1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL V8 Convertible (LHD)

The Galaxie was built in America by Ford for the model years 1959 through to 1974. Its name was used for the top models in Ford's range in an attempt to capture the excitement around the Space Race. The 1960 Galaxie introduced an all-new design with less ornamentation. New top-line Galaxie 500 (two-door sedan and hardtop, four-door sedan and hardtop, and "Sunliner" convertible) models offered plusher interiors, more chrome trim outside, and a few additional luxury items over and above that which was standard on the plainer Galaxie models. For 1962, all full-size Fords wore the Galaxie badge, with "500" and "500/XL" denoting the higher series. The 1963 model was essentially unchanged from the 1962 version, save for some general freshening and added trim, with windshields reshaped and a four-door hardtop 500/XL was added. At the beginning of the 1963 model run, the 292 Y-block V8 was replaced as the base V8 engine with the Fairlane's new small block 260. The 260 proved under-powered for the heavy full-size Ford and was replaced midyear (coincident with the introduction of the 63 and 1/2 models) with the 289 V8 as the base engine in the range.