that's still set-up to take archaic and
obsolete R12 refrigerant. Amazingly, the original dash pad hasn't
been cooked by the sun, the door panels aren't discolored, and,
well, are you getting the idea that this car is legit? The trunk
carries correct reproduction mats over the Gold-painted floors and
there's enough room back there for Billy Batts and all his
shine-box jokes.
The Z-code 390 cubic inch V8 under the hood presents pretty much
like it would've on the showroom floor in 1964, with a beautiful
gold firewall and inner fenders surrounding the powerful big block
motor. Rebuilt approximately 2,500 miles ago, it's running like a
top, with big horsepower and a huge torque curve that absolutely
eats up asphalt in chunks when the hammer is down. A 4-barrel
carburetor and electronic ignition system mean that it springs to
life easily and the idle is deceptively smooth, so you won't expect
the big hit of BOOM you get as you run it through the gears.
Despite its built-for-combat specs, it remains very drivable and
looks stock from the heavy-duty Gold air cleaner to the matching
valve covers, although it also features new parts throughout like
the big, aluminum radiator up front that keeps it nice and cool.
The 3-speed automatic transmission snaps through the gears with
precision that only comes from something that hasn't been abused
and used up, and there are highway-friendly gears out back so this
is an easy cruiser. It burbles through a proper dual exhaust system
that sounds great, and with power steering and power brakes this
Galaxie has amazing road manners. Original steel wheels are adorned
with 500XL hubcaps, and they're wrapped around a very old set of
steel-belted 215/75/14 Easy Rider tires that will need to be
replaced soon, although they speak volumes about the car's
originality.
If you like originality that you can actually drive and enjoy, this
is the Galaxie 500XL for you. Call now!
