Highlights

Era-defining ‘Total Performance’ Z-Code 390FE V8 convertible
Comprehensively restored over six years from a bare-metal rebuild
Very well presented car in red with matching interior nd white roof
Reportedly specified with all factory optional extras except power seats
Accompanied by a large file of invoices and restoration photographs
Voluntary MOT valid to December 2026 with no advisories

The Appeal

Such is the cultural importance of Ford’s Z-Code Galaxie that it’s no surprise that ZZ Top used one regularly in their videos and a cool ‘90s band took its name from it. It featured in Hitchcock’s The Birds plus, more recently, the Fast & Furious franchise. In big block 390CI Z-Code guise, as here, this is the car that kick-started Ford’s ‘Total Performance’ era, won Old Henry the ‘63 NASCAR Manufacturers Championship and is the reason we still see big, heavy Galaxies thundering around historic circuits like Goodwood.

This ‘63 Z-Code convertible is special then. Particularly so because it has undergone a comprehensive strip-down and rebuild since the vendor acquired it in 2020. The work included bare-metal bodywork renovation and respray, full engine rebuild, running gear overhaul, interior refurbishment, and brake upgrades. The car retains its correct 390CI big block V8.

As a 500XL, denoting ‘Xtra Lively’ in Ford parlance, this convertible features front bucket seats, centre console and power roof. We’re told that it left the factory with every available option except power seats. The restoration has retained these features and, as you can see in the photos, the red paintwork and matching interior present very well. The vendor notes a few cosmetic imperfections, including a small area of deteriorated aftermarket chrome, a paint crack on the rear left quarter, and a handful of minor chips, but overall this Galaxie presents well. A substantial file of invoices and restoration photographs documents the work undertaken.

With its jet-age-inspired styling, racing provenance, cultural significance, and impressive condition, this is a car for the discerning Americana enthusiast.

The vendor says:

“The Galaxie is a fantastic car to drive; it turns heads everywhere it goes with a massive WOW effect. People love the taillights, and it's great to start a conversation about its history with the space race in the 1960s; the car's taillights were designed to look like rocket engines and how astronauts were driven around in the convertible model sitting on the back. It is an amazing car, a very rare Zcode with all optional extras except power seats. Whenever I take it to a car show, I always feel I’m in the top few of any car there.”

Key Information

Mileage: 2,454 miles displayed; the odometer is reported to have gone around the clock, with an estimated total of 102,454 miles
Country of registration: United Kingdom
Technical inspection status: voluntary MOT to 18th December 2026 with no advisories
Technical specs: 390CI Z-Code 6.4-litre 390FE V8, three-speed C6 automatic, Paperwork: Large file of invoices and restoration photographs

The vendor says:

“I purchased the vehicle in 2020 in an abandoned project state. Over the last 6 years, I have completely stripped the car and rebuilt it in every aspect from the ground up. The gearbox is a rebuilt C6 upgrade with custom rear mountings. The brake system is upgraded with a dual-circuit master cylinder and brake booster and front disc brakes (new original front drum brakes included). The offset front lower control arm (only fitted during 63, I believe) has been upgraded to the straight bolt conversion, improving handling. Every ball joint bearing and bush replaced; new suspension leaf springs on the rear. New stainless steel exhaust, which sounds amazing with a great rumble. A complete bare-metal respray; all required chassis-body welding was completed; all repairs are in the restoration photos. The underside was stripped back, painted, and rubberised, and looks fantastic, as can be seen from pictures. New fuel tank pump and fuel lines. The 390FE, the correct engine for this Zcode model, has also been totally rebuilt with great compression and runs smoothly. The list of work goes on and on; this is a total restoration.”

The Detail

Ground-up restoration completed over approximately six years by the current owner
390FE V8 engine fully rebuilt
Vendor states that car starts reliably and runs smoothly with good compression
C6 automatic transmission rebuilt with custom rear mountings
Gearbox reported to shift well
Bare-metal respray completed during restoration and finished in red
All chassis and body welding completed
Underside stripped, painted, and rubberised
Brake system upgraded with dual-circuit master cylinder, brake booster, and front disc brakes
Original front drum brakes included with the sale
Front lower control arms converted from offset to straight-bolt type
All ball joints, bearings, and bushes replaced
New rear leaf springs fitted
New stainless steel exhaust system fitted
New fuel tank, fuel pump, and fuel lines fitted
Original radiator fully recored
New voltage regulator and battery fitted; reported to charge at 14 volts
Dashboard rebuilt; gauge cluster stripped and repainted with all bulbs converted to LED
Custom tachometer, oil gauge, voltmeter, and oil pressure gauge fitted
Secondary electric cooling fan fitted on a fused switch
Holley electric fuel pump fitted, fused
Power windows reported to be fully functional
Interior retains 500XL bucket seats, centre console, and door cards
Chrome-effect trim strips on seats and door cards have dulled with age
New correct-pattern carpets and chrome kick plates fitted
Vendor notes a very slight leak from the rear crankshaft main seal
Aftermarket chrome on the front bumper driver-side corner has deteriorated
Small crack in paint on the top rear left quarter panel, approximately 3 inches long
A few minor paint chips noted across the body, totalling 4–5
Some slight surface rust staining visible on chassis paint in places, reported by the vendor to be cosmetic only

The vendor says:

The Galaxie is in fantastic condition; there are one or two spots letting it down. These include the front bumper driver-side corner, as you can see in the pictures; the aftermarket chrome has failed (unsurprisingly for aftermarket chrome); there is a crack in the paint on the top rear left quarter, 3” long, which can be spotted when looking closely. There are virtually no marks or scrapes, maybe adding up to 4/5; two of these chips I noticed photographing the car, one on each side, above the headlamps, very small. The underside of the car is totally solid with no rust at all, having been rubberised; the chassis was stripped back and painted with an industrial gloss. In spots, this is showing some slight rust stains but NO rust issues and no repairs needed, just a quick clean and repaint in these areas of the chassis itself. All of these points can be seen in the photos of restoration and how the car is now after a few years since complete restoration

I have tried to keep as many of the car's interior features as original as possible, which were specific to the 63 Galaxie 500XL model, such as the bucket seats, centre console and door cards. Unfortunately, the seat and door card plastic chrome strips have lost their chrome effect over the many years, but the condition is good and adds a great patina look to the car. I have fitted new correct carpets and chrome kick plates; the power windows all work as they should. The dashboard has been rebuilt, and the gauge cluster stripped and painted; all gauges are working correctly, with all bulbs converted to LED. I have fitted a custom tachometer, oil gauge, voltmeter and oil pressure gauge. The car charges at 14 volts with new regulator and battery oil pressure when up to temp is as it should be the original temp gauge is functioning the custom gauge gives very accurate readings when being driven over the past few months in hot weather it runs on the road at 160/170 in town/traffic she will go up to 185 i have fitted a secondary fan operated on a fused switch under dash also for the Holley electric fuel pump under dash and fused.

The car is in excellent mechanical condition. The engine starts every time on the button; she does take just two mins to warm up with the manual choke. This is a good thing for an engine of this size, I have always felt. There is a very slight leak from the complicated rear crank main seal I have tried twice to sort out, but with no luck. The 390FE big block is known for it; the radiator is original and totally re-cored. The transmission shifts beautifully, and she cruises at 50/55mph with good fuel consumption, I have always felt. A huge file of invoices that goes with the car.”

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