Ford introduces the wonderful new world of its 1960 models

Posted on Mar 14, 2018 in Featured | 2 comments

New car introductions were quite a bit different in 1960 than they are today, and to roll out its space-age 1960 models, Ford spared no expense. Complete with its own musical score and revelers bedecked in formal attire, this short video is a glimpse at the zeitgeist of postwar, pre-Cuban Missile Crisis America.

The 1960 model year was an important one for Ford, as all models received a significant evolution in styling. The space race was a prominent theme (and one depicted in the video), reinforced with product names like the Galaxie (introduced as a range-topping model in 1959) and the new Mercury Comet (a slightly upscale version of Ford’s Falcon). The planetarium observatory backdrop to the video is no coincidence; instead, Ford was doing all it could to portray itself as a modern and progressive automaker.

Though big fins were no longer in style, aircraft and rocket influences were unmistakable in Ford’s 1960 product line. The Thunderbird’s grille continued to resemble a jet engine’s intake, while its six round taillamps (two more than the previous year) played the part of exhaust nozzles. A similar jet exhaust theme carried over to the taillamps of the new-for-1960 Falcon, Ford’s entry into the compact class that boasted seating for six and fuel economy that approached 30 miles per gallon.

The design changes generally produced the desired results for Ford. Thunderbird sales grew from 67,456 units in 1959 to 92,798 in 1960, while the Falcon, billed as “the easiest car in the world to own,” contributed 435,676 unit sales (including wagons) to the division. Galaxie sales, however, shrank notably, declining from 464,336 units in 1959 to 289,268 units in 1960, which may be one of the reasons the model was redesigned yet again for 1961.