1966 · Ford · United States
1966 Ford Galaxie 500 7-Litre
The 428 became the big-car performance engine and gave its name to the Galaxie 500 7-Litre hardtop and convertible, with the 427 still available.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
For 1966 the 428 became Ford's big-car performance engine, lending its name to a new Galaxie 500 7-Litre hardtop and convertible, while the 427 remained available separately. The compilation gives 8,705 7-Litre hardtops and 2,368 convertibles built, against the 428's own rating of 345 hp (360 hp in Police Interceptor tune) and the 427's 410 hp with a single four-barrel or 425 hp with dual four-barrels, backed by both close- and wide-ratio four-speed manuals for the 427. Galaxie 500 XL production came to 25,715 hardtops and 6,360 convertibles, and no 427 installation count was found in the sources consulted.1
The 7-Litre series totaled 11,073 units, treated as its own model line on the production table rather than folded into Galaxie 500, while the Galaxie 500 XL series reached 32,075. The broader Galaxie 500 series, at 452,758, was built up from 198,532 fastback hardtops, 171,886 Town Sedans, 54,886 Town Victoria four-door hardtops, and 27,454 convertibles. The LTD line added 69,400 four-door hardtops and 31,696 two-door hardtops for a series total of 101,096, and all 1966 full-size Ford production reached 928,761.2
List prices ran from $3,596 for the 7-Litre fastback hardtop up to $3,844 for the 7-Litre convertible; the Galaxie 500 XL hardtop and convertible listed at $3,208 and $3,456, the LTD four-door hardtop at $3,278, and the LTD two-door hardtop at $3,201, against a base Galaxie 500 Town Sedan at $2,658 with the six and $2,784 with a V8. The optional 390 made 315 hp at 4,600 rpm and 427 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm; the 7-Litre's standard 428 made 345 hp at 4,600 rpm and 462 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm, with a 360 hp, 459 lb-ft Police Interceptor tune; the 427 four-barrel made 410 hp at 5,600 rpm and 476 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm, and the dual-quad 427 made 425 hp at 6,000 rpm and 480 lb-ft at 3,700 rpm.2,1
Engine options were priced individually: $205 for the 428 (standard equipment in the 7-Litre), $153 for the 390 at 315 hp, $101 for a lower 390 tune at 275 hp, $56 for a 352 at 250 hp (none of the three lesser engines available in the 7-Litre), and $106 for the 289 at 200 hp, standard in the 500 XL and LTD. Transmission choices ran from a close-ratio 427 four-speed geared 2.22/1.43/1.19/1.00 and a wide-ratio 427 four-speed at 2.32/1.54/1.23/1.00, to a shared 352/390/428 four-speed at 2.32/1.69/1.29/1.00, a standard three-speed manual, a $184 Cruise-O-Matic, and a $108 three-speed with overdrive. The record's own note on the options list flags that power steering appears twice at two different prices, $86 and $94, without a stated reason for the discrepancy.1
On a 119-inch wheelbase, the 1966 Ford measured 210.0 inches long and 79.0 inches wide, with an equal 62.0-inch front and rear track and overall heights of 54.7 inches for hardtops and 54.8 inches for the convertible. Shipping weight ran from 3,616 lb for the Galaxie 500 XL hardtop up to 4,059 lb for the heavier 7-Litre convertible, with the 7-Litre hardtop at 3,914 lb and the 500 XL convertible at 3,761 lb. The 427 and Police Interceptor cars specified 8.15x15 tires. Seventeen exterior colors were charted, including Raven Black, Wimbledon White, Candy Apple Red, Nightmist Blue, and Emberglo, with one color, Aspen Gold, listed without a code letter at all.1,2
Fact sheet · 1966 · United States
The numbers
1966 Ford Galaxie 500 7-Litre — The 428 became the big-car performance engine and gave its name to the Galaxie 500 7-Litre hardtop and convertible, with the 427 still available.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- 7-Litre: 8,705 hardtops and 2,368 convertibles.1
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxie 500 7-Litre 2-door hardtop1,2 7-Litre · 2-door hardtop · as published | 8,705 | delivered, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 7-Litre convertible1,2 7-Litre · convertible · as published | 2,368 | sold, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 XL 2-door hardtop1 Galaxie 500 XL · 2-door hardtop · as published | 25,715 | delivered, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 XL convertible1 Galaxie 500 XL · convertible · as published | 6,360 | sold, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 convertible1 Galaxie 500 · convertible · as published | 27,454 | sold, model-year | Reported |
| LTD 2-door hardtop1 LTD · 2-door hardtop · as published | 31,696 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 fastback hardtop coupe (63B)2 Galaxie 500 · 2-door hardtop, 63B · as published | 198,532 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 Town Sedan (54A)2 Galaxie 500 · 4-door sedan, 54A · as published | 171,886 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 Town Victoria 4-door hardtop (57B)2 Galaxie 500 · 4-door hardtop, 57B · as published | 54,886 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 LTD 4-door hardtop (57F)2 Galaxie 500 LTD · 4-door hardtop, 57F · as published | 69,400 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxie 7-Litre series total (V8 only)2 Galaxie 7-Litre · as published 63D fastback hardtop coupe 8,705 plus 76D convertible 2,368. The table treats 7-Litre as its own model line. | 11,073 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 XL series total (V8 only)2 Galaxie 500 XL · as published | 32,075 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 series total2 Galaxie 500 · as published | 452,758 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Galaxie 500 LTD series total2 Galaxie 500 LTD · as published | 101,096 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All 1966 full-size Fords2 all full-size · as published | 928,761 | built, model-year | Reported |
Rows are separately scoped; do not add them unless a note says they partition a total.
