With it being Halloween season, how appropriate it is to feature a Frankenstein “creation” of sorts that’s straight out of a mad scientist’s garage/laboratory in Edselvania. When introduced for the 1958 model year, Edsel didn’t offer a retractable hardtop, but somebody professionally converted a 1957 Ford Skyliner into one and it’s been a museum piece for the past nine years. It’s gonna need some work, though, as the retractable hardtop is not currently operating and there’s also some rust on the underside in the trunk area that will need attention. This unique “Edsel-Liner” is located in Weatherford, Texas, and is for sale here on eBay. As I’m writing this, my assistant, Ygor, tells me the current high bid is $5,000 which does not meet the seller’s reserve.
Not much history is given on this unique car. The seller believes the “conversion” may have been performed in the 1960’s, and a little online research showed that this retractable was for sale back in 2015 just before it was put into a museum. The front fascia is from a ’58 Edsel Pacer and the rear end treatment took some doing as it has the distinctive Edsel scallops on each side and the retrofitted boomerang taillights that were featured on the ’58 Edsel Roundup, Villager, and Bermuda station wagons. Overall, the body looks solid and the two-toned white and maroon paint looks very presentable (the 2015 for sale ad showed a photo with the car sporting a maroon retractable top). The chrome, glass, lenses, badging and trim look very good and I’ve always been a fan of those super-cool color-keyed spinner wheel covers.
The color-coordinated interior appears to be in good shape and is a mish-mash of Edsel and Ford components. It has the instrument panel and dash from a ’58 Edsel, but has a column shift automatic (instead of Edsel’s gimmicky Teletouch push button transmission) and the steering wheel has a horn ring from a ’59 Edsel. The seller states, “the transmission does operate to move it. Everything does seem to work, except the top.”
The seller doesn’t give many specifics about the retractable’s engine other than it’s a V8, it runs, it has an Edelbrock carb, and a power brake booster with a dual master cylinder upgrade. The mileage is listed at 98,765. This isn’t the only Edsel retractable that’s ever been created (there have also been several Edsel “Rancheros” created as well), and it definitely has the novelty factor going for it. Some purists will turn up their noses at it, but I like how Dr. Frankenstein created this and how professionally it was pulled off. I know it’s been said before, but the next owner will probably not see another Edsel “Retractable” at their local car show or cars and coffee get-together. So, what do you think?
As an avowed “purist” I can aver that this is one custom I can get behind!
No weird stuff, just period-correct parts made into a car that COULD have actually been made by the factory. It’s awesome.
Paging John Cashman.
As much as I love Edsels, I REALLY love this conversion! Well worth finding a source that knows the retractable top mechanisms and get it operating! I didn’t expect this to have the wagon taillamps, but given the amount of detail that went into this, it works! There is also a green `59 that someone converted too, and it’s beautiful. Now sorry the Edsel’s demise was so quick. These look better IMHO than the Fords they are based on!
You have to admit that the person who did this Edsel/Skyliner conversion, really thought things out, and didn’t just slap it together. We’ve all heard the stories about what’s involved getting these retractable tops working again,, so there that to deal with. Kudos for the power dual master cylinder upgrade, but are they still drum brakes all around? I kinda like this Frankenstein Edsel/Skyliner build.
I saw one of these skyliner/edsel conversions at the 2025 Forest Grove Concours de Elegance. White and gold. Beautifully done. I don’t think it would have sold anymore Edsels, but it was a great “what if”.
I’ve got a buddy who built a 57 Edsel Ranchero. He did a good job and it’s a real looker. Very entertaining at car shows.
I’ve seen several Edsel/Rancheros…. basically front clip swap… fenders, hood, grill. The spears on the Edsel fenders line up with the Ford door trim. I saw side by side Edsel Ranchero and Ford Ranchero’s a few years ago at the Ducktail Run show in Gas City, Indiana.
They did a really outstanding job on this. Love the burgundy with the white, looks very classy. It honestly looks like Ford bolted this together themselves. I like the Edsel wagon tailights too. I really like this one.
I cannot add anything: this is totally cool! am a total “purist”, too; but I could get “into” this!
That’s a Y-Block engine sitting between those front fenders. I don’t believe any Edsel ever came with one of those. FE and MEL engines all came with front mounted distributors and didn’t have hold down bolts through the center of the valve covers.
That’s because the car started out as a ’57 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner with the D code 312 “Thunderbird Special” V8 and the engine was not changed in the makeover even though no ’58 Edsel had the Y block. An internet search shows the car has turned up on several car sites including a pre-auction BaT when it was for sale on eBay out of Lynn, MA about 10 years ago. Was also written up on Hemmings, which noted the changes made by the then-owner, including a NOS steel roof. This would have been a cool Edsel model. Too bad Ford never produced it.
The 292 Y-block was offered in the 1959 and 1960 Edsels, but never in the 1958.
This is a beautiful conversion, but my personal favorite is a 1960 Edsel Starliner. Got rid of the awkward Ford semi-oval taillights for the vertical Edsel lights. Gentleman crafted a unique grill for it, too.
Well done conversion. “Everything works, except the top (huge issue), the transmission, and the ……………….
I will pass, I have not been an Edsel fan since I towed one from Detroit area to St. Charles Illinois. And the in front of me backed off it’s trailer in traffic.
You gotta admire ambition. This is a great looking example of what may have been.
SOLD for $9,300
30 bids.