The Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner is not a car I’ve come across very often in my travels, in fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one in person! The car had a short run, with production beginning in 1957 and ending in 1959, but Ford Motor Company did manage to crank out over 48,000 of them during that brief period. The retractable roof mechanism was known as the “Hide-Away Hardtop” by Ford, a fairly complex design that retracts the roof and allows it to be concealed under the rear decklid. During its 3 year models, Ford offered a total of 5 different engine choices for the Skyliner, with the largest being a 352 cubic inch V8 rated at 300 horsepower. The example offered for sale here on eBay, fortunately, has the aforementioned motor and the car’s a beauty, so if you’ve ever thought of owning one of these unusual vehicles this one would definitely be worth a look. It’s located in Mahopac, New York, with a buy-it-now price tag of $55,000.
Barn Finds would like to thank reader Larry D. for sending us the great tip on this one! The seller of this Skyliner says that the vehicle went through a frame-off restoration about 8 years ago, and claims that the car still looks like it was just done. The exterior is black and the body looks to be very straight with good gaps, and the finish looks deep and high quality, though the top is said to sometimes need a little help going down.
From the rear, the Skyliner has a rather stunning presentation, with that way cool Continental kit on the back. That area between the car and the back of the bumper looks like it has room for dinner for 4! The beauty of the car also extends to the Southside, as the seller says that underneath it looks like a new car. Several photos are provided from down under, including this one. and it’s pretty hard to see anything on the underside to find fault with.
Things inside do not disappoint, with an excellent condition red and white interior. The seller says that this Skyliner has all the options, including air conditioning, town and country radio, power windows, padded dash, and fender skirts. Another option is the power seat, which is said to be working but needs a new switch. The windshield wipers were also recently converted from the troublesome old vacuum style to electric.
Under the hood is a 352 V8, which was first offered by Ford in 1958, and things are looking very tidy in the engine compartment. One of the exhaust manifolds has a small crack, but the seller says that it closes up after the car has been running for a few minutes, and the transmission tail shaft is said to leak a little. Other than the small issues the seller mentions, it is said to otherwise be close to a perfect car. There’s also the option to submit an offer if you think the price of $55k is a bit optimistic. What are your thoughts on this 1958 Ford Skyliner?
Not always a fan of a continental kit but I suppose this use makes sense, esp if you have to change a flat in the rain…
My favorite conti is on a 59 Rambler Ambassador. Anyone else have a fave?
I dislike Continental kits in general but the Metropolitan’s setup is pretty tidy.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/1959_Metropolitan_convertible_by_AMC_red-and-white_rear_view.JPG/1024px-1959_Metropolitan_convertible_by_AMC_red-and-white_rear_view.JPG
Good call! Mrs. F fell in love with one when she saw her first Metro last year, and I said that the tire was one of the few rear crash protections designed into the car.
Late 50s, early 60s Imperials (do they count even though they’re phony?).
The top three add-ons usually criticized on BF:
Continental Kits
Fender Skirts
Luggage Racks.
Two out of three here, but hey, they don’t look bad now do they?
I love fender skirts and continental kits BECAUSE everyone hates them.
They look better than 21″ billet rims on a 60 year old car all day.
A counselor at a summer camp I attended had a ’58 Skyliner and at the time I thought it was the coolest car I’d ever seen. He became a hero to us when he was fired after they discovered he was keeping a stash of beer in the lake.
Looks like Perry Mason’s car. How about a Conti kit that hides a wheelie bar on a Henry J gasser?
Very nice 58 and a fair price.Just make sure the top goes up and down more than once.
I restored a ’57 back in the late 90’s and later sold it. Went to a show and asked the owner about his car which looked identical. Wasn’t mine but the owner knew of mine, it had been totaled from the rear by a semi. If it had been equipped with a conti kit like this one, the semi would have never gotten near the rest of the car!
The ’58 Ford is the ‘ugly duckling’ of late-model Fords, trying to resemble the Thunderbird and failing. (IMHO)
I Too restored a 1957 Skyliner in the late 70’s. I really liked the car except that it felt like the front end was “floating” when the top was stowed inside the trunk. I imagine that feeling would be even more exaggerated with the Continental kit on the rear. Skyliners already had extra length added onto the body to allow the top to be stored. All of that added length was behind the rear wheels. Aside from that, when the top was up it drove better than my 57 Bel Air. The retractable ended up in Japan and the Bel Air in Montana. Fond memories.
