By the dawn of the 1960s, Ford had discovered performance as a way to customer’s hearts, but their frumpy, dated styling was still holding them back. That ended with the all-new 1960 Fords, which were long, low, and sleek, looking years ahead of the competition and completely changing the company’s fortunes. Nevertheless, 1960 Fords are somewhat rare today, seldom seen among their more common 1959 and 1961 siblings but always a welcome treat. Beautifully detailed and offering some of the coolest fins of the era, this gorgeous Sunliner convertible is proof that the jet age was in full swing when this Ford was built.

This handsome Monte Carlo Red Sunliner convertible is impossible to ignore. About a mile long and as wide as anything this side of a dually pickup truck, it’s definitely got a lot of presence. But it’s not ostentatious or excessive, simply high style from a time when anything was possible. It has been extremely well maintained its entire life and has never needed a full restoration, but rather has been properly maintained and restored as needed. The bodywork is in excellent condition with no signs of previous accident damage or major rust repairs, and the doors fit well—an important detail in a car with trim that stretches from end to end. The finish is probably 15 or 20 years old, yet still shines up beautifully and is exactly the right shade of red, not too orange and not too pink. Experts will quickly notice the beautiful Plexiglas hood ornament and fender “gunsight” ornaments, all of which are in exceptionally good condition, as well as a pair of accessory spotlights (fully operational) and chrome fender skirts. The ornate grill isn’t bent or damaged, the chrome trim (not stainless) along the tops of the fenders is extremely nice, and correct exhaust tips peek out from under the rear bumper. The gold anodized Sunliner emblems are crisply rendered and all the lenses are clear and free of cracks. You’ll note that the car has a set of accessory rear bumper guards mounted, and it comes with the front guards—the previous owner did not install them because he could not find a template that he could trust to get them positioned exactly right.

The tri-tone red, black, and white interior was replaced some time ago and remains in virtually new condition today. From the correct carpets to the stylish door panels, it has a flashy look that’s sophisticated, and again, it’s loaded with accessories. You’ll find a power front bench seat, power steering and brakes, an AM radio (with FM receiver added under the dash), and a wonderfully unique vacuum-operated ashtray (functional but disconnected). The gauges are original and are all fully functional, and the long row of knobs and switches under the main panel control everything from the parking brake release to ventilation to the cigarette lighter. The heater and defroster work for those cool nights coming home from car shows and seat belts have been added in the name of safety. There’s room for six if you’re on friendly terms, and absolutely nobody’s going to complain about the accommodations in this massive ragtop. And speaking of massive, there’s a giant trunk in back with correct mats and a vintage spare tire and jack assembly, all correctly strapped into place. The white power convertible top was recently replaced and folds easily, where it stows under a matching red boot that fits extremely well.

The top engine in 1960 was the 352 cubic inch V8 found in this car. Making a nice, round 300 horsepower, it moves all that sleek sheetmetal with ease and never seems to be working very hard. It’s been expertly maintained and runs superbly, starting quickly without any fussing, and settling into an easy idle that’s muscular without being loud, thanks to a brand new dual exhaust system. The engine wears correct Ford Blue engine enamel and its original air cleaner, but it isn’t detailed for show. On the other hand, you can see plenty of evidence of proper care over the years and recent service includes new belts and hoses, a tune-up and a dual master cylinder for the power brakes. Note the clean inner fenders, the factory-style wiring, and the big radiator up front that keeps it cool under all conditions. This is a car that was built and maintained so that it was always ready to go!

Part of that willingness to drive comes from the 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, which was optional and a big upgrade over the usual 2-speed Ford-O-Matic unit. The car feels much livelier in traffic yet with 2.91 gears out back, it’s extremely relaxed at modern highway speeds. The front suspension has been recently rebuilt, so it tracks well and thanks to standard power steering, it’s effortless to wheel even this monstrous car through parking lots. The chassis is unrestored and largely original, so don’t expect shiny perfection, but you’ll be pleased to note that there’s no rust or rot, and it’s got a pretty uniform layer of undercoating for protection. The floors and rockers are in great shape, although the trunk has been patched, which is very common with these cars and has no effect on its structural integrity. Factory steel wheels with wire wheel covers carry recent 8.00-14 Universal wide whitewall tires that look exactly right.

The last 1960 Sunliner we had was an extremely popular car and sold quite quickly. This one is just as nice and offers a bigger engine and a longer list of features, all at the same price. It isn’t subtle, but this beautiful Ford makes grand entrances wherever it goes and offers outstanding road manners for the owner who loves the allure of the open road. Call today!