HomeCar CultureMy Classic Car: An unrestored Galaxie

My Classic Car: An unrestored Galaxie

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I was 17 years old when I heard about a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible for sale. It was sitting in a shed in Bagley, Wisconsin, with the top down and absolutely dirty. The farmers who had it wanted $600 for it. Back in 1975 that was a lot of money for a used car but I had always wanted this year Galaxie. When I was growing up we had one as a family car, and I never forgot about it. I made the decision to go to the local bank to borrow the $600 needed to purchase the car.

Photos by Bryon M.

The following day two friends and I actually skipped school to go see the car with $600 cash in hand. When we arrived, I offered the farmer $600, but he said he had some other people coming to look at the Galaxie. Worried we were too late, I was relieved when he then said, “First come gets it, so it’s yours.”

Photos by Bryon M.

I was now the owner of this top down, full of dirt convertible. According to the farmer, the top was down because his dog fell through it while chasing a cat, and sitting for years like this made the interior a mess. But we hooked it up to jumpers, put gas down the carburetor, and it fired up enough for me to drive home.

Photos by Bryon M.

The next step was to clean it up. As it turns out, my uncle, who owned a body shop and a used car lot, went to buy the Galaxie without realize it was already sold: to me! When he found out I purchased it, he came over and offered me $2,500, which I turned it down. I still have the Galaxie today. 2023 will be 48 years it’s been with me. It’s never been restore, has the original interior, and only one paint job. I did have to replace the top in 1975.

-Bryon M., Wisconsin

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8 COMMENTS

  1. Great looking Galaxie 500. My mother had a white 1963 Galaxie 500 XL convertible and the first 10 years of my life were spent rolling around in that fine ride. This one is a beauty and well kept.

  2. I had a 63 1/2 Galaxie painted dark metallic blue with a white tuck and roll interior trimmed with blue. It came with a 390 and four on the floor.
    Unfortunately, my wife bought it home from the shopping mall with crease marks all along one side. Someone either hit it on purpose, or just plain hit and run.

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