Ford Galaxy

This article is about the Ford Galaxie model. The van can be found under Ford Galaxy .

Ford Galaxy
Production period:	1959-1983
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Previous model:	Fairlane
Successor:	LTD

The Ford Galaxie is a full-size car built by Ford between 1959 and 1974 in the United States . It was initially the luxury version of the Ford Fairlane before it was marketed as a separate model from 1960. Another version of this vehicle was built in Brazil from 1968 to 1982 under the model names Galaxie 500 , LTD and Landau .

Model history

First generation (1959)

1st generation
Ford Galaxie 2-Door Hardtop (1959)
Production period:	1959
Body versions :	Sedan , coupe , convertible
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 3.7-5.8 liters
Length:	5280 mm
Width:	1946 mm
Height:	1466 mm
Wheelbase :	2997 mm
Empty weight :

The Ford Galaxie was introduced in mid-1959. At the beginning, however, it was not an independent model of the Ford Motor Company , but represented an equipment line of the Ford Fairlane . It set itself apart from the Fairlane by a revised roof line that was similar to that of the Ford Thunderbird , which was built at the same time . The Galaxie was available as a two- and four-door sedan, two- and four-door hardtop coupé, without a B-pillar and as a two-door convertible. The two-tone paintwork and numerous chrome trim elements that reflect the design language of the 1950s were characteristic. The equipment included a “safety anchor” for the front seats as standard ; Seat belts, a padded dashboard and child safety locks in the rear doors were optionally available.

The Skyliner model was a special feature. It was delivered with a retractable hardtop that could be folded into the trunk . However, the mechanism was complicated, expensive and left little space in the luggage compartment, so this version was only produced from 1957 to 1959 for the predecessor Fairlane 500 Skyliner and the Galaxie Skyliner . It was not until 1996 that Mercedes-Benz took up this system and built it into the SLK model series , but unlike the Galaxie, it was used in a two-seater vehicle.

The engine range comprised an in- line six-cylinder with a displacement of 223 ci (3.7 l ) and five V8 engines with a volume of 272 ci to 352 ci (4.5 l to 5.8 l). The top engine was the 352 V8 with the FE medium block developed in 1958, which had an output of 300 hp . In addition to a 3-speed manual transmission, a 2-speed and a 3-speed automatic transmission were available for the Galaxie.

• 

  Ford Galaxie Coupé (1959)

• 

  Ford Galaxie Skyliner (1959)

• 

  Ford Galaxie Sunliner Convertible (1959)

Second generation (1960–1964)

2nd generation
Ford Galaxie 500 XL 2-Door Hardtop (1964)
Production period:	1960-1964
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 3.7–7.0 liters
Length:	5331-5428 mm
Width:	2032-2070 mm
Height:	1392 mm
Wheelbase :	3023 mm
Empty weight :

In the 1960 model year, the Ford Galaxie was first run as a separate model. The design was completely new and, with its clear lines and largely dispensing with ornamentation, set itself apart from the forms of the 1950s. Only the front and rear end had chrome-plated trim elements, and the tail fin was retained as a design element. The new model was again available as a two- and four-door sedan and as a Cabriolet Sunliner . A special body shape was the Starliner , a two-door hardtop coupe without B-pillars , with a gently sloping roof and a large, curved rear window. Another innovation was the introduction of the Country Squire and Country Sedan called station wagons . They were run as their own series, but were based on the Ford Galaxie . The wagons were available as six- or nine-seaters and offered a maximum loading area with a length of over 2.70 m. In contrast to the classic round rear lights, the 1960 model year received semicircular rear lights. Compared to the first generation, the shape of the roof has also been changed significantly, including reversing the incline of the A-pillar, which also made getting in and out of the car easier.

The engines were largely taken over from the previous model. The in -line six-cylinder with 223 ci displacement (3.7 l), called Mileage Maker Six , was still available as an entry-level engine. V8 engines from the Thunderbird were also installed in the Galaxie. The Thunderbird 292 V8 with a Ford Y-block engine had a displacement of 292 ci (4.8 l). The Ford FE engine with 352 ci (5.8 l) was available in two versions, the Thunderbird 352 V8 with twin carburetors and an output of 235 hp and the Thunderbird 352 Special V8 with four-fold carburetors and 300 hp.

For 1961 the body was heavily redesigned. The basis was the 1960s model, but the front section was revised, the tail fins greatly reduced, and the modified rear got the classic round taillights again. The new top engine version of the model was the 390 V8 , a version of the Ford FE engine with 390 ci (6.4 l) displacement. It was available with a twin or quadruple carburetor and had an output of 401 hp. At the same time, the 352 V8 was downgraded and was henceforth equipped with a double carburetor. The body variants were carried over from the previous year, the Starliner was also still available. It was marketed by Ford as a luxury version, but was discontinued at the end of the model year in favor of the re-introduced 2-door hardtop with standard rear window, which had the largest sales figures.

