Vehicle Description
406 cubic inch V8, 4-speed, buckets, console, and more. In storage
since 1979. Nicely done conversion to 406 spec many years ago.
Mostly original paint, interior, top, and trunk. Runs and drives
great. Legendary performance on a budget! This 1962 Ford Galaxie
500 convertible does indeed pack Ford's nastiest V8-a 406 cubic
inch V8 topped with three 2-barrel Holley carburetors and making a
not unexpected 406 horsepower. Those of you who are already trying
to find out why such a car is so affordable have already scanned
the door tag and have identified this car's original engine as a
352 V8, but at some point early in its life that FE block was
replaced by the current 406 and they did a rather expert job of it.
We know it was done long before fakes and 'tributes' were popular
because this car has been in storage since 1979 and aside from the
engine and transmission, remains largely original. That Castillian
Gold paint is about 70% original, with some touch-ups here and
there but no signs of wholesale panel replacement or repairs, and
it all has a very uniform look to it-again, all the work was done
quite some time ago. The Galaxie's clean, uncluttered lines wear
the subtle paint well and it shows good panel alignment and uniform
gaps, another sign of a car that hasn't been mistreated. All the
stainless trim is in excellent condition and they were even
thoughtful enough to add correct '406' emblems on the front
fenders. We believe the interior is mostly original, too, including
the black bucket seats that show the kind of detailing that the
repro kits just can't seem to duplicate. The factory gauges are set
into sporting engine-turned panels and are joined by a full
complement of period Stewart-Warner dials in a custom panels to the
left of the steering column. Other noteworthy features include a
center console with a Hurst 4-speed for the Toploader gearbox
underneath, dealer-installed A/C, and an AM radio in the center of
the dash. The power convertible top just might be original,
too-it's in good shape, but not quite so gleaming white as you'd
expect if it were newer. And, of course, there's a positively
massive trunk with what appears to be the original spare tire and a
full jack assembly. The nice thing about the FE family of engines
is that they're all about the same size, so slotting the 406 into
the 352's spot was easy and gives the car a very OEM look. The
finned air cleaner isn't quite how it would have been when it was
new, but the rest is pretty accurate. Check out the Ford script
hoses, correct hose clamps, and slick fuel rail feeding the three
carbs. The overflow tank and radiator shroud have been chromed to
add a little flash and there's a reproduction battery for an
authentic period look. The big V8 sparks to life easily and idles
nicely with a deep rumble that isn't overly aggressive. It pulls
hard in any gear and there's a notable stop in the throttle that
tells you when you're about to tip into the outer carbs and start
delivering the goods. For a big car, it doesn't mind a little
hustle. The undercarriage is obviously original, but if you look
closely you won't see any rust or rot in the critical areas, floors
are excellent, and factory spot welds are still visible in the
rockers. The Toploader 4-speed manual transmission shifts cleanly
and for a big engine, clutch action is pretty light. We'll trust
the door tag that tells us there are 3.00 gears in the 9-inch rear
end, making this big convertible an excellent cruiser that isn't at
all high-strung. The exhaust system uses mufflers and resonators,
so it has a nice rumble that might serve as a bit of a warning
about the firepower under the hood, but it's far from overbearing.
The suspension is still luxury car soft, even with a set of air
shocks in back, and we kind of like the idea of all that horsepower
riding around in comfort. Power steering and brakes are part of the
package and there's a new gas tank hanging out back. 14-inch steel
wheels with standard hubcaps wear 205/75/14 whitewall radials.
Perfect? No. Pedigreed? Also no. But the last 406 Galaxie 500
convertible to change hands at auction was well into the 6-figure
range. Add in the entertaining 4-speed manual gearbox, lots of
options, a handsome interior, and that full-sized comfort, and you
get a car that's more than just a clone or a tribute and delivers
an authentic experience. Lots of originality certainly helps and
with a lot of recent service work, it's ready to have fun. Call
today! Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or
professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to
purchase.