The 1950s was a decade of gimmicks in the automotive industry. A case-in-point is the Ford Skyliner, a “retractable hardtop” whose roof disappeared into the trunk at a flip of a switch. It was in production from 1957 to 1959 and was technically complicated. The vehicle was far from a sales bust at nearly 50,000 copies in three years. This ’57 is a (barely) running project that someone else will need to complete a restoration upon. Located in New Gloucester, Maine, this nod to 1950s glitz is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $15,000 (a tip from Barn Finder Bruce M).
In 1957 and 1958, the Skyliner would be marketed as a Fairlane 500, shifting to the new Galaxie 500 in 1959. Branded as a Hideaway Hardtop, it was a thing of beauty to watch, the top folding and retracting into the rear section of the Ford, mostly eliminating a viable storage area in the trunk. It was only sold by Ford, not Mercury, Lincoln, or Edsel (during its brief tenure). More of them were sold in 1957 at 20,700 units. It took a collection of wires and switches to pull off the disappearing act.
We’re told this project runs and drives, but only around the yard. The seller doesn’t say which engine is under the hood. But as an original, it could be either a 272, 292, or 312 cubic inch V8. We assume the transmission is the Cruise-O-Matic automatic. The claimed mileage is 78,000, but there are no records to back it up.
The interior of this Ford may be okay, but some bodywork has already been done, given the application of grey primer in many places. We don’t see the metal trunk lid and have no idea if any of the complex wiring is present. The latter would be critical to do “show and tell” at your local Cars & Coffee.
Wow. I would not have taken that apart.
What are we looking at here? The first picture looks like it could be a Skyliner but then the others are clearly of a Ranchero. I don’t do Facebook so I can’t view the original ad.
Sure you can. I don’t do FB and I just click on the X above the login box and I can see all of the pictures.
One would hope that the numerous missing parts are still with the car. Maine, salt country, and the 57-58s were notorious for the eyebrows over the headlights being rust magnets. Small wonder there’s so much primer on what was a powder blue car (probably 2 tone as well). Was it a chicken wire and newspaper bondo job or did they actually replace metal properly?
Hey Fox, It is a Skyliner for sure and I know the rear of the Skyliner was stretched to accommodate the roof, but maybe you hit on something. Are the rear panels Ranchero panels? That would have saved extra stampings at the factory.
Clearly it’s not a Ranchero, but it may end up being a Ranchero!
had one,roof never worked,fix one relay ,then another one goes
I don’t see the bank of relays in the rear shot. It appears to have had everything removed. I restored on of these in the late 70’s. This one scares me. It will be a tremendous challenge to anyone who picks up this project.
I have 2 of the ’57 Skyliners. Nice cars as long as you become familiar with mechanicals and can maintain them. Invest in manuals and you can enjoy many years of trouble free skylining!
That car has an awful big trunk to fit that roof.Better than leaving it in the garage.
Some minor points:
1. There was no Galaxie 500 until 1962. The ’59 Skyliner was a Fairlane 500 early in the model year and then a Galaxie.
2. I’m not so sure the 272 was ever offered in ’57 Fairlanes including the Skyliner. Ford’s brochures indicate it was confined to the Custom/Custom 300 series with the 292 serving as the base Fairlane/Fairlane 500 V8. The Skyliner brochure dated 4/57 (the car wasn’t offered until mid model year) shows the available engines were the 292 and 312. An online search shows no ’57 Fairlanes for sale or on auction with a 272. You can find Custom 300s with it, though.
3. No Cruise-O-Matic until ’58. This car would have a Fordamatic.
I once owned a ’57 Custom 300 4-door and did some research into old sales brochures and the parts catalog. One ’57 Ford brochure offered “any engine with any transmission in any car” except for the Thunderbird which didn’t offer the six cylinder or the 272 V8. That’s evidently how some plain Jane Customs left the factory with the supercharged 312 and three speed overdrive.
The brochure for the ’57 Customs shows the supercharged 312 was a factory option along with the 312 4V and the 272. What wasn’t offered was the 292, which again may show that Ford was positioning it as a Fairlane-only engine that year. Of course in those days you could probably special order any engine/transmission if the dealer was amenable.