Description
1963. 5 Ford Galaxie 500 Fastback, NASCAR. Curtis Turner Tribute
An on the button fast and loud road legal car perfect for events or track days which with mild changes would make for an impressive historic race car.
This 1963 Galaxie 500 fastback was built in the USA by renowned NASCAR specialist Randy Peterson in 2010 as a tribute to the Holman Moody #26 that ran in period driven by
Curtis Turner.
‘Curtis’ was campaigned across the west coast of the US for several years where he featured at many iconic tracks and marquee events including Sonoma and the Rolex Classic at
Laguna Seca. Notably in 2010 he was driven by Vic Edelbrock at the Sonoma Historic Motorsport Festival.
Curtis was imported into the UK where the previous owner replaced the sticker livery with the stunning hand pinstriped finish he is in today, reflecting how he would have been
liveried in period.
I bought the car in 2024 and as he had been stored and not used regularly began a total overhaul of the whole vehicle. My aim was not to produce a race car, as I intended to use him as a fast, loud road car to take me to events. That said, all work carried out on him was done to FIA appendix K standards and if the future owner wants to take him racing he is the prefect car that, with mild amendments, would be highly eligible for many marquee
race events.
Engine:
Under the hood lies a period correct Ford 7 litre 427ci FE sideoiler V8 (complete with period correct elements including thicker black walls, hex head block plugs, raised oil gallery on the side
of the block, and side oiler casting code) which was built by renowned side oiler specialist engine builder Robert Pond.
Intake air is fed through a custom plenum attached to the freshair vent below the windshield. Ford Hi-Po FE cast iron headers are joined to straight-through exhaust pipes exiting to each side.
It’s fair to say that he sounds incredible but will happily sit at idle at 900 rpm never getting hot thanks to the high grade cooling system required to race on the West Coast of the USA (good in traffic on your way to events)
Gear Box:: The 427 is combined with a Top-loader four-speed manual gearbox with Hurst shifter, a limited-slip differential in reinforced Ford 9” housing; period-modified suspension and new shocks all round.
NASCAR reinforced 15” steel wheels and wheel studs on five-lug hubs with new Avon CR6ZZ tyres. There are vented drum brakes all around with NASCAR Grey-Rock linings. Wilwood Front discs (not fitted) will be provided with sale.
Over the past 12 month rebuild Curtis was substantially overhauled by NASCAR expert, Simon Chalkly at American Speed and Thunder. The brief was to make him into a fast road legal,
reliable head turner, but at every stage to do nothing that would jeopardise him being used on the track should as future owner want to compete in him.
Works carried out in 18 month rebuild:
New NASCAR Fuel Cell:
Replacing the US spec race unit, with a NASCAR safety fuel tank from a Cup Car.
New fuel lines, plugs and leads: All within FIA Regs
New MSD Electronic Ignition
A new MSD electronic ignition was fitted to ensure clean and powerful delivery and we added
an adjustable rev limiter.
Complete rewiring and light fitment (so he can be used on the road): The whole wiring loom was replaced to ensure road legality and reliable operation. We also fitted working headlights to replace the blank plates they ran in period.
New Full Torque Aluminium Prop Shaft: Given the power delivery we commissioned a bespoke drag aluminium prop shaft, both lightweight and built to last (rated to over 1500bhp).
Engine overhauled and Top End Rebuilt (and dyno tested)
The top end of the engine was overhauled.
New Race Seats and Harnesses (period correct
seat will come with sale): We replaced the seats with modern race seats and replaced the lap belts with four point Simpson harnesses…
The seats were designed to be used for fast road/ track day usage and as such are adjustable, if the car is to be used for racing then the passenger seat and rails can be unbolted and the drivers seat should be replaced with a FC1 or similar from McGill motors.
Floor strengthening: The floors were strengthened to provide a solid base for the race seat. The original Galaxie seat will be sold with the car.
New Flowmax exhaust: To make the Curtis pass noise restrictions at track days and more civilised on the road we added two flowMax silencers which are engineered to be bolted in and out and replaced with the open pipes.
Brakes: We purchased but never fitted the FIA legal Wilwood front brake discs and calibers, they remain boxed and will be transferred with sale.
Receipts for all works totalling £20k + can be shared on demand. In short, Curtis represents an on the button Galaxie 500 NASCAR, ready for however the next lucky owner chooses to use it, fast road car to draw a crowd at events, trackdays, or with some mild revisions as a new highly competitive period Galaxie 500 on the race scene.
For more information contact Charlie on the details below
