Ford Galaxie 500 Sport Special Tudor Fastback 1963

[Sick Cylinder]

The Fastback body style was introduced part way through 1963 to reduce aerodynamic lift compared with the boxy Sedan and improve Fords chances in NASCAR and the engine was changed from 406 to 427 cubic inches (7 litres) to reach the NHRA and NASCAR limits. About 200 cars were built to a special lightweight "R" code - there are full details on Wikipedia. The cars had alloy cylinder heads, fibreglass bonnets and doors, lightweight chassis, aluminium bumpers and all sound deadening was removed. The cars were between 425 and 375 pounds lighter than standard depending on whether the fibreglass doors were fitted in place of the steel ones. The motors featured twin 4 barrel carbs and solid lifters instead of hydraulic tappets to prevent pump up at high engine revs. They proved to be still too heavy for NHRA drag racing, but tasted circuit racing success when Jack Sears won the 1963 British Saloon Car Championship. Several of these monsters were raced in the BSCC and the drivers included Jack Sears, Sir Gawaine Bailie, Brian Muir, Dan Gurney and multiple F1 champions Jim Clark and Sir Jack Brabham. The Galaxie was also raced in the European Touring Car Championship and in South Africa - a truly historic car and worthy of inclusion in any Gran Turismo title.

A fantastic car which I would love to race in Gran Turismo against its contemporaries the Jaguar Mark 2 Saloon, Lotus Cortina, Classic Mini and Ford Anglia. A few action shots of this great car.

Jack Sears Galaxie features racing stripes. Sir Gawaine Bailie's car is slower off the line, while Jim Clark gets the holeshot.

Above Jack Sears chases Jim Clark and is chased by a posse of Jaguar Mark 2 3.8's (driven by Graham Hill and Roy Salvadori) a Mini, two Ford Cortinas and a Ford Anglia.

Above and below Jack Sears gives a demonstration drive at Goodwood of his 7 litre Ford Galaxie. Jack owns the actual car which he raced to victory in 1963, having tracked it down after it had been sold by the Willment team.

I am suggesting this car for road use / cruising (without race numbers and stripes), Historic BSCC and ETCC with striped liveries and race numbers and for Historic NASCAR series either as a one make series or matched against the equivalent Chevrolet Impala model.

 

[Dr P Grunfelde]

This car is a great suggestion - the code "R" was only available in Corinithian White with red interior. I would like the Jack Sears red racing stripes as an option - this was the racing livery of John Willment Racing - who entered many famous drivers in a wide range of cars including Lotus Cortinas, Cortina GT's, Cobras and Lotus sports cars.

For anyone interested in the early days of the BTCC (then the BSCC) watch "Touring Car Legends" on the ITV4 Player (there are 20 days left). It is a great series of three programmes which traces the history of the championship from Jack Sears first championship in 1958 to the present day and has great archive footage and interviews with the drivers.

https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/touring-car-legends

 

[GiovyLM]

I love this american saloon cars

 

[Dr P Grunfelde]

It's well worth clicking on the link below which tells the story of Jim Clark's race in the big Galaxie at Brands Hatch in 1963:

http://peterwindsor.com/tag/ford-galaxie/

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Extra Information and Photographs

Three "Code R" lightweight Galaxies were prepared by Holman Moody - one for the Willment Team, one for Sir Gawaine Baillie and one guest car prepared by the Alan Brown Team for Jim Clark, Dan Gurney and others to occasionally drive. To comply with Appendix K (Saloon Car) regulations a "Top Oiler" 427 motor was used rather than the "Side Oiler" used in NASCAR.

Below Roy Salvadori (Jaguar MK2) having overtaken Graham Hill's Jaguar tries in vain to keep up with Jack Sears at Silverstone in 1963.

Above left two time BSCC champion Jack Sears discusses race strategy with former BSCC champion and then Willment Team Manager Jeff Uren.raced

Below the Willment Team raced their cars in South Africa in the Springbok Series during the BSCC off season. Below Jack Sears 427 Galaxie chases Frank Gardner 289 Cobra.

Above in South Africa David Piper Ferrari 250 GTO chases Willment Cobra 289 while the Willment Galaxie has just passed a Cortina GT.

I consider this car an essential for any Historic BSCC recreation - at the moment we have to make do with the Buick Special - the Ford Galaxie should be modelled by Polyphony Digital and would be very versatile lending itself to road use / cruising (without the stripes and racing numbers), Historic BSCC and ETCC Series and Historic NASCAR use.

 

[Dr P Grunfelde]

I found this great Muscle Car of the week video of the Galaxie - although they focus on its drag race heritage, the same car was used for circuit racing in the UK, Australia and elsewhere - enjoy!