1969 Galaxie 500 - BBF high school/college kid build

[BBR]

Judd has been on the lookout for a project car he can truly call his own. Well, yesterday he found it. It's a 1969 Galaxie 500 Sportsroof. It is a 390/C6 car with power steering and power disc brakes. It doesn't run and needs work, but it was cheap. It was last on the road in 2002. These cars could be had with a 429, so a 460 swap is just a set of motor mounts away.

These cars have never really been on my radar. The Sportsroof consists of a recessed rear window with sail panels that is very similar to a 68-70 Charger. Chassis-wise they are very simple. Body on frame with a 3-link coil-sprung 9" in back.

[studemax]

I always liked the look of those big bruisers.

[DanStokes]

Great find and it doesn't even look too rusty. Hope you guys have a blast building it.

Dan

[SuperBuickGuy]

love all of the cars with those lines (e.g. Bonneville, Talledega, etc).

Neat, neat project.

[fatguyzinc]

thats gonna be sweet......

[Teddyzee]

Very, very nice!!
I believe I had one or more of those as a slot car.

[BBR]

The hard part is going to be keeping my hands off it!!!

He paid $1300, so it was dirt cheap. It has a couple of dings and a couple of small rust spots, but it is definitely a solid car.

It seems big, but really is only 4" longer than a B-body Dodge like a Super Bee or Charger.

[DanStokes]

The hard part is going to be keeping my hands off it!!!

He paid $1300, so it was dirt cheap. It has a couple of dings and a couple of small rust spots, but it is definitely a solid car.

It seems big, but really is only 4" longer than a B-body Dodge like a Super Bee or Charger.

Cars were certainly bigger back in The Good Ol' Days! My Roadrunners were "mid size" cars and now seem huge.

Dan

[dave.g.in.gansevoort]

Cars were certainly bigger back in The Good Ol' Days! My Roadrunners were "mid size" cars and now seem huge.

Dan

Yeah, trunks were 3 or 4 body in the midsize models. It took a full size car for 5 or more...

[Deaf Bob]

Check frame welds. Many many were miswelded.. flux instead of filler.
nobody derbys these from 65-71-2 due to that
good find.
nice car.
bro had one with a 302 Nothing special.
but the 390/428’s were fun to watch

[Dan Barlow]

Like it! Although not exactly the same car ( better ) brings memories of Burt Reynolds in White Lightening and Gator . Great find .

[SuperBuickGuy]

Cars were certainly bigger back in The Good Ol' Days! My Roadrunners were "mid size" cars and now seem huge.

Dan

I think it really depends on the vehicle. a 65 Malibu is smaller then a new Malibu, a mid-70s Malibu is larger then both - but the 65 and the 70s Malibu weigh less then a New Malibu. Camaros are the same put a 67 Camaro next to a 2020 Camaro and you'll note the new Camaro is larger (and weighs nearly 2000 lbs more).

Trucks, My Colorado is about the same size as my old 83 Chevrolet truck (externally), and can pull more. Dodge, Compare a 90s Dodge truck to a new Dodge. There are certainly smaller cars available now, but if you compare across platforms - they've usually gotten super sized.

I think the perception comes from less space in the same external package - all that reinforcement, airbags, emissions controls, 'accessories like a/c' take up a great deal of space. Just as a crank handle window is lighter and smaller then an electric window.... or, conversely, try to fit an electric window motor in one of those old, narrow doors.

[Captain]

Heads up ......
The "Round Bell C6 off the FE 390"
WILL NOT bolt up to a 460.
ALSO check, that C6 uses "Type F" trans fluid.

[fatguyzinc]

Heads up ......
The "Round Bell C6 off the FE 390"S TRANSMISSION
WILL NOT bolt up to a 460.
ALSO check, that C6 uses "Type F" trans fluid.

fixed it for you.... and you are right.
pretty sure the 'fix' is a matching
460/toploader swap....

[BBR]

The real fix is the 460 and C6 that are sitting in my shop..