Tim Lewinski
1963 Galaxie 500 Sports Hardtop
VIN 3N66Z141135, BODY 63B, COLOR M, TRIM 69, DATE 08D, DSO 22, AXLE 5, TRANS 5
Tim says: Since getting the car in 2001, the biggest thrill that we have had with the Galaxie was getting an invitation from Ford Division to display the car outside the Ford Division tent during the Ford Centennial Celebration. Ford Division only invited 10 cars, 1 for each decade, so being invited was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The original engine was a 390-4V/300 hp. It was replaced with a 1968 vintage 428CJ short block with C3AE-C cylinder heads, "shorty" cast iron headers, and a 3-2V induction setup. The interior is original except for the carpet.
The strangest thing that's happened - the historical plate obtained from the State of Michigan is number "064-062"; I graduated high school in 1962, and my wife in 1964. Go figure!
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 3N66Z141135 decodes as follows:
3 = model year: 1963
N = build plant: Norfolk Assembly Plant in Norfolk, Virginia
66 = Body Serial Code: Galaxie 500 Sports Hardtop (2-door "fastback" hardtop), bench seats (100,500 produced during the 1963 model year)
Z = engine: Thunderbird 390 Special V-8, 390-4V, 300 hp @ 4600 rpm, 427 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm, 9.6:1 compression ratio
141135 = Consecutive Unit Number (CUN): 41,135th Ford car scheduled to be built at the Norfolk Assembly Plant during the 1963 model year (Job 1 was CUN 100001)
The production data decode as follows:
BODY 63B = Body Style Code: Galaxie 500 Sports Hardtop (2-door "fastback" hardtop), bench seats (100,500 produced during the 1963 model year)
COLOR M = exterior paint color: Corinthian White (white)
TRIM 69 = interior trim color, material and front seat style: dark chestnut vinyl cushion inserts and light chestnut cushions, bolsters and back, bench seats
DATE 08D = scheduled build date: Monday, April 8, 1963
DSO 22 = District Sales Office: car was ordered through the Charlotte, North Carolina District Sales Office
AXLE 5 = rear axle ratio and type: 3.50:1 non-locking
TRANS 5 = transmission type and shift location: 4-speed manual transmission, floor shift
Left click on the thumbnail below to read what the Buyer's Digest Of New Car Facts For 1963 had to say about the 1963 Galaxie 500 Sports Hardtop:
