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Ford Muscle Cars of 1961
A Return to Tradition
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If the 1960 models represented a radical styling departure from that to which Ford customers
were accustomed, the 1961 models represented a return to tradition, and was the fourth year in
an unprecedented nine-year cycle of major body styling changes. The 1961 full-sized models,
referred to as “The Lively Ones,” were easily recognizable as “Fords.” Why? Because they all
had round taillights, naturally. Isn’t that the way God and Uncle Henry himself intended? After all,
the Model T and Model A had round taillights, didn’t they?
The roofline on all the models except station wagons was shared with the 1960 models, but the
cars were completely different from the beltline down. Gone were the long, flowing lines that
culminated in the horizontal fins. In their place were the more familiar “high canted fenders,”
which was Ford-talk for angled fins. Immediately below the high canted fenders were, you
guessed it, round taillights. Big, round taillights with an optional back-up light positioned in the
center, as dictated by tradition. The front end styling was completely different from the 1960
models. The ‘60 grille, which had been completely surrounded by body-colored sheet metal, was
replaced with a horizontal, full-width grille, which was divided horizontally by a single heavy bar,
with dual headlights at the extreme ends of the grille. The end result was a very pleasingly styled
car with just enough chrome “glitz” in the upper models.
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The 1961 models used the same instrument
panel as in 1960, with a slightly updated door
trim and steering wheel hub. Convertibles used
all-vinyl interiors. (Mike Mueller)
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Sporty looks were a major selling point in
1961, and the pillarless Club Victoria outsold
the Club Sedan by a ratio of almost three to
one. With chrome roof “B” pillars, chrome
side spear and the trademark Galaxie
quarter panel “washboards,” the Club Sedan
was a good looking model, nonetheless.
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While the Ford and GM models were returning to more rational and conservative styling than the
preceding few years, Chrysler Corporation was entering the “Exner era,” with some very unusual
creations by its chief stylist, Virgil Exner. Chrysler even installed the fins backward on the 1961
Dodge models! In this era of questionable taste in styling, the 1961 Fords were an oasis of good
taste and restrained styling, with the top-line Starliner hardtop and Sunliner convertible
displaying the styling to its best advantage. The Club Victoria two-door hardtop, deleted from the
1960 model line-up but reinstated for 1961, also carried the styling very well.
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Using the same fastback roofline as in 1960, the 1961 Starliner was more warmly received by
the public than its predecessor. It "looked like a Ford." Unlike the convertibles, hardtop models
used a combination of cloth-and-vinyl interior materials. (Jim Smart)
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All 1961 Fords rode on a 119-inch wheelbase, with an overall length of 209.9 inches, and
weights ranging from 2,261 pounds for the two-door Fairlane Club Sedan with the six-cylinder
engine, up to 4,064 pounds for the V-8-powered Country Squire station wagon.
Traditional styling was not the only change for 1961. It was also the year for another new engine,
a milestone in that it was the first Ford engine advertised as producing more than 400
horsepower. Boring and stroking the 352ci Interceptor produced the famous 390ci FE engine,
which would be a mainstay in the Ford stables for 10 model years, ranging all the way from an
economy 250-horsepower, two-barrel version, up to the mighty 401-horsepower three two-barrel
engines, which debuted this year. The bore of the 352 was increased by .050 inches, to 4.05
inches, and the stroke was increased from 3.50 inches, to 3.78 inches resulting in the increased
displacement.
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One major stumbling block, however, hindered the performance of the Fords. The high-
performance engines were still hampered by the lack of a good performance transmission. Once
again, it was determined the Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission would not withstand the
output of the big 390s. The three-speed manual was the only transmission, and with or without
overdrive was the only choice. About midyear, however, Ford began offering the Borg Warner T-
10 four-speed manual transmission as a dealer-installed option. This was one of the most
significant advances in Ford’s high-performance program during the 1960s. When the
performance of the T-10’s additional gear was combined with the 3.89:1 rear axle ratio, the
results were very satisfying. If you were into stump pulling, the Ford dealer carried axle ratios all
the way up to 5.38:1!
The top rung on the 390 was referred to as the Thunderbird Special (6V) V-8. These engines
were all factory equipped with a single four-barrel carburetor and were shipped with the three
Holley 2300 carburetors, totaling 920cfm, and aluminum intake manifold in the trunk, for dealer
installation.
