What kind of cars did Ford make in the 1960s?

Ford’s 1960s lineup spanned compact economy cars (Falcon), mid-size family sedans (Fairlane, later Torino), full-size cruisers (Galaxie and the new LTD), the personal-luxury Thunderbird, and the trend-defining Mustang with high-performance offshoots (GT, Shelby, Boss). In Europe and other markets, Ford built staples like the Anglia, Cortina, Escort, Capri, and Taunus—covering everything from budget motoring to sporty coupes and executive saloons.

United States lineup: from economy to performance

Compact and affordable

At the decade’s start, Ford answered America’s appetite for smaller, thriftier cars with the Falcon (1960–1970). Available as a two- or four-door sedan, wagon, and convertible, it prioritized simplicity and economy with inline-six power, later adding V8 options in trims like the Falcon Sprint. The Falcon chassis also underpinned the Ranchero car-based pickup in the early 1960s, blending passenger-car dynamics with light-duty utility.

Mid-size family cars

The Fairlane shifted into the intermediate (mid-size) slot in 1962, bridging the gap between Falcon and Galaxie. By 1966–1967, GT/GTA versions signaled a move toward performance, and in 1968 the Torino nameplate debuted (initially as a Fairlane subseries), quickly becoming Ford’s mid-size mainstay with a range of sedans, fastbacks, and convertibles.

Full-size and luxury

Full-size Fords like the Galaxie and Custom remained the brand’s bread-and-butter family cars, offered as sedans, hardtops, and wagons. The LTD arrived in 1965 as a premium, quieter, plusher variant. For those wanting upscale style and features, the Thunderbird embodied the era’s “personal luxury” formula—two doors early in the decade, and from 1967, even a distinctive four-door option—always with a V8 and a focus on comfort and flair.

Pony car and performance

The Mustang’s 1964½ debut created the “pony car” segment: compact, stylish, and highly configurable. Offered as coupe, fastback, and convertible, it ranged from thrifty sixes to small-block V8s, and quickly gained performance credibility with the 289 Hi-Po, GT packages, and later big-block options. Ford-backed specials, including the Shelby GT350/GT500 (1965–1970) and the 1969–1970 Boss 302 and Boss 429, pushed the Mustang into road racing and drag-strip prominence.

Wagons and specialty models

Station wagons were a 1960s staple in the U.S., and Ford covered the field from Falcon and Fairlane/Torino wagons to the woodgrained, full-size Country Squire. Specialty offerings included the Ranchero (car-based pickup) and purpose-built or limited-run performance homologation models like the 1964 Fairlane Thunderbolt drag car and the 1969 Torino Talladega for NASCAR.

Europe and other markets

Britain

Ford of Britain produced the Anglia 105E (late ’50s into the ’60s), the top-selling Cortina (Mk1 from 1962, Mk2 from 1966), and the Escort (from 1968), which became a rally icon. In 1969, Ford launched the Capri—billed as “the car you always promised yourself”—bringing Mustang-like style to European buyers. Larger executive cars, including the Zephyr and Zodiac, offered six-cylinder comfort and space.

Germany and continental Europe

Ford of Germany’s Taunus line (12M/15M/17M and later 20M/26M) covered small to executive classes through the P3, P5, and P7 generations. European Fords emphasized efficiency, tidy handling, and a wide choice of body styles, while performance trims (e.g., Cortina GT, Escort Twin Cam) hinted at the motorsport successes that reinforced the brand’s sporting image.

Notable engines and technologies of the decade

Beyond body styles and model names, the 1960s Ford portfolio was defined by its engines and evolving safety and emissions technology. Here are the key mechanicals and innovations that powered and shaped the lineup.

• Inline-sixes: 144, 170, and 200 cu in units delivered dependable economy in Falcon, Mustang, and mid-size sedans.
• Small-block Windsor V8s: 221/260/289/302, including the 289 High-Performance (K-code) and, by decade’s end, the high-revving Boss 302 for Trans-Am racing.
• FE big-block V8s: 352/390/406/427/428, with the 427 a force in NASCAR and endurance racing and the 428 Cobra Jet (1968) a street-and-strip legend.
• 385-series big-blocks: The 429 family arrived at the end of the decade; the 1969 Boss 429 Mustang was a homologation special for NASCAR.
• Transmissions: Durable Toploader 4-speeds complemented Cruise-O-Matic, C4, and C6 automatics across the range.
• Safety and emissions: The decade brought padded interiors, improved brakes (with front discs available on many models), energy-absorbing steering columns, side marker lights (1968), and the early wave of emissions controls such as positive crankcase ventilation.

Together, these powertrains and features let Ford cover everything from basic transportation to race-bred performance while meeting tightening safety and emissions rules.

Motorsport and image

Racing was central to Ford’s 1960s identity. The GT40 program delivered four consecutive overall wins at Le Mans (1966–1969), while Ford-powered stock cars and specials like the Galaxie, Fairlane, and Torino Talladega were NASCAR fixtures. In Trans-Am, Mustang GTs and Boss 302s battled for championships, and on the drag strip, Cobra Jet Fords and the Fairlane Thunderbolt etched their names in muscle lore. These successes fed directly back into showroom appeal.

