How many 1961 Ford Starliners were built?
The exact production total for the 1961 Ford Starliner isn’t published in a single official Ford document. The best-available estimates place the number in the low-to-mid ten-thousands, commonly cited around 7,000 to 12,000 units, with a typical midpoint near about 9,000. Exact counts vary by source and counting method.
Context: what is the Ford Starliner?
The Starliner was Ford’s two-door hardtop badge used on certain high-trim variants in the early 1960s, most notably during the 1960–1961 model years. Today it is regarded as a relatively rare body style, which makes precise tallies difficult to confirm.
Design and positioning
Among its features were distinct rooflines and Starliner badges; it shared the Fairlane/Galaxie platform and engine options, marketed as a sportier alternative to the standard two-door coupes.
Production figures: what counts and what sources say
Before listing the common estimates, note that there is no single published official total from Ford for the 1961 Starliner. Historians and registries compile figures from factory records, dealer invoices, and VIN data, which leads to a spread in numbers rather than a single figure.
Here are the commonly cited figures and ranges from major sources:
- Hemmings Motor News and collector guides describe the Starliner as a relatively rare model and typically quote a rough total for 1961 in the low-to-mid ten-thousands, without a formally published official total.
- Ford Barn and similar archival sites emphasize the lack of an official public tally and often mirror the range seen in collector sources, with numbers varying according to counting method.
- Enthusiast registries commonly estimate about 7,000–12,000 units for the 1961 Starliner, acknowledging that some tallies include or exclude certain option packages and production variants.
Concluding note: Because of differing counting conventions and incomplete public records, the exact total remains uncertain. For a given car, investigators typically use build sheets, VINs, and frame/door tag data to confirm whether it is part of the Starliner count used by a particular registry.
Why variation persists and how to verify
The best way to approach a definitive total for a specific example is to consult primary-source documentation and trusted registries. Factory build sheets (where available) and factory records can, in some cases, be cross-referenced with VIN decoders to assign a body style code, trim level, and year—helping to determine whether a car should be tallied as a 1961 Starliner in a given dataset.
Summary
There is no single official production total published for the 1961 Ford Starliner. Most credible estimates place production in the low-to-mid ten-thousands, with a commonly cited range of about 7,000–12,000 units and a midpoint near 9,000. For precise counts—especially for a specific vehicle—VIN/build-sheet research and trusted registries are essential.
