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Galaxie Dream Machine |
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by Steve Hathaway The Galaxie was Ford’s sporty people mover and came with some pretty powerful engines, and equally sporty body shapes. During the earlier sixties, you could go to your nearest drag strip to watch the Galaxies ‘stomp’ the opposition, including Ford’s Thunderbird, into the asphalt. A frequent misconception was that the ‘500’ of the Galaxie 500 XL name stood for 500bhp. It didn’t. It was merely a ‘trendy’ thing to do, like spelling Galaxie with ‘ie’ instead of ‘y’ - some things never change! Although it is thought most likely to be reference to the 500-mile run at stock car ovals around the USA. The first Galaxie 500 XLs were built at the Lincoln/Mercury in Lorain, Ohio. One of the main reasons for the move of the assembly line from it’s home was that there were so many changes to the interior trim, that in order to assure build quality, it was decided that the ‘slower’ Mercury production line would be better suited for this function. 1962 was a poor year for Ford and its association with NASCAR, but all that was going to change for two reasons. One, was a new sleek, sports roof body for the two-door Galaxie, which was two inches lower than the standard car, and as a result offered better aerodynamics; the second was the introduction of two new engines. Both were introduced midway through 1963, resulting in what Ford would call its 1963 1/2 cars. These Galaxies would eventually win 23 Grand National NASCAR races, including five places at Daytona during 1963. Peter Caird purchased his 19631⁄2 Ford Galaxie 500XL, two-door Sports Roof bodied coupe about eight years ago after seeing it advertised in an American Car magazine. Peter remembers; "I read the ad and I knew that I had to have it!" "Now, where have I heard that before" I said with a laugh. Peter smiles, adding; "I went straight round to the guy who was selling the Galaxie, we talked and I drove away the proud owner of one of Ford’s great racers of the sixties. It was the most I had ever paid for a car… He was asking four and a half grand, but I managed to knock him down to three. Three grand was a lot of money for me at the time, but luckily I had just received a small inheritance and the rest, as they say, is history." As I talked to Peter in his home, I realised that the surroundings were adorned with Americana. From original American state number plates, to Ertl models of classic cars and big rigs. Decorating the walls were old prints of North American Indians, and photographs showing scenes in the USA, some depicting old fifties cars - not to mention a garage with a seventies Cadillac. I ask Peter about the photographs; "Ah those!" he replies somewhat bashfully; "I’m afraid some of those are of me." On closer inspection, the cowboy, complete with Stetson, cowboy boots, blue jeans and shirt, leaning against a 1955 Chrysler Windsor convertible, is a younger Mr.Caird. " I went to Canada in 1964," Peter explains, "to see if I could find work and travel the country; I started to drive Yanks whilst I was there. Then I went back home for a couple of years, before going to California in 1966. Whilst I was in California I picked up a ‘51 Dodge Coronet for $50.00 and drove it around the State," he said smiling. I suggest to Peter that he must have had a great time in the California. I mean, it was the sixties, it was the period of the mini skirt, free love, funny cigarettes, surf, sand, and blonde California babes! Peter looks at me and a grin appears on his face, and he says, in a very English kind of way; "Rather, it was a young man’s dream." No Peter, it’s every man’s dream! " The Dodge was a great car to drive," he says, "but, as I was driving past a farm when a car in a field caught my eye. Stopping, I found it to be a 1955 Chrysler Windsor convertible, and I bought it for $50.00. "Again?" I ask. He laughs; "Yes, I never paid a lot for my cars, except for the Galaxie. After pulling the Chrysler out of the field, I put some points and plugs in and unbelievably it started first time!" He remembers. The car that Peter had rescued from the farmer’s land was powered by a 360 cu in Hemi, and it literally went like a ‘bat out of hell,’ according to Peter. During his stay in the states Peter’s $50.00 cars served him well as he worked his way across California doing odd jobs as varied as demolition to washing up, and scrap metal collection to ram-rodding.  |
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