1960 Ford Starliner Club Victoria NASCAR Tribute

Description

The 1960 NASCAR Grand National season was the 12th season of professional stock car racing in the United States. It featured 44 races, and Rex White driving a Chevrolet emerged as the season champion.  

This 1960 Ford Starliner Club Victoria was a northern California barn find, and over the course of two 2012 Popular Hot Rodding magazine “Weekend Makeover” articles, it was transformed to look similar to “Fearless” Fred Lorenzen’s famed racer from the 1960 season. Since the Starliner was heavily patinaed the magazine “…opted to create a phantom ’60 NASCAR racer based on vintage photos, while cloning nothing.” California sign artist Eric Reyes painted the lettering similar to Lorenzen’s 1960 racer while adding a patina to match the Starliner’s. 

Then in a second “Weekend Makeover” article the magazine tackled the Ford’s suspension. “…[T]he mission was to get it NASCAR low and take care of handling ills.” RideTech air suspension was added, though that has since been replaced by RideTech coilovers.  

However, this car was not a weekend project but a complete frame-off rebuild by Kertz Fabrication over several months, using newer components and then installing this vintage body while keeping an ultra-patina exterior look. A rebuilt 390 cu-in FE V8 replaced the factory 352, backed with a four-speed manual. The result is a tribute to those “fearless” NASCAR pioneers. 

Popular Hot Rodding Weekend Makeover: "Barn Car To NASCAR"

Popular Hot Rodding Weekend Makeover: "Altitude Adjustment"

Highlights 

• Popular Hot Rodding magazine feature car 

• Northern California barn find updated to NASCAR look 

• Frame-off rebuild by Kertz Fabrication 

• Rebuilt Ford 390 cu-in FE V8 including: 

  • Tri-power using Rochester 2GC carbs and Edelbrock F380 intake manifold 

  • Stainless steel lines, linkage, and fuel pressure gauge from Hot Rod Carbs  

  • New stainless lines and hoses back to flushed gas tank 

  • Vintage cast-iron header from Ford racing 

  • “406” air cleaner 

  • Edelbrock valve covers  

• Ford Top-Loader four-speed manual transmission with all new gears and the large input shaft 

• Ford nine-inch rear axle with new limited slip differential, ring and pinion, new axle bearings 

• Unique door panels are fabricated aluminum to copy original vinyl 

• The Body Tag decodes as: 

  • Style: 63A – Starliner Club Victoria  

  • Color: M – Corinthian White 

  • Trim: 35 – Red 

  • Date: 05L – 5 November 1959 

  • Transmission: 2 – Overdrive 

  • Axle: 2 – 3.56:1 gear ratio 

• The chassis number (0R53Y114754) decodes as: 

  • 0 – Model year 1960 

  • R – San Jose, California, final assembly plant 

  • 53 – Two-door Starliner Club Victoria 

  • Y – Engine type 352 cu-in V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor 

  • 114754 – Production sequence number 

Features 

• Recent updates include: 

  • Repaired clutch and brakes 

  • Installed new GM rear disc brake system and emergency brake 

  • Tuned-up ignition and rebuilt all three carburetors 

  • Installed EPAS electric power steering 

  • Ididit steering column 

• Hot Rod Carbs fuel pressure gauge 

• Hurst Shifter and linkage 

• RideTech coilover suspension 

• Dynamat from firewall to under rear seats 

• 17-inch steel wheels  

• NASCAR-style frame-through side exhaust 

Known Imperfections 

• The exterior of the vehicle shows its patina—rusty and mean  

• The body has rust throughout, with the trunk lid and trunk floor being the most affected, including some areas with rust holes. A spare trunk lid in better condition is included in the sale 

• Heater inoperable 

• Radio inoperable 

• Wipers inoperable 

• Windows have cracks 

Included 

• Spare trunk lid 

• Magazine articles 

• Additional set of tires 

 Ownership History 

The entire 1960 Ford went through a body-off build by Kertz Fabrication by the time the consigner acquired it in completed condition in 2021. He states, “The factory 352 cu-in V8 had been replaced with a rebuilt 390 cu-in FE V8, topped with three rebuilt Rochester downdraft carburetors mounted on an Edelbrock F380 intake manifold. Additional engine details include stainless steel lines, linkage, and a fuel pressure gauge sourced from Hot Rod Carbs, along with Edelbrock finned valve covers and cast-iron exhaust headers. The upper and lower ball joints are new, and the RideTech air suspension was removed in favor of a RideTech coilover suspension (the original air suspension will be included with the car). The brakes have been refreshed, with the rear upgraded to GM discs with an integrated emergency brake, though the e-brake doesn’t hold well on hills. An EPAS electric power steering system was installed, along with an Ididit steering column and a new steering wheel. The car rides on Ridetech coilover suspension and 17-inch steel wheels. Exhaust has been custom-fabricated and routed through the frame NASCAR-style.”