For Sale at Auction: 1963 Ford 300 in Birmingham, Alabama

In 1963, the Ford 300 represented one of the most economical full-size offerings in Ford's lineup. Often associated with fleet use, including police and taxi service, the 300 could also be ordered with serious performance equipment. A very small number-commonly believed to be approximately 47 cars-were reportedly built with Ford's R-Code 427 cubic-inch V8, equipped with dual four-barrel carburetors and paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. This example is represented as one of those rare R-Code Ford 300s and has undergone a comprehensive restoration. True to the 300's utilitarian character, it was originally configured with basic cloth-and-vinyl upholstery and a rubber floor covering rather than carpeting. In many respects, the Ford 300 shared the basic full-size platform and body architecture of the Galaxie while doing without much of the Galaxie's additional brightwork and luxury equipment. Ford rated the dual-quad 427 at 425 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, making the combination of the lightweight, no-frills 300 body and Ford's formidable FE-series V8 particularly desirable for competition-minded buyers. This Ford 300 was reportedly sold new in Covington, Louisiana, to a mechanic employed by Covington Motors. According to its data plate information, it was finished in Raven Black (Paint Code A) with a blue interior (Trim Code 52). The black-and-blue combination is believed to be exceptionally rare and has been reported as possibly unique, although this has not been independently verified. The car was scheduled for production on March 25, 1963, and was assembled at Ford's Dallas, Texas, plant. Its District Sales Office code of 64 corresponds with the New Orleans sales district. It was equipped with a 4.11:1 rear axle ratio (Axle Code 9) and is believed to have been ordered without a radio and heater. Its serial number indicates that it was the 41,934th vehicle assigned within its production sequence. The car reportedly saw extensive performance use early in its life. Its original 427 engine was heavily used by the first owner in drag racing and other competition and was, at one point, said to have been installed in a dirt-track race car. The original engine was eventually removed and replaced with another 427 FE engine carrying a February 1963 date code, approximately one month prior to the car's scheduled production date. The Ford was later acquired by a close friend of the original owner and subsequently received a ground-up restoration. The replacement 427 was rebuilt, while the 4-speed transmission and rear axle were also rebuilt to specifications consistent with the car's original configuration. The interior was reupholstered in its as-delivered blue specification, and the exterior was refinished in single-stage black paint, providing an appearance similar to the original finish while utilizing more modern materials than the factory lacquer-based paint. The result is an exceptionally rare and purposeful example of Ford's early-1960s performance philosophy: a stripped-down, full-size sedan fitted with one of the most powerful engines available from Ford at the time. VIN: 3D53R141934