JOHN'S 1966 FORD GALAXIE AMBULANCE PROJECT

John's first exposure to Ford's big car was back in 1965, when the then 16-year-old was working in a department store in Bendigo. Invited to view a "real car" by a travelling salesman, John recalled being gobsmacked by the sight of a brand new '65 Galaxie 500 sedan. That started a dream, but it would take seven years for it to become a reality.

While a love of the Galaxie is John's alone, a more general passion for Fords came from his father. "My dad was a vehement Ford man and wouldn't allow a Holden in the driveway," John recalls. Given that strict tenet, John's first car had to be a Ford - a 1951 twin spinner sedan - which he purchased in 1966. A bit of a step down from the highly-desirable Galaxie, but it was a start!

By 1972, the best years of the twin spinner were well behind it, so John traded up to his first Galaxie, a 1965 sedan. John described the difference between the 100hp '51 Ford and the 300hp Galaxie as "startling".

Since then, Galaxies from the '65, '67, '68 and '69 model years have occupied John's garage, with two of the high performance GT-optioned Galaxie XLs still in his possession today. Given his love of the big Galaxie sedans and fastbacks, the appeal of a Galaxie ambulance may seem a little unusual, but John's attraction to these locally-bodied units can be traced back decades before he purchased the example featured here.

"In 1970, a friend of mine purchased a 1966 Galaxie 500 ex-ambulance," John remembers. "At that time, no Aussie panel van came close to that thing for size, comfort or class. I never forgot that old gal and it stuck firmly in my mind".

Fast forward to 2005, and John spotted a '66 Galaxie ambulance for sale online. Located in South Australia, and incorrectly listed online as a '68 model, the ambulance was in complete, but pretty rough condition, and appeared to be an abandoned project with a stripped-out interior and lots of surface rust. There weren't enough flaws to stop John from buying it, though!

"It was in a sad way, and my wife was not overly impressed when it arrived home," John laughed.

Beyond its original conversion by 'F.L. Chivers & Co. P/L' in Greenacre, NSW, John said that any history on the car has been impossible to find. JUST CARS has found that Chivers were still building ambulances up to the early 1970s, on Ford Fairlane platforms, with schoolbuses also in their catalogue.

Exactly where John's Galaxie served and for how long is unknown, but according to the Colac Ambulance website (www.colacambulance.com), Fords were popular choices with regional ambulance services in Victoria, particularly in the 1960s. High-roof examples like John's were capable of carrying four stretchers, with Colac Ambulance showing that at least two '66 Galaxies served in Bendigo's ambulance fleet. John's still had the warning lights fitted to the roof when he purchased it, so may have been intended to be restored back to its original spec by the previous owner.

With the Galaxie back in Bendigo, John got local panelbeaters, Riches Auto Refinishing Panel Shop, on the job of bring the body back to life, while Stephen Hobbs, a long-standing friend, and meticulous mechanic and auto electrician, was drafted in to assist in the rebuild, too.

Running a 289 Windsor and C4 auto when purchased, John decided to replace these with a 390 4V, which he already had, and C6 tranny. Aussie-spec Galaxies of the period usually had FMX autos fitted, but John said the C6 is more robust and a better match to the bigger 390 V8.

"[The 390] was in good condition and only needed a slight hone of the bores, a new camshaft and bearings," John explained. "We had the original Autolite four barrel carburettor rebuilt, added electronic ignition for reliability, and replaced the original starter motor with a new high torque unit for better starting."

A reco'd alternator and more efficient crossflow radiator were fitted, along with new body mounts, rebuilt front suspension, and a disc brake conversion. While power disc brakes were an option on US Galaxies in 1966, Australian-delivered examples still ran drums all round.

"In 1967, all Galaxies were fitted with Kelsey-Hayes 4 spot disc brakes - the best available at the time - which was probably an effort to quieten down the critics in Australia regarding the poor braking on the heavy, powerful Galaxies of that era," John explained.

"I had seen later model Falcon and LTD single piston discs fitted to these earlier Galaxies, but decided to put the better disc brakes off the 1967 Galaxie."

To make the disc brake conversion work, the stub axles from a 1967 Galaxie had to be fitted, too. John said that rebuilding all four disc brakes was expensive compared to a front disc rebuild, but it was a job worth doing.

By late 2006, Riches had completed the body to a high standard. Body deadener was applied underneath and inside the cabin, with the exterior repaint done in a mid-blue shade that was richer and more lustrous than the original factory blue. At the front end, the original grille was replaced with one from a 1966 LTD, a cast metal item which John described as being nicer and stronger than the pressed tin grilles factory-fitted to the Galaxie.

Inside, the Galaxie was treated to a comprehensive makeover, with a view to not only improving appearance, but also comfort and driveability. The '66 seat was replaced with a reupholstered bench seat with a centre arm rest from a '68 Galaxie. The dashpad was reskinned and a steering wheel from a 1967 Galaxie fitted, which John described as being a much nicer unit than the wheel from a 1966 model.

A set of NOS black door trims was a lucky find and very local - in the collection of John's next door neighbour! John also added a floor shifter for the C6, a similar unit to those available to suit Cortinas and Mustangs. To provide the maximum load space, there's currently no rear seat fitted, but one can easily be fitted in place of the flip-up panel currently in place.

"Galaxies in 1965, 1966, and 1967 were fitted with dash components and instruments from the 1961 Lincoln. Although they look nice, they don't function that well, so a temp and oil gauge were added for safety's sake," John said.

In the rear, the side-mounted storage compartments were tidied up, and extended along the driver's side to cover the spare wheel. New roof-mounted speakers for the stereo system have also been added, with the whole lot trimmed in marine-style grey carpeting. There's a large, lidded storage compartment above the front seat section, too.

In total, John estimates the restoration of the Galaxie took 18 months - and a fair bit of coin - but he said it was worth it to bring another Galaxie back to life. Since completion in late 2007, it's been used sparingly (those XL GTs are still his favourite!), with the only major trips of note being to the Ballarat Swap Meet and Picnic at Hanging Rock.

As it's being used too infrequently, John decided to offer his rare Galaxie for sale, with an asking price of $15,500. Suitable for a number of uses, from business promotion to parts hauler for swap meets, John pointed out that this '66 Galaxie would make a great around Australia traveller. Given its abundance of rear space, it's a practical camper, and one with a difference, too.