Should I buy a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500?

[cleveramerican]

I have the chance to buy a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 from an old lady I know.
It has sat in her garage since her husband died in 1977.

It is a clean un-restored example in very nice shape.
63,000 original miles, never been crashed
It is not a convertible or a sport model.
It is a four door, Black with a red interior.
She wants $2000.It is a V-8 with automatic transmission.

with a little polish it could be sweet

I am not set up for it.
My garage is already full,
It would have to sit outside through the Massachusetts winter.
My wife is against it, but she hasn't seen it yet.
She has no vision in these matters.


It is a great deal.
My Mom had one pretty close to it when I was a kid.

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. 289 V-8?

I'd buy it.

I had a 1965 Ford Fairlane, 289, automatic....nice car.

[cleveramerican]

2. 390

its big block!

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. Woof!

Buy it!

[cleveramerican]

9. how much do you think its worth cleaned up?

I was thinking about offering $2250 and asking her to leave it where it is 'till the spring.

If I spent around $300 on tires and fluids and polish... it could be car show quality.

if I sold a motorcycle(1965 BMW) I could cover the expenses,and free up a garage spot.

[LeftyFingerPop]

26. Go to this ebay page to get a rough idea of current market value.

Look at what they are bidding for the cars, not what the sellers are asking.

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Trucks-/6001/i.html?_dmpt=US_Cars_Trucks&_mak=Ford&_mod=Galaxie&_sop=&_rdc=1

[cleveramerican]

27. Wow! thanks!

18K seems kind optimistic, but it tells me a lot.

[AngryAmish]

4. Buy the car right f'n now

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. buy it.

sweet.

[Tobin S.]

6. I'd buy it and put it in storage if you have the extra cash

That way the car won't be deteriorating in the weather while you try to find some room in your garage.

[AwakeAtLast]

31. I second this suggestion.

:thumbsup:

[jakefrep]

7. Go for it!

Sounds like a neat car.

[seemunkee]

8. You could turn that around pretty quick

Clean it up, tune it, sell it.

[blueknight]

10. if you dont buy it

i will! let me know, and im serious

[cleveramerican]

12. She has offered it to few people,... the sharks are circling

If I don't buy it today or tomorrow it'll be gone.

I am first in line so its just a matter of convincing the Mrs.

She is waiting to hear from me.

[seemunkee]

13. Easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission

[8 track mind]

11. jump on it

Clean examples of those cars are hard to find. There is good parts availability for the 390 v-8 and the FMX automatic transmission. Hop up parts are available too!

DO NOT leave this car out in the weather! build a storage shed or rent one to house the bikes. That car will go to hell fast out in the elements. Send pix when you get a chance!!!!

[cleveramerican]

15. how rare can it be?

Ford must have sold tens of thousands of them.
It was their best selling model in '63.

[8 track mind]

42. well its not the fact that its rare,

but it's in good shape. It has the original running gear. the less work you have to do to the body, the better. Plus the dash probably hasn't been hacked up to make room for a CD player. A good clean 60's car with very low miles is just really hard to come by these days. You have to consider that a lot of these have been crushed by now.

If you like the car, $2000 is a great price for it.

Look at it this way, if you don't like it after you buy it, clean it up, get it running properly, sell it and double your money!

[HopeHoops]

14. Buy it. I've got a 68 Galaxie with a 390 in storage.

My grandfather bought it new. One winter won't kill it if you keep it covered when you aren't using it and drive it a couple of times a month to keep it happy. $2K is a great price if it is in the condition you described!

[Rambis]

16. Yes

good luck!:crazy:

[david13]

17. Are you nuts? It is a piece of junk. Everything will be wrong with it.

It is a pollution monstrosity. You could turn it around to the junk yard, and get $50 for it.
dc

[Throd]

33. You sure sound fun!

[Sequoia]

40. You have no imagination!

Party pooper!

[Brickbat]

18. Tell your wife that this wife would snap it up pronto! I love Galaxies.

Good looking car. I'd buy it in a second.

[Swede]

19. Check prices on ebay and kijiji.

It will give you some idea of it's value.

