Mike and Brenda Gerrard are the happy owners of a 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible towing a very cool 1965 Esta Villa trailer and, even though neither of them was even born in ’65, the 1965 Ford drop top has carved out a long history in their lives.
In fact, the link between the Gerrards and the ’65 Ford convertible goes back to 1993 before they owned the car, but the future married couple were able to borrow the drop top to use as their wedding car that year.
Jim Sutherland
The former owners were reluctant to let go of the Ford for many years until 2020 when they decided to sell it to Mike and Brenda.
The ’65 Ford convertible continued its link to Gerrard family marriages when Mike and Brenda’s daughter used it for her wedding car in 2021.
The vintage holiday trailer was an add-on to the Ford because it was built the same year and looks like it belongs behind the 59-year-old convertible.
It also serves as extra accommodation for Mike and Brenda’s kids when they visit their parents, so the trailer has a practical side to it for that purpose. Mike also mentioned the vintage holiday trailer “tows really good” behind the vintage convertible.
Mike told MyStarCollectorCar his dad once owned a 1965 Ford, so his father’s car was a big influence on Mike’s decision to own one when he had an opportunity at some point in his life.
The classic convertible left the factory with a 352 V-8, but Mike said the car’s original engine was cooked when it overheated in a slow-moving parade, so the former owner replaced it with Ford’s famous 390 big block. The overheating issue was cured by the installation of electric fans, a popular retrofit choice for car guys who want to avoid barbequing a perfectly good vintage engine.
The ‘65 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible from a bygone motoring era has also been upgraded to four-wheel disc brakes, a big improvement that helps the vintage car and trailer combination slow down in a big hurry upon request.
The convertible’s creature comforts include power steering and power windows that make the driving experience more enjoyable in the convertible.
Mike purchased a few toy versions of the 1965 Ford and even gave a few of them a red and white paint scheme to honor the full-sized version. The toy cars are placed in prominent locations in the convertible and were very visible with the top down on the car.
It was clear the 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible has already carved out a significant legacy in the Gerrard family history, given that it has been used in two weddings, but we at MyStarCollectorCar predict the car will continue to build its legacy with them in the future.
One thing is very certain: this 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible is here to stay with Mike, Brenda and their kids. In fact, their son already wants the car to stay in the Berrard family…with him.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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