Name: Peter Melody
Location: New Plymouth
Car: 1967 Ford Galaxie 500

Awesome-looking car. What is it? And how long have you had it?
It’s a 1967 Galaxie 500 fastback, brought in from Portland, Oregon, late 2008. I purchased the car mid-2009 after watching cars cruising the streets of New Plymouth in Americarna. I decided I wanted to be in it, not watching it.

It looks pretty low. Is it bagged?
Yep, it is. For inspiration to start the project, a group of us went on a John Rae [Mr Americarna]-organised GoodGuys tour and car show in Pleasanton California in late August 2009.

The show was amazing but we quickly discovered that you couldn’t buy kit anything for a ’67 Galaxie. However, we gained plenty of ideas. On returning to New Zealand, and several bourbon nights later, we twisted the arm of Dean Cadman from BRT Limited in Hawera to do the air ride. It was a challenge due to the lack of off-the-shelf items available for the conversion. The end result gives the car a great stance and a hint of what the finished product will look like.

There’s a bit of a family connection with the cars as well, isn’t there?
Americarna New Plymouth has created a new interest in classic cars. My brother Alan and I both purchased our first project cars after Americarna New Plymouth 2009.
Alan has just finished a complete rebuild of a 1957 Ford station wagon.

Is there any history behind the car, or why you chose to buy it rather than something more common?
Not really. The car was found in Portland, Oregon in 2008 and was owned by only one family prior to its journey to New Zealand.

Do you have any future plans for it?
To pretty well continue until it’s done. Next on the list is a motor. If anyone’s got something with 500 horse, please call.

What’s in the CD player right now?
Bloc Party is always playing somewhere, or perhaps reliving my youth with U2.

What’s the best thing about owning a car like this?
I’m not really much of a hood or a hoon, but that element out there love it and show appreciation for it, which is nice.

This article is from NZV8 issue 65. Click here to check it out.