1959 Ford Galaxie

V8 - 292 Y-block

Manual

Clear

This is a great old car, and it has a cool history. A real survivor. Car - 1959 Ford Galaxie Town Sedan, also badged as Fairlane 500. (The Galaxie was introduced mid year in 1959, as a step up from the previously top-of-the-line Fairlane 500. I think it was the only time you could get a Galaxie Fairlane 500.) Equipped with V8 (292 Y block), manual transmission (three on the tree), radio, heater, full wheel covers. No power steering, no power brakes. Not even a side view mirror. Soon thereafter, the owner popped for that side view mirror (Thunderbird version), and in 1965, had Ford dealer air conditioning installed. Black exterior, red/black/silver interior. Has chrome scallops on the front fenders behind the front bumpers, and has the nice stainless behind the rear wheel wells. Stainless all down the side, and around the side windows - this was the dressy version! Paint is mostly original, worn down to primer on roof and rear, and shines nicely - great patina! Some repaint work on the drivers side of the rear deck, not at all sure why. Very little rust. Floors, rockers are all good and solid, except for two areas - passenger side rear dogleg is patched (plugged drain problem) and the hinge for the gas pedal is gone, leaving a hinge-sized hole in the floor. Some dents, some sheet metal screws in trim. Interior was covered from new, and I just uncovered it - not perfect, but very nice, and dramatic. Chrome is pretty nice, with some surface rust on the grille surround and rust in one of the clamshells. The pictures make the car look better than in real life - all pictures do. Car runs really well, nice tires, brakes have been rebuilt (two years ago) and work great. Vacuum wipers work like new. AC was converted to R134; I charged it up and it is cold! Blows great - not sure how long it will hold a charge, but there is a working AC system there. Fun to drive. People love to see it, and I love the three-on-the-tree. Drives great, effortless cruiser at 65 mph. Recently started an occasional stumble which I think is dirt in the carburetor, as all the electricals (points, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil, resistance unit) have all been replaced and it ran great after that. Still runs great, just not as well as it did. Also, has a small leak in the exhaust at the hear riser valve, which I would recommend that you just eliminate. History - this car was bought new in 1959 by Hazel Parker, a Charleston Parks and Recreation employee and an unmarried woman (the out of date term is spinster), as her car for trips; she retained her 1940 Ford sedan for day to day use in Charleston. These two cars lasted her the rest of her life, and her travels throughout the USA are cataloged by vintage travel stickers on the rear bumper, which are part of the wonderful patina of this car. Hazel also was a record keeper, and most of the records for the car are still with in, including the original window sticker, her receipt for the $100 down payment, original warranty papers, and lots of receipts and handwritten logs with mileage, gas, oil, points, plugs, air filters, brakes, etc. It took until 1968, 9 years, to hit 50,000 miles. Another 9 years, and in 1977, she hit 100,000 miles. It took another 10 years - 1987 - to hit 150,000. Another 10 years passed, and she recorded 204,426 in April 1997. In July, 1998 - engine rebuilt. Hazel Parker passed away in 2011, having owned the car for 52 years. The car now has 240,000 miles. You can read about Hazel by googling for Hazel V Parker, Post and Courier, and her old cars. Charleston has named a park after her (Hazel Parker Park). You - can enjoy the ad and the pictures, or buy the car. I would recommend that the next owner enjoy it like it is, with it's history, charisma, weirdness, and total drive-ability. Vintage, retro - no big dollar outlay, and everyone enjoys it. Take six people to lunch (with room for luggage). Let your kids learn the joys of column shift manual. Pick up a few more bumper stickers, keep in in the dry when you are not entertaining others with it, take it to 250,000 miles, then sell it to another worthy recipient. This is a fun hobby. Please call me at 864-884-3151 with any questions. I can send you more pictures, and can email scans of the original invoice, service agreement, records (eBay won't let me post PDFs as pictures). Payment within 7 days, please, but I can hold the car in dry storage for a while to allow time for a shipper or your pickup. Will help shipper with loading. Thanks for looking.