[ad_1]
When Ford launched the XL mannequin for the Galaxie 500 in the midst of the 1962 mannequin yr, it was following within the footsteps of the 1961 Falcon Futura by debuting bucket seats and console to the Ford line. Nevertheless, the XL advanced right into a barely completely different automobile as the last decade wore on. Our Decide of the Day, a 1969 Ford XL SportsRoof, demonstrates the XL’s place within the Ford lineup. It’s on the market on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Harmony, North Carolina. (Click on the hyperlink to view the itemizing)
The 1962 Ford Galaxie 500/XL was launched as a V8-powered two-door hardtop and convertible with customary buckets and console. Manufacturing reached over 40,000, which was an auspicious begin for a mid-year mannequin. In 1963, a four-door hardtop mannequin was launched — sure, a four-door with buckets and console — and gross sales exploded exponentially, with the two-door hardtop alone attaining over 134,000 models. For 1965, the Galaxie 500/XL reverted again to two-doors and, in 1967, Ford shortened the mannequin identify to simply “XL.”
In an indication of the instances, Ford decontented the XL for 1968. Commonplace was a bench seat with a 240cid six. Now the XL was only a extremely trimmed mannequin with little in the way in which of sportiness apart of the fastback physique fashion for the hardtop, with a brand new GT Gear Group created for the extra sport-inclined customers. This set the tone for the redesigned 1969 XL, which Ford claimed, “You’re wanting on the sportiest, best-handling Ford XL in historical past. Don’t consider it. Drive it.” The fastback was now a semi-fastback fashion known as “SportsRoof,” and each it and the convertible continued to characteristic a normal six and bench seat. New to the choice record was the 429 Thunder Jet, accessible with a two-barrel or four-barrel carburetor, the latter rated at 360 horsepower. The latter can be the final time a four-speed handbook transmission can be accessible on an enormous Ford; ditto the GT bundle.
This “unmolested” 1969 Ford XL SportsRoof is a effective instance of a mannequin not typically seen on the collector automotive radar. This one has the four-barrel Thunder Jet, as evidenced by the “N” character within the VIN, backed by a column-shifted C6 computerized. “The unique Lime Gold (code 63) end was professionally resprayed in 2012 and is in good situation,” says the vendor, and it’s accented with a black vinyl high. Different notable options embody 15-inch wheels with mag-style wheel covers. Inside, the Ivy Gold bench seat is in good situation, with “upholstery, carpets, headliner and sprint [being] effectively maintained,” per the vendor. AM radio is inventory for the automotive, whereas a number of aftermarket gauges together with tachometer have been added.
The XL continued via the 1970 mannequin yr, upon which Ford eliminated any semblance of sportiness with its full-size vehicles. That merely was the way in which the market was transferring, however we’ve this 1969 XL SportsRoof to admire for these people who recognize conventional American vehicles with conventional American torque. For $29,995, that’s loads of automotive for the cash.
To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Decide of the Day.
[ad_2]
Supply hyperlink
