The legendary 1960 Ford Fairlane “Spaceliner” custom by Winfield and Starbird goes to Mecum auction after celebrated restoration.
A car that looks more rocket ship than sedan is headed to auction this September, giving collectors a chance to own one of the most celebrated customs of the Atomic Age. Known as “The Spaceliner,” this radical 1960 Ford Fairlane embodies the futuristic styling of its era and carries the names of two giants of American customizing: Gene Winfield and Darryl Starbird.
First shown in 1963, the Spaceliner was built from a standard Fairlane sedan originally fitted with a 223-cubic-inch inline-six and an automatic transmission. Under the hands of Winfield and Starbird, it was reborn into a concept car–like creation that looked as though it belonged on a runway rather than a road. Its most striking features included the elimination of side doors in favor of a forward-hinged canopy system, extended tailfins, and ten Cadillac-style bullet taillights. Dual Perspex bubble domes sealed the cabin, heightening the impression that it had flown in from another planet.
Although Ford had no official role in its construction, the Spaceliner quickly became a show-stopping attraction. It was fully drivable and designed to travel the exhibition circuit, promoting the futuristic design language of the era while reflecting the public’s fascination with space exploration and jet-age technology.
After decades in storage, the Spaceliner reemerged in 2017 at Art Basel Miami following a painstaking restoration. There, it won the prestigious Judges’ Favorite award, presented by Paolo Pininfarina, solidifying its status as both a custom car masterpiece and a design icon.
Now part of the Klairmont Kollections Museum in Chicago, the Spaceliner is set to cross the block at Mecum’s “Larry’s Legacy” auction on September 20. For enthusiasts, it represents not just a custom car, but a cultural time capsule — a jet-age dream preserved in fiberglass and chrome.
