Article: Joy Ride: Ford's 'land yachts' kept getting bigger and bigger.

Byline: Bill Burke

Mar. 30--Part 6 of 7 / Introduction NORFOLK -- It was early summer of 1959, and Perry E. Harris Jr. paced the chassis line at Norfolk Assembly like an expectant father. While he watched, his new car was born, lovingly forged by the men he worked with. It was a "red ball special" -- a car made to order by plant workers for a colleague. That meant a few extras: seats would be a bit plumper, and there would be more dollops of Dum-Dum, a putty-like sealant applied where metal met metal, for a quieter ride. The car was a first-generation Galaxie 500 hardtop -- turquoise and white, roomy and elegant. It would be perfect for transporting Harris' ...

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