1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL

A predecessor to the muscle car era, the Galaxie was Ford"s full-size competitor. Although it out powered the similar Chevy Impala at first, it never sold as well due to its uninspired styling, poor aerodynamics, and excess weight. Ford kept trying though and continued to install larger and larger engines, reaching a pinnacle with the most powerful engine Detroit ever made, the Cammer 427. Producing 657bhp, this engine was installed in only a few copies as it was almost impossible to drive on the road and was later banned by NASCAR, promoting Ford to stop production. Most street racers had to rely on the Ford 427 engines.

For the 1963 manufacturing year, Ford replaced the top end motor in the Galaxie range with a 427 cubic inch power unit to enable them to build a homologated full-race car that took advantage of the new NHRA and Nascar 7.0-litre maximum engine size rules. The engine was rated at 425 horse power, with two four barrel Holley Carburetors and this combination meant that the the Galaxies of this year through to 1965 dominated the Nascar circuits .

This particular very rare "Z" code factory model was produced with the ultra rare 4-speed manual transmission 'top loader' close ratio gearbox ( as used in the race cars of the time) and a Detroit Locker LSD rear end. XYJ 74A was built as a copy of the race winning Daytona 500 car, campaigned by Fred Lorenzen who was sponsored by La Fayette Ford dealership back in 1964 and 5.The car has been carefully decalled to replicate the Fred Lorenzen car but curiously carries the number 63 when 'Fast Freddie' always carried number 28. Many big names raced these cars including Dan Gurney, Richard Petty, A J Foyt, and Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Jack Sears back in the UK.

Sitting on its correct period American Racing Torque Thrust polished alloys, this left-hand drive, road legal, NASCAR tribute car looks awesome with a huge presence. If it's sheer physical size doesn't frighten children and horses then flicking the cockpit switch that bypasses the silencers and allows the big V8 to bark through open exhausts will probably do the job.

The car appears to be in very good condition and well put together and looks like a lot of fun. This is one huge slice of American history that is sure to get you noticed as you rattle all the windows down your local High Street.