Lot 229
1960 Ford Falcon Ranchero Sport Pickup
Sold for $19,250
- Chassis no. OH27S241720
Est. 84 bhp, 144 cu. in. inline six-cylinder engine, three-speed transmission, independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 109.5"
A recent focal point of the heritage of drag racing has been the support equipment that racers utilized to get their cars from track to track. The 1960 Ford Ranchero offered here is one of the most famous support vehicles from the pre-muscle era, formerly owned by the famed George Montgomery
The Dayton, Ohio-based Montgomery became famous in the sport of NHRA drag racing during the 1950s; after high school he worked for Delco and did speed-style upgrades to his own cars and others as a hobby. While a homebuilt ‘34 Ford with a blown Cadillac mill was his first claim to fame, a 1933 Willys coupe purchased from a junkyard in 1959 for $100 put the name of “Ohio George” on the map. Wally Parks had just moved NHRA’s big Nationals to Detroit that summer, and Montgomery’s just-finished “Caddy-Willys” coupe won its class, A/Gas, and then the overall Little Eliminator title. He returned to the famed Detroit Dragway for the 1960 running of the event and achieved both feats again!
In 1960, Ford had just redesigned the Ranchero to be based on the new Falcon subcompact. To promote this sport-type pick-up, Ford, through its Autolite Parts division, agreed to award a new Ranchero, hand-lettered with NHRA and Autolite logos, to the victor of Little Eliminator that year. When Montgomery won it along with his second crown, this was the one of the largest prizes NHRA had awarded to date. After being used in advertising and promotions following his consecutive year titles, Montgomery brought the Corinthian White machine back to Dayton and kept it as a prized possession for several decades, using it as a start-up push vehicle for his racing efforts. The fortunate new owner will only be the third in the car’s nearly 50-year history.
Beyond Montgomery’s personal association, this unrestored first-year truck shows less than 10,000 miles since new, still has the prize-winner lettering on it and comes with all associated paperwork and provenance from the originating dealership, Jerry Bielfield Co., addressed to Montgomery. The original title is included as well, issued by the state of Ohio back in 1960 to Ohio George.
A recent focal point of the heritage of drag racing has been the support equipment that racers utilized to get their cars from track to track. The 1960 Ford Ranchero offered here is one of the most famous support vehicles from the pre-muscle era, formerly owned by the famed George Montgomery
The Dayton, Ohio-based Montgomery became famous in the sport of NHRA drag racing during the 1950s; after high school he worked for Delco and did speed-style upgrades to his own cars and others as a hobby. While a homebuilt ‘34 Ford with a blown Cadillac mill was his first claim to fame, a 1933 Willys coupe purchased from a junkyard in 1959 for $100 put the name of “Ohio George” on the map. Wally Parks had just moved NHRA’s big Nationals to Detroit that summer, and Montgomery’s just-finished “Caddy-Willys” coupe won its class, A/Gas, and then the overall Little Eliminator title. He returned to the famed Detroit Dragway for the 1960 running of the event and achieved both feats again!
In 1960, Ford had just redesigned the Ranchero to be based on the new Falcon subcompact. To promote this sport-type pick-up, Ford, through its Autolite Parts division, agreed to award a new Ranchero, hand-lettered with NHRA and Autolite logos, to the victor of Little Eliminator that year. When Montgomery won it along with his second crown, this was the one of the largest prizes NHRA had awarded to date. After being used in advertising and promotions following his consecutive year titles, Montgomery brought the Corinthian White machine back to Dayton and kept it as a prized possession for several decades, using it as a start-up push vehicle for his racing efforts. The fortunate new owner will only be the third in the car’s nearly 50-year history.
Beyond Montgomery’s personal association, this unrestored first-year truck shows less than 10,000 miles since new, still has the prize-winner lettering on it and comes with all associated paperwork and provenance from the originating dealership, Jerry Bielfield Co., addressed to Montgomery. The original title is included as well, issued by the state of Ohio back in 1960 to Ohio George.
Addendum
Please note the serial number for this car is OH27S241720.Please contact our exclusive automotive transportation partner, Reliable Carriers, for a shipping quote or any other information on the transport of this vehicle.
