Hot Rods Alaska 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 427 Lightweight History

1963 galaxie and light weight didn't go together at 3750 lbs a run of the mill 63 409 impala was lighter.

 

Thanks Loudbang for reminding me of the "R" car thread. It has been dormant for almost 3 years. Not anymore!

 

I think mine (not lightweight) weighed in at 4050.

 

The race track out side of Anchorage is Polar raceway in Palmer Alaska, the Ford Dealer in Anchorage was John Stepp's Friendly Ford. My brother has the last remaining '66 Shelby GT 350 Mustang left in the state. It was sold new by John Stepp Ford to a local T.V. personality Theada (spelling is probably wrong) Comstock. post your questions over on the ford barn on the late and early forums. there are a few fellows that frequent there from Anchorage that have lived here all their lives. my brother moved to Anchorage in 1970, I did not get there until '75 after my stint in the USAF as a crew chief on B-52G Bombers. Hartley motors was open as a Honda /atv dealer up until about a month ago. the owner died , and it has been bought out by the Honda dealer from Kenai/Soldotna, and will reopen in about a month. I will ask around about your car. I do not think you will get much help from the Alaska DMV. they will no longer give out info on previous owners. they say it violates the privacy act, and is done to protect the previous owners. I tried this when I first bought my '29 roadster up here.

 

Robert, I looked up Surf Laudries on yahoo, looks like there still in business. Gave a phone number. Bones

 

From what I know there were 3 or 4 factory light weights up here. I had a Alum case T10 out of one of them. One was said to of been run in a demolation derby out in Palmer, that one is gone for sure! I know one was sold and went outside, probably your car. Where the others went, I don't know. There was also 3 factory 64 hemi cars here too. Only one of them as turned up.

 

I'm not surprised your car is beat up. When I got here in 1970 there wasn't much for roads! And the race track wasn't much either in 1970. It would of went through the earthquake. Stepps is long closed out. I tried to get info on my 66 Shelby that was sold there when they were still there, never got anything. Back then we could get info out of DMV, I got a list of owners. But they stopped that, but still check, if you can get someone to go into the archives you may get somewhere.

 

Along with contacting Gary Bodenstadt in Fairbanks...get in touch with the Childs family in Anchorage.

http://www.jaychildsracecars.com/

 

Orville Moore might be of some help, he owned one of the 64 Hemi cars. I think he can be found at Moore and Son's.

 

My dad was stationed at Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks in 1964-65. He said there was a guy from Alabama or somewhere down south that was always talking about his 427 galaxie back home, everyone thought he was full of ****. The guy went home on leave, and drove the car back to Fairbanks on the Alcan highway, which was mostly dirt at that time. Probably trashed the car doing that.

Dave

 

Thank You for the threads on the lightweight racers and 427 Ford R cars. Great threads! -Robert

 

I recently spoke with a knowledgeable source from Anchorage who told me my car was purchased new at John Stepp's Friendly Ford by the family who owned Wardwell Photography. The second owner was a man with the name of Pat Brullet. They raced the car at local races and I guess Polar Raceway in Palmer. It would be nice to get photos of my car racing especially considering the original owners owned a photography shop- they had to have taken photos! There has to be photos of my car from the owners of my car and possibly by Polar Raceway and newspaper accounts of the Drag Races held in the area. I will try the DMV and see what happens. It is too bad you could not get any info from Stepp's Friendly Ford on your Shelby. They should have had the information - I worked at a Ford dealership up to 1997 in Brainerd, MN and they had books with all of the car buyers dating from when I worked in 1997 and back through the 1960's and earlier. Pretty cool to look through when I had to look up key codes for owners who lost their keys. I believe my car rode through the 64 earthquake with some damage with other damage done by other drivers. The front fibergl*** right fender was severely cracked from a collision. Thank You for the post- Robert

 

Great source sources- Have spoken with Gary and will contact the Child's family. Thank You- Robert

 

I was told Orville had raced against my car- he was racing in the Anchorage when my car was new. Contacted the Moore's and am waiting for Orville to respond and am hoping he has pictures of my car racing against his car. That would be really cool. Thank You- Robert

 

Cool Galaxie. Anything new on this?

By the way, my 56 Chevy was sold new in Anchorage. It had an Anchorage dealership sticker on the trunk. Also found a pen from Bill Bowers Anchorage Buick Center.

 

I tried to get photos and information regarding Wardwell Photography from the Alaska Historical Society and was told to go to the Anchorage Museum because they got most of the Wardwell Photography photos. Since, I believe, that the Wardwell's bought my car new at Stepp's Friendly Ford I was hoping there would be pictures of my car. There were no photos of my car there. Pat Brouillet it appears was the second owner who probably made the minor Day 2 modifications to my car for racing- including ram air, plexi-gl*** rear window, ****** Headers, tachometer on dash, etc. -Would be nice if the Brouillet family had some photos. I am still looking for photos of my at the race track or anywhere in the Anchorage Alaska area. - Robert

 

I appreciate everyone's input. Regarding northernlight's information on the FE Forum, I can input his historical recollections with some other information I received from the HAMB message board. My car appears to have been purchased NEW by Wardwell Photography at Stepp's Friendly Ford, Anchorage, Alaska and was drag raced locally. The second owner was Pat Brouillet, Anchorage, Alaska. I believe the racing modifications including lighter weight European red bucket seats, early style 2-piece cap Mallory distributor with "Mighty Mallory" decals on quarter windows, ram air, ****** Headers, race shifter, dash mounted tachometer, and plexigl*** rear window were installed by Pat. The car was raced locally and at Polar Raceway. Tom Irvine who owned Polar Raceway supplied me with much of the history along with northernlight. Between both accounts, it is fairly safe to say that my car was owned by Pat Brouillet. My car I was told raced against a 1964 Plymouth Hemi owned by Orville. Great to hear this history. I am still looking for any historical pictures and any other information regarding my car in the Anchorage, Alaska area during the 1960's. There was a match book cover found in the glove compartment from the "Surf Launderette". There has to be pictures of my car somewhere- Wardwell Photography had to have taken pictures. Thank You everyone for your input-Give me a call with any updates. Have a great July 4th week! -Robert Larson 218-251-6928 cell

 

Wardwell Photography no doubt has/had a treasure trove of pictures. I don't recall ever hearing of a Photog. company owning a factory race car.

 

All of the Wardwell Photography commercial and business photos were donated to the Anchorage Museum, however, personal and family photographs were not. I checked with the Alaska Historical Society and the Anchorage Museum with no luck in finding photos of my car. I was told the Wardwell's owned the car for a short period of time supposedly making no modifications to my 63 Galaxie Lightweight. Someone in the Wardwell family had an interest in this car when they bought it new at Stepp's Friendly Ford/Stepp Brothers Dealerships. I am in the process of working on my Lightweight and should have the car close to finished by the end of the summer. Photographs will be posted during the restoration. Any photos of my car or new information please call me ! Sincerely, Robert 218-251-6928 cell

 

Robert, Ward Wells son lives in Wasilla. He has a ton of antique car parts left from his fathers collection. I remembering him having a lot of photos, though this was years ago and might have been before the family donated them to the museum. I work with his sister in law and will see if I can get his phone number Monday. If he has no problem with you calling him, I will pm you his number. Bill

 

Thank You - I appreciate your efforts regarding contacting the Wardwell's and any information or recollections of history and photographs of my 63 Galaxie 500 Lightweight. Have a great July 4th weekend- Robert cell 218-251-6928

 

I must confess I haven't seen any photos of your '63 Lightweight completed. Is there another thread somewhere?