1962 Ford Galaxie 500

So this is my neighbors car. It's a '62 Galaxie 500. It has a 292 2-bbl with a Fordamatic 2-speed trans. It's white with a Chestnut interior. It has a factory Polaraire AC System as well.

His plan is to sell it, but it needs some work done here and there. It runs and drives well. He asked if I can help him and I have no problem with that.

He's got a 4-bbl intake for the engine even though they did not come factory with one. He would like to upgrade it, but just from what little research I've done, I'm coming up empty on carbs. It needs a tune up and exhaust. It also needs tires.

Other than that, it's in pretty good shape. He's the second owner, the original was from Kansas.

If it is original, and he plans to sell, his best dollar is in leaving it as it came from the factory.

There is a better chance that a buyer will use the 4 barrel against his asking price than there is of them seeing it as a good thing.

I'w with NOHOME on this one, a 4 barrel isn't going to look good to the sort of guy looking to pay a premium for a car like that. I doubt it would make any more power with one anyhow. Keep it as much of a survivor as possible, I wouldn't do much modification beyond 2 circuit brakes.

Does the AC work?

Kenny_McCormic wrote: I'w with NOHOME on this one, a 4 barrel isn't going to look good to the sort of guy looking to pay a premium for a car like that. I doubt it would make any more power with one anyhow. Keep it as much of a survivor as possible, I wouldn't do much modification beyond 2 circuit brakes. Does the AC work?

If the AC does not work, I would say that repairing it would bring the best bang for your buck.

Well the 4-bbl isn't probably going to happen, so don't get your panties in too much of a wad.

The AC doesn't work and that's in the talks of him getting that fixed.

He's not going to get a lot for this car anyway because it's a 4-door with a 292 and it has a lot of scratches and dents. It's a good car for someone who wants to buy a classic car for the first time. There are several things that need to be taken care of that would help people not nitpick the hell out of it. Basically we want to make the body the only thing that anyone has as haggling leverage.

Ugh. If it's a 292, there's not a whole lot that will help it and a 4-barrel is down the list, below "swap the y-block for something else".

The upside is, if you tie your boat to that engine, it will not move an inch.

They're an interesting engine but they really are the "D" student of the OHV V8 world.

That Ford-O-Matic might be a three-speed. The iron-case models are three-speeds but they start out in second, you have to select first gear manually. The aluminum case units are true two-speed transmissions.

Man, I love Galaxies from this generation. They're just so classy.

I feel like they look better when they have a little character like this one does; the restored ones kind of melt into the background of 60s-era sedans.

People buying these cars are looking for a time capsule. Car must be pretty original and not cancer ridden.

Forgetting about the dints and paint flaws, how solid is the tin on this car? Can it be left alone or will it require welding to keep the car on the road over the next 5 years?

In reply to NOHOME:

Car is completely solid. Came from Kansas and has been garage kept since new. He is the second owner of the car.

Trans_Maro wrote: Ugh. If it's a 292, there's not a whole lot that will help it and a 4-barrel is down the list, below "swap the y-block for something else". The upside is, if you tie your boat to that engine, it will not move an inch. They're an interesting engine but they really are the "D" student of the OHV V8 world. That Ford-O-Matic might be a three-speed. The iron-case models are three-speeds but they start out in second, you have to select first gear manually. The aluminum case units are true two-speed transmissions.

He has confirmed that it is a Ford-O-Matic (2-Speed) and not a Cruise-O-Matic (3-Speed). From the documentation I have found online, it looks like the 292 only came with the Ford-O-Matic in 1962 in the Galaxie.

Since you say it runs and drives well I'd just clean it well and sell as is. If it's a $X,XXX.00 car and you put 400 bucks plus time in the AC or whatever you won't recoup the additional money spent.

What's the price tag he's looking to get?

In reply to DaveEstey:

Don't know yet, he currently doesn't have the internet, so I'm going to research prices.

Rad_Capz wrote: Since you say it runs and drives well I'd just clean it well and sell as is. If it's a $X,XXX.00 car and you put 400 bucks plus time in the AC or whatever you won't recoup the additional money spent.

I disagree. It's not running right and tires are shot. The brakes need a once over and the 53 year old rubber brake lines probably should be replaced. There is also a leak from the accelerator pump on the carb.

Last thing you want is to let a person take it for a test drive, a rubber line pops, and the person puts it into a utility pole.

It's not my car, if he wants to spend money on it to sell it, then that's his decision. I'm just helping him get stuff done.