Ford Galaxie Starliner 1960
What characteristics define a car from the 1950's US to that of a car from the 1960's?
Even a casual observer could probably create a good definition, even though they may not be able to pinpoint the year(s) in which the changes occurred.
Fins, chrome, multi-tone paint, dogleg windscreens, (more chrome). As a body progression, the form went from bathtub to winged rockets bearing a large, chrome ladden nose.
New to the 60's saw the elimination of almost all these forms.
No clearer was the demarcation of this change, than for the 1960 Ford Galaxie, replacing the 1959 Ford (for which a trim level 'Galaxie' had first been introduced).
A similar 'form' change had occured at GM the year before, and created the 'batwing' 1959 Chevrolet Impala, and the iconic 1959 Cadillac, with its rocket-pod fins. The GM 'language' still contained much of the 1950's lexicon, however. The 1960 Ford though, adopted the new form, and dressed it it 1960's era subtlety. Low set, quad-headlamps, discrete mini-batwing fins (one last vestige lost the following year), a graceful, arcing chrome trim, delineating the topside of the bodyside form, large, glassed cabin windows, and a new cigar-profile overall form. A similar level of graceful, simplistic form was seen on the folowing year, 1961, Thunderbird and Lincoln - both to become future design classics.
But you saw it first on the 1960 Galaxie.
It only lasted one year in this precise form though. In 1961, the Galaxie adopted a more conservative form still, which more accurately set the template for a standard form during the 1960's. There could be reasons for this; the 1961 sedan was less cohesive, and the level of change may have been considered to be just a little to radical. Perhaps the success of the prosaic Falcon signalled a more conservative path was to be chosen. The GM products had suffered the same fate, 1959 had been a one-year wonder, and the following year's models had become more boxed and less interesting.
The 1960 Ford was seen in its loveliest form in the two bodystyles that exuded the greatest amount of glamour - the convertible and the 2-door hardtop. For these two models, Ford assigned the special nameplates (used also in the 1950's) - Sunliner and Starliner. Though members of the common 'Galaxie' family, which also included Fairlane and Custom trims, the two glamour cars are still predominently recognised by their unique nameplates.
The car that exhibited the greatest change in form was the new Starliner. This model adopted a large wrap-around rear screen, graced by sweeping C-pillars (again, like a Hardtop 1959 Chevrolet). The pillars featured an array of stars down its arc. One benefit of the design was the aerodynamic profile for stock-car racing (NASCAR), and many Starliners were purchased with racing in mind.
The Sunliner was perhaps a more obvious definition, an open-top two-door convertible - a 'popluar' style, even if sales were not strong. The remaining flamboyance of the 1960 Ford sitting well with the glamorous convertible style.
Presented here are the two forms, Starliner and Sunliners, in Lego form designed for Flickr LUGNuts 62nd Build Challenge, - 'Space is the Place', - celebrating vehicles with Space related names. In this case, the 'Galaxie' nameplate for the entire full-size Ford lineup, and the two 'Starliner' and 'Sunliner' model designations.
Ford Galaxie Starliner 1960
What characteristics define a car from the 1950's US to that of a car from the 1960's?
Even a casual observer could probably create a good definition, even though they may not be able to pinpoint the year(s) in which the changes occurred.
Fins, chrome, multi-tone paint, dogleg windscreens, (more chrome). As a body progression, the form went from bathtub to winged rockets bearing a large, chrome ladden nose.
New to the 60's saw the elimination of almost all these forms.
No clearer was the demarcation of this change, than for the 1960 Ford Galaxie, replacing the 1959 Ford (for which a trim level 'Galaxie' had first been introduced).
A similar 'form' change had occured at GM the year before, and created the 'batwing' 1959 Chevrolet Impala, and the iconic 1959 Cadillac, with its rocket-pod fins. The GM 'language' still contained much of the 1950's lexicon, however. The 1960 Ford though, adopted the new form, and dressed it it 1960's era subtlety. Low set, quad-headlamps, discrete mini-batwing fins (one last vestige lost the following year), a graceful, arcing chrome trim, delineating the topside of the bodyside form, large, glassed cabin windows, and a new cigar-profile overall form. A similar level of graceful, simplistic form was seen on the folowing year, 1961, Thunderbird and Lincoln - both to become future design classics.
But you saw it first on the 1960 Galaxie.
It only lasted one year in this precise form though. In 1961, the Galaxie adopted a more conservative form still, which more accurately set the template for a standard form during the 1960's. There could be reasons for this; the 1961 sedan was less cohesive, and the level of change may have been considered to be just a little to radical. Perhaps the success of the prosaic Falcon signalled a more conservative path was to be chosen. The GM products had suffered the same fate, 1959 had been a one-year wonder, and the following year's models had become more boxed and less interesting.
The 1960 Ford was seen in its loveliest form in the two bodystyles that exuded the greatest amount of glamour - the convertible and the 2-door hardtop. For these two models, Ford assigned the special nameplates (used also in the 1950's) - Sunliner and Starliner. Though members of the common 'Galaxie' family, which also included Fairlane and Custom trims, the two glamour cars are still predominently recognised by their unique nameplates.
The car that exhibited the greatest change in form was the new Starliner. This model adopted a large wrap-around rear screen, graced by sweeping C-pillars (again, like a Hardtop 1959 Chevrolet). The pillars featured an array of stars down its arc. One benefit of the design was the aerodynamic profile for stock-car racing (NASCAR), and many Starliners were purchased with racing in mind.
The Sunliner was perhaps a more obvious definition, an open-top two-door convertible - a 'popluar' style, even if sales were not strong. The remaining flamboyance of the 1960 Ford sitting well with the glamorous convertible style.
Presented here are the two forms, Starliner and Sunliners, in Lego form designed for Flickr LUGNuts 62nd Build Challenge, - 'Space is the Place', - celebrating vehicles with Space related names. In this case, the 'Galaxie' nameplate for the entire full-size Ford lineup, and the two 'Starliner' and 'Sunliner' model designations.