In 1962, the name Galaxie was finally adopted for the entire full-size series, and the name Ford Fairlane was used from then on for the newly introduced mid-range series. The body variants were retained, the design revised again. The most striking change was the rear section, which with its revised bumper, lower lights and no tail fins looked significantly rounder than in the previous year. The top model was the Ford Galaxie 500 , which was available as a sedan, coupé and convertible. Another new model variant was the Galaxie XL , which with sporty equipment can be seen as Ford's answer to the Chevrolet Impala Super Sport , which has been sold since the previous year. The standard engine for the Galaxie 500 and Galaxie XL was the well-known 292 ci-V8 (4.8 l) taken from the Thunderbird . The entry-level engine for the remaining models was still the Mileage Maker Six, and the 352 Special V8 , which had also been installed previously, was also available. The 390 ci-V8 introduced in the previous year was now offered in three performance levels as Special , High-Performance and Super High-Performance . From 1962, a 427 ci-V8 (7.0 l) served as the top engine for all Galaxies.

Compared to vehicles from other manufacturers, such as the super-duty models from Pontiac , which already used aluminum parts , the Galaxie was a very heavy car. This motivated Ford to build eleven lightweight galaxies for test purposes , in which fiberglass parts as well as bumpers and fenders made of aluminum were used.

Only minor modifications were made to the design for the 1963 model. The body variants were also adopted from the previous year. The four-door hardtop coupé was now also available as the Galaxie 500 and Galaxie XL .

In the middle of the year, a two-door model variant called Sports Hardtop or Fastback was introduced, which had a lower roof line with a sloping rear window. Together with the Ford Falcon Fastback , this model is the first half-year model from a US manufacturer . The reason for the introduction of the sportier Fastback was that the model had a lower center of gravity due to the modified roof , which improved road holding in racing, especially in the NASCAR series. The Sports Hardtop could also be ordered in the 500 and XL lines .

The swing-away wheel , a sliding steering wheel that made getting in and out easier, was available as an option.

During the 1963 model year, the outdated 292 V8 Y-block engine was initially replaced by the 260 V8 from the Fairlane and later by the newly developed Windsor small-block V8 with 289 ci. The in-line six-cylinder and the Ford FE engine were also available as a 352 V8 , as a 390 V8 in the three performance levels Regular , High Performance and Police for the police , and as a 406 V8 . With the exception of the 406 V8 , which received a 4-speed manual transmission, all model variants were equipped with a manual 3-speed transmission. An overdrive gearbox was available for the 3-speed gears, but this was rarely ordered. In addition, customers could choose from two different automatic transmissions: in addition to the 2-speed automatic Ford-O-Matic , the Cruise-O-Matic , a 3-speed automatic transmission, could be ordered.

The top engine was the 427 V8 with two quadruple carburettors and an output of 425 hp. The model was intended for racing use, the engine complied with the specifications of the National Hot Rod Association and the NASCAR Association with 427 ci (7.0 l) displacement . In order to be competitive in drag racing , around 200 lightweight versions of the Galaxie 500 Sport Special Tudor Fastback were built. This lightweight version was equipped with the 4-speed manual gearbox, modified brakes and suspension as standard and was only available in corinth white with a red interior. To save weight, numerous parts were made from aluminum and fiberglass, including the bonnet, trunk lid and front fenders. Parts that were not required, such as the spare wheel, armrests, sound insulation, and parts of the interior lighting were left out, and special equipment could not be ordered. The vehicle was not built on the standard chassis of the Galaxie, but on the lighter chassis of the Ford 300 . The doors of the first 20 vehicles produced were also made of fiberglass, but this was changed again for safety reasons. Overall, these measures resulted in a weight saving of 170 kg. Despite this effort, it turned out during test drives that the weight was still too high compared to competitors such as the Chevrolet Impala Z-11 and the racing project was ended.

The facelift for 1964 included a revision of the exterior as well as an extensive modification of the interior. The measures on the body were primarily for aerodynamic reasons and should have a positive effect on touring car racing. The shape of the roof was also changed for the sedans and hardtops; instead of the box- top design from previous years, the roof was now designed more like a sloping roof. The XL models received bucket seats with chrome applications as standard, which offered more lateral support and were equipped with the seat belts now required by law for the front occupants. There were no changes in the body variants or in the engine.

