SPOT.
Photo of a Ford Galaxie

Ford Galaxie

NASCAR shaped the 1963 fastback. A dual-Holley R-code 427 supplied 425 hp gross.123

Researched November 9, 2026 from 35 sources

Also called

  • boxtopName for the square-roof 1963 models that the new sports hardtop outsold.1
  • slantbackPeriod alias for the 1963 Galaxie Sports Hardtop fastback.4
  • scatbackAnother contemporary name for the Galaxie Sports Hardtop introduced as a 1963 model.4
  • faixa-pretaBrazilian LTDs for 1970 earned this name from their matte-black paint below the body trim.5

At a glance

0250500
95–425 hpPower

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.26

Engine
223-250 cu in inline-sixes; 260-460 cu in V8s16
Layout
Front engine, rear-wheel drive110
Built at
Norfolk, US; Homebush, Australia; São Paulo, Brazil (among others)1

The story

Launched above the Fairlane 500 in 1959, Ford's full-size Galaxie tied its name to the Space Race and battled the Chevrolet Impala and Plymouth Fury. It spanned four US generations, while Brazilian production lasted through 1983.1

1959: Galaxie takes the Fairlane 500's crown19591960: Second generation, 1960-6419601963: 425 hp meets the NASCAR fastback19631964: Australian assembly starts19641965: Third generation, 1965-6819651966: 7-Litre: 428 or 42719661967: Brazil's Galaxie 500 rolls out19671969: Fourth generation, 1969-7419691983: Brazil outlasts the US nameplate1983 Ford Fairlane (first generation): 1955–1956Ford Fairlane 500: 1957–1959Ford Galaxie (first generation): 1959Ford Galaxie (second generation): 1960–1964Ford Galaxie (Australia): 1964–1968Ford Galaxie (third generation): 1965–1968Ford Galaxie (Brazil): 1967–1983Ford Galaxie (fourth generation): 1969–1974 1960197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones125681114
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1955–1956Ford Fairlane (first generation)
1957–1959Ford Fairlane 500
1959Ford Galaxie (first generation)
1960–1964Ford Galaxie (second generation)
1964–1968Ford Galaxie (Australia)
1965–1968Ford Galaxie (third generation)
1967–1983Ford Galaxie (Brazil)
1969–1974Ford Galaxie (fourth generation)
1959Galaxie takes the Fairlane 500's crown
1960Second generation, 1960-64
1963425 hp meets the NASCAR fastback
1964Australian assembly starts
1965Third generation, 1965-68
19667-Litre: 428 or 427
1967Brazil's Galaxie 500 rolls out
1969Fourth generation, 1969-74
1983Brazil outlasts the US nameplate
  1. 1959

    Galaxie takes the Fairlane 500's crown

    The Galaxie moves above the Fairlane 500. Its Skyliner roof folds into the trunk, a feature offered on the Galaxie for 1959 only.16

  2. 1960

    Second generation, 1960-64

    The 1960-61 Starliner adds a pillarless fastback and huge curved rear window; three star emblems mark its thin, sloping rear roof pillars.167

  3. 1963

    425 hp meets the NASCAR fastback

    The midyear Sports Hardtop cuts drag and lift for NASCAR, while the R-code 427 brings dual Holleys and 425 hp gross.1234

  4. 1964

    Australian assembly starts

    Australia starts local assembly, which continues through 1968; Homebush joins the Galaxie's manufacturing map.1

  5. 1965

    Third generation, 1965-68

    A perimeter frame uses four torque boxes and rear coil springs to isolate road noise. Ford's ads claim less noise than a Rolls-Royce.68

  6. 1966

    7-Litre: 428 or 427

    The 428 offers 345 hp and a four-speed or automatic; the 427 reaches 425 hp, both gross. For 1967, 7-Litre becomes an option package.2910

  7. 1967

    Brazil's Galaxie 500 rolls out

    On February 16, Brazil's first Galaxie 500 leaves the line, with a 272 V8 and a three-speed transmission.5

