1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie Identification

[Ford Freak]

I had '631/2 w/a 260 back in 1975. I bought it for 200.00 from a local Ford dealer , they had taken it in on trade from an elderly couple that bought it new there. I parked my '72 Mach 1 in Nov. & drove the Galaxie untill April as my "winter car". I was 19 at the time. Wish I had it now! Who knew? - F F

 

[KULTULZ]

This excerpt from WIKI explains the engine size pogression for the 1963 FORD -

At the beginning of the 1963 model run, the 292 Y-block V8 was replaced as the base V8 engine with the Fairlane's new small block 260. The 260 proved under-powered for the heavy full size Ford and was replaced midyear (coincident with the introduction of the 63 and 1/2 models) with the 289 V8. The 289 was then the largest of the "small block series" that was first used (221 cubic inch version) in the 1962 Fairlane. The 260 was offered on the Falcon Sprint and later, in mid 1964, in the early version of the 1965 Mustang. By 1965 model introduction (in the fall of 1964), the 260 (which had disappointing performance in all versions including the Sprint and Mustang) was replaced by the 289 in all models.

SOURCE - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Galaxie

BUT, there is always an anomaly -

I had '631/2 w/a 260 back in 1975. I bought it for 200.00 from a local Ford dealer...

 

[5851a]

FORD really dropped the ball when they didn't continue the STARLINER ROOF into the 62 model run.

Robert McNamara took over as head of Ford iirc think was November 1960, he didn't care for racing or Lincolns. He thought everyone should be driving Falcons. He took over to late to cancel the beautiful 61 Starliners. McNamara didn't last long, Iacocca took his job in 1962. Ford replaced the 406 sometime in 63 with the 427, I have saw 63 Fastbacks with 406 emblems on the fenders and wondered if they were legitimate on a fastback. If Lund won Daytona 500 Feb 63 with 410 hp 427 and a fastback there must have only been a hand full of 406 fastbacks built.

 

[scicala]

Also, there was never a performance version of the 260 V8. Even in the the Falcon Sprints and Sunbeam Tiger there was only one 260 available with a 2 barrel carb.

Sal

 

[KULTULZ]

Robert McNamara took over as head of Ford iirc think was November 1960, he didn't care for racing or Lincolns. He thought everyone should be driving Falcons. He took over to late to cancel the beautiful 61 Starliners. McNamara didn't last long, Iacocca took his job in 1962.

Ford replaced the 406 sometime in 63 with the 427, I have saw 63 Fastbacks with 406 emblems on the fenders and wondered if they were legitimate on a fastback. If Lund won Daytona 500 Feb 63 with 410 hp 427 and a fastback there must have only been a hand full of 406 fastbacks built.

McNamara was also the final voice in the demise of the EDSEL.

FORD did not take a street HP car seriously until TASCA FORD built a HP MUST. FORD executives finally came into reality and then built the 1968 428CJ for the street. If you were a GM or MOPAR (or AMC for that matter) fan, street HP cars could be bought off the showroom floor. FORD only offered thumpers which were only built for NASCAR/NHRA compliance.

If you wanted a HP street car, you had to build it.

The 1961 390CI 375HP was carried over in 1962 until the 406 was released. Again, the 406 was carried over into 1963 until the 427LR was released.

I came across some interesting info on FORD car assembly details (DSO) concerning HP cars. I will post it soon.

I have saw 63 Fastbacks with 406 emblems on the fenders and wondered if they were legitimate on a fastback.

That was a good time as one could switch power and change classes in the day ...

 

[KULTULZ]

Here Is Some 1963 FORD Info - https://www.oldride.com/library/1963_ford_galaxie.html

 

[rotorwrench]

My Pop bought a 1962 Mercury Meteor that thank God came with the 260 V8. The earlier 221 wasn't cutting the mustard. It was sort of the same thing in 1963 with the change from 260 to 289 for full size cars, The 260 was good in the Falcons and lighter Fairlane cars but the 289 would have been nice to have in those smaller cars too. The big Galaxie series did OK with the 289 but I have always preferred the larger FE engines in the full size cars.

 

[KULTULZ]

Just to keep those interested in owing and awing -

- A BLAST FROM THE PAST -​

POST #8 · Nov 28, 2006

The 63 1/2 Galaxie 500 sports roof was released for public sale on 12/31/62 along with the 427 thereby making it eligible for the 63 Daytona 500.

- https://www.fordmuscleforums.com/threads/differences-between-63-and-63-1-2-galaxie.460875/

Don't know that statement to be fact but it sounds correct.

Why did CHEV still have its 'BUBBLETOP' in 1962 and FORD didn't?

 

[paul2748]

I think Tasca also was the one behind the 64 Thunderbolt . If I remember correctly, Tasca built a 62 Fairlane with a big block and showed Ford.

McNamara was also the final voice in the demise of the EDSEL.

FORD did not take a street HP car seriously until TASCA FORD built a HP MUST. FORD executives finally came into reality and then built the 1968 428CJ for the street. If you were a GM or MOPAR (or AMC for that matter) fan, street HP cars could be bought off the showroom floor. FORD only offered thumpers which were only built for NASCAR/NHRA compliance.

If you wanted a HP street car, you had to build it.

The 1961 390CI 375HP was carried over in 1962 until the 406 was released. Again, the 406 was carried over into 1963 until the 427LR was released.

I came across some interesting info on FORD car assembly details (DSO) concerning HP cars. I will post it soon.



That was a good time as one could switch power and change classes in the day ...

 

[Lanny]

Old short 9 minuet film (starts out a little slow, be patient)
Ford Factory Produced Street Driven Race Cars of the 60's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK0T8oNOGgQ




.

 

[KULTULZ]

I think Tasca also was the one behind the 64 Thunderbolt . If I remember correctly, Tasca built a 62 Fairlane with a big block and showed Ford.

Tasca is the birthplace of historic muscle cars such as the Ford Cobra Jet, Thunderbolt, Tasca Street Boss, and Mystery race cars.

HISTORY of TASCA FORD RACING - https://www.tascaparts.com/the-evolution-of-tasca-racing-in-photos

ADDENDUM - (Fr.)

One of Tasca’s first innovations was campaigning a ‘62 Fairlane with a 406-cid engine for A/FX competition. The car, called the Challenger, was built by Andy Hotten’s Detroit Steel and Tubing firm and required many modifications to shoehorn the large engine into the midsize engine compartment. A second version, Zimmy I, was built in 1963 with a 427-cid high-riser engine, and Lawton drove it to a new A/FX national record of 12.21 later that season.

Ford was so impressed with the package that it authorized Detroit Steel and Tubing to construct 100 427-cid Fairlanes for NHRA Super Stock competition in 1964, and Lawton drove his ‘64 Zimmy II entry to new S/S national records of 11.69 and 122.22 at the Division 1 race at Maryland’s Cecil County Dragway.

SOURCE - From Within This Thread - https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tasca-ford.413569/

ADDENDUM II -

TASCA FORD 1967 MUST KR-8 - https://www.hagerty.com/media/archived/tasca-ford/