Lightweight Galaxie is the Jumbo Shrimp of the Car World
Here’s a nicely completed Lightweight Galaxie replica offered on the Detroit Craigslist for $19,950. I don’t know about you, but it turns on my staging lights.
The first Ford Lightweight Galaxie was built in mid-1963. That car, driven by legendary Ford driver Dick Brannan, brought the blue oval brand their first NHRA Super/Stock record, and presaged a series of wins that led to Ford taking the NHRA World Championship in 1964. Fewer than 200 of the mostly 427-cid powered cars were built, and today they can draw six figures on auction.
This repli-racer is offered at a mere fraction of that, and, while it lacks the history, it shouldn’t lack the heart-stopping performance of the original cars. The 500 horsepower should be good for 12-second quarters and really, would you even attempt that with a real one unless your name was Rockefeller or Hilton?
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WANT.
Man, every day Craigslist just seems more and more magical.
I have always like the Galaxies, and this takes it to the max.
A long time ago, in a Galaxie far far away…
I can only think of two things that would make this more bad-ass. 427 Cammer or Boss 429.
Really, for a car you plan on enjoying, who gives a damn about "all-original", "numbers-matching", or any of the other magical words and phrases that make a car worth hundreds of thousands at Barrett-Jackson? If it's a good swap or conversion, most people would never know the difference. In the real world, most of us want that Yenko Camaro, Thunderbolt Fairlane, or Hemi 'Cuda because it looks badass and runs like stink, so what's wrong with a good replica or "tribute car"? All the looks and performance at a fraction of the price, and you can hoon the everloving shit out of it without its value dropping like a lead balloon. Even if you're showing it, most enthusiasts will dig a nice engine swap, as long as you're not trying to convince someone that you somehow scored a real ZL-1 COPO Camaro. Be cool about it, build your car the way you like it, and enjoy it. That 6 cylinder Impala can easily take a big block, so why the hell not? All original rare cars are cool as hell to see, but I'd rather have something I can drive. This Galaxie is that kind of car.
I appreciate all-original, numbers matching examples of rare factory specials (lightweights, etc). Don't ever want to get involved with them, but I appreciate them.
I'm mystified when people go to great lengths to make a "tribute" or "clone" that's made from crazy-expensive OEM parts, though. The attraction of the "all factory" build is that it's actually.all.factory.
If you're going to start with a 6-banger car and build it to something special…why not take your pick of the best aftermarket stuff around?
Taking it back the other way, I'm a big fan of roughly "period correct" builds. i.e. I'm not going to put 17" wheels and '98 SHO seats in my Falcon. If i go for buckets or the like, I'll try to make them look like they're from the 60s or 70s.
Yeah, you got it. I pretty much agree with what you said, but I also like the idea of taking a six-banger and building it into something rad. Side draft Webers don't suck. Neither do Clifford Research headers.
Neither do turbochargers.
No. Not one bit. This website has minimal suckage, as well.
http://www.inliners.org/
Now THAT'S a resto-mod I can stand behind!
Oh no! He's parked on the driveway!
Not acceptable: 427 on the hood, 460 under it.
Man, I really liked this car, but that is misleading. I wonder if the output is in the same neighborhood as the original. Don't get me wrong, I'd still rock it's socks off at the track, but I would have to peel off the 427 decals if they aren't accurate.
Why can't I buy a Hairy Olds replica for 20 grand?