Bodie Stroud, the star of “American Restoration” on the History Channel has built a career out of his ability to restore iconic pieces of American history and infuse them with updated technology. In 1963 Ford’s Galaxie 500XL fastback rocked both NASCAR and the NHRA with unbeatable performance. Bodie and his team have restored a 1963.5 Galaxie 500XL R-code providing the Galaxie with a new heart a SOHC 7.0L Ford V8 engine. This engine was so powerful it was banned from NASCAR in 1965.
From the outside the Galaxie looks ordinary, but it is what is going on under the hood that makes this car special, the Ford 427 SOHC “Cammer” motor outputs around 800 horsepower. The Ford 427 SOHC motor has a very interesting history and has come to be known as the “90 Day Wonder.” Ford designed and built this engine in a mere 90 days in with the original intention of using the engine in NASCAR racing. Head of NASCAR, Bill France, ended up vetoing the engine, so Ford changed direction and used the motor for its drag racing efforts instead.
The changes Bodie makes on the cars he builds are very subtle. For the Galaxie, Bodie has created a custom handmade Thunderbolt hood scoop; the Galaxie will also feature a BSI custom rear suspension with a BSI four-link system. Bodie will upgrade to modern Nitto Tires, Brembo brakes and MagnaFlow mufflers, but he has kept a more classic look for the wheels with oversized stock wheels from Wheel Vintiques. The exterior is finished in Viper Red from Matrix.
“The Galaxie project was fun because I was trying to strike a real balance between classic and modern,” said Stroud. “I was able to keep the best of the classic look of the iconic Ford Galaxie that raced around NASCAR tracks in the ‘60s, drop one of Ford’s most powerful and legendary engines in it and add modern technology to create something for my customer that no one else has.”
The seventh season of “American Restoration” features five workshops from across the country. Representing the West Coast is Bodie Stroud Industries – the only shop to appear on all 13 episodes of the new series.
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