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 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.