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The 1961 Sunliner is a great
place to hide the 401 hp 390
ci FE engine. (Mike Mueller)
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Thunderbird Special three two-barrel engines developed 401 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 430
ft-lbs of torque at 3,500 rpm, with a compression ratio of 10.6:1. The engine block and cylinder
heads were black, with gold valve covers embossed with raised “THUNDERBIRD” lettering, and a
natural-finish oval aluminum air cleaner. As you can see, Ford was beginning to develop a true
high-horsepower, high-RPM engine. This engine option was achieved by merely adding the
multiple carburetion to the Thunderbird Special engine. Fords originally equipped with the
Thunderbird Special three two-barrel engine carry the “Z” engine code on their data tag.
The next step on the 390 ladder was in the form of a high-performance 390, referred to as the
Thunderbird Special High Performance V-8. With a rating of 375 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 427
lbs-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm, and a 10.6:1 compression ratio, and featuring solid valve lifters, a
stronger cam, header-style exhaust manifolds, aluminum intake manifold and a 600 cfm Holley
4160 four-barrel carburetor, the Thunderbird Special was indeed a true high-performance
engine. It is generally considered to have been underrated by approximately 15 horsepower. The
engine block and cylinder heads were black, with gold valve covers embossed with raised
“THUNDERBIRD” lettering, and a gold, open-element air cleaner. Ford models originally
equipped with this engine carry the “Z” engine code on their data tag.
The Thunderbird 390 Special developed 300 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 427 ft-lbs of torque
at a lazy 2,800 rpm, with a compression ratio of 9.6:1. This engine featured a single 446 cfm
Ford 4100 four-barrel carburetor on a cast-iron intake manifold. The engine block and cylinder
heads were black, with silver valve covers embossed with raised “THUNDERBIRD” lettering, and
a silver air cleaner. Ford models originally equipped with this engine carry the “Z” engine code on
their data tag.
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The mighty high-performance 352 of 1960, was reduced to little more than a regular fuel-burning
grocery getter for 1961. The Thunderbird 352 Special now developed only 220 horsepower at
4,400 rpm and 336 ft-lbs of torque at 2,400 rpm. It had an 8.9:1 compression ratio, and used a
270 cfm Ford 2100 two-barrel carburetor on a cast-iron intake manifold. The engine block and
cylinder heads were black, with medium blue valve covers embossed with raised
“THUNDERBIRD” lettering, and a medium blue air cleaner. All 1961 Fords originally equipped
with this engine carry the “X” engine code on their data tag.
The base V-8 offering for 1961 was the old Y-block Thunderbird 292. This engine was rated at
175 horsepower at 4,200 rpm and 279 ft-lbs of torque at 2,200 rpm. It carried an 8.8:1
compression ratio and the same 270 cfm Ford 2100 two-barrel carburetor used on the 352. The
engine block and cylinder heads were black, with red valve covers and air cleaner. Ford models
originally equipped with the 292 carry the “W” engine code on their data tag.
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The base engine in the full-size Ford line-up was the 223ci Mileage Maker six-cylinder engine,
with a rating of 135 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and torque output of 206 ft-lbs at 2.000 rpm. It had
a compression ratio of 8.4:1, and used a Holley 1904 single-barrel carburetor. The engine block
and cylinder head were black, with a red valve cover and air cleaner. Models originally equipped
with the six-cylinder engine carry the “V” engine code on their data tag.
Popular options for 1961 Ford buyers were the 292 V-8 engine ($116); 352 2V engine ($148);
390 4V ($197); Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission ($212); Ford-O-Matic two
speed automatic transmission ($180–six-cylinder, $190–V-8); EquaLoc differential ($39); electric
clock ($15); heater and defroster ($75); rocker panel moldings ($16); padded dashboard cover
and sun visors ($24); two tone paint ($22); power steering ($82); power brakes ($43); power
windows ($102); push-button AM radio and antenna ($59); wheel covers ($19); windshield
washers ($14); and power tailgate window on station wagons ($32). Fords equipped with the
PolarAire air conditioning with V-8 and tinted glass ($271 and those equipped with the deluxe
SelectAire air conditioning with V-8 and tinted glass ($436) are very rare. Fords continued to be
classified as low priced cars, and putting a $436 air conditioning system in a $2,700 car was a
very unusual practice.
