Fantastic! Even I, as an American, was always shocked that these Galaxies were successful road racing cars. While they were not the biggest or heaviest cars ever sold here, it was still nearly impossible to imagine a freaking Galaxy besting, say, a Lotus Cortina driven by Jim Clark on a typical road course. But I believe Frank Gardner did exactly that in 1965. I would guess that by 1982 the 427 (7L) engine could probably be tuned to make a reliable ~750 HP, even on a hot summer day, and it really showed at Sandown. But the most impressive thing about it was probably its braking ability, especially given that it had four-wheel drums. The Mustangs were out-braking it, but not by much. All said and done, it was a uniquely amazing race car. Thank you Super100MPH for sharing all of this wonderful historic racing!
The Galaxie is a 64'. The 65' Mustangs and 65' Fords in general had a disc brake option and some models came std. with front discs. I have never seen a 1965 Mustang GT with drum brakes up front, but on the other hand those are right hand drive Mustangs, or at least one of them is.
This is real motor racing. Modern 'Supercars' please note not only the excitement generated by many different marques, but also by intelligent narration and actually broadcasting the support races free to air.
Not sure where the "intelligent narrating" was ("you don't drive it, you aim it and fire", "amazingly, he keeps the lead!", "You can't find a parking spot for it), but this is, indeed, real motor racing! I don't know what the surprise is when the car that takes the pole position stays in the lead, given the driver is actually driving, rather than just aiming and firing... One more thing - those "behemoths" were so well engineered that the same suspension system remained in use well into the '80s and provided precise control even at speeds sometimes over 200 mph.
Wow - that was totally amusing! The broadcasters have a great sense of humour, too. Watching O'Brien muscle that boat around was inspiring, makes me want to go vintage racing...Awesome video!
I remember the Galaxies racing in the UK. As a Ford enthusiast I loved them the engines never seemed stressed just rumbling and growling around the tracks. Those were the days. There just ain't no substitute for cubic inches. Plenty of em.
At 8yrs old l saw a '64 Galaxie (brand new) and really liked it. Even a Tobacco company used a convertible in a t.v. spot . Even my first model car kit, a '64 Galaxie. So to see it racing and hearing that sound it makes at full throttle gives me double goose bumps (sights and sounds in one event). Doesn't get better than that until the car and driver (thank you driver!) comes in first! Come to think of it my dad had a 4dr version (company car) at around that time.
SICK! Absolutely SICK! That Galaxie 427 goes to show what racing used to be like before race cars became "race car only" cars vs gutted factory cars with special chassis and a powerful engine built by its automaker. The old days of NASCAR and Trans Am racing are so much better than the modern day races. As I watched that Ford flying down the straights and doing those little drifts, I smiled and was like, "oh baby!", and couldn't stop thinking of some other 1963 big blocks, like the Impala 409, Catalina 421, and Belvedere 440, along with those nasty Studebaker Super Larks. Even think of a beautiful 1963 Riviera with a mean, powerful big block.
People may be surprised at just how light those early racing Galaxie's are. Fibreglass factory bonnet, boot, guards and doors with aluminium bumpers - not a lot heavier than a Falcon. I have a 63 1/2 Galaxie that used to race Willow Springs and it is a very sharp handling car. Mine has the Kelsey Hayes 6 pot disc conversion they allowed later, stops your bum biting the seat lol.
Great to see this race again, I once had a copy on VHS.... now lost.So happy to find it here, thanks Super100MPH! I have to agree Super100MPH one of the best races and a fav of mine... Denis still has the Galaxie
This is soooo cool! Glad you posted it! Thanks! stuff like this is so rare to find, It would be a fun and challenging beast of a car to try and man handle around a circuit.
I've driven a 390 V8 Ford Galaxie before (a chauffeur car). Damn things handle like the Titanic in a shallow creek lol. But boy did that thing have some horsepower, and that was a de-tuned 390 compared to O'Brien's 427.
Absolutely loved it. A good story with a happy ending for a change! He might not have made it in a much longer race, but in a race where they all could bring forth their best, a real race, the big guy proved its superiority.
David Bayer - You're right! That's why these guys in the big, powerful "saloons" pick the support races - the brakes can take the the punishment just long enough to get through the event without fading into oblivion. And you might notice that a lot of the big cars are Fords. Ford was the first manufacturer to use the Cray Supercomputer to design their suspensions - and it shows, even in street vehicles.
