Memories from an alley and a curbside long ago — found on the web, with the exact location and the identities of the subjects unknown. So, a mystery on those fronts. What isn’t mysterious, to us car folk, is the wonder of a new and sharp-looking car parked outside. This short collection of photo captures that wonder, by someone who caught on camera his most cherished possessions; his child and his nicely set up new red Ford hardtops.
If you like your full-size Fords of the ’60s and enjoy chrome-trimmed brightness, there’s little to fault with this Rangoon Red 1963 Galaxie 500. This is the fastback “sports hardtop” introduced mid-year. I don’t see any engine call-outs on the front fenders, so it might have the base Challenger 289 V8 or even the Mileage Maker six. You could get any engine on the Galaxie 500, so if you wanted a six or preferred to spend your money on every other trim option, you could order the car as you preferred. And kiddo certainly seems to approve of the car as is.
Since these showed up from the same web source, I assume they all came from the same estate sale. However, the car in the above photo is a 1964 Galaxie 500, again a Rangoon Red hardtop with the owner’s preferred baby moon hubcaps and whitewalls. I wonder if the coordination of the red car, the red toy tractor, the red hat, and the red stripes was a touch of amateur art direction or just a coincidence. Whatever the case, Junior looks more than pleased once again in this shot.
The photo above seems to show the same car, the same hat, and the same outfit, but with a sweater and six-gun to play cowboys. Cowboy movies were still awfully popular in the ’60s, and the Western Bonanza, in its fifth season, was about to become America’s most-watched TV show for ’64.
One last shot of the ’64 Galaxie 500, this time on its own, but being prepped for a trip. As far as I know, no images are available from those excursions. But wherever they may have gone, those must have been memorable outings.
Related CC Reading
In-Motion Classic: 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie 500 – On The Near Extinction Of The Ford Passenger Car
1964 Ford Galaxie 500 – Bootiful
Curbside Classic: 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 – Say Goodbye To Those Jet Tube Taillights
Nice .
I would have killed for one of those pedal tractors as a child .
-Nate
And both Galaxies have the aftermarket, nubby vinyl seat, covers.
Adorable photos. Thanks for fidning these.
For some reason or other these cars keep showing up over here now usually in white, only the moredoor versions arrived new. many survive.
Me, with my dad’s new 64 Galaxie 500 XL, while it was still on the dealer’s lot: Bob Ford, now Fairlane Ford, on Michigan Ave in East Dearborn. Note the lack of a driver’s side mirror. Still an option in those brave days. For the detail obsessed, the XL was indeed Rangoon Red.
The XL at it’s new home. I suspect the dealer messed up with the wheel covers. Every other XL I have ever seen, had wheel covers with blades on them, and “XL” in the center. The wheel covers on dad’s lacked the blades and said “Galaxie 500” in the center.
*This* is the style wheelcover I have seen on every other 64 XL, over the last 60 years. Pic taken at the “Motor Muster” at Greenfield Village last Saturday.
Why yes, they do look great in red. 🙂
I had my jeans rolled up in the 60s like the kid above. Only they weren’t rolled up to my knees. The 63 Galaxie 2 door was one of the best looking Galaxies in the 60s.
I totally agree on the ’63 Galaxies. I like them all – 60-64, but the ’63 is probably my pick of the bunch. I love the big round taillights especially. The ’64 styling was a little too busy by comparison. I’m not sure why so many people ignore the 60-63 Galaxies and clamor over the Impalas of the same era; not an ugly car, but the Galaxie is prettier to me any year.
I was 10 when the 63 Galaxies were new. There were two in our country community which have always been my favorites. Both were “baby blue” one was a convertible, one was a fast back , both were 390s and the fast back was a 4 speed. Great times. Thanks for sharing this.
Jeans were cuffed, not rolled, girls rolled their jeans; kid here had short legs and wearing cowboy boots the pants legs would keep hanging up and besides you would not be impressed with the magnificence of them if covered up… JGF
Awesome Post (even though I’m not a diehard ford fan) I was a fan of the 64′ yr..models My Mom has 64′ Mercury Monterey XLConvertible and my dad had a 64 Galaxie 500 sedan..that was back when cars were actually cars and a dollar was worth more than a dollar