1963 Galaxie 500XL

Granddad sold Fords in the early 1960s from what I've gathered.  I know we bought our Fairlane from him so I'm assuming he was able to get a good deal on this 1963 Galaxie 500XL 2-door hardtop which would have been the top trim option that year.  It was this car that helped me fall in love with a 2-door hardtop...the look of the car with the windows rolled down.  Dean and I were both fortunate enough to drive it.  Dean gets the credit for giving it the nice update on the paint.

Same pic black and white

You can't talk about the Galaxie without starting with the hood ornament.  The best that I can tell, it was an aftermarket Dodge truck ornament.  

Dean still has the ornament

Looks like right after they replace the sewer line.

The car I met Cindy in.

 

Below are some pics I found that help the mind fill in the memories of what the car looked like inside and to help remember the original color.

The Packard

Packard's advertising used to say "Ask a man who owns one".  It was a luxury brand of auto.  The 1950s weren't kind to Packard with the last car produced in 1956 after merging with Studebaker in 1953.  But in the early 1950s, still an impressive auto and in 1951 there were plenty of models to choose from.  

I was alive when my grandparents owned this car but have no memory of it.  Dean clearly stated it was Grandmother's car. Using photos and slides, I've determined it was a 1951 Packard 200 Deluxe.  Packard had 200s, 250s, 300s and Patricians (400).  The 200 had a shorter wheelbase.  What's tricky about the ID is everything I read says the 200 did not have the cormorant hood ornament yet I do find some online showing that hood ornament. It may have been Grandmother's car but I see Granddad's fingerprints on this.  I have confirmed that the "pelican" (what the option guide called it) was an option that year.  The "eyelids" on the headlights were not and would have been an aftermarket addition which is likely where Frank came in.  I have also read the "Deluxe" had turn indicator lights which can be seen in our family photos.

There may be more images I haven't found but here is what I have to document the car:

Notice the eyelids

Eyelids seem to be gone

Eyelids

The car below has the cormorant hood ornament and "backing lights" (these were an option in 1951).

Note the turn indicator lights

This example below does not have the cormorant but does have the backing lights.

The example below has the cormorant but not the backing lights.

Here's another 200 with the cormorant

Paint colors that year...

Here is the option for the "pelican" hood ornament...