1963 1/2 Galaxie 500XL First Start in 16 Years!

[@jasonmyers3847]

Looking at that roof reminds of what Craig just went through with his two '64 Galaxies. Lots of rust repair.

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

Yeah, not looking forward to it, I do have a whole roof though.. probably going to cut and splice the clean roof on rather than patching

[@coyotefurtrumpet]

63 is my fav year for the galaxie. The lines are epic.

[@jamesschrom317]

I just got a 63 1/2 Galaxie last fall. I really wanted an XL with 390 4 bbl. but when I saw this one I got I had to have it. 352 2 bbl. carb. At almost 5 bucks a gallon I'm kind of glad I didn't get the 390. No power steering, no power brakes no outside rear view mirror. People don't realize that all that stuff was optional back then. I can have it converted to power steering in the future if I live that long but for now I'll keep it stock. 40,000 original miles. It did a lot of sitting over the years but things are immaculate for being almost 60 yrs. old.

[@matthewmellott3318]

I bought a 64 with no power steering or brakes and no mirrors....same exact scenario....good luck

[@randytim512]

I think 1963 was the best looking car of the 1960s.

[@renesagahon4477]

The dated fifties styling was pretty much dead by 63. This was the first year that became apparent in styling across the board

[@1963-Ford-Galaxie]

Nice to see a Galaxie put back on the road

[@morganlewis2667]

Heart skipped a beat when I saw this on my feed. Was my first car at 16 back in '69...exactly, except mine had a VINYL white roof. That mid-year mod with the fastback roof really made these lookers.

[@TheChaztor]

Gorgeous! Always loved the 63 Galaxies.

[@harnettsgarage]

It wouldn't be an old FE without at lest one manifold leak! Haha. My coworker has a 67 Galaxie 500, he's always chasing exhaust manifold leaks!

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

Lol Isn't that the truth! Not lookin forward to getting these bolts out... I'm sure a few are going to snap.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

That's because, stock, Ford didn't use gaskets for the exhaust manifolds, but there are aftermarket ones available, which fixes that problem.

[@steveknorr1633]

Hey brother,this is Stretch from T-Town Okla. I just stumbled on your show and I did the day watching it. Not bad dudes! Anyway, I just saw your show on the 63&1/2 Do Ford & I have a thing for 63's/64's .i also heard you've had it for a few moons ? I'm going to put this out for you to think on & maybe we can get together on the a dealer? Ya see , i just happen to have a 1965 Mercy Comet 2dr. Post. 6cyl. 3 on the tree & I was just wondering if you wanted a clone of yours to be safe, just in case .I'd be happy to hear from ya & maybe we can both have a merry Christmas for a change? What do ya say brother will you think on it for a while and get back to me? ✌️

[@patricknicolucci5073]

My mom had a used 64 in black 390cu got it from my uncle who was a mechanic Loved that old monster !

[@benkoch7729]

Way cool man! I love my 63 and a half so its always great to see another one brought back,to life!

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

Thanks Ben! They truly are gorgeous cars! I saw a restomod 63 1/2 (green) at a goodguys show and just fell in love with the lines

[@larrybomber83]

That car is so cool. Reminded me of my 390 I had in my 68 LTD. Of course I put a Holley 780CFM Cual Line, duels, and chrome valve covers. That car would run.

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

Thanks Larry! Sounds like you had a fun runner!

[@larrybomber83]

@@Theoldcarchannel. Yes it was. Thank You!

[@allenshearer]

Have a fondness for the 63 Galaxie. My first car was a 63 Galaxie 500.

[@Lori5564]

I always loved the Galaxie. 😎💙I can actually smell the old car smell when you opened the door (even though the windows were rolled down)😉 That's a beautiful area where you live.

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

They're beautiful cars! Haha that's funny, gotta love the old car smell! Thank you, we bought the land and built the house ourselves, the developers did a good job with the rest of the subdivision.

[@brianmaynard7320]

Beautiful video!! Love that Galaxy!! Love those lines!! Looks like it's doing 110 standing still!!

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

Thanks Brian, you are absolutely correct in saying that!

[@rockubtzer]

Pop had a new 63 Galaxie 500 XL Convertible 390 6 pack police interceptor 4 speed Rose Beige black top Black interior bucket seats... He sold it in 67 when I was 3. Got a 60 Cadillac 6 pack & 63 Corvair Manza Spider Turbo.

