Dennis Lempicki's
1963 ˝ Galaxie 500 "406" Express


Member Profile: Dennis Lempicki
1963˝ Galaxie “406” seen in Waupacca, Wisconsin

I grew up in Chicago/Itasca Illinois and moved to Wisconsin in 1970.  In the 60's, I was a mechanic at Roselle Ford in Roselle Illinois and later opened Itasca Shell Service Center specializing in auto repair.

I raced stock cars from 1963 to 1970 at O'Hare Speedway, a 1/4 mile short track in the Western Suburbs of Chicago.  In fact this is the same track where Fred Lorenzen got his start racing Fords. Fred was in the group of drivers before me.                          

I still own a stock car that was built and driven by Elmer Musgrave, Ted Musgraves father. Ted (#15) is a popular NASCAR driver for Ford and was a Rookie of the Year a few years ago. While the car is not in racing condition, I hope that one day it will be restored as a nostalgic race car, if not by myself, then by someone else.

My current driver is a 1963˝ Galaxie 500 Fastback which was featured in the August/September 1995 "Muscle Car Review" as the "406 Express". This car also is in the 1999 Galaxie Club of America's calendar.  It was also a featured car under the tent in the popular Iola Car Show.  As a very nice # 3+ car, it has received many awards in local and national events in the muscle car class. It has a 406 c.i./405h.p. (3 deuces) engine under the hood with about 10,000 miles since a major overhaul. All the restoration parts are genuine Ford except for the camshaft which is an "Isky" with 530 lift. I installed the long headers rather than the original shorties because that what was available at the time. The horsepower is guesstimated to be in the range of 425 to 450 ponies and is mated to a 1964 top loader 4 speed. Now my transmission doesn't pop out of gear.

I was fortunate to find an N.O.S. AM/FM radio at  a swap meet and coupled that to an ancient reverb unit. It makes for some interesting sounds. I installed a new set of seat upholstery and a new headliner along with fresh carpet. The most     difficult part to find was the correct headliner. After finding 5 or 6 water damaged   ones I was able to make one good one out of them.

While I enjoy showing cars, I really prefer to drive them to the show if within a    reasonable driving distance. I forgot to mention that my rear gear is a 411 open and   at 70 m.p.h. it really sings to you. Love those pipes.  Meeting and talking to people at the shows is something I enjoy while receiving a lot of pleasure driving    to most shows.

At this time I am restoring a 1963 Galaxie 500 XL Notchback, an original 406 c.i./ 405 h.p. car which I plan to show for a couple of years before driving it.  This is a frame-off, detailed, numbers correct restoration that has been in progress for the last few years.  Although I am a amateur at car restoration, I have done a lot a research in an attempt to make this car the same as it was the day it rolled off the assembly line.

Next waiting its turn is a 1963 Galaxie XL convertible, triple black.  This is an unrestored "Black Beauty" that I found in a private collection with a broken heart (camshaft). I plan to drive it as is after the camshaft is replaced with an Isky and the machine work completed. My dream is to own a hi performance Galaxie from 1960 through 1966. I now own one or more of each year except 1965.  I don't know if I ever will be able to afford a 1965 R Code Galaxie.  I've never seen one.

I presently live in Waupaca Wisconsin with my wife Lynne and have three daughters who are no longer at home. In my spare time, when I am not playing with my Fords, I am a residential home  contractor and plan to retire in a few years and devote my full attention to my Fords.  Although I do not vend parts I do share my duplicate and extra parts with other Ford fanatics.  I specialize in Ford high performance cars and parts. If you are looking for a particular hi performance Ford car or Ford part from the 60's, please feel free to drop me a E-mail or call me. Who knows what I might have as an extra part or car.  

My hobby name is Clad Classics. My E-mail address is galaxi@execpc.com or snail mail me, Dennis Lempicki @ N3827 River Rd., Waupaca, WI 54981 You can also visit my web site @ http://www.angelfire.com/wi/galaxies

( I was glad to meet Dennis at the Galaxie Club Nationals as well as the Carlisle All Ford Nationals. He gratefully offered to video tape the nationals, and because of it we have a copy to offer for $15.00 US to anyone in the states, including postage. I might also mention Dennis has come up with a unique way to refinish the back panels below the trunk lid on a 1963 Galaxie so that you don’t have to paint them. Give him a call if you are interested.

Dennis' car was the first to be featured on our first color covered magazine. Unfortunately it is now out of print. Mark )

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