PO Box 2453

Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729


CAL-RODS MARCH 2017 FEATURED CAR

written by Doug Bithell

Owner: Ron Barrett

YEAR: 1960            

MAKE AND MODEL: FORD STARLINER

COLOR: BLACK    UPHOLSTERY: STOCK RED CLOTH  

ENGINE: STOCK 292 Y BLOCK     TRANS: STOCK 2-SPEED AUTOMATIC

REAR END: STOCK FORD             WHEELS: AMERICAN  

Talk about eye-candy; take a look at Ron Barrett’s 1960 Ford Starliner.  Ford outdid themselves with the 1960 Starliner.  I personally think it was one of the best-looking cars Ford ever built.  The one Ron owns has so many stories I don’t know where to start. 

First of all, Ford only made the Starliner for two years; in 1960 they made 68,461 and in 1961 they made 29,669. This particular Starliner went to a dealership in Buffalo, New York and was purchased by Mr. Holmes in late 1959 for $2,860.00.  He became ill and died in early 1960.  He had told his wife about the importance of lube and changing oil every 6 months, so when he died, at 74, she drove it very seldom and mostly to local Esso station to get a lube and oil change, then right back to her garage for another six months. She did this for many years. The gas station owner had told a friend, Mark Fesler, about the car and Mark offered to buy it. She told him she didn’t want to sell so he gave her his name and phone number on a piece of paper.  When the lady reached 92, she called Mark and told him she couldn’t drive anymore and was ready to sell. He bought the car with about 7,500 miles on it.  After a few years he was ready sell and along came Ron who bought it. The car today only has 11,726 miles on it. 

When you get a chance to look at the car, check out the clear plastic seat covers. They were installed at the dealer in Buffalo some 57 years ago. Look at the glove compartment door (see picture below); it reads Sunliner not Starliner. This was a factory error, or not. Maybe they just ran out of the right one and put it on. The Sunliner was the convertible version of the Starliner.

Ron has several other cars and that is why we don’t see this beauty too often. He has taken it to Solvang, Santa Anita, the Ford Show in Buena Park, and a few local cruises. You might get the feeling I'm kind of partial to this car; I am, and I had one exactly like this one in the early 60’s.  Like so many other guys with their early cars, I wish I had it today, like Ron, to show it off at CAL-RODS functions. 

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