[@angeloc3842]

Almost bought a black on black rag top 63. This video made me wish I did. Style 👌🏼

[@DavidKing-py9dt]

My first car was a 631/2 galaxy 500xl black with a white interior hard for a 16 year old kid to keep tires on a car like that. I'm 63 now and I still miss it.

[@study650]

What a beautiful car. I had a '64 like that in '65; awesome.

[@Bbbbad724]

It’s a nice car and if you take your time as it comes back to life in its schedule you will get the reward of 1963s best and understated car.

[@Fordman7575]

The 63 1/2 Galaxie is my favorite of the the full size Ford cars. Gotta love the bark of the 390 when you stomp on it! A 4spd swap is a great choice! A manual transmission is so much better then an auto!

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

They're gorgeous cars! 63 has better design than the 64 galaxie in my opinion. The ol 390 still has some life in her! The 4 spd swap will bring a new feeling to the car that's forsure!

[@1975napier]

Cool car! Definitely worth putting some time and a little money into. Will make a nice and comfortable cruiser.

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

Thank you! Oh I'm sure she'll take a little more than a little bit of money out of my pocket lol

[@paularcher3237]

I drove a 63 to school today. It looks almost exactly like the thumbnail of the vid.

[@GeekGinger]

My parents had a 63 convertible when I was very young. I remember that grill and the interior a bit, but not much else. My dad says it was a 352, though, so not a speed demon.

[@icerazar713]

Beautiful car. I don't know why, but that light blue color just seems to suit this car.

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

Thank you, I love the color combo as well! The white roof with the light blue paint just gives it a different vibe!

[@vicmabus1532]

That's a pretty nice old car!

[@waynekaminski5438]

My father was first elected as a county sheriff in 1963, but as deputy sheriff had been appointed county sheriff mid-way through the prior term of office. One of the most influential of county commissioners (three in total) was a cousin through family and that cousin had a younger brother who was one of my father's best friends. When it came down to what vehicle my father would use, my father spec'ed out a 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie 500XL with the 390 P-code police interceptor package and the commissioner got the car purchase approved. My father drove the car hard, was out on patrol one afternoon at the recreational reservoir when the car had an electrical fire. Dad was just going to let the fire total the car when a well-meaning camper put out the fire. That toasted the interior lights. I don't know what transpired after 1969, when my father got the county to purchase a 1970 Ford LTD but the Galaxie was put into storage until I got my driver's license in April 1972 and around June 1972 my father handed me the keys to the Galaxie, and I was the new owner. I have no clue as to how he got ownership unless the commissioner swung some kind of deal (my father could sell you the shirt off your back). I drove the 500XL that summer and fall, then winterized it and revived it the following spring of 1973, then drove it spring, summer and fall of 1973, winterized it again until spring and summer of 1974. Seriously, that was way too much car for a 16-year-old to start out with. The 390 P-code engine allegedly had some work done on it by a local mechanic friend of my father such that it was more of a 400+. I don't know how I survived the summer/fall of 1972, spring/summer/fall of 1973 and the spring/summer of 1974. I was not allowed to take the car when I started university in the fall of 1974, so my younger sisters drove it until I took it back the summer of 1975 and again the summer of 1976 when I then drove it back to start my junior year of college in the fall of 1976 and became my daily driver from the fall of 1976 through to the summer of 1979, when I parked it and bought a 1974 AMC Matador to drive off to a summer intern job with Monsanto (St. Louis Missouri) in 1979. I have fond memories of that Galaxie through three years of high school and tree years of university. Two-door with white exterior and black vinyl bucket seats in the front (way cooler than those front seats in this video), and floor mounted automatic transmission shifter between the front bucket seats and similar rear seats as shown in this video with that large speaker grill in the rear center. I could lay rubber for a city block. From when I worked that summer of 1979 in St. Louis, then returned to finish out my B.S. in ChemE in the fall of 1979, then started my M.S. program in Jan. 1980 through Jan. 1981, finished up on my M.S. in ChemE (graduating in May 1981) and moved out to California to start work in Feb. 1981, I had no time to look back and do anything to the Galaxie as it was parked in the back yard of my mother's house and sat slowly sinking into the dirt until my mother found a buyer in 1985 (paid us $500) and I never saw the Galaxie 500XL again.

[@lucilleking7495]

was just thinking , about time you posted somthing seeing as winter is behind us and we canuks are comming out of hibernation didnt know you changed channel name glad l refound you thanks gord

[@jimearnest4342]

I love those 60s galaxy and Fairlane body styles,i get Nascar vibe from them too. Enjoyed the video,keep up the good work.