Pretty exciting and skillful driving. I have gotten so used to racing my 2019 Corvette ZO6, that doesn’t slide around corners, I don’t know if I could even drive a car that drifts. These are like the 60’s NASCAR’s.
Absolutely amazing driving! I've driven a '63 Galaxie with a 390 and no power steering. In a straight line, it was awesome fun! But it cornered like a school bus and stopped like a train. The Galaxie is a big heavy car built on the "American Formula": if it's slow, put a bigger f-ing motor in it!
I don't know I don't think the 64 Ford Galaxie was so bad to handle I had one it only had a 302 in it the 260 was canned you had to know how to set it up for a curve with the throttle pedal and do your breaking in a straight line you get the nose to dive then when the Body Rolls whichever way you have the nose pointed it will go that way when you floor it I used to love whipping that car around without the use of an e-brake you steered it like an airplane everything in the tail
@1:01, it may be a big heavy car even though it was a ‘lightweight’ but that HONKING 7 liter took care of business! Hard to believe they used these in road races.
OHUQTU - The brakes were fine - it was the tires causing all that smoke! This was a REALLY short race compared to the 500 milers common in NASCAR back in the day. Still, the brakes do get a real workout on a road course like this.
So this must be why Nascar stayed with sedans and didn't downsize. Chevy must've really suffered when Chevelle's briefly got small in 65. The fact this is holding touring turns like this is a testament to the suspension guys.
I beg to differ but it really points to driver skills, particularly with such a behemoth of a car like the Galaxie. The suspension of these cars were really very agricultural compared to most European cars with indep. susp.
Was this an actual series in 1982? I can't tell. Support race for something at Sandown is all I got. And that you have to be insane to drive one of these in a race.
The trick with the 50's, 60's US full sized and handling was to be lined up on exit before dropping the hammer. Too early and the back end will be the front end and too late and even with gods own torque the smaller cars will blow past.
Well, even with the Galaxie, your front bumper made it to the beach before the driver... Just with the Monte, the bumper made reservations before you got there.....
Why not, the British come to the U.S. to see vintage European cars race. I've heard and seen more than a few Brits at The Lime Rock Park Historic Festival over the years. It was quite common to see the Ford Galaxie 427s race in British Saloon Car Racing in the early sixties.
THAT WAS EPIC!! If you are into cars and racing,and that doesnt give you goose bumps and make you laugh at the same time, you are dead!!
Well said, one of the great races, what a handful!
Doesn't get much better than this, long live the mighty GALAXIE 500!!!
Fantastic! Even I, as an American, was always shocked that these Galaxies were successful road racing cars. While they were not the biggest or heaviest cars ever sold here, it was still nearly impossible to imagine a freaking Galaxy besting, say, a Lotus Cortina driven by Jim Clark on a typical road course. But I believe Frank Gardner did exactly that in 1965. I would guess that by 1982 the 427 (7L) engine could probably be tuned to make a reliable ~750 HP, even on a hot summer day, and it really showed at Sandown. But the most impressive thing about it was probably its braking ability, especially given that it had four-wheel drums. The Mustangs were out-braking it, but not by much. All said and done, it was a uniquely amazing race car.
Thank you Super100MPH for sharing all of this wonderful historic racing!
The Galaxie is a 64'.
The 65' Mustangs and 65' Fords in general had a disc brake option and some models came std. with front discs.
I have never seen a 1965 Mustang GT with drum brakes up front, but on the other hand
those are right hand drive Mustangs, or at least one of them is.
Now that is my idea of racing! that 427 kicked ass in the straights! I love the old Fords!
That was when Ford really was: First...On...Race...Day !!!
This is real motor racing. Modern 'Supercars' please note not only the excitement generated by many different marques, but also by intelligent narration and actually broadcasting the support races free to air.
Not sure where the "intelligent narrating" was ("you don't drive it, you aim it and fire", "amazingly, he keeps the lead!", "You can't find a parking spot for it), but this is, indeed, real motor racing! I don't know what the surprise is when the car that takes the pole position stays in the lead, given the driver is actually driving, rather than just aiming and firing... One more thing - those "behemoths" were so well engineered that the same suspension system remained in use well into the '80s and provided precise control even at speeds sometimes over 200 mph.
I had to repair the front of the Cortina that night for the next days racing .. hadnt thawt of the gang for ages Thanks for sharing
Wow - that was totally amusing! The broadcasters have a great sense of humour, too. Watching O'Brien muscle that boat around was inspiring, makes me want to go vintage racing...Awesome video!
