Tom Hopkins

My name is Tom Hopkins, and I'd like to take this opportunity to state my position on the newly-formed Motor City Galaxie Club.

My desire is to help in gathering together a group of Ford owners that are interested in the various types and phases of ownership of old Ford vehicles. I believe that the cars owned by our group will likely run the gamut from daily drivers to show cars. Let's be sure to also include those vehicles in the process of being rebuilt or restored, as well as the racer, be it street or strip. We need to be a group that can share our stories and experiences, while also offering help to others in their pursuits. If you need help chasing parts, are looking for technical information, or need advice on parts sources or contacts, then this should be your club.

A little background about myself: I have been retired from Ford Motor Company for 2 years, after spending 33 years in the Design Department of Ford Truck Chassis Engineering. I started as an L&D Apprentice and finished my career as a Supervisor in the Illustration Section (I was a Designer, not an Engineer). For those of you still working, I can only hope that you enjoy your careers as much as I did. However, I do highly recommend retirement, which is often underrated!

I have been married to my lovely wife Linda for 20 years now. While Linda does not share my interest in old cars, she is gracious enough to allow me plenty of time to explore my hobby. I have also been known to frequent the golf course, and while I'm not the best player, I don't usually embarrass myself - I carry a 14 handicap.

I have a daughter that's 29 year old, and she works as an Electrical Apprentice at the Atlanta Assembly Plant in Georgia.

1961 Galaxie Starliner

VIN 1A53X156950, BODY 63A, COLOR J, TRIM 30, DATE 31E, TRANS 4, AXLE 6

Tom says: This car is what I would call a "resto-rod". It is a 390-401 hp clone. This is the three-2V induction setup that some folks say got Ford started in the muscle car arena. The car looks pretty much like an original, but has an exterior paint and interior trim combination that was never offered from the factory. I now am driving the car with American Mags, having replaced the steel rims and dog dish hubcaps. The drivetrain is a T5 5-speed manual transmission (great on the highway!) with a 4.11:1 Detroit Locker rear gear. I've owned the car for 5 years now, and while I purchased it pretty much like it is, the previous owner wouldn't realize how much I've really done to it.

Left click on the thumbnails below to view the full pictures:

Let's see what the VIN and production data tell us...

The VIN of 1A53X156950 decodes as follows:

1 = model year: 1961

A = build plant: Atlanta Assembly Plant in Hapeville, Georgia

53 = Body Serial Code: Galaxie Starliner (2-door hardtop), bench seats (29,669 produced during the 1961 model year)

X = engine: 352 Thunderbird Special V-8, 352-2V, 220 hp @ 4400 rpm, 336 lb-ft @ 2400 rpm, 8.9:1 compression ratio

156950 = Consecutive Unit Number (CUN): 56,950th Ford car scheduled to be built at the Atlanta Assembly Plant during the 1961 model year (Job 1 was CUN 100001)

The production data decode as follows:

BODY 63A = Body Style Code: Galaxie Starliner (2-door hardtop), bench seats (29,669 produced during the 1961 model year)

COLOR J = exterior paint color: Montecarlo Red (red)

TRIM 30 = interior trim color, material and front seat style: black Nylon cushion inserts and white pearl vinyl cushions, bolsters and back, bench seat

DATE 31E = scheduled build date: Wednesday, May 31, 1961

TRANS 4 = transmission type and shift location: Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed automatic, column shift

AXLE 6 = rear axle ratio and type: 3.00:1 non-locking

Left click on the thumbnail below to read what the Buyer's Digest Of New Car Facts For '61 had to say about the 1961 Galaxie Starliner:

1962 Galaxie 500 Sunliner #1

VIN 2W65Z100012, BODY 76A, COLOR T, TRIM 34, DATE 11H, DSO blank, AXLE 1, TRANS 4

Left click on the thumbnails below to view the full pictures:

Let's see what the VIN and production data tell us...

The VIN of 2W65Z100012 decodes as follows:

2 = model year: 1962

W = build plant: Wayne Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan

65 = Body Serial Code: Galaxie 500 Sunliner (convertible), bench seat (42,646 produced during the 1962 model year)

Z = engine: 390-4V Special V-8, 300 hp @ 4600 rpm, 427 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm, 9.6:1 compression ratio

100012 = Consecutive Unit Number (CUN): 12th Ford car scheduled to be built at the Wayne Assembly Plant during the 1962 model year (Job 1 was CUN 100001)

The production data decode as follows:

BODY 76A = Body Style Code: Galaxie 500 Sunliner (convertible), bench seat (42,646 produced during the 1962 model year)

COLOR T = exterior paint color: Sandshell Beige (beige)

TRIM 34 = interior trim color, material and front seat style: beige "Crush" pattern vinyl cushions, bolsters and back, bench seat

DATE 11H = scheduled build date: Friday, August 11, 1961

DSO blank = District Sales Office: car was ordered through an unspecified District Sales Office

AXLE 1 = rear axle ratio and type: 3.00:1 non-locking

TRANS 4 = transmission type and shift location: Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed automatic, column shift

This car is Registry Number 5 in the 1962 Ford Galaxie Registry.

1962 Galaxie 500 Sunliner #2

VIN 2G65W210395, BODY 76A, COLOR A, TRIM 35, DATE 10V, DSO 43, AXLE 1, TRANS 4

Left click on the thumbnails below to view the full pictures:

Let's see what the VIN and production data tell us...

The VIN of 2G65W210395 decodes as follows:

2 = model year: 1962

G = build plant: Chicago Assembly Plant in Chicago, Illinois

65 = Body Serial Code: Galaxie 500 Sunliner (convertible), bench seat (42,646 produced during the 1962 model year)

W = engine: 292-2V Thunderbird V-8, 170 hp @ 4200 rpm, 279 lb-ft @ 2200 rpm, 8.8:1 compression ratio

210395 = Consecutive Unit Number (CUN): 110,395th Ford car scheduled to be built at the Chicago Assembly Plant during the 1962 model year (Job 1 was CUN 100001)

The production data decode as follows:

BODY 76A = Body Style Code: Galaxie 500 Sunliner (convertible), bench seat (42,646 produced during the 1962 model year)

COLOR A = exterior paint color: Raven Black (black)

TRIM 35 = interior trim color, material and front seat style: red "Crush" pattern vinyl cushions, bolsters and back, bench seat

DATE 10V = scheduled build date: Friday, August 10, 1962

DSO 43 = District Sales Office: car was ordered through the Rockford, Illinois District Sales Office

AXLE 1 = rear axle ratio and type: 3.00:1 non-locking

TRANS 4 = transmission type and shift location: Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed automatic, column shift

This car is Registry Number 41 in the 1962 Ford Galaxie Registry.

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