[@johncolvin3752]

My dad had a yellow and black interior 63 1/2 Ford Galaxie 500. I begged him to let me have it, at the time I was twelve years old to this day I still wish I had that car. Plus he bought the car two months before I was born.

[@renesagahon4477]

Rare color combo. I’m sure that was a pretty car

[@dannycurtis1744]

That was great ,your Dad,s a cool Guy 😎. Next video please 👍👍

[@jeffscott8323]

One of Daddys friends from work had a square roof one. Cool car

[@jasongross9458]

Gotta love that shap ! beautiful looking car 👌🏾👍🏾

[@galaxiesteve7139]

She started up pretty easy it looks like. My 63 Gal originally had a vinyl top that was taken off and painted when I got it. It had some rust holes but not as bad as yours. She'll be a beauty when you get her all cleaned up. I had a 67 Galaxie 390 that we put grease in between the heads and exhaust manifold. It held for the few years I had it until it was sold. Maybe look into getting some copper gaskets, that's what has been recommended to me.

[@renesagahon4477]

Vinyl tops were a rare option on the galaxy for that year and for 64

[@jeffscott8323]

Always loved that style Ford Galixey. Seen a million of them growing up. Some in high school. Was a teenager in early 70s late 60s.

[@lovetocrank]

Same!

[@marvinhecox8289]

1 of my favorite car's .i miss mine good Luck with it nice car

[@kgabris3387]

Little bit of smoke out the back simply adds to the Bettina! So what if the tree huggers get pissed. Good bones in that oud beauty. Kudos to the previous owner for storing it well. Ps. as in heavy equipment, always good to leave a oily rag in the tailpipe.

[@geoffreydemaesschalck6065]

Awesome. Gorgeous car!

[@johnsarian_cu]

She's a peach. For siting so long she's surprisingly free of that south Tx sunburn too.

[@michael007ish]

This was my dad's spec except it had the body colour roof. Man that was a pretty car.

[@paulgunter1538]

Nice Video Mike. Great find !

[@barrycuda3769]

How much do you have to pay for a 63 galaxie project like this?. They are definitely one of the coolest looking car's ever.

[@zombokiler4462]

i had an old engine that smoked like that constantly. it was an easy fix in my case just had to pull valve covers and clean the drain holes from top of head down into oil pan . oil was running in through valve seals

[@stephenmanion3418]

sharp ford...!!!!!! i like it

[@AndrewHCann]

Excellent video :) get grey bottle of STP Total Treatment fuel injection and carb cleaner in fuel tank add one each month to ! Get bottle of bottle Brand NAPA call RISLONE put rad on cold engine whole contents in run in engine for 1 hour low idle to and sealed up gaskets plus whole motor both tune up too! 390 V8 4 barrels great motor also remember my first pickup Ford F350 extended cab 1 ton had motor and did job too! It was high boy truck plus motor was 4 V FE on carb had hand choke cable knob in dash plus MANUAL transmission Coulmn Shifter rare 4 speed foward gears , 409 rear end gears and lots power to! Temperature gauge for reading correct on that car if heads to middle or higher get thermostat changes to that car !

[@GTP427cobra]

Thats a nice and could restore it and make beautiful car

[@MustangGuy6501]

Beautiful car great video!

[@Ray-lo4hr]

Restoration is worth it.The hub caps are worth their weight in gold in the trunk.

[@bobwellman9717]

In 1974, I had the 64 1/2 Galaxie 500XL with 390, 4 barrel, 4 on the floor, no AC, no power brakes or steering, reversed shackles, slotted mags on the rear and baby moons on the front. It had the exact same paint scheme as the Comet. My oldest brother, 2 years younger than I, had the 63 1/2 just like yours except dark blue. My youngest brother, 6 years younger than I, had the 62 1/2 in black. My middle brother, 4 years younger than I, had a 62 Galaxie with a 289 and my dad had a red 63' Galaxie , also with a 289. Red makes them faster, right?🤔

[@resurrectionmotors2421]

Absolutely love the channel you and your papa have. Congratulations to pop on your retirement in a month and a half. Retirement is a great thing I love mine hahaha. Between you and junkyard digs, I'm starting to raise an eyebrow and starting to take a different look at Ford. Absolutely love the channel Mike. But if you could change one thing for a viewer , please stop saying GD. For me it's very disturbing. God bless

[@NetWit20]

Almost identical to my first car back in 1976 only my interior was blue/green and my gold 390 valve covers read: "Mercury" not "Thunderbird". Otherwise it could have been the same car! It smoked in the morning only, then cleared up. The transmission would slip into low at odd times, but I loved the thing and wish I had it back.

