1962 Ford Galaxie (406)

For 1962 every non-wagon full-size Ford fell into the Galaxie, Galaxie 500, or the newly introduced bucket-seat Galaxie 500 XL sport series. The top performance engine moved from 390 to 406 cubic inches: code B at 385 hp with a single four-barrel and code G at 405 hp with three two-barrels, both at 10.9:1 compression. A 390 High Performance engine was still listed among the year's powertrain options at 375 hp (four-barrel) and 401 hp (three two-barrels), though no rpm or torque figures survive for those two entries specifically, unlike the fully specified 406 ratings. No installation count for either 406 code was found in the sources consulted.¹

The new Galaxie 500 XL series reported 28,412 Victoria hardtops and 13,183 convertibles, a V8-only total of 41,595 per the production table's own note. The larger Galaxie 500 series added 87,562 Victoria hardtops, 42,646 convertibles, 30,778 four-door hardtops, 174,195 four-door sedans, and 27,824 two-door Club Sedans, summing to a reported 363,005. The base Galaxie series, with 54,930 two-door and 115,594 four-door sedans, came to 170,524, while station wagons across the Ranch Wagon, Country Sedan, and Country Squire lines added 113,537 more, for an all-full-size 1962 Ford total of 688,661.^1,2

List prices again varied by body and engine: a base Galaxie four-door sedan ran $2,507 with the six and $2,616 with a V8, while a Galaxie 500 XL convertible reached $3,358 and the XL hardtop $3,108, both V8-only. The 390 Z engine carried a period rating of 300 hp at 4,600 rpm and 427 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm; the 406 B made 385 hp at 5,800 rpm and 444 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm, and the 406 G made 405 hp at 5,800 rpm and 448 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm. The four-speed manual, required with the 375, 385, 401, or 405 hp engines, added $188, while a three-speed manual with overdrive ran $108, Cruise-O-Matic $212, and Fordomatic with a V8 $190.^2,1

Beyond the drivetrain, options ran from an Equa-Lock differential ($39) and heavy-duty battery ($8) through Polar Aire ($271) or Select Aire ($361) air conditioning, power brakes ($43), power steering ($82), a power seat ($64), and power front-and-rear windows ($102), with vinyl trim for Galaxie 500 models other than the convertible adding $26, and standard-on-500 items like the electric clock and backup lights still listed with their $15 and $11 retail prices. Thirteen exterior colors were charted, including Raven Black, Corinthian White, Rangoon Red, Oxford Blue, Viking Blue, and Baffin Blue, alongside Ming Green, Castilian Gold, Silver Moss, Silver Gray, Tucson Yellow, Sandshell Beige, Chestnut, and Fieldstone Tan.¹

On the same 119-inch wheelbase as the surrounding full-size line, the 1962 Ford measured 209.3 inches long and 79.2 inches wide, with a 61.0-inch front and 60.0-inch rear track. Shipping weight with the V8 ran from 3,589 lb for the Galaxie two-door sedan up to 3,804 lb for the Galaxie 500 XL convertible, with the Galaxie 500 XL hardtop at 3,625 lb and the Galaxie 500 Club Victoria at 3,616 lb. Rear axle for 390 and 406 High Performance cars ran 3.56:1 behind either manual or 4.11:1 with overdrive, while dealer-installed ratios for any V8 could range from 3.00:1 up to 4.56:1.^1,2