  8. 1969

    Fourth generation, 1969-74

    A 429 rated at 360 hp gross joins the range. Emissions rules squeeze output; published ratings switch to SAE net for 1972.26

  9. 1983

    Brazil outlasts the US nameplate

    US Galaxies finish after the 1974 model year as Ford consolidates around the LTD. Brazil's longer run ends in 1983.1

Every generation

  • Ford Fairlane (first generation)
    Ford Fairlane (first generation)1955–1956
  • Ford Fairlane 500
    Ford Fairlane 5001957–1959
  • Ford Galaxie (first generation)
    Ford Galaxie (first generation)1959
  • Ford Galaxie (second generation)
    Ford Galaxie (second generation)1960–1964
  • Ford Galaxie (Australia)
    Ford Galaxie (Australia)1964–1968
  • Ford Galaxie (third generation)
    Ford Galaxie (third generation)1965–1968
  • Ford Galaxie (Brazil)
    Ford Galaxie (Brazil)1967–1983
  • Ford Galaxie (fourth generation)
    Ford Galaxie (fourth generation)1969–1974
  • Ford LTD
    Ford LTD

Power over the years

From 300 hp to 425 hp in 4 years.

0200400600 195819601962196419661968197019721974 hp 1959 · 300 hp · 352 V8 (gross)1960 · 360 hp · 352 V8 (gross)1961 · 401 hp · 390 three two-barrels (gross)1963 · 410 hp · Q-code 427 (gross)1963 · 425 hp · R-code 427 (gross)1965 · 425 hp · 427 V8 (gross)1966 · 345 hp · 7-Litre 428 (gross)1969 · 360 hp · 429 V8 (gross)1972 · 95 hp · 250 inline-six (net)1972 · 224 hp · 429 V8 (net)1974 · 218 hp · 460 V8 (net) 425 hp R-code 427 (gross) 300 hp 352 V8 (gross)
1236911
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1959300352 V8 (gross)
1960360352 V8 (gross)
1961401390 three two-barrels (gross)
1963410Q-code 427 (gross)
1963425R-code 427 (gross)
1965425427 V8 (gross)
19663457-Litre 428 (gross)
1969360429 V8 (gross)
197295250 inline-six (net)
1972224429 V8 (net)
1974218460 V8 (net)

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    Galaxie and Galaxie 500

    1962–1974

  • Sunliner

    Standard

    Sunliner

    1959–1962

  • Galaxie 500/XL

    Performance

    Galaxie 500/XL

    1962–1966

  • Galaxie 500 LTD

    Special

    Galaxie 500 LTD

    1965

    200 hp

  • Standard

    Brazilian Galaxie 500, Standard, LTD and Landau

    1967–1983

  • Special

    Galaxie 500 Special Value Package B

    1972

  • Starliner

    Special

    Starliner

    1960–1961

  • Skyliner

    Special

    Skyliner

    1959

  • Galaxie R-code 427

    Performance

    Galaxie R-code 427

    1963–1967

    425 hp

  • Racing

    Galaxie Lightweight

    1962

    405 hp

    11 built

  • Racing

    Galaxie 500 Lightweight

    1963–1964

    425 hp

How to spot one

Look for

  • 1959 cars carry both Fairlane 500 and Galaxie badges.1
  • 1960–1962: three-star rear-pillar emblems are a Galaxie signature.1
  • 1963: big round rear lamps sit high; the wide grille centers on a Ford crest.11
  • 1965 Galaxie 500: stacked headlights up front, hexagonal taillights with chrome crosses behind.12

Year by year

  1. 1959–1962

    Big round lamps became downward half-moons in 1960, smaller rounds beneath blade fins in 1961; fins disappeared and lamps moved lower for 1962.1

  2. 1963–1963½

    The square-roof hardtop gained a lower fastback alternative at midyear, designed to reduce drag and aerodynamic lift for NASCAR.1

