Imagine buying a piece of property and finding an old car tucked away inside a shed. That’s what happened here, only the old auto turned out to be a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner, aka retractable hardtop. The seller doesn’t know much about the car and may not have decided whether he wants to sell it. In his words, “I’m looking to do something with it.” Located in O’Fallon, Missouri, the seller has posted the car here on Facebook Marketplace for $1 and could be just testing the waters. Thanks for the tip on this one, Barn Finder Snotty.
Although a lot of Ford’s resources were focused on launching their new division, Edsel, in 1958, they were also refining the retractable hardtop the company had debuted the year before. This technically complicated yet interesting automobile would see a production of nearly 50,000 copies before Ford moved on from the idea in 1960. The roof mechanism was marketed as the “Hide-Away Hardtop” and was unique to Ford-branded products, and not on Continental, Lincoln, Mercury, or Edsel vehicles.
According to the seller, he believes the car has been in hiding since the 1980s. What got it there isn’t known or what it would take to get it going again. In 1958, three choices of V8 engines were available to the Skyliner in 292, 332, and 352 cubic inches. Whatever motor is in play is paired with a column-shifted automatic transmission, not the push-button variety in the middle of the horn on the new Edsel.
It’s hard to tell how much of an issue rust could have been over the years and the black paint is thoroughly covered in dirt, dust, and whatever else will accumulate inside an old shed. The interior is certainly dirty, but we don’t know if whatever worked on the exterior found its way inside the Ford. NADA believes a really sharp 1958 Skyliner could be a $50,000 car, but the seller probably looked that up before putting up the post.
Someone put a chrome air cleaner on it, so it may have had some tweaking. What a find!
Wish to have chance of making offer on Ford Skyliner
A problem unique to long stored Skyliners: The trunk lid screws down, if the screws rust in place, not easy to access them to get the trunk open. Ask me how I know.
That said, if I had a properly equipped workshop and empty garage, I would take this on for the right price.
Yep a lot of work but what a beauty if you can handle the misery of the electrical system. $1??? Testing the waters?? Bull$it…is it for sale or isnt it. Like Fred W said, if the price is right, it would be a good project. From the lousy pics, it looks decent. Concrete floor. Sounds like Fred has some experience. The prices need to come down from the stratosphere. Good luck and Happy motoring.
Same as the doofus with the VW vans, testing the water at 25k for a chopped up panel van. Couple of idiots.
I have found that if things line hardtop screws, continental convertible screws, and door latches on many cars will free up if you hit the general area with a rubber hammer.
I have found that if you hit the area of the rusted screw, it may break loose. This works as well on Continental covertibles.
Would you buy a car from a guy name Lefty?
If the price was right. ;)
I’d like to see the seller “test the waters” with some soap and a sponge. Put air in the tires and let’s see what he’s really got! In good shape this would be a sweet cruiser.
If the top never moved, I would still drive it and love it.
My favorite all time car. A friend has one same color as this one, same year, but his is in perfect condition, a trophy winner.
This would make a nice project over an extended period of time. I’m already to deep in two other projects right now.
God bless America
Would you buy a car from a guy name Lefty?
Or eat at a place called “Mom’s” or play poker with a guy called “Doc”?
I prefer the 1958 over the 1957 or 1959.
There was a used car lot here in Milwaukee when I was a preteen, that had one of these. I tried talking my Mom into buying it. She didn’t want a car almost as old as her.
The name of the lot? PICKLESVILLE! I am not joking!