In Canada we called those big cars ' prairie schooners' . I had a 74 Galaxie but only had a 351 in it
To see 2TONS of machine being tossed around the "twisties" and EVERYBODY else trying to catch up is priceless!
I remember the Galaxies racing in the UK. As a Ford enthusiast I loved them the engines never seemed stressed just rumbling and growling around the tracks. Those were the days. There just ain't no substitute for cubic inches. Plenty of em.
One of the best drives i've ever seen. O' Brien knew exactly what his car's envelope was and went with it.
The big block Ford really stretched its legs out on the straight stretches.
The Galaxie is a different breed in the straights. Just shows you the power of that 427 cu in. engine. Props to the driver fantastic job
At 8yrs old l saw a '64 Galaxie (brand new) and really liked it. Even a Tobacco company used a convertible in a t.v. spot . Even my first model car kit, a '64 Galaxie. So to see it racing and hearing that sound it makes at full throttle gives me double goose bumps (sights and sounds in one event). Doesn't get better than that until the car and driver (thank you driver!) comes in first! Come to think of it my dad had a 4dr version (company car) at around that time.
Nasty Old big Duck tail Galaxi 500s .FE 427.....Legendary
SICK! Absolutely SICK! That Galaxie 427 goes to show what racing used to be like before race cars became "race car only" cars vs gutted factory cars with special chassis and a powerful engine built by its automaker. The old days of NASCAR and Trans Am racing are so much better than the modern day races.
As I watched that Ford flying down the straights and doing those little drifts, I smiled and was like, "oh baby!", and couldn't stop thinking of some other 1963 big blocks, like the Impala 409, Catalina 421, and Belvedere 440, along with those nasty Studebaker Super Larks. Even think of a beautiful 1963 Riviera with a mean, powerful big block.
People may be surprised at just how light those early racing Galaxie's are. Fibreglass factory bonnet, boot, guards and doors with aluminium bumpers - not a lot heavier than a Falcon. I have a 63 1/2 Galaxie that used to race Willow Springs and it is a very sharp handling car. Mine has the Kelsey Hayes 6 pot disc conversion they allowed later, stops your bum biting the seat lol.
Wayne Lee yeah, but those lightweights were way over 3000lbs. Loved seeing the 427 lightweight hold off the Mustangs that were 2/3 the weight. 👍🇺🇸
Great to see this race again, I once had a copy on VHS.... now lost.So happy to find it here, thanks Super100MPH! I have to agree Super100MPH one of the best races and a fav of mine... Denis still has the Galaxie
Absolutely wonderful !
Many thanks for uploading this.
This is soooo cool! Glad you posted it! Thanks! stuff like this is so rare to find, It would be a fun and challenging beast of a car to try and man handle around a circuit.
I've driven a 390 V8 Ford Galaxie before (a chauffeur car). Damn things handle like the Titanic in a shallow creek lol. But boy did that thing have some horsepower, and that was a de-tuned 390 compared to O'Brien's 427.
They handle a lot better with NASCAR suspension like that one had.
I had a 65 galaxie pedders heavy duty suspension, nolathene body bushes lowered 40mm disc front brakes it out handled 4wds on winding roads
Absolutely loved it. A good story with a happy ending for a change! He might not have made it in a much longer race, but in a race where they all could bring forth their best, a real race, the big guy proved its superiority.
David Bayer - You're right! That's why these guys in the big, powerful "saloons" pick the support races - the brakes can take the the punishment just long enough to get through the event without fading into oblivion. And you might notice that a lot of the big cars are Fords. Ford was the first manufacturer to use the Cray Supercomputer to design their suspensions - and it shows, even in street vehicles.
I was laughing all through the video with lots of excitement.... Love it
Love watching this old Ford race. I have a Big Block '64 Galaxie convertible I enjoy.
These comments are fabulous. I guess we are all little boys at heart eh? Me too. Man that car handled on the straightaways.
Beautiful job! I had a 64, but was one with a mild cam and 1 four barrel. Ran good.
at the 2.25 mark he ups and leaves wow, pretty sight. thanks for posting
There is no replacement for displacement 👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Pretty exciting and skillful driving. I have gotten so used to racing my 2019 Corvette ZO6, that doesn’t slide around corners, I don’t know if I could even drive a car that drifts. These are like the 60’s NASCAR’s.
