The Ford Galaxy is, or rather way, one a few modern minivans that handled well. On the other hand, the Ford Galaxie was a full-sized car built between 1959 and 1974.
Like so many models in that era, it was inspired by the space race, with headlights integrated into pods and afterburner taillights, not to mention fins. Essentially, this was Ford’s answer to the Chevrolet Impala, but not many people know it could also have become a god of NASCAR.
Ford developed this monster of a 427 single overhead cam (SOHC) V8 because it wanted to compete and win in the race series. It was designed to comfortably race at high rpm for several hours at a time and reportedly produced over 600 horsepower. But then NASCAR owner Bill France saw the 427 inside the engine bay of a 1964 Ford Galaxy 500 and banned it. His argument: you have to have it inside a production car first.
And this is why this particular car is the way it is, a Ford Galaxie 500 427 SOHC homologation prototype. It was built to show what the necessary 500 units of road-going cars were like. The main interesting thing about it was the engine, but it’s since been modified rather tastefully by Matranga Hot Rods, Brown Auto Design, and Ford.
The coolest piece is perhaps the hood. Normally, these homologation cars had ugly fiberglass hoods, but its builders went back to all-metal yet wanted it to look stock. So under that Wimbledon White paint is a lot of custom metal that’s been pressed into this shape and a nice teardrop bubble for the gigantic filter. It also has narrower front and rear bumpers, not to mention a refreshed grille.
The E-T Mags AC III wheels wrapped with Nitto NT555 G2 tires give it a restro hot rod look. And behind those is a seat of Baer Extreme brake rotors with 6-piston calipers. Because they were a tight fit, the discs were shaved by 3/8 of an inch.
And although its powertrain is a fire-breathing 635 horsepower NASCAR engine, this Galaxie likes to let it hair down. And so, it rides on a custom Roadster Shop Fast Track Stage III chassis with air ride suspension.