[Iggo]

20. Long as it's not yer main ride, yes...buy it. (n/t)

[cleveramerican]

22. it would be a sunny Sunday Car.

but I would have to part with one of my other toys.

[gmoney]

21. 22 years of sitting might be a problem.

has she started it up once in a while, kept the tire pressure up, etc? If not, then things might be gummed up pretty badly and you might need to get the engine and/or transmission rebuilt, etc...

You could offer to buy it and pay her a little extra if it can stay in her garage until spring?

Realize that you'll either need to become something of a motorhead to keep it rolling, or find a mechanic.

But it sounds like a good adventure! I've considered tracking down a 67 Impala SS like I used to drive years ago...

[cleveramerican]

25. she told me it ran fine when they parked it in 1977...lol!

it was on four flats, I filled the tires on Wednesday, I'll know later if they held air,

I turned the fan and the crank turned with relative ease, so the motor is not seized.

truth be told I am more of a foreign car guy,
I have always leaned more toward old Alfa's BMW's or Benz's
I have had a few over the years.

this would be my first old American car.

[zonkers]

23. Buy it but don't keep it outside this winter.

[SteppingRazor]

24. Seconded. It's a very bad idea to leave this car outside in a harsh winter.

If you can find some indoor room for it, then I'd say go for it.

[semillama]

28. If you can't get indoor storage, pass.

a Mass winter will not be good for the condition of the car.

Otherwise, do it. Hell of a car. My dad had a 69 Galaxie 500, and when I was 6 or so I managed to shift it from park to neutral on a hill and crashed it into some small trees. No damage to either the car or me.

[Tikki]

29. If you really have the room...

lousy gas milage...it's a four door sedan.

Tikki

[RadiationTherapy]

30. The Cadillac's sitting in the back; it isn't me.

I'm more at home in my Galaxie.

Blind Melon: Galaxie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF5Fk5T-KW0

[AwakeAtLast]

32. You could buy it then turn right around and sell for double what you paid

I know you won't do that, but that's how much this is a good deal!

[Throd]

34. Get off the internet and go snag it NOW.

[GOPisEvil]

35. The only thing I don't like is that it is a 4-door.

What I would do is break this decision down into a slow chart.

1. Are you buying this car because you have an affinity for it, and want to keep it long term, or is it a project to be sold when fixed up (for profit or not)?
2. If the latter, what is the value of this vehicle currently if properly restored?
3. If the former, then go for it. Nothing wrong with having something that evokes a pleasant memory, etc.

All of this assumes you have the time, skill and money needed to restore this beast.

390 though. Nothing wrong with that. :)

[cleveramerican]

36. I am buying it because my mom had one

and I have fond memories of hers.

[GOPisEvil]

38. That's the reason I owned a '66 Impala for a while.

My dad had one when I was born. I would love to have one now, if I had the space.

[mdmc]

37. YES

i.m. me if ya don't. My dad might be interested,.

[Sequoia]

39. Clean out the garage and get it.

Too cool to pass up, I'm telling ya!

[Throd]

41. Wasn't that the squad car on the Andy Griffith show?

[kentauros]

43. Only if you're planning to take a trip to Alphaville

[cleveramerican]

44. three deals later.... I got it!!!!

sold an old BMW motorcycle I have owed for years to a friend who has wanted it for years.
Had to throw in an old porcelin Alfa sign that was difficult to part with.

agreed to take the Mrs. out to a nice fancy dinner and to the Bob Dylan concert in November.
I told her she could drive it next summer.

I laid out $2250 and the friend agreed to let the sit right where it is
as long as I keep my hands off it and don't be over in her garage much this winter.



Thank you all for the encouragement.

[PJPhreak]

45. Cool,Now you have a bit 'o work to do...

Replace the flexable part of the Brake lines,Belts,Tires,Hoses and ALL the fluids.

DO NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL YOU REPLACE THE GAS!!!!!!!!!! AND BREAK DOWN AND CLEAN THE CARB!!!!
Drain the tank,lines,Fuel Pump and carb.

New Battery and Brake shoes.

Check all the light bulbs and switches.

Enjoy the Hell outta of it!

Edit to add: the FE series of engines (390/427/428/460) Hot Rod REAL Nicely!!