The page does not give 7-Litre engine splits or 427 installations.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxie 7-Litre fastback hardtop coupe (63D)2 | $3,596 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 7-Litre convertible (76D)2 | $3,844 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 XL fastback hardtop coupe (63C), V82 | $3,208 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 XL convertible (76C), V82 | $3,456 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 fastback hardtop coupe (63B), six2 | $2,685 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 fastback hardtop coupe (63B), V82 | $2,791 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 convertible (76A), six2 | $2,914 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 convertible (76A), V82 | $3,041 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 Town Sedan (54A), six2 | $2,658 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 Town Sedan (54A), V82 | $2,784 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 Town Victoria (57B), six2 | $2,743 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 Town Victoria (57B), V82 | $2,869 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 LTD 4-door hardtop (57F)2 | $3,278 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
| Galaxie 500 LTD 2-door hardtop (63F)2 | $3,201 | factory price as compiled (base list, by engine), 1966 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 390 V8 4-bbl1 390 cu in · 4-barrel | 315 hp @ 4,600, 427 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 428 V8 4-bbl1 428 cu in · 4-barrel | 345 hp @ 4,600, 462 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross) | 7-Litre | Not yet sourced |
| 428 Police Interceptor 4-bbl1 428 cu in · 4-barrel | 360 hp @ 5,400, 459 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE gross) | police | Not yet sourced |
| 427 V8 4-bbl1 427 cu in · 4-barrel (Holley) | 410 hp @ 5,600, 476 lb-ft @ 3,400 (SAE gross) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 427 V8 2 x 4-bbl1 427 cu in · 2 x 4-barrel (Holley) | 425 hp @ 6,000, 480 lb-ft @ 3,700 (SAE gross) | optional | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| 4-speed manual, 427 close ratio1 | 427; 2.22, 1.43, 1.19, 1.00 | Not yet sourced |
| 4-speed manual, 427 wide ratio1 | 427; 2.32, 1.54, 1.23, 1.00 | Not yet sourced |
| 4-speed manual, 352/390/4281 | 2.32, 1.69, 1.29, 1.00 | Not yet sourced |
| 3-speed manual (all-synchromesh)1 | standard; 2.42/1.61/1.00 with 352, 390 and 428 | Not yet sourced |
| Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed automatic1 | optional, $184 as compiled; 2.40/1.47/1.00 with 352, 390, 428 | Not yet sourced |
| 3-speed manual with overdrive1 | optional, $108 as compiled | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
428 345 hp V8 engine (standard in 7-Litre)1 | $205 | Not yet sourced |
|
390 315 hp V8 engine (not in 7-Litre)1 | $153 | Not yet sourced |
|
390 275 hp V8 engine (not in 7-Litre)1 | $101 | Not yet sourced |
|
352 250 hp V8 engine (not in 7-Litre)1 | $56 | Not yet sourced |
|
289 200 hp V8 engine (standard 500 XL and LTD)1 | $106 | Not yet sourced |
|
Transmission, four-speed manual (required with 410 or 425 hp 427)1 | $188 | Not yet sourced |
|
Transmission, Cruise-O-Matic1 | $184 | Not yet sourced |
|
Transmission, three-speed manual with overdrive1 | $108 | Not yet sourced |
|
Equa-Lock differential1 | $42 | Not yet sourced |
|
Battery, heavy-duty 70-amp1 | $9 | Not yet sourced |
|
Air conditioning, Polar Aire (V8)1 | $276 | Not yet sourced |
|
Air conditioning, Select Aire (V8)1 | $353 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power brakes1 | $42 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power disc brakes1 | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Power steering1 | $94 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power seat1 | $64 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power windows1 | $99 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, AM1 | $57 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, AM/FM1 | $133 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted glass1 | $40 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted windshield1 | $21 | Not yet sourced |
|
Two-tone paint1 | $22 | Not yet sourced |
|
Vinyl roof, 2-door hardtop1 | $74 | Not yet sourced |
|
Vinyl roof, 4-door hardtop1 | $83 | Not yet sourced |
|
Vinyl trim, except convertible1 | $26 | Not yet sourced |
|
Wheel covers1 | $22 | Not yet sourced |
|
Wheel covers, deluxe1 | $26 | Not yet sourced |
|
White sidewall tires1 | $33 | Not yet sourced |
|
Windshield washer and 2-speed wipers1 | $20 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
A |
Raven Black (M1724)1 | Not yet sourced |
M |
Wimbledon White (M1619)1 | Not yet sourced |
T |
