1959 was the first year for the Galaxie model line. The six Galaxie models consisted of the Club Victoria, Town Victoria, Town Sedan, Club Sedan, Sunliner Convertible, and Skyliner Retractable. Each model had its own trim and ornamentation.  The 1959 Fords were promoted as having "Thunderbird elegance" with all new style. The 1959 Galaxie and Fairlane were virtually the same car other than the ornamentation,  exhibiting an incredible amount of stainless steel and chrome body trim and beautiful three tone cloth pattern interior trim. 

The most memorable of all models was the Skyliner Retractable, which first appeared in 1957.  It featured an all steel hardtop that would gracefully move into the trunk to transform the car into a convertible in sixty seconds. Some of the available options on the 1959 Galaxie were as follows: Air Conditioning, Visor Spotlight Mirror, Deluxe Rear Deck Antenna, Sunray Multi Colored Wheel Covers, Flying Ellipse Hood Ornament, Power Front Seat, Power Steering, Power Windows, and "Swift Sure" Power Brakes. Available engine sizes were the 292 V-8 with 200 horsepower, 223 Mileage Maker Six Cylinder at 145 Horsepower, 332 Thunderbird Special, and the 352 Thunderbird Special at an impressive 300 horsepower. Transmission options were a three speed manual with overdrive, Fordomatic Drive two speed automatic, overdrive, and the three speed Cruise-O-Matic Drive automatic. The 1959 Galaxies were  very well received by the public.

Unlike the other manufacturers, Ford seemed to be playing ball with the AMA and didn't offer any road scorching high performance engines for 1959. That would soon change, as the other makers posted sales gains with high performance engines. Ford wanted a piece of the action.  


1960 Ford Galaxie

For 1960, the Galaxie acquired completely new body lines. This new year featured the addition of the very popular Starliner body style. The dashing sports car sedan sported a rakish roofline with no door post for the open air effect throughout the car. Ford also produced the Club Sedan, the Town Sedan, Town Victoria, and the Sunliner Convertible. There was also a Country Squire wagon offered with woodgrain body side trim. The 1960 Galaxie shared the same body design as the 1960 Fairlane, the main differences being  exterior ornamentation and interior trim offerings. 

The 1960 Galaxie was offered in 13 Diamond Lustre Finish paint colors. Five different engine options were available from the 223 cubic inch Mileage Maker Six Cylinder on up to the  352 Super V-8 with four barrel carburetor and was rated at 360 horsepower. Transmission availability consisted of the three speed manual transmission, optional Fordomatic Drive two speed automatic and three speed automatic Cruise-O-Matic Drive. 1960 Galaxies had an extensive list of options and accessories. Some of these were Air Conditioning, Hood Ornament, Rear Fin Mounted Antenna, Exhaust Deflectors, Visor Spotlight Mirror, Front and Rear Bumper Guards, Power Seats, Power Steering, Power Brakes, and Power Windows.

The big news in the performance market was the introduction of the 352 Special, which packed quite a punch. It had a compression ratio of over 11.0:1 and featured a large Holley carburetor on an aluminum intake manifold.

 1961 Galaxie

For 1961, Ford redesigned the Galaxie, resulting in awards from the international fashion authority, Centro per L'Alta Moda Italiana, meaning 'functional expression of classic beauty'. Thirteen exterior colors were available to chose from, along with various sedan and wagon body styles. With multiple engine, transmission, available options, and body styles, the Ford Galaxie could be customized to suite any customers demands and wishes. The self-adjusting brakes and galvanized rust-protection body panels were standard, as was the Mileage Maker six-cylinder engine. The top engine option was the 390 cubic inch High Performance engine with three 2 barrel carburetors and 401 horsepower. A four barrel version produced 375 hp. At the drags, the Starliner 390s would consistently turn 13.3 quarter mile times at 105 mph.  A Thunderbird 352 cubic inch engine was available and could be modified to produce more than the base 220 horsepower. Ford was creeping up there with the horsepower, and soon all bets would be off as Ford went all out for performance.

1962 Galaxie

1962 was an exciting year for the Ford Galaxie. This new model had body lines similar to the previous 1961 model with new trim and ornamentation design as well as a distinctive new grill. The 1962 featured gold and chrome plated fender top ornaments exclusive to this year only. These new Galaxies were built even more luxurious than before with the introduction of the plush "500XL" models. 14 models were offered, including sedans, hardtops, convertibles and wagons. The new "500XL" model was introduced in the hardtop, and convertible models and featured a luxurious new bucket seat interior with attractive chrome seat strapping and matching chrome mylar door panels. This also introduced the first floor console ever offered in a Galaxie. 

