Hello Everyone,

I bought a 1966 galaxie 500 4dr with the intention of using it for parts (bumpers, front inner and outer fenders, hood, rear boot lid, rocker trim, trunk floor, passenger side front floor, upper rear quarters around tail lamps, heater box, frame, etc). I know it's a 4dr but it's slated to give it's life for three '66 galaxie 500's 2dr fastbacks, one of which is an XL that was hit from the rear.

Someone had already removed the engine the transmission, which was ok, didn't need a 289 and a manual 3 speed transmission adding to the spare parts pile. My partner and I are not particularly keen on 4drs, have enough of those as daily drivers. Plus this one was pretty slim on options; manual steering (first galaxie I've seen with that), manual brakes, radio delete (again first galaxie I've seen with that), no air, no power anything really. I'm surprised it didn't come with a hand crank starter, haha j/k....

It seemed pretty clear cut to me until I opened the trunk and found a box of paperwork dating back decades as well as a binder from what appears to be from a grandson who inherited this car from his granddad.

It's pretty evident someone really loved this car, the countless parts that were replaced with loads of receipts too! As well as several copies of "galaxie" magazine and even the dealer window sticker from whence it was new.

I'll attach pics of the interesting bits I saw as well as current pics of it I took today, I've made sure there are no names displayed, but it's a touching history of the poor little car. I certainly don't need another car here, and with rechromed bumpers, and a clean straight frame as well as other parts we could use it'd be hard to refute using it for the other 3 fastbacks. But still after reading this it's a little hard I must admit to strip and cut it apart as a organ donor for the others.

And so I'm curious, more rhetorical really, but what would you do with it?

It's been sitting roasting in the hot sun for years already pillaged for it's drive train. I've pondered saving the car, but, it's a 3 speed on the column, manual steering, manual brakes, no A/C (need A/C here in the summer or you'll roast), and not even an AM radio. I mean theirs practically no driving "fun" other than it's an old car.

But aside from the 4 doors and all the glass, which I can't use, I'll gladly part out to those who might need them. But the rest will be pretty much all used. Only thing I envision left, sans doors and glass, is about 2/3's to 1/2 of the body shell. Of which what's left I'll probably just cut up in little bits, stick it on the trailer and recycle it.

I must admit I didn't think there would be loads of love for a 4 dr, either sedan or hardtop. I originally bought the car for the bumpers, frame and some other bits and pieces that would make life easier fixing the other galaxies. But after seeing all the written history and loads of receipts the previous owner put in to and it spent the majority of its life out in the Southwest and being really "hole free" it would be a easy car to fix up or restore to drive and enjoy.

The more I think about it, this would even be a good candidate for a modern drive train for reliability and economy. A fuel injected 5 litre or 4.6 litre with an overdrive transmission out of a Crown Victoria or Grand Marquis (dozens of them in our local junk yard alone) would do nicely in it for a daily driver.

Anyway, sorry tangent, but I suppose I have the right to change my mind, haha and sell it instead in hopes of it being used and enjoyed. With that, I've offered someone first right of refusal since he asked if it I'd sell it, that's only fair practice. If for some reason that falls through, then I suppose we'll post it on E-bay.

Nothing is ever certain is it.......

Even though I decided to see if I could send off the 4dr to a good home intact, we do have other 4dr parts. As one of the boots/trunks in the other galaxies we hauled off the Indian reservation was full of interior and exterior trim bits and there quite a few pieces for 4drs, not to mention a while back there was a 1965 4dr and a 1968 fastback in the local junkyard and I know this doesn't sound endearing, but like a pair of vultures we picked them clean.

It's hard to pass up 65 dollars for a complete door for the '68 fastback especially when they are dent and rust free.

After some time...

Well, the verdict has been changed once more. It's to be an organ donor, mainly for economical reasons but also lack of proper body panels in the aftermarket world for the other three 1966 galaxie's I have to do.

The other contributing factor was very few people were interested (and rightfully so) in a car with next to Zero options in a sedan. Crikey, no radio (AM is better than nothing), no A/C, oh you'll roast in New Mexico without that, and manual steering. Bloody hell even with a small V8 that's a handful in a big boat. Oh and 3 on the tree column shift..

WTF (where's the fun?) in that....

It has two freshly re-chromed bumpers, and that cost alone is more than I'd get for the whole thing. Add I need the bumpers, frame for the other car and the entire front clip, tail light housings, piece of the firewall, engine bay heater box, the 2 speed wiper motor, rear seats, bits of the front seat, bit of the pass side front floor pan, the petrol tank and sender (recently replaced) the trunk floor and rear quarters. And a few interior bits that are the same for the hardtop. And a spare 9" rear end wouldn't hurt either.

I know it's a shame, but someone already nicked the drivetrain when I bought it and it was just sitting in a dusty field. And it would cost an arm and a leg to accumulate all the above needed parts, not to mention loads of time to hunt them down or make them.

And so I'll be parting it out, keeping any bits that are common to the fastbacks. One thing it did come with was factory tinted glass, non of it fits the fastbacks, including the windscreen, so that and all the 4 door trim, hole free doors and the like will be available.

Cheers

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