As the 1950s wore on, U.S. automakers were on a path to make their products more “futuristic”. The 1957-59 Chryslers and their “Forward Look” styling is one example. Another is the retractable hardtop sold by Ford during those same years. With the push of a button, the metal roof would disappear into the trunk, turning your hardtop into a convertible in a matter of seconds. They were popular enough that Ford built 50,000 of them in three years, including this solid-looking ’57 example. Perhaps needing only some mechanical work and a throw sheet to be a driver, this 1957 Skyliner can be found in Spring, Texas, and is available here on eBay where the opening bid of $3,500 has gone untested.
Ford’s marketing people called the Skyliner (part of the higher-end Fairlane 500 family) a “Hide-Away Hardtop.” You couldn’t buy a Mercury, Edsel, or Lincoln with that technology. It operated off a complicated series of wires and switches that are described as “flawless” to some or a “nightmare” to others (and everywhere in between). I would imagine the mechanic at the Ford dealer would take a sick day when he heard one of these autos was coming in for repairs. 40% of Skyliner’s volume was produced in 1957 and then began to trickle off after that (there would be no retractable hardtop for 1960). Perry Mason drove one of these on the Raymond Burr TV show!
With a 292 cubic inch V8 and an automatic transmission, this ’57 edition is one of the nicer non-running Skyliners we’ve seen in a while. It’s likely been off the road for some time but kept where Mother Nature couldn’t slowly destroy it. The seller has not attempted to start the car and it may be complete, but there’s no guarantee. It will need some interior work, but the body and two-tone paint looks fairly decent. A good detailing could bring it up to driver-quality stuff (with some seat covers).
The VIN decodes this Ford as having a 312 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel when it left the assembly line. So, the engine has been swapped at some point for one with less output. But considering how few of these vehicles have survived the last 65 years, are numbers matching a deal breaker for a car like this? I would think the most important consideration is that the hardware needed to operate the peek-a-boo top is still there as replacing some of that stuff might be a chore.
These are really starting the downward drive. I have seen some rather nice copies for what they were years back. I would love to have one or another 60 Lincoln convertible but my project hoard is many and my life is in the not so many section now. Great project here and not a rust bucket as many were.
I informed my brother about the uncanny submissions, that reflect our past. I’ve commented before about my late 2nd cousin, Mickey, who had a car just like this. Mickey was always the flamboyant one of the family. Not sure what he did, but always drove nice cars. He was very proud of his Skyliner. I remember him operating the top, as we all watched in disbelief. Where did the hardtop go? Many years passed, I lost track of him, for a while. On a visit, I asked what ever happened to the retractable? He said, “oh, I still have it, it’s in the garage”. When I saw it, I was horrified at what had happened to it. It was brown with rust, big holes, doors hanging,,headlights falling out, but he said it still ran AND the top still worked. He junked it shortly after.
These are a maze of primitive electronics, a series of switches and relays, to servo motors, while dependable in it’s day, sitting is the worst, and not sure that stuff is even around anymore. ’57 Ford was one of my favorites, and I think I built more plastic models of ’57 Fords, than any other.
Everybody thinks the ’57 Chevy was the most popular car, but Ford actually outsold Chevy by almost 7,000 cars and for good reason. The ’57 Chevy wasn’t looked upon as it is today. Just a restyled ’55. The Ford was all new, and I feel, turned the tide for Ford.
“These are a maze of primitive electronics, a series of switches and relays, to servo motors, while dependable in it’s day, sitting is the worst, and not sure that stuff is even around anymore.”
I saw an episode of Jay Leno(?) Showing work on one of these and they gave a count of how many gizmos were required.
At the time of the show there was at least one craftsman out there that specialized almost exclusively in maintaining these vehicles and had access to parts.
I had a mechanic tell me there is 29 servo valves in there and the all have to work perfectly.
Per Wikipedia (and my parts counter memory): “instead of the typical hydraulic mechanisms, the Skyliner top used seven reversible electric motors (six for 1959 models), four lift jacks, a series of relays, ten limit switches, ten solenoids, four locking mechanisms for the roof and two locking mechanisms for the trunk lid, and 610 ft (185.9 m) of wiring.”
Other than the obvious novelty of these, I’ve never understood the appeal. Here’s a question for anyone who’s ever driven one – doesn’t stuffing that big heavy roof in the trunk throw off the weight bias big time? Seems like it would make it a real handful to drive with so much bulk hanging behind the rear axle. Especially one fitted with the continental spare. Too bad there aren’t more ‘57 Sunliners around. I once saw one at a car show, colonial white over Inca gold with a black convertible top. Absolute stunner.
Not enough fingers and toes to keep track of the servos , saw schematic for one once, the mechanic’s hair was graying as we perused it
A “thumbs up!” isn’t enough. Love the comment. Thanks for having a sense of humor.
Bought a restored one for wife. It was so nice she was afraid to drive it, so I sold it. All black with black/white interior.
This one is too far gone to be worth it. You can buy a really nice one for far less than you would sink into this pile.
Wish I still had a garage and I’d buy that Ford in a heartbeat.I’ve always been fascinated by the moving parts in that car and the 58-60 Lincoln convertibles. I might never get to drive down the road in the flip top but at least I could say I owned one even for a little while. Don’t really see enough of this one to decide.
These are not rocket science. They aren’t that hard to fix when broken. You just need to use a little common sense.
Always draws a crowd at a car show when the owner operates the top. It’s a really neat to watch.
I agree, Carbob. The first time I saw a ’57 like this was at a restaurant in northern Minnesota. The restaurant had large windows, and I was sitting at a table with my family. A guy drove a spotless all white ’57 into the parking lot right below us. The top was down. After he parked it he put the top up, and I had my first life changing moment. For an eight year old kid it was really neat to watch.
These are cool cars, almost worth enrolling at MIT for a degree in electrical engineering to keep that top working.
In the ’60s, my high school Auto Shop instructor was a Ford man through and through. His main interest at the time was Ford Retractables. He would spend his summers looking for Barn finds and while I was in HS, he found 3 of them. He would bring them back and have the students work on them. I learned a lot about repairing the retractable mechanisms.