Again, Ford built 50 lightweight galaxies with fiberglass parts, which were equipped with the 427 V8 and used in drag racing. These were also successful, but were eventually replaced by the lighter Fairlane Thunderbolt models due to known weight issues .

During the model year, Ford introduced the Galaxie with a new engine, the SOHC 427 Cammer . This had an output of over 600 hp and was intended exclusively for racing purposes. However, since NASCAR changed the regulations and henceforth required significantly larger quantities for homologation , Ford decided against series production. Even so, it is believed that some of the few produced were also used in road traffic.

• 

  Ford Galaxie Starliner (1960)

• 

  Ford Galaxie Sunliner Convertible (1961)

• 

  Ford Galaxie 500 2-Door (1962)

• 

  Ford Galaxie 4-Door Sedan (1963)

Third generation (1965–1968)

3rd generation
Ford Galaxie 500 XL Sunliner (1965)
Production period:	1965-1968
Body versions :	Sedan , coupe , convertible
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 3.9–7.0 liters
Length:	5410 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :
Empty weight :

The 3rd generation of the Ford Galaxie was presented in model year 1965 with a completely new design. While the platform remained the same and the technology was only slightly revised, the external appearance of the model no longer had any similarities to its predecessor. The most striking feature was the stacked twin headlights, which, together with the high shoulder line and the slightly forward-sloping radiator grille, made the vehicle appear angular. The interior was essentially taken over from the predecessor, only the instrument panel was renewed. The top model was presented this year, the Galaxie 500 LTD .
The earlier entry-level engine Mileage Maker Six was replaced by the newly developed in-line six-cylinder Thriftpower with 240 ci (3.9 l) displacement. The eight-cylinder engines were carried over from the previous year.

In 1966 the Galaxie 500 7 liter with a 428 ci-V8 from the Ford Thunderbird was presented. Due to official requirements, the vehicle was equipped with seat belts for both rows of seats as standard. The Galaxie 500 Sunliner was the third top-selling convertible in the United States in 1965 , after the open-top Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Impala, with 27,454 units sold . In that year production of the model began in Brazil , where the Galaxie was built until 1983.

The external changes in the 1967 model year were limited to a kink in the radiator grille, which was continued over the bonnet. The LTD line was now run as its own Ford LTD series , this was continued even after the Galaxie was discontinued, so that it is considered the successor to the Galaxie. The 7 liter model was marketed as an equipment variant of the XL and set itself apart from the other models with minor changes to the exterior and interior, such as decorative elements and the horn ring. As in all Ford models, numerous safety features were installed in 1967, including a padded steering wheel hub, a shock-absorbing steering column, padded surfaces, controls integrated into the instrument panel and shoulder straps for the front outer occupants. In addition, the Galaxie, like other Fords, received a tandem master brake cylinder for the first time . The Australian version of the Galaxie was equipped as standard with an initially single-stage, from model year 1967 two-stage interval switching for the windshield wipers as early as 1965 . This means that it already had this detail before the Fiat 125 , which was built from 1967 , although the 125 is said to have been the first vehicle with this standard detail according to Auto Bild .

In 1968 the front was heavily revised, while the car remained almost unchanged from the windshield. The radiator grille, fenders and bonnet received a new design, the double headlights were now arranged side by side again. As a demarcation from the Galaxie , the headlights of the Ford XL and Ford LTD, which were run as separate models, gave the appearance of a continuous grill. The engine was largely retained, only the V8 engine with 289 ci (4.7 l) displacement was exchanged and replaced by another type of Ford Windsor engine with 302 ci (4.9 l).

• 

  Ford Galaxie 4-Door Sedan (1966)

• 

  Ford Galaxie 500 2-Door Hardtop (1968)

• 

  Ford XL Convertible (1968)

Fourth generation (1969–1974)

4th generation
Ford Galaxie 500 XL 2-Door Hardtop (1970)
Production period:	1969-1974
Body versions :	Sedan , coupe , convertible
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 3.9–7.0 liters
Length:	5433-5509 mm
Width:	2017-2027 mm
Height:	1344-1400 mm
Wheelbase :	3073 mm
Empty weight :	1732-1838 kg

A completely new vehicle was presented in the 1969 model year, built on a new platform with a wheelbase of 121 inches (3.07 m). The design was based on the predecessor, the front was angular due to the clear geometries and still had fenders pulled forward and horizontally arranged double headlights. The Galaxie was available as a convertible, a two- and four-door hardtop coupé, and a four-door sedan. A newly introduced body variant was the SportsRoof , a two-door coupé with B-pillars pulled back far beyond the rear window, which resembled a fastback . In addition, the XL 500 , which, as before, Ford had its own model, was also available as a convertible, two-door hardtop coupé and SportsRoof . The Galaxie-based Ford Custom and Ford LTD as well as the station wagon Ranch Wagon , Country Sedan and Country Squire were still available in the fourth generation . In the interior, the dashboard was aligned with the driver for the first time.
The engines were essentially carried over from the predecessor, the in-line six-cylinder with 240 ci and the V8 engines with 302 ci and 390 ci had already been installed in the 3rd generation of the Galaxie. As the top engine, the previously used Ford FE eight-cylinder was replaced by the Thunder Jet V8 presented in 1968 . This was available with a displacement of 429 ci (7.0 l) in two power levels with double carburetor and 320 hp and with quadruple carburetor and 360 hp.

