1962 Ford Galaxie 500 XL.
I already had a replacement for the 1960 Fury: a 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible that had been my father’s company car. He traded it to me for a new KLH stereo worth $400. Insider trading?By the time I had put a few years between college and working in the real world, I had amassed a considerable fortune, about $2,000, and began to think about a new car. I was growing weary of my near-perfect 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible with a 390 and Cruise-O-Matic. Along with an AM radio that didn’t work. And an exhaust system that was impossible to maintain, given leaded fuel and my short commute distances.
The lovely Natalie in Montreal.
What’s more, thanks to one of my college girlfriends (the lovely Natalie, who had certain talents that–sorry–would have to be described on a website devoted to such stuff), I was totally smitten by front-wheel-drive (and certain of her more engaging talents).
Nat’s father owned a ’66 Saab 850 Monte Carlo, which she drove to my aunt and uncle’s house in western Illinois during a Christmas vacation. There was plenty of snow, and the temperature hovered around 0º (cold as hell in Celsius as well). The Saab had no problem with the snow, but it resolutely refused to move in the morning. It would start, but once in gear it wouldn’t go anywhere. Storing it in my uncle’s tire shop at night had the proper therapeutic affect. The Saab moved.
And what a revelation! On the area’s snow-packed back roads, the Saab could be guided precisely through snaky, snowy roads with total control and confidence thanks to its big ol’ 17” (432 mm) Nardi steering wheel, 13:1 steering, and Sears Allstate radial tires (made by Michelin). Saab was proud of the fact that its three-cylinder popcorn popper had only one or two moving parts; well, maybe a few more. But the roller-bearing crank was not very tolerant of the carbon specks that this oil-burner produced in spades. Since the crank was not rebuildable, this generally necessitated one new engine per year.
1968 Bultaco 250 Matador.
The Galaxie inherited the towing duties of Felicia Fury. With the 390, it was hardly taxed at 80 mph (130 kph). The bike I hauled was my Bultaco 250 Matador, which I’d taken as payment for a design job in Chicago. It was really beat: The chrome was pitted and rusted, the seat was split and everything looked like crap. Fortunately, at the time I worked at CBS Labs, in Stamford, CT, where we had our own spray booth. I fixed up the gas tank and sprayed it in mixing white lacquer. I painted the frame in silver acrylic enamel.
Simplicity and torque.
The Matador was wonderfully light. I think it weighed about 295 pounds (134 kg), and had a really low center of gravity. I used to play Sammy Miller at the gravel pit next door: no-feet-down climbing on really poor traction surfaces. I don’t think the bike as geared would run more than 40 mph (64 kph), but it had wonderful low-end torque. I could pull a wheelie without popping the clutch or tugging on the handlebars. My friend, who also had a Bultaco, and I would dust off our friends who had contemporary Yamahas and Hondas. It was 1970; how times change.
The Galaxie was a relaxed long-distance cruiser and dead reliable, but it wouldn’t return more than 10 mpg no matter how I drove. Besides, it simply wasn’t fun to drive. It was just a big fat boat. It was time for a change. But as mentioned, I was smitten by front-wheel drive. That story will come in Part Three.
Ahh, the good ol’ ‘Connecticut blue’ plates. I can recall all of my and my parent’s plate numbers growing up, but once things went graphic I have no idea. Same with my current Texas plates.
I owned a few Bultacos in the ’70’s. And I test-drove a ’63 or ’64 2-stroke Saab 96 before buying my first car in 1975. But I never was crazy about the ’62 (or ’64) Fords. The ’63 and ’65 styling had a sharper edge that really appealed to me.
I have always wanted a Galaxie of that generation. There is something soothing about the 390/Cruise-O-Matic combo. Not lightning fast, but it is a fountain of buttery-smooth torque, and has a fabulous exhaust note as well. My actual dream was one of these Galaxie convertibles with a 390 and a 4 speed.
I was always amazed that the 62 Fords were still giving the buyer a shift lever attached to an exposed shift tube. Suddenly it’s 1950. Even Studebaker managed to conceal the shift tube in its automatics.
I am surprised at your gas mileage. You should have been getting at least 12 mpg, with 14 or 15 on the highway. Oh well, it was a fairly old car at the time, I guess.
JP,
In order to make that great engine noise, you have to put your foot in it. Upon leaving the toll booth on I-95 I enjoyed spinning my studded snow tires and listening to the occasional ejected stud pinging off the inner fenders. Maybe that’s why I only got 10 mpg.
Battle Cruiser class Galaxie, spry snow cat Saab, and off-road motorcycle. Throw in a hot girl and it’s a wonder you’re not trying to find a time machine to go back to those years. 😛
Who says I’m not?
The 62 Galaxie was sort of transitional, moving from the 1960 dash panel to the much more attractive 63/64 dash and interior. My brother had a 61 Fairlane around 1972 (Big Fairlane still) green on green 4 door sedan, 390/3 on the tree. Dad had a 1963 earlier (in 1965). By 1963 Ford really upgraded the interiors with fancier trim, more padding, more Mylar, XL bucket seats and console. And the swing-away steering wheel. Performance, while secondary, was making progress with the 390, 406 and 427. These were heavy cars….and that was a selling point!
My first car was a 64 Galaxie 500! Loved it.
Photoshopped pic as it was down to the Mustang wheel covers!
Just curious, was the ‘vert in an accident? The rear bright trim looks misaligned and the paint looks like it doesn’t match.
In all the FEs my family has owned (352, 390, 428) MPGs were in the 10-20 range. 10 being the 428CJ in town, 14 highway, 20 being the 1968 390 2V highway.
Good call. The left rear quarter panel was opened up nearly its entire length by what I guess was a garbage truck in downtown Philly where the lovely Natalie lived. The repair work was substandard-bad alignment on the chrome trim and bad paint match. I fell out of love with the thing at that point.
“(cold as hell in Celsius as well)”
I love the alternate units of measurement. Now I wonder how many Beetles below zero that would equal..
There aren’t a ton of Fords I love, but the ’61-’64 fullsize models are amongst my favorite. A Saab Monte Carlo is even better and a pretty girl too? Sweet life, man. The bike just makes me think “I would hurt myself on that”, but it’s also cool. Please keep the Brougham Antidotes coming!!