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Story by Dino Dragone (with Paul William Gregson)
Images supplied by Dino Dragone
The Galaxie Clube Do Brasil at one of their events. www.galaxieclube.com
On April 29, 1965, after 46 years on Brazilian soil, Ford Motor Brazil announced (through General Manager John C. Goulden), the launching of an up-to-date, modern, and very comfortable automobile: the Galaxie 500. This was to be the first car made by Ford in Brazil!
In the mid-'60s, Brazilian cars were completely obsolete. The market was split by FNM, DKW, Simka, Willys Overland, VW, and Chevrolet. These companies had been late '50s models that had been discontinued in the United States. Ford tried to bring in the 1959 Fairlane, but GEIA (the Brazilian government agency responsible for the automobile industry implementation) did not approve it for some unknown reason. Ford thought Brazil would get a Falcon or a Custom, but the Galaxie 500 was the chosen vehicle. The company would invest 30,000,000 (US); a huge sum at that time. The Mustang cost 8,000,000 (US) and that car would be at the Ipiranga So Paulo.
Left: Take a look at this ad. Could an American Ford ad have gotten away with this? We doubt it! Even in 1967.
On February 16th, 1967, the first Galaxie 500 came off the assembly line. It was the same as the '66 American 4 door model, but with just one engine offered; the old 272 V8 with a 3-speed transmission (on the steering column). Those engines had been for the Ford Brazilian trucks since 1953. In the first year, 9,237 Galaxies were sold; a successful beginning by Brazilian standards. For the same as one of these Galaxies, you could buy five VWs (Beetle) and start a Taxi Cab service.
In a tropical country, a luxury car should offer all the comfort, and in September 1968, Ford offered an optional air conditioning set. To close the year with the golden key, the LTD was launched at the So Paulo Motor Show in December. The LTD was a more luxurious Galaxie 500, and featured refined finishing, Jacarand wood features on and doors, different upholstery in black Jersey and leather, vinyl roof, new grille, new trim kit, the LTD emblem on the C and hood, and a better engine (the 292, just for this model). The LTD also offered an automatic transmission, for the very first time in Brazil!
The 67 Galaxie 500 started off remarkably similar to its 1966 American counterpart. The 6768 models were the classical years for the Brazilian Galaxies because they were identical copies of the American versions. Improved and better, the care and quality was very high, just as it was in the U.S.
1969 starts the "Brazilization" of the model, with just little modifications on grille, trim, emblems, wheel covers, and upholstery, but the engine still was the old and tired 272. For 1970, to face the entrance of Dodge (Chrysler) in the Brazilian market, Ford launches a "naked" Galaxie 500 without any optional accessories. No electric clock, mechanical steering wheel (non-power assist), no additional trim, simplified wheel covers and upholstery, and no radio. The car was just named Galaxie, but the model failed and was discontinued in 1972.
Buyers Guide for the 1970 model year shows the various models available. Note the taillights remain the same. The LTD had few modifications, different grille and a new trim in the lower of the doors with a black belt under it. Another novelty for 1970 was the adoption of the 292 engine for all models; the 272 was definitely retired.
For 197172, the classic taillights were modified. They were still square but now had three vertical stripes and were known as "cathedral". The rear lights (back-up lights) were now in the bumper. In this same year, LTD becomes LTD-LANDAU, a luxurious LTD with new trim, upholstery, interior, and the Lincolns wheel covers and the emblem on the hood.
This ad shows the all-new-for-73 Galaxie 500 and LTD. Major changes. For 1973, the line went through its first real transformation, and almost became a new car. The front still had the classical stand headlights, but the hood, grille, trapezoid taillights, trim, wheel covers, and emblems were completely new. The engine was still the 292. These modifications lasted until 1975.
The stylish (and huge) Landau for 1976. For 1976, inspired by the Lincolns, the Galaxie became a very different car. Everything was new: body, front (with horizontal headlights), hood, grille, front bumpers, taillights, rear emblems, wheel covers (for the Landau) and at last a real engine; the 302 V8 for all lines. Now the family had three models: Galaxie 500, LTD, and Landau. The Landau was just offered in Continental Silver, with the vinyl roof inclusive for 7677 models.
Galaxie 500s for 78 and 79. Cars bear a resemblance to late '60s Mercs. For 1979, to commemorate Ford Brazil's 60th anniversary, a special series of 300 limited units of Landau was launched. The differences were the Red Bordeaux color, the AC finally incorporated on the dash, and a badge on the glove box door indicating the special series. Nowadays it's very hard to find an original one because at the time the Landau owners the car in black or deep blue. The year of 1979 was the last for the Galaxie 500.
For 1980, Ford introduced the unique ethanol V8 engine for the world to face the oil crisis. In late 1981, LTD was discontinued. Just the Landau remains with new rear lights now and offered just in Classical Blue.
On February 1983, Ford announces the discontinuation of Landau. It's the end of an era, after 16 years of good services and 77,850 cars.
Sales brochure for the 1980 LTD. The '81 Landau. Can you say Green Hornet?