1966 Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 155 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“'Amazing! Your factory-built Ford is quieter than my custom-built car,' said Herman Graber, the great Swiss coach-builder.'”

That headline was part of the powerfully effective “Quiet Man” interview-based advertising set in various European locales. Each ad proved the amazingly solid and surprisingly quiet '66 Ford Galaxies were the real deal. Another example from France was headlined: “'I was sure the Citroen Chapron would be quieter because it's hand-made,' said Count de Villefranche, but the new Ford XL changed his opinion.” American Fords dominated European makes.

Offered here is one of the “Quiet Man's” subject cars, a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible in dark red over red under a white fabric soft-top. The outstanding original condition of the car is owed to fastidious owner care and low mileage. The Galaxie's odometer reads 46,475 miles, or just 845 miles per-year since new.

The exterior paint has been refreshed in the factory color and exhibits uniform application with a high gloss. (Be sure to see the close-up photos in the gallery to appraise the paint finish.) There are no dings, dents, or other damage on the car's sheet metal panels, and panel-fit is excellent in keeping with Ford's upgraded quality standards for manufacturing at the time. Extensive chrome on the body—including the bumpers, grille, vertically arranged quad-headlight trim, door handles, side mirrors, lower body-side trim, wheel-well trim, and rear-end taillight treatment—remains in excellent condition with very little patina from age. All factory badging is complete and in excellent condition. “F-o-r-d” individual letters on the hood, Ford-logo hood ornament, front-fender emblems, “Galaxie 500” rear-fender badges, and individual “F-o-r-d” letters on the rear are correctly mounted in the factory locations. Cabin glass and lighting lenses are clear, complete, and undamaged. The car's white soft-top is also clean and undamaged. Factory wheels (with full wheel covers showing Ford logo and red trim) are mounted with 215/85, thin-whitewall, Mastercraft® all-season tires for a perfectly period-correct look.

Inside, the various red surfaces have been maintained well and show near-perfect vintage condition. Upholstery on the folding, chrome-trimmed front and rear bench seats (with rear-speaker indent) is vertically pleated red vinyl with darker red embossed panels for contrast. There are no flaws in the upholstery. Red cabin carpeting is similarly well-kept and free of wear damage. Door trim echoes the seat upholstery with a black, woodgrain vertical trim added for the premium look in this top-of-the-line Ford. The red-vinyl boot cover is pristine (so when the homecoming queen sits there for the parade, her throne will be perfect). The car's original, stock, red steering wheel with Ford-emblem-center frames the wide-look, padded, red dashboard with horizontal speedometer, separate analog clock, and various operating controls below. A JVC® audio head unit replaces the factory radio. The shift lever for the automatic transmission is mounted on the steering column. Brushed-chrome trim extends across the dash ending in a “Galaxie 500” emblem similar to the exterior badges. The trunk is clean and includes a matching spare tire and wheel cover.

Under the hood, the Ford V8's engine-block is painted proper “Ford blue.” An Edelbock®-embossed air-cleaner cover and chrome valve-covers add flair. The engine bay is clean and complete with all components properly mounted and hoses and wiring correctly routed. Viewed from below, the car's chassis is clean and complete with expected surface rust on untreated metal. The full-length dual exhaust with performance mufflers (which account for the pleasing engine note demonstrated in the video link) are a focal point.

The car's original identification and build tags remain mounted.

While the more than 155 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '66 Galaxie 500 drop-top in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

It can be reasonably argued that the mid-Sixties Ford Galaxies were the most desirable full-sized American cars back in the day, and they still hold strong appeal for their style and the quality of their build. So, unlike so many advertising hucksters of the day, Ford's “Quiet Man” didn't stretch the truth one bit.