Why Ford Galaxies?
Discussion
I don't know anything about Ford Galaxies but often see them in 60's period saloon racing on the grid against Mini's, Cortina's, Alfa's etc.
American cars are usually floaty and barge-like and this certainly looks floaty so why is it the only American car you ever regular see up against the standard European 60's racers?
American cars are usually floaty and barge-like and this certainly looks floaty so why is it the only American car you ever regular see up against the standard European 60's racers?
In a word (or two): big V8.
So much more reliable power over a British car. Get off the line quick, and stay at the front.
'Floaty and bargelike' can equally apply to most of the British cars also, but when they are used for racing (including the Galaxie) they probably had suspension mods.
Plus if they were racing in engine size classes, they were virtually in a class of their own.
So much more reliable power over a British car. Get off the line quick, and stay at the front.
'Floaty and bargelike' can equally apply to most of the British cars also, but when they are used for racing (including the Galaxie) they probably had suspension mods.
Plus if they were racing in engine size classes, they were virtually in a class of their own.
Edited by SV8Predator on Thursday 9th February 12:40
About 20 years ago (it can't be that long, can it?) I remember there were Chevrolet Malibus and the occasional Dodge Super Bee or Plymouth Road Runner keeping the Galaxies company in historic touring car racing. No idea why the Galaxie is the only one you see these days. Maybe the Ford is more common or more competitive.
As far as I know the 427 cubic inch V8 isn't short of power, despite being huge I bet a race Galaxie isn't that heavy and with stiff springs and anti-roll bars the handling probably isn't bad either.
As far as I know the 427 cubic inch V8 isn't short of power, despite being huge I bet a race Galaxie isn't that heavy and with stiff springs and anti-roll bars the handling probably isn't bad either.
A guy on here is building a Ford Falcon to Sprint spec for historic touring car racing. The Galaxies are a personal favourite of mine, with the typical model being used the 1963 1/2 Galaxie 500 Fastback body style with the 427cui V8 installed. I've heard a range of power deliveries claimed ranging from 450bhp up to around 600bhp, although i'm not sure whether the latter is feasible when built to Appendix K spec. Then there is all the other Americana built prior to December 1966, including but not limited to...(deep breath) Ford Mustang, Dodge Dart GT, Plymouth Barracuda, Ford Fairlane, the aforementioned Ford Falcon Sprint/Futura, Mercury Comet Cyclone (from what I can summise a rebodied Mustang), Chevrolet Corvair etc etc. IMO the Falcon Sprint is regarded as the car to have in historic touring car racing as it is extremely light, homologated at 980kgs Appendix K weight (rumoured to be due to the fact the car homologated by Ford in period was weighed without an engine), and also because it has the awesome Ford 289cui V8, however they are not supposed to handle quite as well as a Mustang, although that doesn't seem to stop Leo Voyazides winning everything he enters 
Forgive the essay chaps, just love Pre-66 historic touring cars
Forgive the essay chaps, just love Pre-66 historic touring cars
Chunkychucky said:
A guy on here is building a Ford Falcon to Sprint spec for historic touring car racing. The Galaxies are a personal favourite of mine, with the typical model being used the 1963 1/2 Galaxie 500 Fastback body style with the 427cui V8 installed. I've heard a range of power deliveries claimed ranging from 450bhp up to around 600bhp, although i'm not sure whether the latter is feasible when built to Appendix K spec. Then there is all the other Americana built prior to December 1966, including but not limited to...(deep breath) Ford Mustang, Dodge Dart GT, Plymouth Barracuda, Ford Fairlane, the aforementioned Ford Falcon Sprint/Futura, Mercury Comet Cyclone (from what I can summise a rebodied Mustang), Chevrolet Corvair etc etc. IMO the Falcon Sprint is regarded as the car to have in historic touring car racing as it is extremely light, homologated at 980kgs Appendix K weight (rumoured to be due to the fact the car homologated by Ford in period was weighed without an engine), and also because it has the awesome Ford 289cui V8, however they are not supposed to handle quite as well as a Mustang, although that doesn't seem to stop Leo Voyazides winning everything he enters
Forgive the essay chaps, just love Pre-66 historic touring cars
Forgive the essay chaps, just love Pre-66 historic touring cars
Excellent!Mercury Comet is sister car to Falcon (same body, different name) - Cylone later on became sister car to Fairlane/Torino
I had a '66 Galaxie 2 door fastback with 428 cu in (softer alternative to 427) and c/r 4 speed - yes a heavy car at around 3800 lbs, which was about 100lb or so more than a Mustang with same engine combo. Fairlane from same period was about 150 lb less than similarly equipped Mustang but the Galaxie had much better weight distribution and could put the power down better. My was a limited production 7 Litre model which had uprated suspension all round. A set of black 'weld-up' enameled steel Nascar look wide wheels and E60 15 General Scramber tyres finished the look together with a coil removed from front springs. Believe me this car could handle surprising well considering the size and would frequently embarrass supposed sports cars from the time (mid 70's).
roscobbc said:
Mercury Comet is sister car to Falcon (same body, different name) - Cylone later on became sister car to Fairlane/Torino
I had a '66 Galaxie 2 door fastback with 428 cu in (softer alternative to 427) and c/r 4 speed - yes a heavy car at around 3800 lbs, which was about 100lb or so more than a Mustang with same engine combo. Fairlane from same period was about 150 lb less than similarly equipped Mustang but the Galaxie had much better weight distribution and could put the power down better. My was a limited production 7 Litre model which had uprated suspension all round. A set of black 'weld-up' enameled steel Nascar look wide wheels and E60 15 General Scramber tyres finished the look together with a coil removed from front springs. Believe me this car could handle surprising well considering the size and would frequently embarrass supposed sports cars from the time (mid 70's).
Nice, normally only go for the 63 1/2 Galaxie model year but yours looks like a good usable example I had a '66 Galaxie 2 door fastback with 428 cu in (softer alternative to 427) and c/r 4 speed - yes a heavy car at around 3800 lbs, which was about 100lb or so more than a Mustang with same engine combo. Fairlane from same period was about 150 lb less than similarly equipped Mustang but the Galaxie had much better weight distribution and could put the power down better. My was a limited production 7 Litre model which had uprated suspension all round. A set of black 'weld-up' enameled steel Nascar look wide wheels and E60 15 General Scramber tyres finished the look together with a coil removed from front springs. Believe me this car could handle surprising well considering the size and would frequently embarrass supposed sports cars from the time (mid 70's).
Thanks for clearing up the Comet Clyclone issue btw, I heard about the Fairlane 500s that Holman & Moody built as being somewhat special, you only have to look at what the one in Europe is doing, overtaking GT40s up the long hill out of Eau Rouge at Spa etc.
Oddly enough I received an email today from a buddy in the 'States who had just been dyno testing a rare Tunnel Port Ford 427 that was originally supplied to a race team back in '68 and initially installed in to a drag racing Galaxie and later a lightweight Mustang - the current owner bought it off the race team some time back then - and now in his early '70's decided to give it one last re-build!
lowdrag said:
Here's a photo which'll show the various racers. Taken at Goodwood Revival 2005.
Ahh yes, thankyou Tony.. 
Richard Oldsworth's Flacon Sprint (now owned by Rowan Atkinson I believe), Shaun Lynn's Galaxie (that particular example being my personal favourite, offered a couple of years agop through Taylor & Crawley for just under 100 large), then (I believe) the Galaxie formerly belonging to the Earl of March, and then the right hand drive Alan Mann Mustang. Great shot
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