For fans of full-sized Ford muscle, there aren't many holier grails than a real-deal R-code Galaxie. Well, here's your chance, because this 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL hardtop sports its original, numbers-matching 427, a 4-speed manual, and a nasty black-on-black color combination. This was by far the biggest, baddest car on the streets of 1963, and it's been restored to show-winning condition. If you want the best, this is probably it.Code A Raven Black is this car's original color and now that you've seen it, it's hard to imagine any more suitable color for a car with so much potential. It was treated to a cost-no-object restoration a few years ago but we can't find any issues or nits to pick with the finish, it's just spectacular. The glossy black paint is surely worlds better than it was in 1963 and you can tell at a glance that there's a ton of money and time invested in the final result. Look how beautifully straight the quarters are, the exacting panel gaps, and the deep gloss that only comes from high-quality work. Reflections are distortion-free and the doors close with the most wonderfully solid THUNK we've ever heard on a hardtop. Of course, the chrome and stainless trim is show-quality as well, and the upscale 500XL carries quite a bit of the shiny stuff, so you know that wasn't cheap. Most importantly, the factory '427' emblems still live on the front fenders, perhaps the only warning that anyone's going to get about the beatings that this car hands out.The black bucket seat interior is equally nice. Buckets and a console in a full-sized Ford is simply awesome, and the driver's compartment is every bit as beautifully detailed as the body. Black upholstery is new, the carpets are new, and the ornate chrome-accented door panels are, of course, new. The deep-dish steering wheel has a performance look and there's just nothing cooler than a 4-speed shifter in a full-sized car like this. The gauges are rebuilt and cover only the basics, so an aftermarket oil pressure gauge was added under the dash, which is just smart thinking with an expensive engine like that up front. The only other notable modification is an AM/FM radio, but you'll note it's the original radio with modern internals, so the upgrade is invisible. Even the trunk is correctly finished and includes a full-sized spare wearing a correct bias-ply blackwall.But the real reason this car is special is the numbers-matching 427 cubic inch V8 under the hood. Topped by dual 4-barrel carburetors, it was Ford's most potent powerplant and one which also landed in the legendary Cobra. It's fully rebuilt and includes some upgrades including 10.5:1 compression Arias pistons, Ford LeMans connecting rods, a factory crank, and a Shaffer aluminum flywheel, so it revs lightning fast. The original carburetors were rebuilt by Holley and the cam was upgraded to a mechanical roller unit with roller rockers to free up some horsepower. Full balanced and fitted with ARP fasteners, it's ready for combat and detailed for show. The 4-speed manual gearbox muscles through the gears with ease and it was fitted with 3.50 gears out back to make it friendly on the street. Nevertheless, we guarantee you've never driven something this big that's also this fast. The undercarriage is fully detailed and you'll note details like the cast iron exhaust manifolds, red oxide center section on the 9-inch rear, and a fresh gas tank out back. Correct painted steel wheels with dog dish hubcaps are the right choice, and carry woefully skinny 7.10-15 blackwall bias-plys that don't have a chance against all that horsepower.This is a stunning car in every sense of the word. Awesome colors, awesome pedigree, and an awesome restoration. If you demand the best and your blood flows Ford Blue, this is the car you've been waiting for. Call today!
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