  3. 1965

    Vertically stacked headlights arrived; Galaxie 500 rear lamps became hexagons with chrome crosses.12

  4. 1968

    Galaxie 500 body choices included both regular and formal-roof two-door hardtops.6

  5. 1973 (Brazil)

    Rear lamps became slanted rectangles. The 500 had a wide horizontal grille; LTD/Landau used a narrow vertical center grille.15

  6. 1976 (Brazil)

    Headlights turned horizontal, with lamps at the outer ends; the lowered rear used clusters of three small red rectangles.15

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Ford Galaxie
    Galaxie
    Photo of a Ford Fairlane 500 (1959)
    Ford Fairlane 500 (1959)

    Ford Fairlane 500 (1959)

    The Galaxie adds Galaxie badging and, except on the Sunliner, a Thunderbird-style rear roof pillar.1

  • Photo of a Ford Galaxie
    Galaxie
    Photo of a Ford Custom (1965)
    Ford Custom (1965)

    Ford Custom (1965)

    Custom rear lenses are round inside rectangular housings; Galaxie 500 lenses are hexagonal with chrome crosses.12

  • Photo of a Ford Galaxie
    Galaxie
    Photo of a Mercury Marauder (1963)
    Mercury Marauder (1963)

    Mercury Marauder (1963)

    It shares the fastback roofline. Look for FORD lettering across the Galaxie's hood versus Mercury's Marauder badging.111

Against its rivals

Prices

Value today $8.7K–$65.0K2425

Price when newAuction saleValue today
$0$20K$40K$60K$80K 197019801990200020102020 Value today: $8,700–$65,000 1963 · $3,268 · US list, XL Fastback1963 · $3,578 · US new, 500 R-code 4271963 · $4,200 · US list, Lightweight (approx.) 2024 · $3,800 · 1974 500 Country Sedan, 79k shown/TMU, BaT2025 · $31,250 · 1960 Starliner Club Victoria 4.6L, 58k shown, BaT2025 · $10,250 · 1967 500 hardtop 390 modified, 78k shown, BaT2025 · $30,500 · 1966 500 7-Litre fastback, 47k shown, BaT2025 · $24,000 · 1959 Club Victoria, 9k shown/TMU, BaT2026 · $8,700 · 1959 Club Sedan, 46k/49k miles reported, BaT2026 · $65,000 · 1963.5 500 R-code 427, 45k shown, TMU, BaT2026 · $12,000 · 1970 500 SportsRoof 351 4-speed, 35k shown, BaT2026 · $21,400 · 1963 500XL convertible 4-speed, 1,400 shown/TMU, BaT $65.0K BaT, 2026
134242528303132333435
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1963Price when new$3,268US list, XL Fastback
1963Price when new$3,578US new, 500 R-code 427
1963Price when new$4,200US list, Lightweight (approx.)
2024Auction sale$3,8001974 500 Country Sedan, 79k shown/TMU, BaT
2025Auction sale$31,2501960 Starliner Club Victoria 4.6L, 58k shown, BaT
2025Auction sale$10,2501967 500 hardtop 390 modified, 78k shown, BaT
2025Auction sale$30,5001966 500 7-Litre fastback, 47k shown, BaT
2025Auction sale$24,0001959 Club Victoria, 9k shown/TMU, BaT
2026Auction sale$8,7001959 Club Sedan, 46k/49k miles reported, BaT
2026Auction sale$65,0001963.5 500 R-code 427, 45k shown, TMU, BaT
2026Auction sale$12,0001970 500 SportsRoof 351 4-speed, 35k shown, BaT
2026Auction sale$21,4001963 500XL convertible 4-speed, 1,400 shown/TMU, BaT
2026Value today$8,700–$65,000

