1960 & 1961 Falcon Similarities, Improvements, and Differences.

The 1960 and 1961 Falcons share basic body design and all sheet metal, bumpers, doors, trunk lid, fenders, and hood are interchangeable. Of special note: The Sedan Delivery was not introduced until the 1961 model year. Also- it was late in the 1961 model year ( March 22, 1961) that the Futura (Bucket Seat & console) model was introduced. All glass, taillights, instruments, and wiring are the same. The basic body and trim differences are outlined below:

Front View:   

1960 - Grill design is in a concave design with the parking lights mounted  horizontally within the grill recess.

1961 - Grill design is a convex design with the parking lights mounted vertically.

Note: The difference in these grill shapes more than likely result in different mounting posts on the headlight buckets for the grill. Also the headlight doors are unique to each year.

Rear view:

For 1961 the block letters F-A-L-C-O-N across the back replaced the falcon script of 1960 which was located - centered on the right side of the panel beneath the trunk lid - with the exception of the Wagons and the Sedan Delivery. They retained the script.

Side Views:

1960 - It had only Falcon Script on the front fenders. For 1961 more exterior chrome was offered with the Deluxe trim kit. It consisted of two rows of trim encircling the sculpted indent along the sides. This trim followed these edges around the taillights and converged at the front fenders emphasizing the forward thrusting front fender “eyebrows”.

1961 - also added the “Speedy Bird” on the front fenders directly in front of the Falcon script. All 61’s got this bird except the Sedan Delivery and Ranchero.

Hub-caps and wheel covers were the same design for both years, but had a minor difference. The 60 “bottle caps” had the FORD letters filled with black paint - the 61 used white. The same on the wheel disks. Four segments encircled the disks with 18 small “hash marks” in each segment. On 60’s these marks were black-on 61’s white.

1961 Futura: side trim was unique in that it deleted the side trim of the 61 Deluxe and added the teardrop shaped ornaments on the rear quarter panels.  The Futura also got characteristic wheel covers with ventholes (16 of them) all around the perimeter, deluxe trim taillight rings, and bright metal trim around door and side window frames, windshield, rear window, and drip rails, sound deadening material glued to the underside of the hood, and the Futura had  a narrow band whitewall tire option not available on other Falcon models.

The 1961 Futura Interior featured all vinyl bucket seats with a console between and an all vinyl rear seat with a Falcon symbol imprint on the back seat. Aluminum kickplates, headliner, deluxe arm rests, and door inserts with mylar panels were designed especially for the Futura.

Things Mechanical:

1960 - Just one engine choice-the 144 c.i. with 85 Horsepower

1961 – the 170 c.i.”Special Six”offered as an option. It had 101 hp. The 144 was the standard engine.

Unique to the 1960 engine: The air cleaner was of an “open style” with no snorkle.

1961 - Air Cleaner had a snorkle

1960 - Holley Carb had a glass float bowl cover on the earlier production cars.   These are quite scarce now.

1960 - axle ratios unique as follows: Code#1=3.56, Code#2=3.89 The 3.56 is standard for the Ranchero. One source claims the 3.10 was standard on sedans. Other source claims the 60 only had Code 1&2 as choices.

1961 - axle choices were: Code#3=3.10, Code#4=4.00, Code#5=3.20, and Code J= 3.50

The 60 & 61- Both offered two transmission choices: the 3-speed (2.77) manual transmission or the 2-speed Fordomatic (on the 60 it was air-cooled).

For 1961 - The 170 engine with Fordomatic transmission was water – cooled. The 144 was still air-cooled

1961 - A dealer installed automatic choke became available for either engine choice.

1961 - The 170 engine had the following changes: longer stroke crankshaft with different rods and pistons. The 170 head had longer intake ports and valve heads with larger fuel passages. Also- it had larger intake valves, main bearings, water pump pulley, water pump impeller with a 15 inch fan. It also got a new distributor.  The 170 also had a new and improved carburetor. And-it took a larger muffler and heavier rear axle and larger ring gear. The manual transmission used with the 170 had course pitch gears and the automatic had a modified torque converter.

1961- Other minor changes and or upgrades to the ‘61 Falcon include:

·          Heavier gauge metal used in the door frames

·          Vent window molding was revised

·          Rear springs 10% softer for a better ride

·          Metal bushings in upper front suspension arms were threaded and pre-lubricated

·          Front stabilizer bar reduced in diameter (editorial note -  is this progress?)

·          The 170 only weighed 7 lbs more than a 144

·          A die-cast aluminum engine front cover replaced the stamped steel cover

·          The bellcrank on the carburetor linkage was relocated

·          The vacuum wiper take off tube was relocated from the intake manifold to the carburetor

·          The oil pan for 1961 has vertical ribs on the sides

·          A pushbutton radio was offered in 1961 (on a 60 you had to turn the dial!)

·          Air conditioning called “Polaraire” was offered as a dealer installed option

·          Electric windshield wipers were offered as an option

Submitted by:

Phil Barber, FCA 1961 Technical Advisor

REV 1/05

08/12/2010