How to think about the kinds of cars Ford built

To understand Ford’s breadth in the 1960s, it’s useful to group the cars by purpose and market slot. The categories below capture the variety buyers encountered worldwide.

• Economy/commuter: Falcon (U.S.), Anglia, Cortina, Escort (Europe).
• Family sedans and wagons: Fairlane/Torino and Galaxie/LTD lines (U.S.); Zephyr/Zodiac and Taunus ranges (Europe); Country Squire and other wagons.
• Personal luxury: Thunderbird in the U.S.; higher-trim executive saloons in Europe.
• Pony/sports: Mustang (U.S.) and Capri (Europe, from 1969); limited-production GT40 road cars derived from racing.
• Muscle/performance variants: Mustang GT, Shelby GT350/GT500, Boss 302/429; Fairlane/Torino GT and Talladega; 428 Cobra Jet packages.
• Utility/specialty: Ranchero (car-based pickup), police/taxi packages, and special-edition appearance/performance models.

Across these segments, Ford offered multiple body styles—sedans, hardtops, fastbacks, convertibles, and wagons—tailored to budgets, tastes, and regional needs.

Key model timeline highlights

A few milestones show how quickly Ford evolved through the decade, responding to changing tastes, regulations, and racing ambitions.

1. 1960: Falcon launches as a compact, unibody economy car; Ranchero continues on Falcon underpinnings.
2. 1962: Fairlane becomes Ford’s intermediate; in the UK, the Cortina debuts and quickly becomes a bestseller.
3. 1964: Mustang launches (April 17), igniting the pony-car era; Fairlane Thunderbolt drag specials appear in limited numbers.
4. 1965: LTD arrives as a premium, quieter full-size; Shelby GT350 brings track-focused credibility to the Mustang.
5. 1966: Ford’s GT40 wins Le Mans, signaling global performance might.
6. 1967: Mustang grows to fit larger engines; Thunderbird adds a distinctive four-door model.
7. 1968: Torino nameplate debuts; 428 Cobra Jet engines arrive; U.S. cars adopt new safety/lighting features; Escort launches in Europe.
8. 1969: Boss 302 and Boss 429 Mustangs appear; the Europe-market Capri debuts; Torino Talladega is built for NASCAR; GT40 takes a fourth Le Mans win.

By decade’s end, Ford had expanded from pragmatic compacts to genre-defining performance and luxury, setting templates that would shape the 1970s.

Summary

In the 1960s, Ford built a full spectrum of cars: economical compacts (Falcon; Anglia, Cortina, Escort), mainstream family sedans and wagons (Fairlane/Torino, Galaxie/LTD; Zephyr/Zodiac, Taunus), upscale personal-luxury (Thunderbird), and era-defining sporty/performance models led by the Mustang and its Shelby and Boss variants, capped by homologation specials like the Torino Talladega. The result was a decade in which Ford simultaneously chased volume, comfort, and victory lanes—leaving one of the most diverse and influential product legacies of the period.

What model cars did Ford make in 1967?

Select a 1967 Ford Model

• 1967 Bronco.
• 1967 CORTINA MARK II.
• 1967 Country.
• 1967 Country Squire.
• 1967 Custom.
• 1967 Custom 500.
• 1967 E100.
• 1967 F100.

What cars did Ford make in 1964?

In 1964, Ford offered a range of popular car and truck models including the Mustang, Galaxie, Fairlane, Falcon, and the full-size Thunderbird. The commercial vehicle lineup featured the Econoline van and pickup, and the heavy-duty F-Series trucks (F-100, F-250).
 
Cars

• Ford Mustang: Debuted in April 1964, quickly becoming an iconic American car. 
• Ford Galaxie: The full-size offering, available in various trims including the Galaxie 500 and 500XL. 
• Ford Fairlane: A mid-size model, also available in different trim levels like the Fairlane 500. 
• Ford Falcon: A smaller compact car, with options such as the Futura and Ranchero. 
• Ford Thunderbird: Ford’s full-size luxury car. 
• Ford Cortina: A model of British Ford available in the US. 

Trucks & Vans

• Ford Econoline: Offered as a van and as a pickup truck. 
• Ford F-Series: Including the F-100 and F-250 pickup trucks. 

What Ford car was made between 1963 and 1970?

Ford Consul Corsair (1963–1965), Ford Corsair V4 (1965–1970) – Britain. The Ford Consul Corsair (later known simply as the Ford Corsair), manufactured by Ford UK, is a midsized car that was introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1963 and available as either a saloon or estate from 1964 until 1970.

What was the most popular Ford in the 60s?

The Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang, introduced in 1964, is arguably one of the most iconic and recognizable cars in the world. With its sleek design, powerful performance, and rich history, the Mustang has become synonymous with American automotive muscle.