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Hide-Away Hardtop! 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner

Automotive designers and marketers worked overtime in the 1950s and 1960s, coming up with new and interesting products. One of the most “far-out” may have been the retractable hardtop, a Ford innovation of 1957-59. With the press of a button (and the use of a complicated network of wires and switches), the metal roof would disappear into the trunk of the automobile. Ford sold nearly 50,000 copies before moving on to other things. This 1957 Skyliner, part of the Fairlane 500 lineup, is one of these cars and looks to have been sitting for a good while. Though we’re told it runs, it will need a lot of work. Located on a dealer’s lot in Gray Court, South Carolina, this marvel of “space age” technology is available here on eBay for $28,000 (or click Make Offer).

The retractable roof mechanism, marketed as the “Hide-Away Hardtop” but branded as the Skyliner, was unique to Ford-badged products, as such was not offered on Continental, Lincoln, Mercury, or Edsel vehicles. The Skyliner’s retractable top operated via a complex set of hardware that folded the front of the roof and then retracted the whole thing under the rear decklid. The Skyliner top used seven reversible electric motors (six for 1959 models), four lift jacks, a series of relays, 10 limit switches, 10 solenoids, four locking mechanisms for the roof, and two locking mechanisms for the trunk lid. In addition, some 610 feet of wiring was required. Ford peddled 20,766 of them in 1957, the car’s best year out of three.

A big drawback to the Skyliner was that when the top was tucked away in the trunk, there was virtually no room left for luggage or shopping bags. So, if you needed to haul stuff, you had to either use the back seat or keep the top up. The buying public probably caught onto that shortcoming, so Ford elected not to continue the Skyliner when it redesigned its cars for 1960. Not much is known about the seller’s auto other than it may have just 25,000 miles (but more likely 125,000) and one of its owner’s names may have been “Snuffy” or that was the name of the automobile.

This Ford has a 292 cubic inch V8 with an automatic transmission. We’re told it’s a very solid running car, but it looks more than a barn find from decades ago. No mention is made of the important stuff, like does that retractable roof still work? The body looks fair, and the paint was two-tone at one point. The interior will require some attention as the aftermarket seat covers on the front seat look to be stretched all out of shape. The seller believes the asking price to be a fair one, but you may (or may not) need a bank account as large as Henry Ford’s to restore the automobile to its 1957 glory!

Comments

  1. Avatar RayT

    Once, I talked to a man who had restored a Retractable. He said that restoring and adjusting the top mechanism were nightmarish jobs. His worked by the time I saw the car, and worked very well. It was fascinating to watch.

    I believe Peugeot offered a retractable top on one of its models in the 1930s. I’d be willing to bet it was even more complicated, if such a thing is possible.

    Just my opinion: the dealer is incredibly optimistic.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Butch Smith

      Yes, RayT. Peugeot introduced their retractable hardtop in 1935 on the 401 model. Later on the 402 model. A very aerodynamic body style. The top was one piece with no breaks or folds. It dropped into the large trunk. Both electric and manual hard crank options available. The were called the Eclipse.

      Like 5
    • Avatar phil64

      I saw some years ago a 402 Eclipse and i filmed the operation ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqAhyz_hhGU

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Mark

    For a premium vehicle I reckon the back looks more like a Ranchero with a tonneau than a convertible.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Ricardo Ventura

      Exactly.

      Like 2
  3. HoA Howard A Member

    My late 2nd cousin, Mickey, had a ’57 retractable when I was a kid. It was red, white and black in the early 60s. Naturally, it was fascinating to a 6 year old kid to watch, even though, an open top car was a poor choice in Wisconsin, but the hardtop was the best of both worlds. I remember it looking like new. Well, kind of lost track as I grew up, became a pre-teen, and more car savvy, on a visit, I asked Mickey, what ever happened to the retractable, thinking it would be long gone, he said, it’s still in the garage, but not drivable. When we went to look at it, I was horrified at the condition. The headlights had rusted out of the fenders, the doors sagged, big rust holes, it was a mess, HOWEVER, the motor still ran, and the top still worked, a true testament to Fords engineering at the time.
    Cars like this, in this condition, are probably the most likely to be restored, just because it’s so unusual. I bet if ol’ cousin Mick was alive, he’d love to drive one again.

    Like 9
  4. Avatar Fred W

    Bought one around 1997, a fixer upper. Had the non functional top working in about two weeks – not fun, but with a wiring diagram, quite possible. Did the interior myself and had the body done by a shop. Sold it and found out two years later, at a car show looking at an identical one, that mine had been totaled by a tractor trailer.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Chuck Simons

    I’m sure many of the readers have seen this. But maybe some have not. Lucy and Desi showing how the retractable works…(he’s condescending and she’s just rude) I was always amazed how that fron flap is engineered to come up and not hit someone’s head.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0kDd1CcPA

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Hotrodbuilder

    I bought and restored one in the late 70’s. It was a Northern California car with very little rust. It was a one owner and had been sitting for 7 years. It was originally an ugly mustard yellow and I changed it to Ford medium bright yellow and wimbledon white. It had the 312 4 barrel motor. I was surprised by onlookers cheering and applauding when I raised or lowered the top in shopping center parking lots. Ended up selling through Hemmings to a buyer in Japan. He owned an exotic bird farm. Always wished I had kept it.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar john Member

    I have never seen that clip from Lucy and Dezi, very entertaining

    Like 0

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