[@vo1non]

I owned one exactly like this around 1977. Great, solid car, but seemed like it got 5 miles to the gallon. I sold it to my sister.

[@alexandermckay8594]

What are your plans for that engine? When you get the trans will you pull it and freshen it up? BTW, why haven't you bolted those racks down?

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

No really plans for the engine at the moment. Would just like to seal up the exhaust leaks and then do the 4 spd swap. The lifts don't need to be bolted, in the long run they won't be staying there so didn't bother bolting them to the floor

[@robertironside3166]

Fantastic that you got this choice CHOICE Funk-mobile. Suggestion: if you've been at all toying with the idea of this sort of motor thang *drum roll* Shelby America, Aluminum, new and improved, 427... with their heads and possibly think of making the intake a Turbo friendly one [instead of the Stacks they tend to you on the Cobra's all the time]. The bottom end of their 427 is built even sturdier than the LS version of the Windsor they improved on before & are famous for... but arguably, the new Windsor inspired block the Shelby gang has designed and built is overspec in that area... as well as gussetted reinforced top in the Lifter Valley... second to none in the improved oil passeges to make sure the dang thing has well lubed crank, main bearings and cam, lifters.... I think this is the proper rocket ship for that particular crate motor :-)))

[@oneoldmansgarage7880]

I understand the editing thing. I have at least 20 videos that I need to edit and post. I just lost motivation somewhere.

[@stefan85j]

Sick. Dreamcar. 👍🍻

[@altorres9495]

I love the original t-shirts! Please let me know if for sale.

[@toddsmith5591]

Do you have any of the old shirts in 4xl

[@79beans347]

I didn't realize that u changed the name to the channel and didn't watch the videos because I didn't recognize the name 😂🤣😂

[@jewllake]

when you did the burn out did you power brake it a little?

[@normanjones5167]

Actually from the factory they had no exhaust gaskets on cars,metal to metal. On trucks,medium and heavy duty they had them but we’re actually called heat shields for protecting the spark plug boots at the head.

[@anthonymanganaro9942]

I like the original T shirts.

[@ckuehncnwhsyt]

Toss that original carb into the nearest trash can and replace it with a Holley of comparable CFM.

[@Rexhbogaj]

🔥🔥

[@davidjones5729]

Great video, love the 63 1/2. What are your plans for the car?

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

4 speed swap it, fix the roof/ rust issues, fix the gasket leaks... maybe some disc brakes up front...

[@davidjones5729]

@@Theoldcarchannel. That's awesome. I will keep watching. Are you guys in Ontario?

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

@@davidjones5729 appreciate it, yes north of Toronto

[@georgeborrero2783]

Dude my uncle one same body my dad had 1966 and my sister 4door 1965 with a 390 in her galaxies

[@fredroper398]

love galaxies they were the cars then

[@jeffscott8323]

AMD better looking car than a new one

[@leightonfarms4962]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@Bbbbad724]

I think the rings are stuck. I would pour some JB down the carb and let it set the rings free. Let the cam rebreak in.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

'61-'64 full-size Ford clutch pedal assembly will fit.

[@lucilleking7495]

maybe dad could find 1050 chum on that am radio gord

[@luisbatista1103]

Pre newly poured driveway era lol

[@jonscott6953]

63.5 for sale?

[@goutvols103]

Any interest in selling the Galaxie?

[@jeffscott8323]

Pull that engine refurbish it ( over haul) put on road. Paint and other necessary work. Be nice car.

[@jeffscott8323]

To me worth fixing. Should've never left use

[@peterhodges6684]

I have the same car, in triple black convertible.... restore it !

[@jasonmyers3847]

I want a shirt. X-large in black, please.

[@raymondszybowicz7597]

Am 79 years old my first new car was a 63 and a half Ford Galaxie 500 fastback 427 410 4 speed q code 355 posi red black interior.

[@Theoldcarchannel.]

Oh that is a dream car right there! Thank you for the comment 👏

[@jeffscott8323]

Cheaper to put gas in than have a car payment.

[@chrishosmer1810]

All fe's leak i think

[@jeffscott8323]

Car that looks that good would have stayed on the road.

[@dieselroads8508]

First like

[@jeffscott8323]

Why do people quit driving these cars. And let them sit.

[@jeffscott8323]

RESTORE