Projects BIGREDTODD'S 1961 STARLINER THREAD

I've had this car for several years now, tucked away. Makes me feel old to put it that way. But I have never regretted getting it and letting it sit until I could give it some attention. Those of you who know me as more than a name & profile picture have seen or otherwise know about it. Spoiler alert! It's still not "finished"...

I acquired this '61 Starliner from my Uncle Lloyd, who ordered it new and took delivery in January of 1961, based on the original pink slip I still have. Even though the original engine was gone (a whole other story), it's a real hi-po car...but I don't need to explain or argue that fact here, because the car would mean the same to me regardless.

My Uncle was a bit of a hoarder, and also seemed to belong to the school of thought that when you decided to get a new car, the old one got parked. I had been trying to talk him out of this car since I was a teenager...I suppose once I was married, a homeowner, and more or less had my shit together I was a safer bet. That turned out to be just before he passed away in April of 2011.

Just a few of my uncle's cars that were cast aside...look closely.



Once I had dragged the wagon out of the way & brought it home, I was able to pull the '61 out and wash off years of scum. Fortunately it had spent it's many years baking in the sun rather than rotting under a fruit tree.





Everything looks better under a sprinkling of water, in the shade...BUT, it's wearing its original black paint (other than the front clip, which was hit lightly but received replacement fenders & repainted from the cowl forward).

Fast forward a bit to 2013/2014ish...the FE that was in the car was found to be garbage except for many of the original Hi-Po dressings from the original 390. Being a cheap bastard, I found someone (a fellow HAMB'er) who was parting out a '62 T-Bird that got totaled on the way to Paso (the WCK show now held in Santa Maria). The Thunderbird 390 was a natural path to a running car for me. It was a hot mess when I picked it up:



After a THOROUGH strip down, degrease, more degrease, prime & paint...I gave it more of an appropriate look, thanks to an original aluminum intake, baldy v/c's, and the headers which were still on the car at this point.



Fast forward again, and I had negotiated a 2-week occupation of my lovely wife's garage spot (I already had my '60 F-100 and '56 T-Bird in the other two stalls ). So back to the house it came for the first time



Up on jackstands it went. Apologies for the picture quality...I am a car guy, not a photographer.



Receiving a complete (stock) brake overhaul, as well as clutch, fluids, and finally the engine swap. I followed the 1961 Ford shop manual's steps for removing the engine (while leaving the transmission in place). That was stupid. Nonetheless, out it came. Many beers were consumed.



...and in went the rattle-canned runner





There's a lot more to come, and I'll try not to get bogged down in long stories along the way. Anyone who comes along for the ride, thanks in advance. It's been a long time since I have shared much on the HAMB, but still see a lot of the old guard pop up from time to time.

BIGREDTODD

 

I'll be following. '61 Starliner is one of my all time favorites!

 

I'm following as well, one of my favorite Fords.

 

I see a clutch. What sort of transmission?

 

It would have had either a T85 or a T85/R11 OD. Mid-year the T10 became available, but only as a dealer-installed option.

 

Oh man, great project! I read these hipo star liners were all the rage back in 60-61, running mid 14s at the drag strip. 3 on the tree with OD was the only option...? Anybody on here have one? Was it true the 1960 was hipo 352? As beautiful as the bubble tops of the time

 

Nice to see you back at it!

 

Great story, great car!! I'm a sneaker, and that car looks great with the hubcaps. I'm following. Lippy

 

You're a lucky guy, a one family owned, black '61 Starliner!
One of the coolest Fords out there!

 

That's a great car, one of Ford's best looking of the modern era. Those cast exhaust manifolds are very nice!

 

Sleek and Slick. Love both, motor and body.

 

Very cool car and story! I will be following along. Thanks for sharing.

 

Motor looks great with the freshening.

 

My Mom had a 61 Starliner in college. 352, automatic. It was supposed to be Mom and Dad’s after graduation, but for some reason, Grandad sold it out from under Mom and Dad. Dad got miffed and two weeks before graduation, bought a brand new 69 Camaro RS. Your Ford is gorgeous and I look forward to following along.

