1959 Ford Galaxie, Done! 11/16

[StevenGuthmiller]

This is where I'm headed next. Another old "Junior Craftsman" kit. This one will be painted 2-tone "Geranium" & "Colonial White". Steve

http://public.fotki.com/stevenguthmiller/1959-ford-galaxie/

Edited November 16, 2014 by StevenGuthmiller

[Ramfins59]

I'm sure that this will be another gem from your bench Steven. I'm looking forward to your progress.

[my80malibu]

Your models are so well done.Very classy I am sure this one will be every bit as nice as the others, I have seen,and I can't wait.

[oldnslow]

I picked up the same car at the flea market a couple of weeks ago.

no plans yet, waiting to pick up the pieces from Modelhaus.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I picked up the same car at the flea market a couple of weeks ago.

no plans yet, waiting to pick up the pieces from Modelhaus.

Almost looks like yours was painted that color. That's the color of the plastic on mine. I have all of the parts for mine. Already had the chrome replated which is a big reason why I'm starting it now. I have a lot of other projects I'd rather start but still need chrome re-done. Steve

[Bob Ellis]

You have a nice project

Too bad the AMT '59 Ford Fairlane 500 only came as a promo. All of them are potato chips now. I don't think AMT ever made a kit of it.

Edited September 22, 2014 by Bob Ellis

[StevenGuthmiller]

You have a nice project

Too bad the AMT '59 Ford Fairlane 500 only came as a promo. All of them are potato chips now. I don't think AMT ever made a kit of it.

Amt did do a kit of it. They did an annual in '59. These Jr. Craftsmans came later as a simplified kit with no custom parts. Of course they were all "promo style" kits with no motor etc. but they all were back then. Steve

[oldnslow]

Mine had been painted red with a white top, but was stripped, that's the just color left on the body.

[Bob Ellis]

Here is the AMT 1959 Fairlane 500 promo. Notice that the rear of the roof is different and the rear quarter fin says "Fairlane 500". The kits have a different roof and say "Galaxie". I think this is because the Galaxie was introduced later in 1959 and they changed the promo. So, a Fairlane 500 kit couldn't be made.

Unfortunately, all the promos are warped, so a 1959 Fairlane 500 is an unlikely project to do

Edited September 22, 2014 by Bob Ellis

[StevenGuthmiller]

Here is the AMT 1959 Fairlane 500 promo. Notice that the rear of the roof is different and the rear quarter fin says "Fairlane 500". The kits have a different roof and say "Galaxie". I think this is because the Galaxie was introduced later in 1959 and they changed the promo. So, a Fairlane 500 kit couldn't be made.

Unfortunately, all the promos are warped, so a 1959 Fairlane 500 is an unlikely project to do

Oh, I got ya Bob! I had myself confused. In '59 the Fairlane made the leap to the Galaxie & the only difference between the two was the roofline. I guess a guy could pretty easily do a Fairlane by transplanting a roof from a '59 Edsel Corsair & using some Photo etched scripts from the '57 Ford Fairlane

[slusher]

Looking forward to it Steve, you always build a beautiful model..

[TFchronos]

Nice project car.

[John Goschke]

One of my favorite kits in one of my favorite color combos! Look forward to seeing your build, Steve!

I have one of the blue Craftsman kits I started working on a while back, converting it to a mild custom Fairlane 500 Club Victoria using an Edsel Corsair roof and windows. Project's parked for the moment while I forge ahead with its Sunliner companion.

Incidentally, I think the Modelhaus sells the Edsel roof in resin for just such a conversion.

[StevenGuthmiller]

One of my favorite kits in one of my favorite color combos! Look forward to seeing your build, Steve!

I have one of the blue Craftsman kits I started working on a while back, converting it to a mild custom Fairlane 500 Club Victoria using an Edsel Corsair roof and windows. Project's parked for the moment while I forge ahead with its Sunliner companion.

Incidentally, I think the Modelhaus sells the Edsel roof in resin for just such a conversion.

A-ha!! I knew some one along the line had probably attempted this conversion! Looks very nice too Froghawk! Actually the Fairlane roofline was a little more appealing to my taste. But I guess I'll wimp out & just do the Galaxie as it came. Steve

[StevenGuthmiller]

Mine had been painted red with a white top, but was stripped, that's the just color left on the body.

Got ya Robert! Couldn't tell for sure but it obviously had some unidentified color splotches on it. Just wasn't sure if they were on top or underneath. Steve

[MrObsessive]

Gonna be another nice one Steve! Interesting how Ford made their '59's "one year deals". The '58 and the new again for '60 are totally different cars! Had to be expensive for Ford (and GM) to do that back in those days. I'm sure Ford redoing their line for 1960 was an attempt to keep up with Chrysler and GM which beat them to the punch.

Too bad they don't do that today------I get tired of seeing the same 'ol boring body styles for years at a time.

BTW, I too like the roofline of the Fairlane 500 a bit better than the Galaxie. While it's nice, the boxy roofline seems to clash with the rest of the car's rounded lines. That's just me talkin' though...........

