Cars like this 1963 Galaxie XL are why Ford was dominating on the NASCAR circuits. With a slick fastback roofline and a potent Tri-Power 390 under the hood, these were factory muscle cars before there were muscle cars. Nicely finished in black with a big, comfortable interior, it's an upscale cruiser that can still hand out beatings on the street.Repainted several months ago and looking great, there's no way to make the Galaxie look bad. Ford hit the styling out of the ballpark, with crisp lines and those big, round taillights that reflected the '60s enthusiasm for the jet age. The paint went down over well-prepped sheetmetal, and even on those massive quarter panels, there's nary a ripple. The finish has a great shine to it today, and black always seems perfectly appropriate on these cars; the industrial-strength look makes a wonderful statement at the local cruise night where it will be warmly welcomed. All the trim, and there is a lot of it, is in excellent condition. Both bumpers appear to have been re-chromed, and the long stainless strips that frame the sides of the car are straight and bright. This one also proudly wears 390 badges, which reflects the engine living under the hood...but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet.A bench seat is a cool industrial-strength early muscle car look, and it works well in the Galaxie. All of it is original, but in good condition with no major damage or overt signs of aging, although a few small tears on the driver's seat are visible upon close inspection. Nicely detailed door panels look expensive and heavy-duty floor mats protect the carpets, which are a bit faded but otherwise in great shape. The 3-spoke wheel fits the Galaxie's personality perfectly, and the leather wrap and slender shifter lever make it a joy to be behind the wheel. There's a radio in the dash, but that's probably where we'd start upgrading and turn this into a first-rate cruiser that's always ready to rock. The trunk is finished properly, with a reproduction mat and what appears to be an ancient bias-ply spare tire with jack assembly.As I mentioned, the engine is a thumping 390 cubic inch V8, and it makes all the right sounds and amazing power. Dressed in black with chrome valve covers and a freshly rebuilt Tri-Power induction system, it's the ideal early '60s powerplant, both muscular and refined, making the performance seem almost effortless. There's a matching finned air cleaner and a those three 2-barrel carbs living underneath that make the most delightful sound when you crack open all six barrels. Nicely tuned, it needs a bit of time to properly warm up, but then it runs great with no complaints. The 3-speed automatic transmission snaps through the gears, and the entire car feels robust and sturdy, as if it could take the abuse all day, which its siblings did on the NASCAR tracks of the time. The chassis is clean with a fresh Flowmaster dual exhaust system that really barks out the orders. The industrial look of those black steel wheels is pure race-grade and they carry fat 225/75/15 blackwall radials that really stuff the wheel wells (the original hubcaps are available, call for details).Fast with class, that's the Galaxie's motto, and this one shows you why. If you're a Ford fan, few cars can match the Galaxie's reputation. Call today!