There are always a few cars that are for sale when taking in a local car show, and the one I went to on Sunday is no exception. Here is a 1963 Ford Galaxie that seems well worn, but is it a good buy?
There is a couple of items that aren’t quite right with this Galaxie. First, the driver side window doesn’t seem to retract fully, and that raised a red flag with me. The last thing I want to do is remove the door panel, and find out what is wrong with the window mechanism. And I don’t know what the convertible top looks like…
The aftermarket wheels are hideous, but easily fixed with a good set of Steelies, and maybe a full set of Wheel Covers, or better yet, dog dish hubcaps.
The engine looks like it could use a good bit of detailing. The aftermarket radio really detracts from the presentable interior, but the carpets could use a good cleaning. From what I saw, there is very little in the way of rust, but the paint is tired.
So what would you pay if you had the hankering for a classic 60s full size convertible. Is the $9,000 price tag a bit too much? Let me know.
V.I.S.I.T – What Would You Pay for this 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Convertible?
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I'm not really into car prices, but this seems like a decent price to me even though it needs a few things. I love the interior.
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I would ask if this person is interested in interesting trades. Hollywood memorabilia and the like.
9K ameros sounds steep for the condition, but 7k sounds about right.-
I'd offer five and see if he blinks.
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Is that the original interior in such good shape, and original paint? If so, that could be a very nice price. The window is readily fixable. The top has to be considered shot until proven otherwise – maybe a point of negotiation?
How's this compare to the cheapest new convertible out there? You can't touch the style. And that's enough to overlook a lot of modern comforts and capabilities.-
Top for my 68 Galaxie was only $2000 installed with shipping , so that would be a moot point for me . Besides as clean as the interior looks I bet it spent many days in a garage . Oh and if it has a plastic back window you can have a glass replacement for under $500
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With those wheels? I would offer 7.
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I thought the sign said 4000 at first glance and thought wow what a deal! Then I saw that it was 9 and well, that's right around book value for that car, maybe eve a little low considering it's an XL. Too rich for my blood, but it's a decent price and if you could talk em out of a grand it'd be a really good price.
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Be careful with a white car. The color can hide a lot of bondo.
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Not this Galaxie. Seems too old-world, too sedate. You gotta roll with the later ones, with the stacked headlights. Those are dope.
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I've never had a '63 Ford but somehow the dash seems very familiar to me. I think because as a kid I did "drive" this:<img src="http://wesclark.com/am/dash.jpg">It's the Deluxe Reading Playmobile, the best dashboard toy ever. Given that it hit the market in 1961, it actually PREDICTED the 1963-64 Galaxie dash. It even has the "ignition key" on the left like so many early 1960's Fords.
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Based on the VIN I could tell you if that's a stonking 10.5:1 390 or a timid ~250hp 352. Not that it matters that much, as a drop-top it'll still be a cruiser.
Aside from needing new wheels, there are a few biggies that'd affect the value in a big way:
–Engine/tranny condition (200k miles and wheezing along, or just rebuilt?)
–Rearend (not a huge deal, but something other than an open 3:00:1 would be nice)
–Condition of the top
–Minus a pile of cash for the manual, single-circuit brakes. Luckily, kits to get up to power dual-bore are reasonable (~$700)
Asking $9k…
…depending on the above, I'd offer like 6k or say "can you get under 7?" and go from there. Probably buy it at $7500. -
Unless it is a rust bucket the price does not seem unreasonable. The wheels were very 'of the moment" in the 1980's- and that moment has now passed. However, it is nothing that a set of traditional Torq Thrusts with wide 60 series 15 in tires wouldn't fix. Yes I did say 15's. Anyone who would put 24 in wheels and tires on a car like this deserves to be bludgeoned to death with a tire iron. As for the radio, I would source an original to fill the hole but hide a modern system elsewhere in the car. A nice stereo adds so much to the driving experience that it would be a pity to be without one if one could be installed in an unobtrusive manner.
As for me, I wouldn't pay $9,000 for this car simply because it is not my style. No, my $9k would be spent on a good classic Mini from a rust-free part of the world like New Zeland or Australia instead of a land barge like this. I like classics I can afford to buy gas for. After all, what is the point of owning a classic car if you never get to drive it? Plus, i am probably one of the only people in the world who has ever owned a Geo Metro and wanted to have a smaller car to replace it. -
minus them wheels take them floormats hmmmm 6k?
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If you're really worried about the window crank, keep walking.
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5 years down the road, when you have the small stuff sorted, are you really going to lament paying 2 grand more than you MIGHT have gotten it for?
It'll be a fun cruiser that you'll be able to proudly say you payed under 10K for. Friends will be jealous, guaranteed. -
Hi i like your car do take $8000
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Ive go t a 1963 ford galaxie 260 3 in the tree all original minus it needing new interior and paint its in good condition with 102000 miles on it and mine is worth 10 thousand as is so unless your talking to someone who knows galaxies don't listen to these yahoos
![http://wesclark.com/am/dash.jpg">It's](http://wesclark.com/am/dash.jpg">It's){kind=link}
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