In 1970 only the design was revised, the technology was taken over from the previous year without changes. In the front, the centrally arranged, forward-jumping element was added, which continued over the bonnet. This year the XL was offered for the last time , in the body variants SportsRoof and Convertible . As in the previous model year, it set itself apart from the Galaxy with its modified front section with hidden headlights .

The design was revised again for the 1971 model year. The front was modified, the central element was significantly larger, the radiator and headlights were moved back and sat deeper in the frame formed by the bonnet, fenders and bumpers. The rear lights were wider than last year, together with the continuous, less articulated bumper, the horizontal was emphasized more strongly. The Galaxie 500 was now available in the body variants 4-door sedan , 2-door hardtop and 4-door hardtop . The XL was no longer offered from this year, instead the LTD was available as a convertible. Two V8 engines with 351 ci and 400 ci cubic capacities were added to the engine range; the others had been retained as in the previous year.

In 1972 the exterior was changed again. The front bumper was now continuous again without any changes in height, which meant that the central radiator element no longer looked as dominant as in the previous year. The sideline was not changed, the indicated tail fins were smaller and more restrained than in the previous model year. The rear bumper became higher and the rear lights were integrated into it. The body variants were retained compared to 1971.

In 1973 there was another revision of the design. The central element, the so-called Knudsen nose , in the radiator now only jumped forwards and was no longer offset in height, which made the front look more massive and angular. The rear lights were again above the bumper, the horizontal orientation was retained. The four-door sedan was now called the 4-Door Pillared Hardtop , the 2-Door Hardtop and 4-Door Hardtop variants were also still available. From this year the Galaxie was only delivered with V8 engines, the in-line six-cylinder was no longer available.

No major changes were made for the 1974 model year. It was the last year that a full-size Ford model was called the Galaxie . The Ford LTD , which was created as an equipment variant of the Galaxie, was continued and thus forms the successor to the Galaxie. After another name change, the model series was continued by the Crown Victoria until 2011 .

• 

  Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible (1969)

• 

  Ford XL 500 Convertible (1970)

• 

  Ford Galaxie 500 2-Door (1974)

• 

  Ford Galaxie 500 2-Door (1974)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: 1959 Ford Brochure. Retrieved May 25, 2014 . 
2. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: 1959 Ford Brochure. Retrieved May 25, 2014 . 
3. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: 1959 Ford Brochure, p. 16. Retrieved May 26, 2014 (English). 
4. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: 1960 Ford Brochure, p. 6. Accessed May 30, 2014 (English). 
5. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: 1963 Ford Brochure, p. 13. Retrieved May 31, 2014 (English). 
6. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: 1960 Ford Brochure, p. 24. Retrieved May 30, 2014 (English). 
7. ↑ ^{a b} oldcarbrochures.com: 1962 Ford Full Size Brochure, p. 24. Retrieved May 30, 2014 (English). 
8. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g} Al Kirschenbaum: Galactic Journeys. 1990, p. 85.
9. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: 1963 Ford Brochure, p. 11. Retrieved May 31, 2014 (English). 
10. ↑ Al Kirschenbaum: Galactic Journeys. 1990, p. 89.
11. ↑ J. "Kelly" Flory Jr. (2004). American Cars 1960–1972. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy.
12. ↑ David W. Temple (2010): Full-size Fords: 1955-1970 , p. 133.
13. ↑ http://www.autobild.de/bilder/land-rover-unsichtbare-motorhaube-5065898.html#bild44
14. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: Ford Full Size Brochure 1969. Retrieved June 18, 2014 (English). 
15. ↑ ^{a b} oldcarbrochures.com: Ford Full Size Brochure 1971. (No longer available online.) Formerly in the original ; accessed on June 20, 2014 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
16. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: Ford Full Size Brochure 1972. Retrieved June 20, 2014 (English). 
17. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: Ford Full Size Brochure 1973. Accessed June 20, 2014 (English). 

Web links

Commons : Ford Galaxie  - Collection of images, videos and audio files