1961 Ford Starliner – The Starliner Connection

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Vehicle Quick Facts

Profile ID: 60996
Year: 1961
Make: Ford
Model: Starliner
Markets: Classic & Antique, Driven Daily, Muscle Car, Performance, Pro Touring, Resto-Mod, Rod & Custom
Vehicle Type: American
Contact: Zach Straits

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Info on Zach & Brenda Straits 1961 Ford Starliner

Zach & Brenda’s 1961 Ford Galaxie Starliner has been a labor of love.  They first saw this Starliner stored in a barn in 1998 but the owner refused to sell it.  With only 29,669 Starliners produced in 1961, the search to find a suitable restoration project wasn’t easy.  After hunting for five years, they received a call from a friend who said his cousin had recently acquired a Starliner and it was for sale.  Zach called and to his surprise it was the same car from the barn that they had tried to buy five years before. The car had a lot of dents and must have been in a hail storm or two; but it had very little rust and the floor and trunk pans where in great shape.  They got it road- worthy to find any mechanical issues and started accumulating parts for a complete home built, frame off restoration.  Eight years and tons of hard work later, the Starliner is better than new.  The Starliner was completed in a “retro mod” style.   The 390 cubic inch, FE was built by Jeff Burns Racing Engines in Tupelo, Ms. It runs with Edelbrock aluminum heads, Holley Sniper FI, Eagle H Beam rods, Blue Thunder intake, Crane hydraulic roller cam. The interior is a custom black cloth and white vinyl stock look but modified for comfort by Waynesboro Upholstery. The paint is base coat clear coat Axalta/Dupont in the original monte carlo color. The finish quality and attention to detail earned Zach & Brenda the National Timberland Pro Home Built Heaven Award at the 2009 Goodguys Nationals in Columbus Ohio and the Detroit Speed Builders Choice Award at the 2009 GoodGuys Southeastern Nationals in Charlotte NC. The Best Muscle car at the 2009 East Coast Indoor Nationals in Maryland and was honored with a First Place Best Restored 58-65 and ISCA Best Street Machine Award at the 2010 Detroit Autorama. Best Engine Compartment at the 2011 Motorama in Harrisburg, PA.  Best Restored Car at the 2011 Northeast Rod & Custom Show in Philadelphia, Pa. Best of the Best Classic Car at the 2011 NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Ky. The Starliner was the feature car at the Carlisle Ford Nationals 50th and 60th anniversary of the 1961 Starliner and has been invited to be a feature car at the 2011 NHRA US Nationals in Indianapolis, In Labor Day weekend. The Starliner was also selected to be one on the Galaxies on display at a 2011 special event at the Nascar Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC.

Today the Starliner is off the show circuit and driven often.

Zach administers “The Starliner Connection” on facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057649772019

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