BIG GAL

For some years I had been casually combing the sales lists for a similar-year model Dodge Phoenix sedan, without success.

- WORDS * PHOTOS JOHN HICKEY WITH GUY ALLEN

One day we had a visit to our Sydney office from an engineer who was representing an American supplier that our business had been dealing with for some years, and I mentioned that I was wanting to procure such a vehicle and wondered if he could assist me. He agreed and a fee was discussed and agreed upon.

One day the phone rang and it was my friend from the USA, saying that he had found two cars that he felt may suit: One was a 1967 Chevy Nova and the other the 1967 Galaxie four-door pillarless sedan. I opted for the Ford.

In 1967 the Ford Galaxie was one of the largest selling luxury vehicles in the USA. It came in several models and had many different power plants. At that time, the main competitors were the Chevrolet Bel Air, Impala, and the Dodge Phoenix range. In 1967, the Galaxie was presented to the world market in several different guises: four-door sedan, four-door pillarless sedan, four-door pillarless hardtop, two-door coupes and a two-door convertible. All of these models had a range of options so big, it is hard to believe.

To cover just a few: power steering, power disc brakes, integrated air-conditioning, power windows, tinted windscreens, electric seats, bench and bucket seats, coil and leaf spring rear suspension, optional wheel sizes, and then of course was the drivetrain options. There were six-cylinder motors with an automatic, and a few V8 engine sizes fitted to a choice of a couple of automatics the C4 and a C6, plus a four-speed. The most popular engine sizes were the 390, 427, 428 plus a 429 unit. In fact, nine engine variants are listed for the third-generation Galaxie.