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The dealer-installed four-speed
manual transmission ($188) was
a very rare option on 1961
Fords, and required either the
375- or 401-horsepower
versions of the 390 High
Performance V-8 engine option.
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Even though there was what could have been considered a “moderate performance” version of
the Thunderbird in 1960, by 1961, the car had grown considerably and gained several hundred
pounds in the process. Powered by the four-barrel Thunderbird 390, rated at 300 horsepower, it
was far from a high-performance vehicle. The big news in the Thunderbird camp was the new
styling, as this was the first of the “bulletbird” generation. In spite of appearing considerably
larger than the previous “squarebird” models, the bulletbirds were actually one half-inch shorter
and a full inch narrower. Considerable effort was devoted to totally redesigning the chassis,
which resulted in models that handled much better than their predecessors. High-speed turns
could be accomplished with very little body lean, and plowing occurred only in very tight turns.
Power steering was more responsive, and larger braking surfaces provided better stopping.
All new Thunderbirds were powered by the new 300-horsepower 390ci engine and, even though
no true performance version was produced, the racing industry was sufficiently impressed with
the new offering that it was chosen to pace the Indianapolis 500 that year.
The new Thunderbirds benefited from a total restyling. Large round taillights returned below very
conservative angled fins, smooth body sides replaced the highly sculptured units from the
squarebirds, and the use of bright trim was but a fraction of the previous model.
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The 1961 Fords, particularly Starliner and Sunliner models, and especially those powered by the
390, are among the more popular Fords of the 1960s. Their pleasant, uncomplicated styling and
lively performance has assured continued popularity among collectors for years to come.
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Previous | Next
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This has been a sample page from
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Super '60s Fords - The Inside Story of the
Most Powerful Fords Ever Built
by John Smith
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In the ‘50s, Detroit built cars with style in mind . . . but as the
‘60s arrived, a younger group of car buyers had another
thing in mind: Performance! Ford Motor Company met that
demand with some of the fastest and most powerful cars on
the street. In this book, John Smith covers the entire Ford
performance story in the ‘60s, -- and not just Mustangs and
Cobras, but Galaxies, Torinos, Falcons, Fairlanes, Shelbys,
Mavericks, and every other Ford that got extra horsepower
stuffed under its hood in this fast-moving decade. Models are
covered year by year, from the Supercharged T-birds of
1957 to the last gasp of the muscle car era in 1973, and
everything in between. Performance engines and stats are
listed for each year, and an informative appendix includes
information on deciphering VIN tags and parts codes.
With 200 black and white and more than 100 outstanding
color photos, this book has the images and information that
Ford fans want on their favorite performance models, from
supercharged Y-blocks to Boss 429s.
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Click below to view sample
pages from each chapter.
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Chap. 1 -1957 The Foundation
Chap. 2 -1958 352 Big Block
Chap. 3 -1959 High Style
Chap. 4 -1960 New Ideas
Chap. 5 -1961 Back to Tradition
Chap. 6 -1962 Legends
Chap. 7 -1963 Fast Backs
Chap. 8 -1964 The First Mustang
Chap. 9 -1965 Big Changes
Chap. 10 -1966 Beat Goes On
Chap. 11 -1967 Changing Guard
Chap. 12 -1968 428 Cobra Jet
Chap. 13 -1969 Boss 302 & 429
Chap. 14 -1970 429CJ & SCJ
Chap. 15 -1971 Last of Breed
Chap. 16 -1972 - 73 End of Era
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This is without a doubt one of the best books about
Ford muscle cars ever written!
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Soft bound
8-1/2 x 11
160+ pages
200 b/w photos
100+ color photos
Item #SA25
Price: $22.95
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Click here to buy now!
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This is a book any Ford enthusiast will enjoy to read over and over.
Read the sample pages to learn more.
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Other items you might be interested in
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Ford Thunderbird Performance Portfolio 1958-1963
Road and comparison test, specifications, model introductions,
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study and data on the Sports Roadster and Sedan. 140 pages., over
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Price:
$22.95
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Ford Galaxie & LTD Gold Portfolio 1960--1976
Contemporary road and comparison tests, specification and technical
data, driver's reports, long-term tests, new model introductions. 176
pages, 475 pictures and illustrations. Softbound.
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Price:
$29.95
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