The Story Behind the Galaxie Wagon Tribute

A Tribute to Maverick Charles and Shelby Rose

Photos by Mach1Media

You may recognize this 1962 Ford Galaxie Country Squire Wagon that was featured here in the magazine last year. While we did get all the technical information correct about this insanely cool car from Kodie Paxton and William “BJ” Boden, owners/operators of Acme Gas and Oil in Temperance, Michigan, we did miss some very important personal details behind the build that make the Galaxie so incredibly special. To help make amends and ensure that story is told in full, we have cleared the stage for Kodie to fill us in on the essential information that didn’t appear in the Galaxie’s last feature spread.

When asked how she selected such a cool wagon platform to build, Kodie gave us a quick rundown on her history in the car scene and how many different vehicles she went through to get here.

“I was like a kid on Christmas morning the day the car was delivered …”

“In April of 2015, I was introduced to the custom car scene, and I’ve been in love with it ever since,” she recounts. “My first show vehicle (built by BJ) was a crew cab 6-foot bed S10. I had it out for one show season but found it to be too ‘cookie cutter’ for me. So, we sold it, and I started looking for an old station wagon.

“Initially, I really wanted a 1959-60 Chevy Nomad wagon, but the quality and prices just didn’t work out,” she continues. “I stumbled upon a 1966 crew cab F-250 that was an old military vehicle, which was fitting because I am a veteran. I was hoping it would fill the need for a custom show vehicle that the whole family could ride in. While I really did like it, it was just not what I wanted for a family show vehicle, so I sold it and started my search for a wagon again.

“I finally found what I was looking for in January of 2019,” Kodie says. “It was a Galaxie wagon that was for sale in Washington that would eventually become ‘MS. Swaggin’ Wagon’. While I wasn’t looking for a Galaxie originally, as we got closer to having it in person my excitement over it did grow. I was like a kid on Christmas morning the day the car was delivered, and I had so many plans for it including dropping a Coyote 5.0 with a 5-speed in her.”

Unfortunately, before any major plans could be rolled out, tragedy struck Kodie and BJ’s household on February 2.

“Being around [my car show friends] helped me change my mind and see the picture-perfect plan for the wagon—to build MS. Swaggin’ Wagon in honor of the twins.”

“I delivered our twins, Maverick Charles and Shelby Rose, prematurely,” Kodie reports. “Our son Maverick lived about 45 minutes and our daughter Shelby lived about 30 minutes before passing away. The next day, I told BJ I wanted the wagon gone. We had planned on him bringing me and the twins home from the hospital in it, but I couldn’t picture having it anymore because of the loss of our cherished babies.”

Shortly after that devastating period in their lives, Kodie and BJ decided to venture back out into the world, and once again join in on a cherished pastime that has become a major part of their story.

“There are so many beautiful parts on her, but one of the most precious pieces is the striping on my turbos … It was the most beautiful tribute to our wonder twins, Maverick Charles and Shelby Rose.”

“In April/May of that year we spent two weeks going to car shows with friends,” Kodie says happily. “Being around them helped me change my mind and see the picture-perfect plan for the wagon—to build MS. Swaggin’ Wagon in honor of the twins. In December, we went to PRI in Indy and ended up joining the RATical Rod Build Off /Drive Off (to be in 2020, which didn’t come to fruition because of COVID-19). Instead, we ended up debuting MS. Swaggin’ Wagon at SEMA in 2021 and have been able to take it to so many shows since then!”

Of course, the Galaxie turned out amazing. Kodie and BJ received a great deal of help along the way from family and friends, and the wagon turned out as great as they imagined.

“There are so many beautiful parts on her, but one of the most precious pieces is the striping on my turbos,” Kodie states. “Todd Hanson (Hanson Graphics) knocked it out of the park! He revealed them in the most perfect way—he saved the striping on the turbos until last to show us. He popped the hood and there they were, and it was like flood gates opened. I was crying, BJ was crying, and Todd was crying. It was the most beautiful tribute to our wonder twins, Maverick Charles and Shelby Rose.”

We are honored to help Kodie and BJ retell and expand upon their story, which goes to show that building custom vehicles runs a lot deeper than some may think. Kodie’s MS. Swaggin’ Wagon stands not only as a great example of a true one-off creation, but more importantly as a rolling memorial dedicated to her children.

“We’d like to extend heart felt thank you wishes to our friends who helped complete our wagon,” Kodie continues. “Thank you to James Heilman with Marks Industrial, Ernie Collyer, Ed M. McDonald, Zack Sheeler, Ed G McDonald, Monica Rupp, Brian Jacobs, Mike Howe, Aron Apple, and everyone else who played a part in this.”

1962 Ford Galaxie Country Squire Wagon

OWNER: Kodie Paxton
Temperance, MI

Engine & Drivetrain

• Shop: Kill Devil Diesel, Poplar Branch, NC
• 2006 6.0L Ford Powerstroke 8-cyl
• Custom motor mounts
• Carrillo rods
• Billet oil pump
• Modified stock oil pan
• Kill Devil Diesel Stage 3 camshaft, pistons and pushrods
• Griffin radiator and cooling fans
• 140-amp alternator
• Aluminum cylinder heads
• Jesel lifters and adjustable rockers
• Custom ODAWGS Diesel S3R intake manifold
• Mishimoto intercooler
• Borg Warner SX-E 364/73 .83 turbocharger compounded w/ SX-E480/96 1.3
• Smoothed comp and exhaust housings
• 69 psi boost
• FASS 220 lift pump
• RCD Performance Thumper II injection pump
• WDI 8mm hybrid injectors
• SCT X4 programmer tuned by Blessed Performance, Gillette, WY
• BD Power exhaust manifolds
• 5-inch exhaust diameter hand pressed to oval
• Straight pipe, side exit
• 1997 NV4500 transmission by SuperStick Transmission
• South Bend dual disc clutch
• Hurst shifter
• 16-gallon aluminum fuel cell
• Two XS Power batteries

Chassis & Suspension

• 100% custom chassis by William “BJ” Boden
• 2×3 and 2×4 square tube frame
• All joints CNC cut radius corners
• Flaming River rack and pinion
• Air Lift Dominator D2600 front/rear air bags and 3H air management system
• 2 Viair 444C compressors
• QA1 adjustable front and rear shocks
• Hand-built IRS w/8-lug Dutchman aluminum center section

Wheels, Tires & Brakes

• 20×9 and 20×11 Detroit Steel 0ne-off Ambassador wheels
• 245/35ZR20 and 285/30ZR20 Nitto NT555 G2 tires
• Front PowerStop brakes w/ electric power assist, rear inboard brakes

Body & Paint

• Custom candy purple mixed by BJ, matte clear over natural patina
• Paint by Chris “The Mad Professor,” Mike Kluczynski, James Rivers
• Wood grain graphics by Shannon Best at Best Built Customs
• Pinstriping by Todd Hanson at Hanson Graphix
• Custom floor pan and firewall by BJ

Interior & Stereo

• Shop: Pete’s Auto Upholstery and Trim, Taylor, MI
• Front 2006 Lincoln MKZ bucket seats, rear factory bench seat
• Wood floor by Don Steinman
• Paint matched dashboard
• Dakota Digital gauges
• Glowshift gauge pods and gauges
• Custom fiberglass console
• Mooneyes steering wheel
• RetroSound head unit
• PRV Audio 6.5-inch speakers and 32mm tweeters
• Skar Audio subwoofer
• Patina painted FLO air tanks