Candy Apple Red (M2008)1 | Not yet sourced |
4 |
Silver Frost (M1901)1 | Not yet sourced |
K |
Nightmist Blue (M1903)1 | Not yet sourced |
V |
Emberglo (M1921)1 | Not yet sourced |
X |
Vintage Burgundy (M1632)1 | Not yet sourced |
U |
Tahoe Turquoise (M1070)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Aspen Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
8 |
Springtime Yellow1 | Not yet sourced |
F |
Arcadian Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
H |
Sahara Beige1 | Not yet sourced |
P |
Antique Bronze1 | Not yet sourced |
R |
Ivy Green1 | Not yet sourced |
Y |
Silver Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
Z |
Sauterne Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase1 | 119 in | all |
| Overall length1 | 210 in | all |
| Overall width1 | 79 in | all |
| Shipping weight, 7-Litre hardtop (63D)2 | 3,914 lb | 63D |
| Shipping weight, 7-Litre convertible (76D)2 | 4,059 lb | 76D |
| Shipping weight, Galaxie 500 XL hardtop (63C)2 | 3,616 lb | 63C |
| Shipping weight, Galaxie 500 XL convertible (76C)2 | 3,761 lb | 76C |
| Overall height, 2- and 4-door hardtops1 | 54.7 in | hardtops |
| Overall height, convertible1 | 54.8 in | convertible |
| Front track1 | 62 in | all |
| Rear track1 | 62 in | all |
| Tires, 427 and Police Interceptor1 | 8.15 x 15 | 427 |
Identification
Read a 1966 Ford VIN
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Same model year
Also in 1966
- Buick Riviera A longer, heavier new body on the same X-frame; 5,718 of 45,348 carried the GS option, and the dual-quad Super Wildcat went from dealer add-on to factory MZ engine in March 1966.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The Gran Sport became its own Skylark series (44600) on the restyled body, still with the 401 at 325 hp; 13,816 are tabulated.
- Buick Wildcat The one-year Wildcat Gran Sport: 1,244 built, 242 convertibles, 22 Super Wildcats.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The first full year of the SS 396 as its own series, with a 396 V8 in every car: 66,843 sport coupes and 5,429 convertibles.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova The source engine table lists the 327 L79 at 350 gross hp. Enthusiast-compiled production: 172,485 cars; Super Sport 20,986.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS No factory Super Sport El Camino is documented for this year; the record carries the host El Camino production as context.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Impala SS falls to 119,314 as the 427 arrives; 3,247 full-size Chevrolets got the 390-hp L36.
- Dodge Charger Dodge's first Charger, a fastback on the Coronet platform introduced on 1 January 1966, built 37,344 times, 468 of them with the new Street Hemi.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The first year the 426 Hemi was sold as a street engine; in the Coronet it was an option on ordinary sedans, hardtops and convertibles, before any R/T package existed.
- Ford Fairlane A new, wider Fairlane could take the 390 big-block for the first time, bringing the Fairlane 500 GT and GTA, and a small run of R-code 427 hardtops was built for Super Stock racing.
- Ford Thunderbird A 345-hp 428 became a $64.77 option, and the Town Landau outsold every other body combined.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Comet moved to the larger Fairlane-based body, and the Cyclone GT brought the 335-hp 390 with twin hood scoops, bucket seats and a heavy-duty suspension.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 The S-55 returned as its own line, a hardtop and convertible with the 345 hp 428 'Super Marauder' V8.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 package gained the L69 three-two-barrel 'Tri-Carb' option at 360 hp, and a handful of factory W-30 forced-air cars were built for drag racing.
- Oldsmobile Starfire The last Starfire of the 1960s: coupe only, moved downmarket, 13,019 sold.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The last glassback-era year: one fastback body, the 273 Commando as the top engine, and production that fell to 38,029.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite The 426 Street Hemi reached showrooms in the Belvedere and Satellite, and 1,546 were built into Plymouth intermediates.
- Pontiac Catalina 2+2 and Super Duty The 2+2 was listed as its own model for the only time, and production fell to 6,383.
- Pontiac GTO The GTO becomes its own Pontiac series and has its biggest year: 96,946 built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix Production fell to 36,757 as the GTO and 2+2 drew performance buyers.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans Pontiac's overhead-cam six and the Sprint package arrive beside the 326 HO.
- Rambler and AMC Marlin The Marlin's second year: production fell to 4,547, less than half the 1965 figure.