Ford's Rare Space Aged Bruiser - The Ford Galaxie Starliner

In this Rare Cars documentary, we are jumping into the history of one of the most unique and somehow most forgotten Ford prodcution vehicles ever made, the 1960 -1961 Ford Galaxie Starliner.

The Starliner was a 3 year production only trim model of the Galaxie that most people seem to sweep under the rug in terms of its importance. But, without the Starliner the Galaxie may have never endured the racing success that it had.

Oh and not to mention the Starline had a few tricks up its sleeve in the engine compartment that could blow the doors of the competition with its 352 Hi-Po and even its ultra rare 390 ford!

Learn all there is to know about the 1960-1961 Ford Galaxie Starliner in episode 46 of our documentary series on the world's most fascinating cars.

*Note, we are not historians. If you see an error in our research then please mention it in the comments!

[Conman]

I have a 61 Galaxie, 352 auto, 2 door. It's been sitting for years, my brother started it almost 6yrs ago before he passed. It's been sitting in the weeds for the past 5yrs, but a few days ago, my dad, my son, and me dug it out, pulled it in the shop, and we're about to start working on it. Really looking forward to it.

[ladonnaghareeb]

The 61 Starliner is gorgeous! I love it.

[onehot]

For years I have wanted 63 1/2 ! Back in the mid to late 60s I had a friend that had a 63 1/2 with a 406 FE 4 speed, man that car was nice and left quite an impression!

[nsidor]

Two of the most beautiful Fords ever produced.
Styled for the NASCAR wars, they are now legendary...👍🏁

[hanknipper]

My uncle had a 61 Starliner and at 3 years old I fell in love with that car and I still love that body style today!

[jimquigley]

Thanks for posting this. Greatly appreciated. A good friend of mine who passed away recently had one of the '61 Starliners with a 390 V8, three deuces and a 4-speed. It had that beautiful blue exterior color. It was fast and sounded awesome. I was still in high school at the time and bought myself a used '56 Ford Victoria. I believe the Starliner fastback was reminiscent of the Victoria fastback. When I got out of high school I dropped a 390 and 4-speed in my '56 Vic. The friend who owned the Starliner recommended I use the camshaft from the '61 Starliner model V8. He noted that part of the reason the V8 in his car got so much power was in the cam design. I did as he suggested. It made my car faster. He had the 3 deuces, I had a Holley 4-barrel. His car was heavier, mine was lighter. Went to nearby Interstate 271 (Cleveland) when it was new and not much traffic. Checked to make sure there were no highway patrol and then it was off to the races. I actually beat him by half a car length. One correction to your video. In the juxtaposition of the Starliner images with the space race there was no Space Shuttle at the time. That came later.

[timmccreery]

The 1960 Galaxie Starliner was a beautiful car- long straight lines with clean sides and a clean grille and rear valance. One of my all time favorites. The 1964 Galaxie 500 and the 1960 Starliner are the best looking of all time, in my opinion.

[jwelchon]

When I was a kid, we would see 61 Starliner's fairly regularly. But 60 Starliner's were almost never seen. 60 Fords are rarely seen in general. I would sure love to get my hands on a 60 Starliner today.

[Fishseaofcortez]

I know the '60 is the topic, but the '61 Starliner is one of the most beautiful cars to ever roll off the assembly line.

[ricardocorbie]

I’m in love with them all, , Ford’s designs were simply beautiful!!

[RodgerMayer]

I owned a red 1961 Ford Starliner. It had the big brakes and a 3 speed transmission. It had the gold colored 390 with three 2 barrel carbs and the big one piece air cleaner top. It was a extremely fast car. One of my classmates in high school had a red 61 Galaxy (squared off back glass) with the same engine with one 4 barrel and a 3 speed overdrive.

[needsaride]

I loved those old Galaxies and older cars in general. They were beautiful works of art and had so much character.

[zstraits]

My red 1961 Starliner is at the 9:28 mark. The blue 1961 Starliner at the end of the video is the one I restored for Bonneville legend George Poteet.

[allanfranklin]

My Dad bought a 58 sration wagon with 352/300hp Police Interceptor that was a police vehicle, 3spd column shift with very high ratio rear end, that thing would wind forever in second gear, Carter AFB carb with vacuum secondary. I still have the carb 54 years later. Good memories, nice video here of rare cars by Ford.

[xaenon]

A friend of mine long ago had a '61 - the original 352 was long gone (it was just the 2V mill), but he'd swapped in a 410 V8 and C6 auto from a '67 Monterey, and set the engine up with that 3x2 intake. The 410 was otherwise stock with a factory cam, hydraulic lifters, and so on. Very smooth and docile, but tickle the gas and it'd definitely get up an roll.

It was remarkable how comfortable the car was and its ride quality. And it certainly got looks wherever it went. He painted it a gorgeous dark blue metalflake. Sharp as hell.

[tesmith]

that lavender 1960 starliner is beautiful!!!

[lauramildon-clews]

I have a 1961 Starliner. It started out with a 390 and a manual transmission, 4 speed. It was restored in the US twenty years ago, I have owned it for 15 years now. I have fitted disc brakes to the front, it has a 427 OHC engine installed now with a multi plate clutch and a modified 4 speed manual transmission. I am in New Zealand and the car is quite a rarerity over here

[nrakma]

My dad ordered a 1961 Ford Fairlane Coupe with a post as it was the lightest of the models. It had a radio and a heater, vinyl bench seats and nice thin rubber floor mats. No power steering, brakes, windows or A/C. But it did have a 390-375HP motor and three on a tree as there was no 4speed available in any model at that time. It also had a 4.11 equal lock rear axle rather than the stock open 3.50. It was as sleeper. Than after the 406 motor came out, he scored a Factory 3x2 set up and a 4 speed. He designed and adapted an overdrive to the 4 speed and we put in 4.57 gears in the rear. Completely stock, white paint black wall tires. Tires were the limiting factor in the 60’s. Blowing off 427 fords & vettes and 440 dodges was a piece of cake, unless they had gears and posi.

[joshthemediocre]

I seen one of these with a 60's SOHC cammer engine in it several years ago at Crites Automotive. At the time i was in love with Starliners so it was a holy grail car for me, i've seen a few others but that was the coolest.

[TheVetbird]

My first car was a '61 Sunliner with the 300hp 390 and 3 on the tree. I loved that car, wish I had kept it, and have been looking for one for years now