1963 Ford GALAXIE COUNTRY SEDAN WAGON, FACTORY 4-SPEED TRANSMISSION ! - $4995 (Grand

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/cto/4244155119.html

For Sale: A RARE 1963 Ford Galaxie COUNTRY SEDAN WAGON with FACTORY 4-SPEED TRANSMISSION ! As you know, very few of these Country Sedans came out of the factory with a 4-Speed Transmission, so this is a unique vehicle. This 6-passenger wagon was assembled in California and spent half of its life there. It was driven to Oklahoma and then to Idaho in the late 1980's. It has been in storage since 1990 and was a running car when it was parked. It is in very nice condition for being 50 years old ! The motor is a 352 2-Barrel and is "free"...turns over. It has 98,000 actual miles. Regarding the exterior, the original color was Light Green Metallic. It has been repainted a "Salmon" color. The body is straight and has very little rust...is not "all beat up". There is a spot of rust on one door and there are rust-through areas on the rear floor pans and on the storage area of the trunk. Otherwise, this car is pretty much rust free. By the way, the frame is in excellent condition. And because the car was up on the hauler, it has been easy to inspect the underside. It looks very good...see picture of solid gas tank. The tires were purchased new in 1987 and have never seen the road ! The receipt for $66 for the tires is included with the paperwork that comes with the car. The tires still have the original green stripe on the tread. And the car rolls easily. All the glass is good, and except for one piece of chrome which is missing, all of the chrome is attached and good. There is no headliner (bows are there), the front seat is pretty well "shot", ...could be redone or replaced. The floors need new carpet (someone had installed 1960's yellow shag carpet, which I have been pulling out). The Dash is complete, except for the Horn Ring. And the original Factory 4-Speed Transmission and Shifter is in place. There you have it, a unique treasure to take you back to the days of the Griswold Family Christmas and REAL Station Wagons ! This should be an easy restoration project, with minor rust repair, some interior work and new paint. All good paperwork, including a Clear Title will accompany this vehicle. Because of the length of time the Wagon has been sitting, it will need to be trailered. Transport and pickup is the responsibility of the buyer. We would like the vehicle moved before it gets buried too deep in snow ! I am asking $4995. I would be willing to take a 1971-72 SNOJET snowmobile (in good running condition) as partial trade up to $1000. Serious inquiries are welcome: 218-326-6930. Also, we currently have another nice 1963 Ford Country Sedan Wagon listed on the Duluth/Superior Craigslist Site. Thank you for your interest and Happy Holidays ! ​

 

Not sure how much I would want a stick in a wagon from a practicality standpoint, but very cool just the same.

 

I have my doubts that you could get a 4-speed manual with the 2-barrel 352 in 1963. The 4-speed manual was new for '63. Before that, you could only get a 3-speed or a 3-speed with overdrive (not a true 4-speed).

This wagon is a project anyway, and he's asking pretty good money for it. I'd keep looking......

 

There is something about this car and this ad that leads me to believe that the seller is being honest. I'm betting that since the 4 speed was available in 63 it was in fact available on the wagon. I would guess that there were very few built at the time, and likely very, very few left. A deluxe Marti Report would be interesting reading, that's for sure. One thing I did like was the very detailed pictures of the rust that were included in the ad. An honest car at what is likely a high but reasonable price.

 

"This should be an easy restoration project". For him, maybe.

Here's the other '63 the seller mentions:

http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=279242#post279242

 

I can't believe replacing floor pans is an easy restoration......but maybe, for you guys in the rust belt. Out here, not so much........

 

Here in Ontario, replacing floor pans on old cars is almost routine. Same with minor holes in floor. Patching them is perfectly normal.

 

Why wouldn't a four speed be possible in 1963 with a 352 2-bbl? Not all four-speed cars were 4-barrel equipped.

 

I'm not sure , Patrick. Ford just brought out the 4-speed that year, available on the Falcon Sprint, Fairlane Sport Coupe, and the big Ford. I just got the impression from the ads I have found that the 4-speed was meant for 'performance' applications. Wish I could find a complete big Ford brochure that provides the details.

 

I think you could get just about anything you wanted then. I bought my 66 Malibu from the original owner who ordered it new. It came with a 283, 2 barrel, single exhaust, manual drum brakes, manual steering..........and buckets, console and a 4 speed. It still has the buckets, console and a 4 speed............

 

This thread had me wondering about the questions posed about this car. I've not been able to find any 63 brochures that show engine/trans options. I found this brochure, but it has no engine/trans availability shown:
http://www.oldcarmanualproject.com/brochures/1963Ford/

However I did find these Hemmings articles about 63 Fords that says you could get a 4-speed with the 352-2V:
http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2004/12/01/hmn_feature20.html
http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2007/05/01/hmn_feature14.html

I also found this You Tube ad from Streetside Classics from 4 years ago for another claimed factory 4-speed 63 wagon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_M0xRTi_Vo

 

OK, good enough for me. If Hemmings researched it and says you could get the 2 barrel 352 with a 4-speed, then I was wrong with my assumption. Don't know why you wouldn't at least step up to the 390 if you were getting the 4-speed though. That 390 was a great engine.