 

I had 3, 1961 Ford Fairlane two door sedans, ex Connecticut State Police cars. 390", 330 horsepower police special engines. They were all good runners with 90,000 plus miles on them. I lusted after a 1961 Ford Starliner two door hardtop. IMO as I thought then, and still do now. it was the nicest looking car by any of the manufacturers.

 

Very cool Todd! I got excited when I saw it on FB

 

True 60' HiPo 352 was rated at 360 hp.(3 2bbl carbs).

 

I love those cats, yours is going to be a beauty! I would have painted the engine the original colour but it’s not my car.

 

Hey Todd, that pic from the gas station looks like Ripon?

My daughter boards a horse down the road, just looks familiar.

 

Thanks for all the comments, guys. This one has been a long term deal, as other cars & projects have come and gone...as well as the business of life. More posts to come as I go through pictures, and get up to date. I'll try to answer questions that aren't addressed in discussion by myself or others.

This one is a non-OD T-85. My uncle said he was pissed, as the dealer option for the 3x2 and 4-speed became available very late in the year. I happen to prefer a single 4 barrel and the column shift

The '60 HiPo 352 was rated at 360 hp, but with a single 4 barrel. No FE 3x2's were available until late in the 1961 model year. I have been told March and May...who knows.

Thanks...I am starting to feel like I have turned a corner with it. And, black is the correct engine color (for at least the HiPo derivatives) through 1964, as I recall. Originally it had painted "THUNDERBIRD" valve covers, and a unique air cleaner. The chrome valve covers, air cleaner, and other chrome bits yet to be seen are all out of the 1964 Fomoco accessory catalog. That's what I would have done in the day, also.

Close...I am in Riverbank, but my wife's family is in Oakdale (and also have horses). That particular station is in Modesto.

 

61 Starliners are one of my all time favoritez........
6sally6

 

Pete, do you remember the black 61 Starliner, 401hp that Brian Burnett had. It was part of a double feature in Hot Rod, showing a 64 R Code Galaxy that he also owned. They were out of the Randy Hinson Collection. John Corno bought the 61.

 

my sister works at the TS in Ripon, but when you make it through Oakdale, feel free to give a wave

 

Photo from 1965. My first car, 1955 Nomad.
My high school friend towed it home for me with his newly acquired 1961 Starliner.

 

That would be a single 4 barrel Holley in the 1960 352/360 solid lifter engine.

The 61 hipo was a 390 / 375 rating with the single Holley and solid lifters, but there was a 3x2 barrel option, shipped in the trunk, rated at 401 hp, from what I remember.

I missed out on a 390 single 4 barrel / overdrive Fairlane 2 door sedan that a guy my dad worked with was unloading at the junkyard in about 1970. Had a bad crankshaft, but I had no garage and no tools. Funny how we remember these things sixty years later.

 

One of my bucket list cars. I looked at a local '61 sedan a few years back, it had a 390 from something newer and a C6. But... the trunk had extensive rot, so I passed it up.

 

IIRC, the 1960, 352" engine was rated at 360 horsepower. Ed Prout from New Britain, Connecticut won the A/S class at the NHRA National drags with his bright red, street driven, 352", 360 horsepower engine 1960 Ford. Ed used to hang around at the Sunoco gas station on the
corner of Arch and Winthrop streets in New Britain, where the local gearheads hung out.

 

That is a great story. I love the '61 Starliners and yours is black too! Lucky fellow. Wish I had a set of those exhaust manifolds.

 

Would love to hear the thump of a hipo 352 or 390 from that era. Nice car and good story!
352s are not everyone’s go to engine, but had one in my old 67 F250 4wd. It was stock with 2V carb. With factory 4.56:1 r/p, it would turn the rear springs into an S easily.

 

Big Todd, yes you are correct on the 3 two bbl. I googled "1960 ford 352 engine" and got a ton of info regarding the Hi Po 352.