What appears at first to be simply a nicely restored Ford Galaxie 500 is actually a genuine piece of muscle car and NASCAR history, rare and coveted and ready to romp.
The Pick of the Day is one of a handful of 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL R-Code fastbacks built by the factory and packing the 425-horsepower 427 cid – the largest engine size allowed under NASCAR rules at the time – and with a laid-back rear roofline designed to improve aerodynamics on the superspeedways.
According to the Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, dealer advertising this black beauty on ClassicCars.com, the car is an authentic Galaxie R-Code with the correct date-coded engine, build sheet, photo album and “all the factory markings under the hood and underneath the car.”
“Appearing as a 1963½ model, the 500 XL was based on Ford’s newest NASCAR efforts and proved to be an instant sales success,” the seller says in the ad. “Ford built 18,551 Galaxie 500 XLs in 1963, but fewer than 100 had the R-code engine.”
As with many such showroom efforts, the 500 XL R-code came from the world of motorsports.
“In the early 1960s, Ford, GM, and Chrysler slugged it out door handle to door handle on the nation’s drag strips, NASCAR ovals and road-racing circuits,” the seller notes. “Manufacturers stuffed the largest-possible engines into their full-sized, two-door models to create true performance versions.
“To meet FIA and NASCAR displacement rules, these immensely powerful motors were limited to seven liters, or just over 427 cubic inches. Thus were born the 426-inch motors from Dodge/ Plymouth, 421s from Pontiac and 427s from Chevrolet and Ford.”
The Galaxie’s engine is backed by a four-speed manual transmission and the factory upgrades required to handle the immense muscle. The odometer shows 58,702 miles.
The Ford has had a “complete nut-and-bolt restoration” by a performance expert, including an engine rebuild by Dingler Racing Engines, according to the ad. The photos with the ad display the stunning result, with the Galaxie finished in gleaming black paint with a red interior, always a favorable color scheme.
Since this rare factory hot rod is apparently the real deal, it commands the real-deal price tag of $139,995. And for true Ford muscle-car fanatics, it doesn’t get much better than this.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day
You say this is an R code It very well may be !!! But is it the 1963 1/2 with fiberglass hood, trunk lid front fenders and alumuin front and rear bumpers they would be the ones that only 100 were produced also there was no heater radio, only a rubber floor mat and no concole and the car came only in white I think what you may have is an R code but not the low production you describe. The only thing right is the red interior and even that is to fancy, Many cars of that year came with the 427 & 4 speed but this is not the race car that Ford built. I have only been able to find 4 of what I think is the 63 1/2 Galaxie 500 R code racing model , This car is not it but it is a great looking car
I think my dad might have one. Can you send your contact info?
My dads had a console but he bought it corpus christi TX it was a lightweight in the early 60s with 10 miles on it, and it got destroyed by some boys right after he sold it, it said grey ghost on the sides, long story but it was a lightweight ordered, I’m just trying to find out where and how that car was made
Bob, Well, it could get much "better than this" if the car proved not to be as it is described and it cost $39,995 instead of $139,995. The recent controversy involving several cars claimed to be actual race cars previously driven by Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. which were in a recent Mecum Auction causes alarm in the minds of some collector car buyers like me.
Nice, Well, Im 15 and my dad has a 1963 ford galaxie 500 club victoria, It has the same color, but with the hard top in a creme white color. Everything is original. And Has the original matches from the dealership in 63!! It’s a really nice car, and we just got a 1963 ford falcon.
My first car was a 63 1/2 fastback Black with Black interior and 390 moto, Cragar wheels and a Hurst shifter! My Dad Made a deal with a Guy at the Standard gas station for $60 and my new Marlin 30-30! I would give anything to have that car back! Rusty rockers and all!