..the ’59 was the ugly duckling..
The 58 Skyliner was my favorite of the 3 model years. I owned two, at different times in the late 1960’s. Rust was a big issue here in northern Illinois. The top could be raised or lowered in the length of a stop light. It was a rare car by that time. I prefer no skirts or continental kit for a cleaner look.
I love these cars, and have always wanted one. My friend in North Texas has one just like this one. My favorite is the 59 fully loaded with all electric options and continental kit plus the dual spotlights.
God Bless America
If you wanted to you could eat off the undercarriage it is so clean .
That’s what makes having a cracked manifold and leaking tailshaft strange. All that detailing without repairing everything?
During my career at Tennessee Valley Authority in a Nuclear Plant, I had a Machinist in my crew who had worked at a Ford Dealership when the Retractable was first edition. This man was one of the smartest common-sense Mechanic I have ever known for an old country boy. Had a photographic Memory. They had so many problems with the retractable he got involved in the troubleshooting. He actually won a trip to Hawaii for the Ford Convention and won the Mechanic of the year Award for his efforts. The owners can thank Roger Lappin (RIP) for getting the bugs out of that first year.
The 58 Skyliner was my favorite of the 3 model years. I owned two, at different times in the late 1960’s. Rust was a big issue here in northern Illinois. The top could be raised or lowered in the length of a stop light. It was a rare car by that time. I prefer no skirts or continental kit for a cleaner look.
Beautiful restoration from what i can see. Doesn’t look like factory A/C to me, if that’s what they’re listing it as. 57-8 Fords had the A/C register across the bottom of the windshield on TOP of the Dash, not below it (that came a year later on 59s I believe).
Continental kit would have to go if she were mine, but she’s not so never mind..
Mercs had their AC ducts on the top of the dash as you mention in 57/8. I don’t believe that Fords put the AC IN the dash until 65.
Growing up, a neighbor had a ’59 Fairlane Galaxie 500 with a/c. The a/c unit was under the dash.
A 58 retractable is a car I know well from the late sixties. A pair of brothers worked for my dad in his service station and their mother had that drove all the time. Even figured how to make the top work. What happened to the car I got no clue except one brother ended up with it. This was in Portland Or,
My cousin owns a ’57, powder blue, and he drives it in local parades as a support vehicle for their high school marching band. Way cool!
Whoa.. The top needs help going down. I wouldn’t go near this car unless the top works perfectly. I have an awesome 59 retractable it had nothing but trouble with the top. They are not easy to work on not many people know how and they are extremely temperamental I wouldn’t go near this car unless the top worked
You don’t see a lot of ’58 Skyliners. 1957s, yes and 1959s, yes. 1958s, no.
I think both 57 and 59 were cleaner looking. 58 was the first year for 4 headlights and 4 tailights. They just looked odd at the time. 59 changed the whole look and eliminated the 4 taillights. The 58 side trim was a little gaudy too.
Just be thankful it doesn’t have a luggage rack too!
Someone asked me a question about these cars that I couldn’t answer – where is the spare tire carried if you don’t have a continental kit?
Really nice ol’ Ford! Very clean but I agree with Terrry, why not repair the exhaust manifold, tail shaft leak and the power seat switch? The new owner will either have to be very tall or bring a few pillows to sit on! Great find.
The spare tire is held in a compartment in the bottom of the trunk under the luggage carrier. It is secured to the bottom of the cover. The cover is hinged on one side. You swing the top open and there is the tire. Need a strong back to lift it over the fender for sure! I’ve owned 2 59s. The first one my dad bought for me in 69 for $300 when I was 16. Fortunately it came with a service manual for the top. I spent many hours getting the top to work correctly. Set me on a path to become a Mechanic and a Retractable fan. Have worked on several for customers. One was a Horror story for another time! This 58 is Beautiful!!
Thank you Joel – mystery solved!