The car is a 1963.5 Ford Fairlane Galaxy 500. It was the flagship of Ford during this era. This car was owned (as you can tell by the paint job) by racer and performance parts distributor Mickey Thompson (1928-1988). Like the previous owner, the old Galaxy is an important part of automotive performance history. It’s from a time when automakers built special models designed for track use. These special models were as rare as they were expensive.
The center piece of this vehicle was under the hood. It is a 427 cubic-inch engine with Mickey Thompson HEMI cylinder heads. The cross-ram intake manifold and twin four-barrel carburetor setup, which was innovative for its time, seems odd in light of today’s computerized fuel delivery systems. As the professionals at BC Auto Machine fire this beast up, I can almost smell the odor of new metal and gasoline. What a car. Enjoy a look at Mickey’s Long Beach Express.