|
As per the door mounted Ford Dataplate, the vehicle model is the Galaxie 500 2-door hardtop (base price $2684.74, 198,532 produced). It was Ford number 40517 built at the Louisville, Kentucky assembly plant during the 1966 model year (first VIN was 100001). As built, the engine was a 289-2V Challenger V-8 (200 hp @ 4400 rpm, 282 ft-lbs @ 2400 rpm, 9.3:1 compression ratio), backed by the FX Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission with column shift, and driving through a 3.00:1 non-locking differential. It was finished with the Candy Apple Red exterior color, and the bench seat interior trim was red "Venetian" pattern vinyl cushions and red "Crinkle" pattern vinyl bolsters and back. It had a scheduled build date of December 22, 1965, and the order was processed through the Louisville, Kentucky district sales office, which covered western Kentucky, central Tennessee and south central Indiana.
We are the third owners of the car. The car spent its entire life in Kentucky, owned by a doctor. When the doctor passed away, his family put the car up for sale. A friend and fellow SPAAMFAA (The Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America) member purchased the car with a vision, to create an authentic, 1966 Fire Chief car replica. He purchased the vehicle in 2021. Amazingly, the car has all original sheet metal, original paint, original chrome bumpers and original interior (the headliner has been replaced) - even the clock and AM radio works! A rebuilt, 289 cubic inch V8 with 2 barrel carburetor is under the hood. Period specific, working, warning lights, electronic siren/PA, “dummy” two-way radio, whip antenna and “gold leaf” decals were added. My wife and I then became the third owner of the car in July 2023.
|