Sleeper Starliner at SEMA

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

I love stock-looking restos that are hiding some serious performance, like this ‘61 Ford Starliner, packing a 427 SOHC "Cammer" engine that’ll make 622 hp and 533 lb ft of torque. Such a refined-looking ride: I loved the open hardtop body style, the huge expanse of rear glass, and the fully-intact factory chrome trim. But the stock body conceals a fully fabbed Art Morrison chassis with adjustable coil-overs front and rear. The interior, including the thin-shell bucket seats, is out of a ‘64 Galaxie—and the dash, with its amazing red-face gauges, is from a ‘63 Mercury Monterey. With mods borrowed from cars that are close in both age and family tree, and a V8 available over the counter from Ford in the 60’s (after being developed for its racing program), the "Camliner" seems deceptively well-behaved. You’d be surprised to find out it’s not just your grandpa’s sunny-day cruiser. More pics after the jump.