PostWar of the Month: a highly original Ford Galaxie

• 
• 
• 

When Ford introduced the Galaxie as its top-of-the-range offering in 1959, the golden age of wild, befinned and extravagant land yachts was just coming to an end. The recession of 1958 prompted a reaction against the excesses of the automotive and industry, and in the space of just a few years the character of American car design had changed completely. The new look was clean, sharp and sober.

The full-size 1963 Ford Galaxie embodied this new æsthetic without abandoning the optimism of the previous decade, its wonderful afterburner tail lights serving as a reminder that America was still at the forefront of the jet age. Base-level Galaxies were actually vastly outsold by Galaxie 500s, named after the 500-mile NASCAR races in which Ford was sweeping the field.

Just shy of 480,000 Galaxie 500s were built for 1963, of which 49,733 were hardtop coupés like the example offered for sale with Classic Promenade. That means it's not an especially rare car, but it stands out for its history and originality. Few mass-produced American cars, coming from a culture of built-in obsolescence, have survived with their history intact, and few were that well cared for beyond the first few years of their life.

This Galaxie is an exception, and we can thank its second owner for its excellent state of preservation. It was originally sold through Bill Doenges Ford of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Charles R. Hasley on 17th August, 1963, but he didn't keep it for long. It was sold again through the Easterling Motor Co. of Sapula, Oklahoma, on 10th May, 1965, to one Lonnie McClure. McClure enjoyed the Galaxie until 1994, by which time it was appreciated as a classic of Mid-Century Modern design, and its preservation thereafter was assured.

The car has been repainted in its original Corinthian White and the 289ci V8 was rebuilt 1,000 miles ago, but apart from that it remains a largely original and unrestored car, with the red vinyl interior surviving in excellent condition. There will be few other opportunities to acquire a '63 Galaxie quite like this, with a desirable body style and history from new, so it must be worth a closer look. It's for sale with Classic Promenade in Phoenix, Arizona, and price at $35,800 (approx £28,500).

Words: Zack Stiling; photographs: Classic Promenade
 

Aggiunga un commento...