Poll: Which Ford? (2/19-20/2021)

Love all Galaxies '60 - '68 but, the '61 has always been my favorite Galaxie body styling wise.

I find both of these Galaxies equally acceptable and would not mind a drive in either. Good looking!

I like the modest fins, and the lower trim on the rear fenders, on the '61. All in all, one of Ford's better efforts, surely my favorite from '59 - '64.

I'm pleasantly surprised at the support for the '61 over the '62.  The '61, it was not a favorite in the looks department for me.  But then when I saw the '62, it was as if all that was wrong with the '61 styling was corrected.  Following the '62's the '63's and '64's were equally pleasant.  

On this one, I voted '62.  

I love both cars almost equally but I like the grille, side trim and tail light treatment just a bit more on the '62.

A sad memory I have of a '61 Ford Convertible. 

In 1960-1961 when I was in the 3rd grade at Oakdale Elementary school in West St. Paul, Minnesota, of course I was already in love with cars.  I've mentioned in previous posts how my Dad would take me around to the dealerships in the Fall of each year to view the NEW cars on their showroom floors.  That in itself is a memory I always smile about when I think about it.  

But one memory makes me cringe.  On a Saturday in the Fall of 1960, we had visited Bob Carter Ford on Concord Street in South St. Paul and there on the showroom floor was a white '61 Ford Convertible, seemingly the star of the floor.  I'd especially noticed this particular car because earlier the week before, our principal Mr. Wicklund had driven his Brand New '61 FORD CONVERTIBLE to school for the first time.  This was memorable for me because I'd not known anyone else to that point that had a NEW car.  

So what about this memory makes me cringe, you ask?  Well the very next day (Sunday) after that dealership visit, I was riding with my Dad down Robert Street in West St. Paul, and coming at us in the on-coming lane, was a Tow Truck, and behind it was a White '61 Ford Convertible, with the front-end all smashed in!  I immediately told my Dad, "That look's just like Mr. Wicklund's new car". 

On Monday morning during the school announcements over the loud-speaker system, we leaned that it was Mr. Wicklund's car.  The school secretary revealed that on Sunday Mr. Wicklund had been in a car accident, and was not at school that day.  Later in the week we'd learned that he'd died from a head injury, having hit the windshield.  

I've never forgotten that 3rd grade memory.  

@georgeschire, That's sad, George.

62 by the smallest of margins. If the 62 were an XL then by miles ahead,

Posted by: @sizedoesmatter

@georgeschire, That's sad, George.

Very sad.

@georgeschire  A very sad reminder of the needless deaths due to safety standards development still being not a huge priority in the early 60s.  It did come a ways in that decade though.

Posted by: @jack-dodds

@georgeschire  A very sad reminder of the needless deaths due to safety standards development still being not a huge priority in the early 60s.  It did come a ways in that decade though.

You are so right.  If memory serves me correctly, in 1961 they still didn't have seat belts.  I think they were first mandated in 1964 and then they were only the belt around your waist, not shoulder straps.  

@georgeschire  Not sure of when they were mandated but my 63 Impala had them, as did my brother-in-laws 62 Impala.  Maybe optional??

Posted by: @jack-dodds

@georgeschire  Not sure of when they were mandated but my 63 Impala had them, as did my brother-in-laws 62 Impala.  Maybe optional??

I agree with you about them being possibly "optional" in '62 or '63.  For some reason though I seem to recall that in 1964 they were mandated and the '64's were the first cars to have them.  I'll see if I can look it up.  

Okay, I've looked it up.  President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation in 1966 that required seat belts in all passenger vehicles and created a national traffic safety agency.  

And now you know....the rest of the story.