Absolutely amazing driving! I've driven a '63 Galaxie with a 390 and no power steering. In a straight line, it was awesome fun! But it cornered like a school bus and stopped like a train. The Galaxie is a big heavy car built on the "American Formula": if it's slow, put a bigger f-ing motor in it!
I'm not a Ford guy, but I love a good lead sled. Nobody with a good car needs to be justified.
that was fun to watch! nice job!
I don't know I don't think the 64 Ford Galaxie was so bad to handle I had one it only had a 302 in it the 260 was canned you had to know how to set it up for a curve with the throttle pedal and do your breaking in a straight line you get the nose to dive then when the Body Rolls whichever way you have the nose pointed it will go that way when you floor it I used to love whipping that car around without the use of an e-brake you steered it like an airplane everything in the tail
This is real racing with no aero bullshit.
O'brian excelente piloto.....
the BOSS HOG of the track 427 . I Could all most see that driver of the little Pony ..Whipping it saying come on !!!
I used to own a 61 Mercury Montcoair , same car , 390 , 10 miles per US gallon. Great ride big boat.
back in the day Sandown was a fantastic track :)
Thanks for the race. O'Brien wins the race and drifting style points. That '63 has a big caboose compared to the ponies:)
Those 427 s were are an awesome motor
Same tires on the Galaxie as on the Mustangs? Should have been a bit wider in the rear..
The only thing keeping that massive Ford centered are Dennis's gigantic balls!!! That car is a damn beast!
@1:01, it may be a big heavy car even though it was a ‘lightweight’ but that HONKING 7 liter took care of business! Hard to believe they used these in road races.
Two tons of fun!
I had a 62 ford galaxy with a 390. Still miss it.
How did those drum brakes last for the whole race?
OHUQTU - The brakes were fine - it was the tires causing all that smoke! This was a REALLY short race compared to the 500 milers common in NASCAR back in the day. Still, the brakes do get a real workout on a road course like this.
Owned a 427 4spd Galaxie hdt that car really was fast beat a 428 super CJ , and many others ,wished I still had her , mine had 410 9 inch rear end
Len Kowalyshen lmfao
@@jonmeray713 what ever that means?
I love Galaxies
Awesome....
So this must be why Nascar stayed with sedans and didn't downsize. Chevy must've really suffered when Chevelle's briefly got small in 65. The fact this is holding touring turns like this is a testament to the suspension guys.
I beg to differ but it really points to driver skills, particularly with such a behemoth of a car like the Galaxie. The suspension of these cars were really very agricultural compared to most European cars with indep. susp.
Love it!
big...yes.long...yes.heavy....yes.fast...oh my god...
Was this an actual series in 1982? I can't tell. Support race for something at Sandown is all I got.
And that you have to be insane to drive one of these in a race.
LOL! GREAT STUFF
Dramatic! The stangs lurking, waiting for the big Gal's brakes to fade, while she smokes the tires out of the corners...
Lembrando que o Galaxy é um carro maior e mais pesado que os Mustang! Braço!
Now think about that motor in the Cobra
Cool!
There is no substitute for cubic inches..
brian critchley really....there is no..
Cubic inch? How about square yards... that thing is huge.
Cubic money is the substitute.
Other than handling, braking, suspension, power adders, data collection, etc.
I'd like to see a dodge dart with the 413 engine in this race there about the same size as the galaxies
Drive it like you stole it Hellyeah.
The Galaxy flexing American Muscle on the track just saying
same today )))
Love the great white whale!
The trick with the 50's, 60's US full sized and handling was to be lined up on exit before dropping the hammer. Too early and the back end will be the front end and too late and even with gods own torque the smaller cars will blow past.
there was never enough road for her rpms,,
I have a 64,they are long lol,i prefer my first gen monte with the length up front. 390 is sick tho
Well, even with the Galaxie, your front bumper made it to the beach before the driver... Just with the Monte, the bumper made reservations before you got there.....
kram Null easier to drive the Monte than the Galaxie,they are identical in overall length tho
You have a gard time beating cubici inches.
WOW back when racing was fun to watch not like the sterile crap today
ODD YOU HAVE TO GO TO ENGLAND TO SEE VINTAGE AMERICAN CARS RACING !!!!!
This was in Australia.
Why not, the British come to the U.S. to see vintage European cars race. I've heard and seen more than a few Brits at The Lime Rock Park Historic Festival over the years. It was quite common to see the Ford Galaxie 427s race in British Saloon Car Racing in the early sixties.
Straya!