Text by Patrick Bell.
Fantastic Fords are our feature for today. We have many fine photos full of Fords from the sixties, with one from the seventies for extra fun. So all Ford fans gather around, and we shall move forward.
Our gallery today will begin with two models from 1960 in Getz’s Restaurant parking lot, which apparently was in Cumberland, Maryland. The first one in the foreground was a close to new blue Fairlane 500 Town Sedan with a couple of passengers who looked like they were ready to go. It was the most popular full size trim for that year, beating out the basic Fairlane 4 door sedan by more than 40,000 units. In the background, a white Falcon Deluxe 4 door wagon, the first year for the new compact. In front of the Fairlane is a ’54 Chevrolet, and on the other side of it a white ’57 Oldsmobile Super 88 4 door sedan, blue ’57 Buick Special or Century, and out in the street perhaps a green AMOCO tanker truck. Next to the Falcon is an aqua ’57 Chrysler.
Here is another ’60 Falcon, this one a Deluxe Tudor from California that had a set of chrome wheels with Baby Moon caps and what looks like a California license plate. This model was not only the most popular Falcon but the most popular Ford for the year.
A sharp looking all white ’61 Thunderbird Hardtop. This was the first year of a new restyle that later became known as the ‘Bullet Bird’. Both the weight (159 lbs.) and price ($417.00) went up compared to the previous year ‘Squarebird’, but sales were down over 20%.
This ’62 Galaxie 500 or 500/XL Sunliner was a good choice for those who like top down motoring. It has a non original wheel cover and appears to be missing a windshield wiper. The 500 model outsold the 500/XL by over a 3 to 1 ratio. A ’63 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 door sedan is in the background.
The Fairlane name was moved to a new intermediate body that was introduced for the ’62 model year. It was updated in ’63 to mirror the restyled full size line. This one is a V8 powered ’63 Fairlane 500 4 door sedan, the most popular intermediate with over twice as many produced as the second place basic Fairlane 4 door sedan.
The ’63 Galaxie 500 Sports Hardtop, such as this one, had a new roof style introduced in mid year to capture the convertible look that was in vogue at the time. It was available in both 500 and 500/XL trim and marked the end of the ‘Thunderbird Roof’ that was ushered in on the first Galaxie in ’59. This one was from Wayne County, Michigan, the home of Detroit. It was a looker in black with a red interior.
Here we have another Michigander, a ’63 Galaxie 500 or 500/XL convertible from Oakland County, north of Detroit and home to Pontiac and Troy. This one has one of the big block motors and has been modified with chrome wheels, wider tires, and some blackout on the grille.
There are two ’64 models in this shot, a sharp black over yellow Galaxie 500/XL 2 door hardtop from California with a vinyl roof, big block motor, and a kid in the front passenger seat. The Galaxie 500 version of this was the best full size seller which was unusual, normally the four door sedans are at the top. In the background, a Falcon Futura or Futura Sprint hardtop. The Sprint was the sporty version and production numbers were about 42% of the Futura hardtop numbers.
For the ’64 model year, the Thunderbird was restyled and was the first year of the generation that later became known as the ‘Flair Birds’. Overall production came in at over 92,000 units, which was the best ever and would remain the best until the downsizing and de-contentment of the ’77 models. This one is the basic hardtop which was the most popular offering. They all came with a good amount of standard equipment, but fender skirts were not on that list. That is one option it sure needs in my opinion.
I am not a tree person, so I can’t tell if this was an early snow in the fall or leftover snow in the spring. Either way, the driver of this V8 powered ’65 Falcon Futura hardtop from Massachusetts was rebelling against the cool weather by opening all his windows. Production for all ’65 Falcon models dropped compared to ’64, with the exception of the basic 4 door sedan. The Sprint and Futura 2 door models especially dropped because the Mustang was getting all the attention. This double photo shows the driver was quite brave, parking in Chevrolet country (LOL).
Maybe he did it on a dare and shot two quick photos for proof. In the top photo are two ’65 models (left edge and an Impala Sport Sedan parked in the driveway on the right), a ’63 Impala parked on the right further up, and the black one may be a ’54 model. And in the bottom photo a ’60 model.
A complete redesign for the full sized cars came out in ’65 and the only carryover was some of the drive trains and the names. This new looking Galaxie 500 2 door hardtop was the second most popular full size after the Galaxie 500 4 door sedan.
It is easy to see why these early Mustangs got so much attention. This ’66 hardtop was well equipped with a V8, vinyl roof, red line tire on the front, and a white line snow grip on the rear. The ’66s outsold the ’65s when you take into account the ’65 model year was actually a year and a half. Over 600,000 units were produced, that’s over 1600 every day. This fellow had a case of spring fever on a warm, sunny day.
There were two full size convertibles offered in ’65, the Galaxie 500 and 500/XL. The Galaxie 500 such as this one was the most popular outselling the 500/XL by over a three to one margin. The featured one appears to have power windows, which made it unusual. It sure could use a set of whitewalls to go with those power windows. The lady behind the wheel appears to be enjoying herself.
A lot can change in two years. In ’66 the Mustang’s only competitor was the Barracuda. 1967 brought on the Camaro, Firebird, and Cougar. And in ’68 the Javelin was introduced. That was the main reason the ’68 Mustang production was about 53% of the ’66 model. This ’68 Hardtop was one of nearly 250,000 produced that year, which still was over double the next most popular body style, the Galaxie 500 4 door sedan.
