1972 Ford Galaxie
Owner: FordGuy1972         (All of this user's registries on SuperMotors)
From: Manchester, CT, U.S.A.        (Other registries in CT)
Year, Make, & Model: 1972 Ford Galaxie        (Other Ford Galaxies)
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Mileage: 54
Engine: 351 Windsor V8
Drivetrain: 3-Speed FMX Automatic Transmission
Notes: 1972 Galaxie 500 2-Door Hardtop

My first car was a 1969 Ford Custom four door sedan, the base model for Ford's full-size cars. It was an ex-State Police cruiser with a 428 Police Interceptor and cost me the princely sum of $200. I've had a few full-size Fords since then and I came to really appreciate them for their smooth ride and comfort. I currently have a '72 Ford Galaxie 500 two door hardtop that I purchased from the original owner in 1995. Back in the 1980s, I used to own one, a '72 Ford Custom ex-State Police cruiser with a 429 Police Interceptor. It was a car I really liked, a powerful runner that liked high speeds on the highway.

The original owner was my neighbor who was about 90 years old in 1995 and had bought the car new. He and his wife were too old to drive anymore and realized it was time to let it go to someone who would enjoy his vintage Galaxie. He knew I had always liked his Galaxie so he offered me the car for $2,500 which I immediately accepted. It was a clean car in excellent original condition so it was really a no-brainer, especially since I have always liked the big Fords.

The car was completely original with only 34,000 miles and was in outstanding condition; with good original paint, beautiful chrome and stainless trim with a near perfect all original interior. The only flaws inside were a steering wheel with some cracks/splits and the front bench seat had a few seams that had separated from age while the back seat didn't look like it had ever been sat in. It has the base engine offered in the Galaxie 500 line, a 351 Windsor with Ford's FMX 3-speed automatic transmission. Green exterior with a green vinyl roof and a green bench seat interior; the perfect colors for an Irishman! It has power steering, power front disc brakes and A/C; a dealer installed under-dash unit that works very well though a bit on the noisy side. The only other items of note were Turbine-style full wheel covers which I believe were commonly found on the LTD and Brougham Galaxies. Everything worked perfectly, even the original AM radio could still blast the tunes through the single speaker on the dash.

It needed a tune-up so new plug wires, plugs, distributer cap, coil and points were in order. All fluids were freshened up as well. Initially, I found that driving it was quite an adventure; while it performed well it handled poorly. It still wore bias ply tires and it still had it's original shocks! Al had never replaced the shocks in the 23 years that he had owned it. The bias-ply tires had to go in favor of good quality radials. I wanted a period look so I purchased chrome-reverse rims with baby moon hubcaps for the new tires. After installing some quality shocks, the car rode and handled much better. It was time for a new exhaust system so I decided to upgrade from a single exhaust to an aluminized dual exhaust set up with FlowMasters. The radiator was failing so I had a new one installed that looked stock but was a more heavy duty unit for those really hot days when the A/C was working hard. I cleaned, polished and detailed it up and it was off to the local cruise-ins and car shows.

I upgraded the 2-barrel carb and intake to a 600 Holley 4-barrel and an Edelbrock Performer aluminum intake. The original air cleaner doesn't fit the new carb so I installed a simple chrome open element air cleaner though I would like to find an OEM-style air cleaner that will fit the new carb to keep it looking more stock under the hood. Next came an MSD billet aluminum electronic distributer with an MSD Blaster 3 coil. Both of these upgrades greatly improved the 351 Windsor's performance and also helped me to get a little better fuel mileage. To dress up the engine a bit, I installed chrome "POWER BY FORD" valve covers in place of the stock blue ones. The original paint shows some scratches and blemishes and I have considered repainting it to really make it sparkle but these days a "survivor" that's mostly original is a pretty big deal so I'm off the hook for an expensive repaint!

While Ford produced over 825,000 full-size cars in 1972 with about 88,000 being the mid-level trim Galaxie 500 2-door hardtop, they are not often seen these days, at least up here in the rust-producing Northeast. My '72 Galaxie is almost always the only one at the car shows and cruise nights that I attend. It stands out in a field of Mustangs, Chevelles and Chargers and garners it's fair share of attention because it's something different. Folks I talk to about the Galaxie almost always start by saying "my father had one" or an uncle or neighbor. Most comment on the car's size and recall fond memories of riding in them when they were younger.

The Galaxie is now 48 years old and at this point, I've owned it for 25 of those years. It's a car I'll keep until I'm no longer above ground. My wife tells me she'll keep it, enjoy it as I did and then at some point pass it down to her eldest son. He's a Chevy guy but likes the car so I can see it staying in the family for a long time to come.
Last Updated: 12/10/2019
Hits: 904
Album
Folder Hits Comments Created Updated
folder 1972 Ford Galaxie 5009001,219011/17/1911/17/19
Newest Media Files
1972-3.JPG
128 hits | 67.66 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

2nd owner since 1995
Mikes-72 (2).JPG
112 hits | 92.25 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Power disc brakes, power steering, A/C, billet aluminum distributer and a Blaster 3 coil
1972-7.JPG
99 hits | 56.57 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Original interior
1972-9.JPG
97 hits | 65.03 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

351 Windsor V8 with 4V carb and aluminized dual exhausts with FlowMaster mufflers
1972-4.JPG
110 hits | 81.22 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Chrome "Smoothies" with baby moon hubcaps
IMG_0086.JPG
110 hits | 92.39 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

At the All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA. in 2019.
Mikes-72 (1).JPG
122 hits | 102.18 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Original paint, chrome and vinyl top
1972-2.JPG
93 hits | 79.94 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Purchased from original owner with 34,000 miles
1972-6.JPG
348 hits | 72.29 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

1972 Ford Galaxie 500 2-Door Hardtop
Most Viewed Files
1972-6.JPG
348 hits | 72.29 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

1972 Ford Galaxie 500 2-Door Hardtop
1972-3.JPG
128 hits | 67.66 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

2nd owner since 1995
Mikes-72 (1).JPG
122 hits | 102.18 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Original paint, chrome and vinyl top
Mikes-72 (2).JPG
112 hits | 92.25 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Power disc brakes, power steering, A/C, billet aluminum distributer and a Blaster 3 coil
IMG_0086.JPG
110 hits | 92.39 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

At the All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA. in 2019.
1972-4.JPG
110 hits | 81.22 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Chrome "Smoothies" with baby moon hubcaps
1972-7.JPG
99 hits | 56.57 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Original interior
1972-9.JPG
97 hits | 65.03 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

351 Windsor V8 with 4V carb and aluminized dual exhausts with FlowMaster mufflers
1972-2.JPG
93 hits | 79.94 KB | Posted: 11/17/19

Purchased from original owner with 34,000 miles
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