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 11 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 13 stories from its legend
    • “14 laps clear at the 1965 Southern 500”
    • “Jack Sears broke Jaguar's grip in 1963”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 9 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 35 sources
  1. Ford Galaxie - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. Ford Galaxie Engines by Year (1959–1974) | Engine-build.com engine-build.com
  3. Exploring Ford’s 1963½ Lightweight Galaxies hotrod.com
  4. 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS409 vs. 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 - Motor Trend Classic motortrend.com
  5. HISTÓRIA DO GALAXIE | galaxieclube galaxieclube.com.br
  6. The Unforgettable Ford Galaxie Once Lit Up Highways, Showrooms, and Racetracks motortrend.com
  7. Ford Starliner - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  8. Video: For 1965, The Newest Ford in 15 Years - Mac's Motor City GarageMac's Motor City Garage macsmotorcitygarage.com
  9. What is a 7 Litre? 7litre.org
  10. 1966 Ford 7-Litre - AutoRestorer autorestorer.com
  11. 1963 Ford Full Size Cars Fact Sheet - Over-Drive Magazine over-drive-magazine.com
  12. 1965 Ford Full Size Cars Fact Sheet - Over-Drive Magazine over-drive-magazine.com
  13. Ford Galaxie For Sale - BaT Auctions bringatrailer.com
  14. Ford Fairlane (Americas) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  15. 1957 Ford - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  16. Design of the 1963 “Full-Sized” Ford – Dean’s Garage deansgarage.com
  17. '65 & '66 Galaxie Grand National Stock Car - Modified Mustangs & Fords motortrend.com
  18. Doug Nye: Jack Sears and a dominating Galaxie you could buy goodwood.com
  19. Ned Jarrett’s Career-Defining Season | NASCAR Hall of Fame | Curators' Corner nascarhall.com
  20. Wood Brothers Claim 1963 Daytona 500, Owner’s Title | NASCAR Hall of Fame | Curators' Corner nascarhall.com
  21. A Dozen Wild NASCAR Race Cars | NASCAR Hall of Fame | Curators' Corner nascarhall.com
  22. Drivers' Cinema: The Driver (1978) - Petrolicious petrolicious.com
  23. Back to Its Roots: Dockery Ford Lightweight Galaxie - FordMuscle.com fordmuscle.com
  24. No Reserve: 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Club Sedan for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $8,700 on April 24, 2026 (Lot #239,429) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  25. 1963.5 Ford Galaxie 500 Hardtop Fastback R-Code 427 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $65,000 on August 27, 2026 (Lot #260,145) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  26. Galaxie reaches astronomical auction price | Goodwood Media Centre media.goodwood.com
  27. Hot Rod Heirloom! Rare 7-Litre Ford Galaxie Completely Restored fordmuscle.com
  28. No Reserve: Modified 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 Hardtop 390 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $10,250 on June 14, 2025 (Lot #196,111) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  29. 1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL Fastback R-Code 427 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $62,500 on December 13, 2025 (Lot #223,313) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  30. No Reserve: 1970 Ford Galaxie 500 SportsRoof 351 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $12,000 on September 30, 2026 (Lot #265,922) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  31. 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL Convertible 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $21,000 on January 12, 2026 (Lot #226,139) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  32. 4.6L-Powered 1960 Ford Galaxie Starliner Club Victoria for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $31,250 on September 6, 2025 (Lot #208,872) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  33. 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 7-Litre Fastback for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $30,500 on May 10, 2025 (Lot #191,111) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  34. One-Owner 1959 Ford Galaxie Club Victoria for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $24,000 on March 17, 2025 (Lot #183,954) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  35. No Reserve: 1974 Ford Galaxie 500 Country Sedan for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $3,800 on January 7, 2024 (Lot #132,687) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • engine-build.com
  • hotrod.com
  • motortrend.com
  • galaxieclube.com.br
  • macsmotorcitygarage.com
  • 7litre.org
  • autorestorer.com
  • over-drive-magazine.com
  • bringatrailer.com
  • deansgarage.com
  • goodwood.com
  • nascarhall.com
  • petrolicious.com

Photo credits

Other car files