This is the important thing to know about this 1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL convertible: it is the tightest, smoothest, most well-assembled vintage convertible we’ve ever featured. This car literally feels like someone went through and tightened every single nut and bolt just right so there isn’t a squeak or a rattle anywhere in the car. If you turn the steering wheel an inch, that’s how much turning you get. If you press the accelerator, the engine accelerates exactly that much. There is no looseness, no vagueness, no questionable “is it supposed to be like that?” anywhere on the car. None. Zero. Zip. I wasn’t around when this car was new, but I would bet real money that even on the showroom floor in 1964 they weren’t this good.

High praise? Come drive this car. I promise you will not be disappointed by the way it runs and drives.

You will also be delighted with how it looks, because it wears one of the best black paint jobs we’ve seen as well. You know how black paint gets those faint scratches from someone simply drying it off? This car has almost none of that. No, the paint is deep, lustrous, and shiny, and the metal underneath is as straight as it was when it popped out of the press in 1964. Again, I can’t over-state just how well-done this car is. This isn’t me trying to sell you a car, this is me telling you that if you’re looking for a 1964 Galaxie convertible, I don’t think you’ll be able to find a nicer one. Sure, it’s been driven and I would guess that the 18,700 miles showing on the odometer are since the restoration was finished, but the car looks far fresher than that. Have a look at how well the doors fit, how neatly all the trim lines up from panel to panel, and if you could sight down those 7-foot-long quarter panels you’d see exactly zero ripples and waves. Both the hood and trunk lid sit flush. I mean, someone was really sweating the details when it was time for assembly on this car. And since it was originally code J Rangoon Red, you know the job was thorough because there’s simply no trace of the original red paint anywhere on or in this car.

The chrome and stainless trim is very good, but not quite perfect. There’s nothing visible without very close inspection, but when a car is this good, even the smallest things stand out. There’s some pitting on the cast side mirrors, which is virtually impossible to eliminate due to the ornate details. A few stainless trim pieces show light scratches that could probably be buffed out in a few minutes. And there might be some scratches where the top boot has been fastened on. But as I said, those are extremely small nits to pick. From even two feet away, the trim looks fantastic and you really have to go looking for issues. There were no corners cut here, it’s just a function of time.

The code 85 red bucket seat interior is how this car was originally delivered and it, too, has been completely restored to a very high level. The buckets are still quite firm and supportive-so firm that they feel like nobody has ever sat in them. The variety of patterns and shapes make it wonderful to look at, and we especially like the gold piping on the seating surfaces that adds a flash of contrast. Almost everything inside was new at the time of restoration, including upholstery, carpets, door panels, and other soft parts. The steering wheel and horn ring were refinished and the bright trim on the dash and center console is in excellent condition with none of the expected pitting or roughness. In fact, finding a console in a Galaxie is rather uncommon, making this a very desirable car for drivers. It appears that the gauges are original, and if that’s the case, this was probably a very nicely preserved car before the restoration started—there’s a little fading but it doesn’t distract from the quality of the rest of the interior. The original radio is still in the dash, but it has been supplanted by a Sony AM/FM/CD stereo head unit underneath and it’s always nice when they keep the original hardware intact. The only thing that isn’t working is the clock, which is typical, but otherwise this is a first-class place to spend some time. The gauges cast a wonderful light green glow at night and the courtesy lights in the doors are a neat touch. Seat belts have been added in the name of safety and there is a set of fresh Galaxie-logo floor mats to keep the floors looking tidy. Overhead there’s a fresh black vinyl convertible top that powers up and down with the touch of a button on the dash and it hides under a matching red boot. The trunk is correctly finished with a proper plaid mat and a full-sized spare tire assembly with jack.

The engine is a strong-running X-code 352 cubic inch V8, which moves the big ragtop with the kind of effortless ease that you’d expect from a car like this. We believe that it is the car’s original engine, but with Fords of this vintage, there’s no way to be certain and “matching numbers” isn’t possible. We will say that it starts without any complaints and after a few seconds of warming up on the choke, it settles into a smooth 700 RPM idle and it’s ready to go. There’s a nice V8 burble from the twin tailpipes but it’s never intrusive, and the smoothness of the engine suggests that Ford was doing a lot of things right in 1964. It’s also nicely detailed with Ford Blue on the air cleaner and valve covers, reproduction decals where needed, and smaller features like the windshield washer bag on the inner fender. You’ll be pleased to find both power steering and power brakes on this big Galaxie, and there are no modifications but plenty of signs of careful maintenance. A modest detail would bring the engine compartment up to the standards of the rest of the car, but it runs and drives so well, you might not worry about it. This is a car that asks for very little and delivers a great deal in return.

The transmission is a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic that was rebuilt at the same time as the engine and shifts beautifully. There are crisp gear changes that feel precise but not too aggressive, perfect for a car that straddles the luxury/performance line. It feeds a traditional 9-inch rear end with easy-cruising 3.00 gears inside, making this Galaxie a fantastic high-speed travel partner. The heavy-duty frame looks big enough to support a railroad car and like the engine bay, the chassis was nicely detailed at the time of restoration but now shows some signs of use. No rust, no trouble spots, just some dirt and grime that could be wiped away in an afternoon. The exhaust system features glasspack-style mufflers and resonators out back, which gives it that mellow tone that always stays in the background and there’s a new gas tank hanging in back. New shocks, rebuilt brakes, and a set of fresh 205/75/14 whitewall radials with factory spinner hubcaps give it a proper look and feel.

This car includes a few spare parts including some stainless trim and a set of taillight lenses.

This is a wonderful car. You might be skeptical after all the praise, but please come see it with your own eyes—it is just as lovely as it appears in photos. We remain extremely impressed with this Galaxie’s road manners and quality, and while it isn’t perfect, it is excellent. It’s a difficult description to make, but this isn’t the most perfect car we’ve ever featured, but it is certainly one of the best cars we’ve ever featured. If you can see the appeal in that differentiation, then this is a car that will bring you many years of pleasure. Call today!