I have learned, in writing, that sometimes less is more. If one can make their point with fewer words, so be it. However, there usually is a minimum of utterances that are necessary to make a point, or in the auto selling biz, clinch the sale. Take this 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner for example. The listing states, “1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner retractable hardtop” – and that’s all she wrote. Not too helpful, right? Even the images are a bit stilted but there’s enough here with which to work. And with that thought, let’s proceed. This creatively engineered convertible is located in Boise, Idaho and is available, here on craigslist for $29,900.
Ford had top-downing covered in ’57 with Sunliner (traditional fabric folding top convertible) production cranking out 77K units and then the Skyliner, with its unique folding steel top, adding another 22K copies to the sun-‘n-fun line-up. The ClassicFord.com website lists the retail price of the Skyliner at $2,942 while the Sunliner came in at $2,505, a $437 savings and a notable amount in 1957.
The raven-black finish and body of this car port dweller look pretty sound though the dust obviously, obscures the exterior to a degree. I’m looking for signs of rust or similar deterioration but cannot note any so the body seems sound. As a side note, notice how far out the front bumper extends from the grille – a sorta 5 MPH bumper of its day. This was a time when bumpers could actually be used for bumpin’ without damaging the rest of the body panels or brightwork. The one big question that I’m left with is whether that rather complicated retractable top works as it’s supposed to.
Since the engine is fed by a two-barrel carburetor, I’ll run with the assumption that it’s a 212 gross HP, 292 CI “Y Block” V8 and it is connected to an automatic transmission. The odometer reads 81K miles but who knows if that’s an accurate count. A detailed inquiry regarding all things operational will need to be made by prospective buyers.
I always find wheel covers tossed around a car’s interior to be odd placement but I find that facet time and time again. The back seat is showing signs of some kind of mung covering and I can’t tell you a blasted thing about the front bench. That said, the dashpad, instrument panel, and door panels all seem to check out as OK. I’d like to catch a glimpse of the floors, not that I’m concerned about the carpet so much as I’d like to know what’s under it.
One would be within their right to ask if this seller really wants to let go of this special convertible. It almost seems like one of those, “Well I tried, but no one was interested so I’ll just keep it”. Takeaway thought? Cool car but this is how not to sell an automobile, right?
It makes you wonder…. who would keep a car like this in a carport?
Hagerty has this car at 27.5K in “Good” condition, so maybe the ask isn’t that far off. But, personally, if I was trying to sell a car for 30K, I’d make damn sure that the car was spotless and shiny. Not to mention photos of the top up and down, which is really the big draw on this model.
Salesmanship, it’s a thing.
Hard to believe the number of vehicles on here where the owner doesn’t even bother to clean the car…inside and out… before taking pictures. It always makes me question how meticulously the car was cared for.
Or to what degree the car was neglected and butchered. Someone really made a major disaster with the vacuum hoses and the wiper booster system.
A guy who has a softop in the garage maybe? Or a more valuable car in the garage?
I’ve found that the psychology behind classic car selling methods is as diverse as the sheer number and types of vehicles for sale. I stopped and asked about a ’56 Ford Crown Victoria down the road a few times over the years. It just sat there in the carport, and the owner never wanted to sell it. One day, there it was, out in the yard, with a for-sale sign. I stopped a couple of days later and asked the owners wife how much. She said it was already sold. I mentioned that it had just sat there in the carport for over 20 years; what changed? She laughed… Said the car was just “bait” he used to meet new people; he had never intended to sell it. It was basically his only social outlet.
I would like to strangle that guy.
I’m just guessing here, but I’d give 3-1 that this old Ford was the pride and joy of an old man that had retired and moved into that mobile home about 25 years ago. He’s passed on and now his widow or his heirs are trying to sell it. They’ve looked up pricing and saw where some of these brought 30k.
Get ready, because as more and more of us old guys kick the bucket, you’ll see a lot of cars like this. And judging from the lack of interest in today’s young folk, prices will take a huge drop.
Mung. Fantastic word.
It may be a mis-spelling. There is a British slang term ‘minging, meaning foul-smelling; derived from the Scottish term ‘ming’, meaning excrement. Back to the post; why do these sellers expect any interest in a vehicle when they can’t be bothered to post decent photographs or description?
“Honey, did you try to sell that damned car yet?”
“Yes, Dear. I’m trying. No bites though. Can’t figure it out!” *stifles laughter*
$4000 a word ad.
You had me at “Mung”. We always defined it as any unidentifiable substance. 😃
I had a 57 skylines just like this, except mine had a 312 engine, the pain in the butt with these cars was the top, it’s got 7 electric motors, 10 solenoids and 10 limit switches. After testing the motors, 2 were bad which I got fixed and then the top worked again, I kept the car for 6 mos and then sold it, this was in the late 60’s.
Have the California Car Duster’s not made it over to Idaho, yet? Or microfibre towels?
I wouldn’t mind having another ’57 Ford, but think maybe $30,000 is a bit of a stretch considering what little documentation or “clean” pictures have been provided by the seller. Guess I’ll just have to keep dreaming about the Fairlane 500 2 door hardtop I practically gave away almost 60 years ago.
This ad is absolutely very difficult to understand. There are so many different ways to interpret the meaning behind it having so few words?
The seller almost has to have a clue about value to price it at 30k dollars?
Perhaps try to make contact with the seller, then take a road trip to Idaho.
I’m not that impressed, so I will just stay home.
Just my oponion!
Perry Mason drove a black 57 Skyliner just like this one, minus the continental kit, in the first episode. Such a handsome car.
Bought mine before I left for overseas in 1963 for $500 top wouldn’t go up after getting that fixed I went to Greenland was out of country for 13 Mo.
When I got home my dad had sold it
My how times have changed
312 4 bbl. 3 tone dark blue bottom Robbin Blue middle white roof
Sometimes the owner gets sick and isn’t able to maintain the car, and it sits for a long time. Then the owner passes and the spouse can’t stand to get rid of it, and it sits even longer. Finally, the kids or other relatives have to sell it because the spouse is in bad health, so the teenage grandkids go online and start looking for price guides, not having a clue to the vehicles actual condition, it looks shiny, so it must be a number 1, right? Then these outrageous ads are posted with minimal information, they expect the buyer to know what they’re looking at. I see it all the time.
A logical explanation of what often happens.
But to quote Rex, who started the comments, “Salesmanship, it’s a thing.”
Looks like a car I saw on an old episode of Perry Mason.
Certainly rolled back a few times. Still worth saving, the Y-block remains. Good luck with the top mechanism.
Calling a Skyliner a retractable hardtop is a bit redundant. Nice car, but definitely not the way to try selling it