1962 was a year for performance with five different V-8 engine options. The Galaxie was available with the Mileage Maker Six Cylinder, The Thunderbird 292 rated at 170 horsepower, the 352 Thunderbird Special at 220 horsepower, the 390 Thunderbird Special with 300 horses, and the  406 High Performance and the 406 Super High Performance with a whopping 405 horsepower and topped off with three two barrel carburetors and oval air cleaner. The days of awesome power were now in full swing as a result of these new Galaxies. In addition to the incredible engine options were 47 different color keyed interior trims and 13 Diamond Lustre Enamel exterior paint colors. Three speed manual, four speed manual  (standard equipment on 406 high performance), Fordomatic two speed automatic, and the road proven Cruise-O-Matic automatic were the available gearboxes. The 1962 introduced the beginning of a very exciting new future in performance and luxury for the Galaxie. 

The 1962 Ford 406 brought newfound power to the company's muscle cars. Ford began 1962 without an engine over 400 cid, a serious deficiency against 409 Chevys, 413 Mopars, and 421 Pontiacs. The remedy came partway into the season with an enlargement of the 390 Ford resulting in 406 cubic inches.
The Galaxie was the only model to get the engine that Ford enlarged
to produce more than 400 horsepower.
Called the Thunderbird 406 High PerformanceV8, but available only in the Galaxie, the new engine cost $380 and came with  heavy duty suspension, fade resistant drum brakes, high capacity radiator, and 15-inch wheels. An original Tasca Ford 406 below.

Breathing through a single Holley four barrel, the 406 made  385 bhp at 5800 rpm and 440 lb-ft of torque at 3800 rpm. As the Super High Performance Tri Power, it put three Holley two-barrels under an oval air cleaner and was rated at 405 bhp.

Both versions had 11.4:1 compression and cast  headers that led to low restriction dual exhaust. Ford's Borg Warner four speed manual was mandatory and axle ratios as high as 4:11.1 could replace the standard 3.50:1 ratio.

In sanctioned drag racing, the 406 Fords were still too heavy to outrun the top guns from Dodge, Plymouth, Chevy, and Pontiac. Ford shaved 164 pounds off the competition versions by offering aluminum bumpers and fiberglass body panels, but to no avail.

On the street, however, a rival who didn't notice the gold "406" emblem on the front fender could easily get caught napping by one of these newly fortified Galaxies. Motor Trend said the engine provided "something like Ferrari performance at a fifth of the price." The 406 was also made available in full size Mercury models for late '62.

Representative Performance
0-60 mph, sec: 6.5
1/4 mile, sec. @ mph: 15.4 @ 93 

1963 Ford Galaxie

The 1963 Galaxie was a classic from the first day it rolled off the showroom floor. This car's distinctive lines and styling are timeless and are now among the most collected Fords of any era. The line offered a large choice of models starting with the Galaxie Sedan,  a base model car with very simple trim and ornamentation, usually equipped with the smaller engine configuration.  

The Galaxie 500 Sedan, Hardtop, and Convertible were a step up from the base Galaxie and featured an attractive full length upper and lower body side molding and attractive cloth and vinyl interior trim package. The Galaxie  500XL models were available as both  two and four door hardtops , convertible, and the 1963 ½ Galaxie Fastback which featured a new sporty roof line with no post and Starliner type looks.

 The standard equipment on the XL wincluded bucket seats and console, full wheel covers, wall to wall carpeting, courtesy lights, and contoured deluxe seat upholstery.  The 1963 was offered with several engine choices; The Mileage Maker Six Cylinder (All models except 500XL), 260 V-8 at 164 horsepower, the 352 Thunderbird V-8 at 220 horsepower, the Thunderbird 390-4V engine at 300 horsepower, and the 406 Thunderbird High Performance with tri-power carburetion at 405 horsepower. Ford later introduced the 427 high performance engine in both a single four barrel version at 410 horsepower and a dual four barrel carburetor at an astounding 425 horsepower. This engine option was offered in a very limited number of 1963 Galaxies. Transmission types were the Synchro Smooth manual column shift, the 4 speed manual on the floor, Fordomatic Drive automatic, and Cruise-O-Matic three speed automatic.

Strangely enough, I never knew anybody who had a 406, although I did know a guy who had a 427 Galaxie 500XL. This terror had the Nascar Holman and Moody 427 / 425 hp side oiler, and was a force to be reckoned with on the street.

Table of Contents