[Bob Ellis]

The idea using the Edsel roof is a good idea. Galaxie or Fairlane roof it will look good.

I searched all the promo pics I could find and it seemed all had a slight yahoo to them. I guess there is a perfect one out there.

John, why did you replace the back-up lights?

[impcon]

I own a 1:1 '59 Fairlane 500 two door hard top "Club Victoria" and couldn't agree more about the wrap around rear window being more stylish than the "Thunderbird roof line" used on the mid year introduced Galaxie. While the Fairlane Club Victoria sported "Fairlane" scripts on each rear quarter panel and on the trunk lid, the word "Galaxie" replaced the quarter panel scripts on the upper scale Galaxie models. But oddly enough, the "Fairlane 500" emblems remained on the trunk lid of the Galaxie whether the car was a Fairlane, a Galaxie or even a retractable hardtop - which also bore the Galaxie side name plates but had the Fairlane 500 emblems on the trunk lid. The gold coloured - "500" emblem was situated directly beneath the trunk lid Fairlane script with the center "0" hinged on a pivot that allowed it to be pushed to the side to allow access to the trunk lock. Also, the Fairlane had tasteful, small fender ornaments with a gold ball on the top of each one while the Galaxie had larger round ones with what appears to be a thunderbird enblem in the clear plastic "lens"

On the interior, the upholstery patters were different with the Fairlane door panels and seat covers being more - shall we say - "conservative" - yet very attractive - than the Galaxies with its "busy" colours and upholstery patters. Also, the emblem on the glove box door says "Fairlane" on the Fairlane models while the Galaxie door is appropriately branded. There are some extra pieces of bright work on the Galaxie dash but speaking for myself, I much prefer the Fairlane over the Galaxie. That Fairlane 500 wrap around rear glass just seems more '50's than the thicker Galaxie C pillar.

As for why the Galaxie still retained the Fairlane trunk badging - I have yet to find any information that would suggest the reasoning for that. Growing up, my best friend had a black Fairlane 500 2 door Club Victoria and I can say with certainty that even back in the late sixties/early 70's, there were a lot more Galaxies hardtops around than there were Fairlanes. I've really liked these cars since they were new and when I had the chance to buy the one that I have now, I jumped on it because other than the exterior colour being silver as opposed to black, my car is virtually identical - right down to the red and white interior and the 332 engine as the one that I spent many happy hours cruising the streets of Winnipeg in back when I was a lot younger. I was so sorry to hear that the black Winnipeg car was sent off as scrap many years ago now but mine is safely tucked away and will go to one of my sons when I leave this old world.

[howsthat1959]

As for why the Galaxie still retained the Fairlane trunk badging - I have yet to find any information that would suggest the reasoning for that.

I own a 1959 Ford Retractable Galaxie. The reason the rear carries the Fairlane 500 is due to the cost to retool the chrome V and remove the "500" numbers. Ford didn't want to spend the extra money on it.

[impcon]

Ah - so - that's the story. Thanks John.

Steve, I am so looking forward to seeing some WIP pictures and of course, your finished product. Your builds are always awesome - super clean and pretty much factory stock. You are a man after my own heart!

[StevenGuthmiller]

Ah - so - that's the story. Thanks John.

Steve, I am so looking forward to seeing some WIP pictures and of course, your finished product. Your builds are always awesome - super clean and pretty much factory stock. You are a man after my own heart!

I'm looking forward to some WIP pics myself! Actually, I've barely started on the '59. The past several days have been consumed by getting a load of parts prepped, cleaned & mounted to be sent off to Chrome Tech. But, once they're on their way, I'll be ready to get started on the Ford. With any luck, I'll started slinging some paint on it this coming week. Steve

[StevenGuthmiller]

Things seem to be going relatively slowly on this build, but I think it's mostly because I spent a few days prepping & mounting parts for re-chroming. But, I finally got the body prep & priming done, so hopefully I can start shooting some color over the next few days. Steve

Edited November 16, 2014 by StevenGuthmiller

[chunkypeanutbutter]

That roofline doesn't mix with the windshield... It just looks kinda "off."

[StevenGuthmiller]

That roofline doesn't mix with the windshield... It just looks kinda "off."

I didn't design it Miles, I'm just building it. There were a lot of cars from around this era that had styling "issues". Let's take the '58 Edsel for example...... Steve

[impcon]

The '59 Ford was voted "the most beautiful automobile in the world" at the major car show in Paris, France, so the proportioning and styling must not have been too bad. While not my all time favorite car, I really do like the styling which is pretty conservative compared to some of the other makes of that era. It's unfortunate that the omnipotent bean counters seem to fail to see any potential in reissuing these old kits as opposed to the dime a dozen Chevelles and Mustangs and such. They keep reissuing the '57 Ford over and over and have even tooled a new two door post but the '58 and '59 seem to be largely forgotten and under rated. Oh well - ours is not to reason why, is it? Yours will be a nice build, Steve.. maybe it will help draw some attention and appreciaition to these cars.