Ford Galaxie 500 Lightweight, 1963
Ford Galaxie II
Ford Galaxie II•
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Chassis No.: 3J66R143277
Auction: Monterey 2023
Auction date: August 19, 2023
Lot No.: F159
$88,000 | Sold
- Odometer: 5,013 miles
- Engine: V-8
- Transmission: Manual
- Exterior: White
- Interior: Red
- Part of The Hagstrom Collection
- 1 of 212 factory lightweights built
- 1 of an estimated 12 made with the factory fiberglass lightweight doors
- Comprehensive restoration by Randy DeLisio of Lyons, New York
- 427 CI V-8 engine
- Comprehensive engine rebuild by RPM engines in 2018, including repaint of the engine bay
- Borg Warner T10 aluminum 4-speed manual transmission with drag racing clutch
- “High rise” period Ford clutch pedal riser
- White exterior with recently added period-style racing livery
- Red interior
- Fiberglass high riser bubble hood
- Factory modified grille
- Forced air induction system
- New tires
- Owner’s manual
- Ford intra-company communication letter
- Extensive receipts and paperwork
Coming initially from the Don Fezell collection and most recently of the Hagstrom Collection, there are many unique features about the 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 Lightweight shown here. During the original comprehensive restoration by Randy DeLisio of Lyons, New York, the discovery of this car’s exclusive Ford racing pieces offered exciting possibilities as to its origins, including potential ties to Ford Drag Team founding member Les Ritchey, and by extension, racer Gas Ronda, though neither have been definitely proven by documentation.
Jon Hagstrom, the car’s current owner, has however spoken to previous owners who piloted the car back in its drag racing heyday at strips like Pomona and during the years since, including first owner Mike Lieber, second owner Wayne Linden and John Karelius, who is coincidentally Les Ritchey’s nephew. The 427 CI high-riser V-8 engine features the twin intake tubes and a comprehensive engine rebuild by RPM Engines was performed in 2018, including repainting of the engine bay. The cast airbox is over two inline Holley 4-barrel carbs, and this mandated the teardrop-design fiberglass hood installation for clearance.
Behind this today is a BorgWarner aluminum T-10 4-speed manual transmission with a drag racing-design clutch, inside an aluminum bellhousing, and a Detroit Automotive Products limited-slip differential equipped with heavy-duty axle shafts. A period Les Ritchey traction bar is also here, with the factory trunk-mounted battery to aid weight distribution. The exterior wears white paint decorated with recently added period-style race and sponsor livery, as well as the Ford Racing Team authorized fiberglass components including the special doors and hood.
The factory-modified grille for the forced air induction system and the authorized deletion of all body sealer/sound deadener were also part of its equipment. Inside, the red interior features lightweight front bucket seats, thin-material rubber floor mats, the deletion of the heater/defroster and radio, a black-knob floor shifter and a column-mounted Sun tachometer with underhood electronic drive, with Plexiglass side windows assisting in the lightweight effort. Finally, this car has been equipped with new blackwall tires mounted on white factory wheels with Ford covers.
The lightweight era remains a special moment in the history of Total Performance automotive racing involvement, and this special Galaxie 500 harkens back to those glory days.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1094320/1963-ford-galaxie-500-lightweight/
Cost
323,180 AED
