1968 Galaxy 500 - New Aquisition

[Stephenorf]

I just hauled this car home. It has been lanquishing in a field for the past 8 years or so. Before that, it was left at a repair facility since ~ 2000. It is original paint with requisite patina), has the original 390 with all the smog emission parts, the vinyl top is almost completely gone and most of the parts look unmolested (except by some pesky field mice).

Even the four headlights all have the FoMoCO script on them.

 

[Stephenorf]

Badges...we don't need no stinking badges!

Well, here is the 390 badge from the fender on the Galaxie and the script on the quarter panel. Woohoo...FE power!

 

[miker98038]

Pretty cool. The field must not have been on the gulf coast, or up here in Seattle. You can see thru our patina in 8 years. Transmission a cruiso?

Just looking at an FE intake makes my back hurt. Been that way since I pulled my first one in 1966.

 

[Stephenorf]

Pretty cool. The field must not have been on the gulf coast, or up here in Seattle. You can see thru our patina in 8 years. Transmission a cruiso?

Just looking at an FE intake makes my back hurt. Been that way since I pulled my first one in 1966.

Yeah, the car has been in North Texas its whole life as far as I can tell. It had almost no rust at all when I put it out to pasture. The Texas sun is murder on paint.

 

[58Yeoman]

In about '74 or so, I was working at a Ford dealer, and they took a '68 LTD 4dr hardtop on trade. It was missing bad, and I was able to buy it for $300. It had three bent pushrods. I drove it for a couple years as my main car, even a trip to FL. Sold it to a buddy who drove it for a few years more. Nice car.

 

[mercman from oz]

Back in 1976, I bought this 1968 Ford Galaxie 500 Four Door Hardtop. It was Left Hand Drive, and I had to get it converted to Right Hand Drive.
Ford Australia sold new 1968 RHD Ford Galaxie 500 Sedans, but that was the only body style available here.
I loved this car, especially as it was Pillar-less, and only sold it when I upgraded to an Imported 1971 Ford Country Squire Wagon.
These 1968 Fords are great looking old Fords.
Congratulations on your new purchase.

 

[bobss396]

hose are nice cars. The ones in NY were prone to frame rot and the 1st sign was a bad brake line under the left chassis rail.

 

[Stephenorf]

hose are nice cars. The ones in NY were prone to frame rot and the 1st sign was a bad brake line under the left chassis rail.

When it was on the trailer I took a look under the car. I didn't see any rot under the car. A lot of surface rust. I'll make a more thourough examination as time and weather permit. Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely check out the left chassis rail where the brake line runs.

 

[rotorwrench]

Vinyl tops don't like the sun. The fastback was sportier but they likely sold quite a few of the standard tops with vinyl roofs. They were good road cars. If you get it running and drive it around for a while, the underside will likely brush off some of the corrosion build up.

The humid air in South Texas isn't as forgiving as the northern parts of Texas.

The car may have an FMX transmission. They came out in 1968 but there is a mix of medium case Cruise-O-Matics and FMX transmissions in the FE engined cars that didn't have performance packages. The C6 was generally more performance oriented in cars of that era. They are all OK but the C6 is a bit stouter unit.

 

[Stephenorf]

Vinyl tops don't like the sun. The fastback was sportier but they likely sold quite a few of the standard tops with vinyl roofs. They were good road cars. If you get it running and drive it around for a while, the underside will likely brush off some of the corrosion build up.

The humid air in South Texas isn't as forgiving as the northern parts of Texas.

The car may have an FMX transmission. They came out in 1968 but there is a mix of medium case Cruise-O-Matics and FMX transmissions in the FE engined cars that didn't have performance packages. The C6 was generally more performance oriented in cars of that era. They are all OK but the C6 is a bit stouter unit.

Hmm...Looks like this Galaxie has a 390 2v with 3 in the tree and a 3.00:1 open differentail.

 

[JimNNN]

Very cool car! Congratulations. Late sixties Galaxies are nice looking cars that can still be found in original configuration. The 390 is a wonderful engine.

 

[Stephenorf]

Very cool car! Congratulations. Late sixties Galaxies are nice looking cars that can still be found in original configuration. The 390 is a wonderful engine.

I don't know why I'm suprised to see the 390 mated to a 3 speed column shift, but I am. I thought these big cars would have been mostly configured with automatics. At least the car has factory AC.

 

[mercman from oz]

Local 1968 Ford Galaxie 500 Sedan.
This was the only body style sold in Australia.

 

[5851a]

In that era automatic transmissions had kind of a bad reputation in the south and Colorado. They fried too frequently. Yes vinyl tops were rare in Texas and southwest. We never new what Patina was. We called it Satin finish, as in Sat in the sun to long. My Aunt is 80 and lives in Arlington, I don't think she has ever owned and automatic. She has moved up to a 5 speed though. Ford did have White sale event days some years, maybe January? To get sales stimulated. They would combine several options in one pkg at a low price and build batches of them. At one time I think I owned one of them, a 67 and saw many identical ones around. Nice ride, wish I had it back.

 

[38convsedan]

I love it! A very cool car!!

 

[Stephenorf]

I love it! A very cool car!!

Thanks! I'm battling a colony of rats that have taken up residence in the trunk. Once they are gone I can get to work!

 

[Stephenorf]

In that era automatic transmissions had kind of a bad reputation in the south and Colorado. They fried too frequently. Yes vinyl tops were rare in Texas and southwest. We never new what Patina was. We called it Satin finish, as in Sat in the sun to long. My Aunt is 80 and lives in Arlington, I don't think she has ever owned and automatic. She has moved up to a 5 speed though. Ford did have White sale event days some years, maybe January? To get sales stimulated. They would combine several options in one pkg at a low price and build batches of them. At one time I think I owned one of them, a 67 and saw many identical ones around. Nice ride, wish I had it back.

I was looking at the options, it's to bad the car didn't come with a 4 speed. Although I don't even know if a 4 speed manual transmission was offered on this car.

 

[miker98038]

It’s a little too late a model, but that would be a dynamite sleeper with a T-85 R-11 o/d and a set of 4:11’s. The effective 2.87 in o/d would be sweet on your 80mph roads.

 

[Stephenorf]

It’s a little too late a model, but that would be a dynamite sleeper with a T-85 R-11 o/d and a set of 4:11’s. The effective 2.87 in o/d would be sweet on your 80mph roads.

Yeah, but the thing is probably pushing 4500 lbs with the big 390 and all the rat turds. And the specs on a stock 390 with the 2v carb is only about 265 BHP. That's about 17lb per hp.

Years ago I owned a 1970 Buick Electra 225 with a 455 2v. That car would stand still like it had a line lock while I smoked the rear wheel (I think it was limited slip). I was young and had a blast abusing that old car until I threw a rod right through the oil pan. It didn't take too long.

 

[JimNNN]

I don't know why I'm suprised to see the 390 mated to a 3 speed column shift, but I am. I thought these big cars would have been mostly configured with automatics.

I'm guessing that's very rare. To me, there are very few thing as cool as big block full sized coupes from the sixties with manual transmissions, whether floor shift or column shift.



Car looks straight, too. Thank goodness the grille also looks straight...those probably aren't that common nowadays.