Sorry for the lazy updates. I was only typing during fuel stops. We are home now. I'll do a full story on the find on Wednesday, but it was a great day... And it's a super car. Super excited for Keith.
. Very Nice, But I am partial to Galaxies as both of my older brothers drove 63 1/2 Galaxies back in the 60s. Phil had a 390 hard top and Mark had the 427 4 speed convertible that he often ran with cheater slicks. I remember one time we were sitting at a light waiting for the green, Mark wanted to make a left turn onto 5th ave. When the light went green he spun the wheel to the left and dropped the clutch hard only to lift the front wheels thru the intersection. He backed off when he realized what was happening only to have the front wheels grab and yank us hard left in front of oncoming traffic. I don't know how we missed getting hit. I think Mark was just as surprised as the guy with the Dodge Truck whose bumper we came within inches of painting Ford blue. Then there was the time when three of us headed out of town for a country drive. At about 11pm, Mark turned left onto unknown freshly paved highway that would eventually lead us back home. The pavement was so fresh that they hadn't even laid a center line down it yet. Being unfamiliar with the area, Mark asked Hans Schneider if the road was straight.. "Are there any turns in this road" "Nope" "no curves at all" "Straight as an arrow" replied Hans. "I'm gonna open it up" Well I was sitting in the back seat perched forward and looking out at the headlights more or less from between the front/bucket seats. And all I remember is that inbetween the sound of the dual quad 427 and the roar and vibration of a convertible top at better than 145, it was extremely LOUD. And then it happened.. In the blink of an eye the road disappeared from under the headlights and the engine revved to the limits. All I could see was blackness and headlights staring out into nothing. Mark pulled his foot off the accelerator as the engine began to idle down. "I thought you said this road was straight?" Hans was glued to the center console and the dash via heavily anchored fingernails. -not too surprisingly, there was no reply from him. And then it came. The loudest KerScreeeeeeech I have ever heard. Along with the sound of the engine and tires regaining their lost rpm's. -I would say that it wasn't an exceptionally soft landing but neither was it exceptionally hard. And right then the road reappeared underneath us exactly were it was supposed to be. ..Well it turns out Hans was right, the road didn't have any curves But it did have one exceptionally long and drawn out deep valley. I don't know how far we flew that night but it was certainly far enough at 140+ mph to allow Mark to back off and ask Hans what the funk was up. Mark slowed down for what seemed like a very uneventful -rest of the trip home. No Galaxies were harmed on that hot august night but I'm sure that there must have been some deep scars gouged in the fresh black pavement but then again, nobody was really thinking about going back to have a look.. .
miss my "410" 4sp 63 1/2....went to a collector....390 with 428 gut's and top....what was left of the 428...
In 68 I had a 427 4sp 631/2 , hit a cop car and tow truck on Christmas eve. Should not let an 18 year old have such power. [or Lord Calvert]
You know that scene in "Friday" where Smokey goes, "Daaaaaaaaaaaaammmmnnnn...." Well, that's what Smokey Yunick would say if he saw this car and the plans for it.
FuckinA man. That is sweet. Tardel is gonna love it and if he doesn't there is a guy in KC that would. great find I'll have to see what comes of it.
Had a friend that owned a 427 '63 Galaxie in the late 60s... it was amazing that something that big could go that fast so quickly....
For sure. I bought one new with 3.50 gears, weighed 4050 pounds. Would do high 13's right out of the box.
I drove a 63 galaxie 500 XL 45 years ago. Mine was a 4 dr htp with a FE crusomatic. I still have the engine. It had bucket seats and a floor shift in a console. I didn't really like it because it was a 4 door. If your 289 car is automatic that 5 bolt C4 bellhousing is a very rare item. I have a old 64 galaxie wagon and it was a 289. you wouldn't think a 289 could pull that much weight bet it did. I sold the rare bellhousing the a Hamb member.
Back in 66-67, I had a red 63 2-door hardtop (not the 63 1/2 version) with a 406, 405 hp tripower engine and 4-speed. Scattered that skinny-rod SOB all over I-74 between Morton and East Peoria. Loved it up to that point.
The Jalopy Journal
