The Galaxie is one of Ford’s best-known staple models, amassing almost 12 million units during the series production run between 1959 and 1974. Naturally, the most famous is the Galaxie 500, leaving its little brother, the Custom, to grow up in the shadow of the full-size superstar.
The Galaxie and Custom Ford models didn’t share the same path. While the former rolled off the assembly lines continuously during the 15-year span of its production, the Custom (a revived nameplate in itself) began keeping its brighter relative company starting in 1964. Until 1981, when it was put aside for good, the Custom bounced back and forth between low-budget private buyers and fleet customers.
In 1964, two versions were offered for the model – the base Custom and the Custom 500, sporting the 223 cubic-inch Ford Mileage Maker Six engine as standard equipment. The 3.7-liter plant wasn’t the greatest inline six-cylinder ever devised, putting out 138 horses and 203 lb-ft (140 PS, 275 Nm).
Although not nearly as popular as the Galaxie, due to a depressing lack of thrills or creature comfort options, the Customs (both the simpleton and its 500 twin cousin) moved nearly 195,000 units during a year when the series climbed to over 923,000. The less bland Custom 500 sold over 20,000 coupe examples, while the four-door sedan put out nearly 69,000 pieces. That makes the two-door version one of the least popular among all vehicles orbiting the Blue Oval within the Galaxie galaxy.
Finding one today isn’t a head-over-(w)heels love affair. Still, occasional examples rise to the surface of the oblivion ocean, signaling rescuers that a new project is waiting to be revived. In any case, one of the 20,619 Custom 500 two-door sedans ended high. Actually, in the UP of Michigan, the Upper Peninsula from its badge’s home state. It is in reasonably good condition, considering the Great Lakes climate and its preference for metal (mainly that found of classics’ bodies).
However, there’s a meteorological catch about this blue Custom 500 – even though it appears to be healthy on the outside, at some point, its six-cylinder heart gave in to physics and neglect. The engine block shows a massive crack – most likely caused by the expansion of liquid when it reached its freezing temperature.
At least, that’s the theory advanced by the wrenching vlogger Derek Bieri in yet another episode of his classics-redemption Roadworthy Rescues endeavor. The engine refuses to work properly no matter what and has just enough life left in it to get the Custom from its three-decade-short temporary resting place in the snow to the shelter of a workshop.
The handy salvation comes in the shape of a replacement – courtesy of a couple of his YouTube fans – and the general plan is to turn this 1965 Ford Custom 500 (that had been sitting for 32 years before it got resuscitated) into a rally-tribute car.
Now, the single-barrel inline six that sat in the engine bay of the full-size coupe isn’t up to the task, but the dual-quad Mileage Maker spare should do the trick just fine. Frustratingly,