Lightweight Galaxie 40th Reunion

CARLISLE, PA - The largest gathering of Lightweight Galaxies assembled in four decades gathered at this year's Carlisle All-Ford Nationals May 30-June1, 2003, to celebrate the 1963½ Ford Galaxie's 40th anniversary. A total of 28 Galaxies were displayed on the show field, making an exhibit that few Ford fans could walk by without stopping. In addition to this momentous gathering, the Galaxie Club of America chose Carlisle as the site for its seventh annual national event.

"We can boast that this was the largest gathering of these cars ever," said Charlie Morris, 1963½ Galaxie owner and Ford drag car historian. "Thanks to all the great folks who came out to Carlisle to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the '63½ Lightweight Galaxie." Ford Lightweight Galaxies" are very unique cars. They were designed for competition," Morris explained. "There's never before been a venue for people to show these cars, and there probably won't be another one."

Morris also extended thanks to famed drag racers Dick Brannan, Al Joniec, Phil Bonner, "Diamond" Jim Brady, Rich LaMont, Bob Martin and Bill Holbrook, some of those who helped make these rare cars famous in their day. "These men were my sports heroes when I was a teenager," Morris said. Three of the most famous lightweights - Dick Brannan's No. 823, the first lightweight built in '63 and the first Ford to set an NHRA Super/Stock record; the Bob Ford Lightweight, formerly driven by Len Richter, Ford's test driver; and the 1964 "Desert Motors" Lightweight Galaxie, one of only 50 made, which carried Mike Schmidt to an NHRA World Championship - attended the gathering. "We also had probably the rarest of all the '63 Lightweights, the Mickey Thompson car, which features one-of-a-kind 'Hemi' heads on its 427 Ford engine," Morris added.

"As far as fan reaction and the response from other Galaxie owners, it was fantastic," he said. "Galaxie Club of Australia magazine editor, Darren Will, travelled halfway around the world to join us."

Two of the cars, the "Front Royal Ford" owned by Joe Conlon and the "Norristown Ford" owned by Charlie Morris made passes at South Mountain Drag way Friday evening of the show. "This was the first time down the track for my car in well over 30 years," Morris said. "The show itself defied the weather and was a big success to all of us who had the pleasure of attending."

The Ford Galaxie, a full-size model, was produced from 1959-1972. The 1963½ Lightweight Galaxie model was made specifically to race: lighter in weight with fiberglass doors, fenders, hood and trunk lid, plus the interior of the car was stripped. Ultra-lightweight bucket seats were added along with aluminum transmission casings and bell housings, making the lightweights several hundred pounds lighter than production-model Galaxies. With a 427-cubic inch engine producing 425 horsepower, the factory muscle car turned a quarter mile in 12.07 seconds. About 200 Lightweight Galaxies were made in 1963. New, the car cost less than $4,000. Today, one with complete documentation can sell for more than $75,000, Morris said.

The original Mickey Thompson lightweight Galaxie with one of a kind hemispherical heads

Dick Brannan's No. 823 the first lightweight built in '63 and the first Ford to set an NHRA Super/Stock record

Joe Conlon, organizer of the Galaxie reunion, said the club chose to hold the reunion in Carlisle "because that's the center of Ford activity on the East Coast." Next year's Carlisle All-Ford Nationals takes place June 4-6, 2004. A gathering of 1964 T-Bolts is already being discussed for 2004.

Becky Kunzman
Communications Specialist
Carlisle Events