Also in ’68, the Torino was introduced as the top trim level in the restyled Fairlane line. And the Squire model was the first for the intermediate size. But the full size wagons were really where the sales were. The Torino Squire production was only 16.1% of the Country Squire. This one was sharp looking in red and was equipped with one of the 390 V8 motors. There are three other Fords as well, a white over black ’63 Fairlane 500 4 door sedan, on the other side of it looks like a white ’60 model, and in the background is a white ’61-’64 Econoline van. The photo seems to be in San Francisco.
In ’69 Ford promoted the XL out of the Galaxie 500 line into its own and dropped the ‘Galaxie 500’ from its name. I don’t know if it had any bearing or not, as ’69 was also the only year the XL convertible out sold the Galaxie 500 model. The G/500 felt it and bowed out for the ’70 model year. So, this ’69 Galaxie 500 was the last of the line for the convertible.
This one was apparently owned by a member of the Fire Department. In the left background is a ’69 full size Chevrolet.
The Torino Brougham was a new top of the line entry as part of their restyle for the ’70 model year. It was offered in 2 and 4 door hardtops, and the Squire wagon was bumped up to the new level as well. The featured car is a ’70 2 door hardtop from California and looks good in a dark color. It has a vinyl roof and is showing off its standard Hideaway Headlamps and full wheel covers.
Thanks for following along and have a fine day!
I recognize that Torino Squire, that’s my mother in the front seat. You can see my little head in the back behind her.
“Cumberland MD” was still a “hopping place” in those early “60’s”! No I”68″. Rt “40” meandered ya there, and away.
That “Ford” looks, (likely is) “brand new”!
The “Torino”, in the final pic is beautiful.
I very well remember the early Comets / Falcons, I thought them wretchedly cheap, most folks who bought them ran them straight into the ground .
he ’62 full size rag top is a 6 cylinder ~ the V8 call out was a starburst in the center of the grille .
I have no idea why but I love the uncluttered and simple lines of the full size ’62 Fords, I’ve owned two and both were remarkably good cars .
Lots of fine Fords here .
-Nate
Man, those are some great examples of full-size Ford-dom, especially the ’62, ’63s and ’64. The whole 1961-64 Galaxie run is my favorite car line of all time. They just hit all the right marks for me. I used to favor the ’63, but the ’62 has really been doing something for me recently. Not exciting in the slightest, but handsome and unpretentious like a Ford should be.
I know I’m going against the grain a bit here but my favourite has to be the blue 1960 Fairlane 500.
Not gonna lie, I agree with you. I find it hard to believe that it was wider than the ’59 and ’61, but facts are facts. It carries that width well….
That 68 Mustang looks almost like mine. Hard to tell if really white or pebble beige though but the same exact wheel covers. It is a nice car to drive with the 289-2V as I reminded myself last weekend.
Love the white bullet bird but I really want the house behind it
That blue 1960 Ford up top looks like every one I ever saw when I was a kid, only with rusty quarter panels, no shine to that medium blue paint, and mismatched whitewalls.
I am not a huge fan of white cars, but that 61 Thunderbird looks fabulous in its Colonial White paint. And the house is a perfect setting for this car.
Finally, a friend of my mother bought a new 69 Galaxie 500 convertible, painted a bright metallic aqua with a black roof and interior. There are mighty few of those that have survived.
Re: 1963 1/2 Galaxie 500 Fastback. I always thought it was needed for racing and Google AI confirms: The 1963½ Ford Galaxie fastback, introduced mid-year, was a response to a need for a more streamlined, performance-oriented car, inspired by NASCAR racing and the Iacocca-inspired Total Performance campaign, featuring a fastback roofline and powerful engines like the 427-cubic-inch V8.
That Banana Falcon impressed me.
That car could have continued in production until the 1980s in the US.
Late summer 1967, me (far left) and various other neighborhood kids assembled for a Sierras fishing trip, with a neighbor’s 1962 (I think) County Squire. This wagon normally towed a ski boat and, by ’67, there were holes rusted through the rear floorboards.
It’s a 1962 all right but a Country Sedan (not a Country Squire with the simulated woodgrain trim). Fun pic.
Thanks for the model info. The scan isn’t great and I had problems trying to read the script on the quarter panel.
Gotta love that 1st photo of the 1960 Ford with *dazzling* whitewalls.
…. along with its buddies, fragments of a ’57 Chrysler, early Falcon wagon, ’54 Chevy, ’57 Olds (prob. 88), ’57 Buick …..
Getz’s near Baltimore, more likely. That doesn’t look like Cumberland.
We’ll have to get “Eric703” in on the “investigation”.
I agree with Timmy. It’s a bit hard to tell, since it looks like the Getz’s location (9091 Baltimore Pike in Ellicott City) has been extensively changed, including that the road was widened. But the topography looks similar, and doesn’t look like mountainous Cumberland.
Also, the long-standing restaurant in Cumberland was spelled Geatz’s, which I don’t think was related to the Baltimore Getz’s. I didn’t see evidence of a Getz’s restaurant in Cumberland.
That blue Fairlane 500 in the first shot is a twin, except for the whitewalls, to the company car my dad had in 1960. His was a real nice car, but those whitewalls are sure an improvement.
“…promoted the XL out of the Galaxie 500 line…”
Bravo!