Wednesday, February 22, 2012

1963 Ford

1963 Ford
Ford Motor Co.
C L I C K     T O     E N L A R G E


The Galaxie 500 XL Sunliner is the car you get when things just keep looking better than ever.  It's nowhere but up for you and it's time to let the cat out of the bag... you've arrived!  You're all dressed up and you've definitely got somewhere to go.
Picture:  576 x 480 at 96 dpi - Retro



 The guy first owning this Galaxie, the one on the way to becoming company VP, traded this in for a T-Bird long ago.  Now it belongs to the college kid, one who's handy with the wrenches.  He likes it because he can do all his own mechanical work and doesn't need expensive computer diagnostics.  It's all within easy reach under the hood.
Picture:  640 x 480 - Second Chance Garage



Big trunks set us apart from the foreign wanna be's.  It's when you kept a real, full size tire for a spare in the trunk and still had plenty of room for the kids' bikes, picnic basket, badminton set, short wave radio and eight years worth of Sears catalogs.
Picture:  1600 x 1200 at 180 dpi - Auto Trader Classics  



You spend the big bucks to buy the top of the line Ford - the Galaxie 500.  You get the hard top, the extra nice interior and all the chrome they can tack on it.  Then you settle for generic hubcaps, the kind found on cars issued to people reading water meters.  For the cost of a couple of dinners out you could have had the fancy wheel covers.  Maybe you like being mistaken for the local fire chief.
Picture:  459 x 345 - Mustangs and Fords



Go ahead and put a huge 427 V8 block in this Ford Custom.  I'd spring for duel spotlights, as well.  This car says institutional but its got wheel covers.  This is where you want the hub caps for maximum effect.  Top it off with an Earl Scheib 'Any car, any color' $19.95 Battleship Grey paint job.  Stenciling your name on the doors is highly recommended.
Picture:  3072 x 2304 at 314 dpi - Student Wheels



Maybe you're thinking a full size Ford is just too much car for you.  Maybe parking is an issue and you need something small enough to wedge into what's available.  The Fairlane would be a full-sized car in today's world but it was not quite regulation in the 60s.  I'd definitely think about sprucing this one up so people don't get the wrong idea, like you're downsizing because you're financially handicapped.
Picture:  800 x 536 - Old Parked Cars



This Fairlane is primed for that important first date.  The Floor Shift is definitely a strong statement - your masculine, not a librarian - Naugahyde bucket seats, console, and carpeting.  Let's hope you didn't get the available Inline Six.  Now it's just the small stuff like emptied ashtray, nothing rolling about in back or embarrassing under the seat.  
Picture:  640 x 480 - Mustang and Fords



The Falcon was a popular, American made, economy car of the 60s.  You could get it most any way you wanted, including as a pick up truck - the Ranchero.  The Country Squire is its high end station wagon and this one is loaded with everything available, including Venetian Blinds for the back.  More than anything, though, steering on the right makes it a real collectible.      
Picture:  1280 x 960 - Mad Whips



My problem with cars of this era is that they were often cluttered up with chrome styling gimmicks.  The best thing they did when customizing this car was to strip it of its extraneous chrome attachments.  It's got good lines stamped right into the metal.  This car definitely supports the principle that less is really more.
Picture:  640 x 480 - Mustangs and Fords



So I get real excited about a car I see in an ad and I head to my nearest dealer.  I visualize driving off the lot in this beauty and showing it to all my friends.  The friendly salesman is very encouraging but when it comes to crunch time we just can't do the financing.  Never fear, the salesman says, I've got something special you'll really like on the lot.  We walk all the way to the chain link fence in the very back and actually I'm terribly deflated by what I see.  He puts his arm around my shoulder and cautions me not to rush my judgement.  Turns out it's quite a deal and he'll throw in the two-tone paint and extra chrome for free.  I didn't pay much down and it becomes all mine in just four years.  Things went clickity-clack up until the warranty expired and then in quick order I replaced the water pump, radiator and alternator.  In year three I missed a payment cause I had to put together enough money for a transmission overhaul.  In just a few short months I can trade the dirt bag in for something really exciting I saw on TV.  
Picture:  1024 x 768 - Pop Up Pistons




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