Ford launched the Galaxie and the Falcon within months of each other, vying for the attention of a voracious car-buying public. The Galaxie was its full-size offering, and in keeping with Ford’s tendency to proliferate submodels, the Starliner was introduced in 1960. The Starliner was a high trim version of the Galaxie. With Jet-Age design cues like a radical thin-pillar roof and flat fins at the rear, the Starliner was supposed to appeal to that niche of buyers who wanted style above all else. Because there wasn’t much else! The cars were very heavy, and Ford’s engine development had begun to lag behind its competition. The gamble on styling didn’t pay off, as Ford’s sales sank below GM’s in 1960, despite the popularity of the Falcon. The company pulled the plug on the Starliner in 1961, a blessing for collectors who prize this rare model today. Here on eBay is a 1960 Ford Starliner bid to $18,100, reserve not met. This restored car is located in Lathrop, California.
The glamour in the engine bay is this rare hi-po 352 CID V8, originally mated to a Holley carburetor and good for 360 hp. This engine has been rebuilt with high-performance components through and through; see the listing for details, but a few of the highlights include a renewed fuel system, a new suspension, and a completely rebuilt brake system. Upgrades include a 100 amp alternator, aluminum radiator, and water pump. The wiring harness is modern. The three-speed overdrive T85 transmission has been refreshed. The seller has driven the car only about 100 miles since its restoration.
The interior is similarly restored, with a new dash pad, new glove box, a radio delete plate, and new pedals. The headliner is perfect. The trunk is just shy of new. The steering wheel shows flaws in the chrome center, and that’s just about all we can complain about. I always wonder, when I see upholstery from the 50s and 60s, when did interiors become so drab?
The body – said to be laser straight to start with – has been completely restored with color-matching primer and two-stage Aquamarine pearl paint (the seller calls this “aucopo blue”). The bumpers, fin trim, and door handles have been re-chromed and the stainless trim was straightened and polished. Personally, I don’t love the color-keyed wheels, but the hubcaps could be re-installed to shift toward a stock look. Today, bubble-top two-door cars from the late 1950s and early 1960s are seeing renewed interest. As awkward as the Skyliner’s styling was deemed in 1960, these cars now sell for $30k or more, implying there’s a long way to go on the bidding here.
I must be part of the few, as I have always thought these were good looking cars. The roof pillar was the best part. 1960 autos were not my favorite year for car design. This is a good looking example even with that basic interior. What I don’t understand is the seller claims upgrades to the engine and the fills the tank with 87 octane and the engine is happy? Have they every put any load on it or just idle it up and down a driveway. That just doesn’t work and have question other statements the seller made.
I’ve always liked the ’60 Ford styling as well.
I have to agree. 60 Ford was ahead of its time for front end design. Made the front of a 60 Chevy look plain by comparison. From what I remember though, 60 Ford rear was 1/2″ wider than traffic laws allowed. My buddy had a 60 convertible (Sunliner) and we could pile a bunch of kids in it.
87 Octane is probably fine for just driving on and off a trailer.
….especially if it doesn’t have hardened valve seats in the engine. I also have thought the ’60s were good looking cars and a good followup of the tail fin era.
Any engine that has been rebuilt since the early 80s should be unleaded fuel friendly.
I have a ’60 ‘Bird, tweaked 390, dynod at 410H/430T. My guidelines for the engine builder were ‘Lots of torque, it’s 3AM, I’m in the wilds of Iowa, it’s starting to snow, the fuel gauge is on E, I need to be able to run whatever I can find without issues’. The results were 9.0 to 1 comp, radical Erson cam, and a vintage “auto-timer” accessory the runs from the dash to the distributor and allows me to modify the timing from inside, on the fly. I usually run premium, but if I am in a situation where I need flexibility, I just put in whatever I can find and tweak the timing to make it happy.
My brother had a 61 Starliner. The motor went and he had a friend whose dad owned a auto scrap yard. The dad had a Thunderbird which had been totaled all the way up to the back windshield by a truck. My brother bought the motor out of it for fifty bucks. He put it in the Starliner. All I remember is it sure had power ! The valve covers had Thunderbird on them. I also remember the Stars on the Pillars on the back window
I agree cool looking cars and this drive train makes it really desirable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZworWYv9Lg
Baby blue 🚀 burner right here 💙
With overdrive these stunners could hit 151 mph with the 360hp engine…One of my all time dream machines.
1961 came with better looking cars than previous years. This Starliner is a good example. On this one I’d “flip” the whitewalls over on the wheels and re-install the hub caps. I wonder if Hurst still makes a floor shift for this model ?
Look just like a 1960 Edsel my dad owned
The distance from the edge of the body (the door handle) to the greenhouse was always so shocking on these cars and all the Ford/Mercury lineup for the next few years. Love the looks of this car. Love the manual/overdrive.
Nice car.
Got a chuckle out of “aucopo” blue.
My Dad bought a 1960 Starliner new – it was the only new car we ever purchased – and my Mom always said it was “the only practical car he ever bought”. She was right if you knew what was always arriving in our garage or driveway. Anyway, it was the 1st car I ever was in as a kid at 100 MPH (in the desert), and we rolled the odometer to 100,001 miles one rainy Sunday in an empty Sears parking lot (Blue Sunday days). I was allowed as a 12-year-old to have the driving honor. It was light seafoam green color.
I learned to drive in the family 1960 Country Squire, loved those gunsights on the front fenders. The wagon was originally owned by Hertz and was seconded to nearby Raybestos for brake shoe testing. It had the 352 but was choked by a 2 barrel on top; my friend’s family Rambler had more top speed. It was a great date car though, lots of room in the seating areas.
Very rare engine, Hot Rod magazine called it the original muscle car. Mine is the milder 300hp 352 but with the head mod to use unleaded gas and a 10 over bore to make it clean it’s about 330hp. Yes it is heavy but it will cruise all day at 70-75 and still get 17+ mpg. Mine is white over red and owns every option except power windows.
Yes! I would drive this!
Definitely, a head turner and I’m sure seller has made some smart upgrades, in some areas. But as for upgraded brakes, I still see the single fruit bowl Master Cylinder on the firewall with no power boost. Hey, it is was it is.
I had a black ’60 and had it repainted to white. 292 with 2 speed transmission. It had a high top speed but I was too chicken to find out what it was. Those bias tires of the day worried me. It had a soft smooth ride. The vacuum windshield wipers were challenging. I had my first date with Mary in that car. Didn’t work out. I loved that car. Wish I still had it.
I had one exactly like this except for color. Mine was white with red interior. Same engine and trans and OD. This was in 1967. It was taken in on trade where I worked. Cost me all of $250. That car would fly. One of the many I wished I had kept, but at least I had it for a while. The only bad experience was having to replace the starter motor. If you ever had to do one with those factory cast iron headers, you had to have the patience of a saint.
I’ve always loved the full-size ’60 Fords, and this is a beautiful example.
I hope it goes to a good home. It should be preserved as-is.
Actually these were called the 352 “Special”, and was designed to power Ford back into racing after the AMA Ban several years earlier. These were arguably the only “real” fin ever found on a Ford, and just in time for the fad to fade. Starliners were great looking cars, it’s baffling why they didn’t sell better
Does anyone know where this car ended up? I’d love to see it. I had a bright red one exactly like this, down to the options. It ran 90 Mph at 2400 RPM, so I have no doubt it would have run the 151 quoted above. I had a copy of the Hot Rod Magazine proving ground test on one, that ran 150. This was hands down, the best car I ever owned.