FORD GALAXIE

AMERICAN INVASION BEGINS

A landmark machine in many ways, the massive seven-litre V8-engined Galaxie ended Jaguar’s tin-top hegemony and started an American invasion of the UK that lasted for more than a decade. Since the first British saloon car race in 1952, Jaguar had essentially outpowered its rivals, but when Jack Sears (above) arrived with the giant Ford in ’63 the baton was passed on quickly.

Sears won first time out at Silverstone and went on to secure his second drivers’ title. He was the man to beat in 1964 too, but lost the overall crown to Class B dominator Jim Clark and his Lotus Cortina. The Galaxie scored 13 pointspaying wins and opened the V8 floodgates, with the smaller but more modern Mustang taking over the mantle in ’65. To date, Jaguar has yet to win another BTCC race.