Talk about being ahead of the curve, Ford with its Hide-Away-Hardtop was pretty much standing alone with the 1957 introduction of its retractable steel top “Skyliner” convertible. Produced for three years, here’s a 1959 example, the final year of production, located in Windom, Minnesota and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $9,000.
The concept of a folding steel roof emboldened by the three-year run (’57-’59) of this expensive, limited production and complicated car didn’t grace automotive production again for many years. And then, it was found on premium marques like BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, and others. Lincoln borrowed the mechanism concept in ’61 for its new Continental convertible but the top itself was fabric. These Skyliners are seldom seen, there were about 48K produced in its entire three-year run so understanding how the top mechanism works or finding someone who understands how it works, can be a challenge.
The earliest ’59s produced were referred to as the “Fairlane 500 Skyliner” but the name was quickly changed to “Galaxie 500 Skyliner”. Neither the images nor the text provided in the listing reveal which model name this Skyliner utilizes. Actually, the listing images are only fair so it’s hard to get a thorough, complete look at this Ford. The body seems pretty straight but there appears to be some rust percolating in the passenger side door and lower quarter as well as the lower edge of the hood. Beyond that, the two-tone finish still looks reasonably sound, though quite flat. All of the trim is present and the glass looks good too. There are no images of the top in the lowered position and the seller states that he has not had the top down. And frankly, that’s the 800 lb. gorilla with a Skyliner, that folding retractable steel top; it’s a neat concept but a very complicated electro-mechanical operation.
Well at least I won’t be let down by the interior, it has all of the requisite stuff scattered about, including the essential cardboard box gracing the back seat. Speaking of the seats, they are worn and torn and will need to be reupholstered. The carpet is coming apart and will require replacement too, no idea beyond that as the pictures are limited and there’s no provided description; a look at the floor pans would be helpful. The instrument panel, from what can be spied, looks complete.
Under the hood is a “Thunderbird” V8 that is either a 332 or 352 CI unit, providing 225 or 300 gross HP, respectively. Again no details though the seller claims that this Skyliner runs and drives. The seller adds, “to all of you dreamers this is a old car that needs work to B roadworthy”. There is an automatic transmission present but it could be either a two-speed “Fordomatic” or a three-speed “Cruise-O-Matic”. The seller does state, emphatically, that this Ford has inoperative brakes so I guess a test drive is out of the question.
Unique design but the Skyliner always seemed like a car for individuals that wanted a Skyliner and not just a convertible. While the top-up experience in the Skyliner is more refined than a conventional convertible, the top-down experience, the entire reason for a convertible, is about the same. And then there’s that pesky electro-mechanical mechanism of jacks, motors, relays, solenoids, locks and 600 feet of wire to understand. The seller indicates that he is firm on his price for this car. Seems to me he should be a little firmer on the thoroughness and details of his listing considering the nature of this Ford. So, how about you, if you wanted the drop-top experience, would you pursue a Ford Skyliner or aim towards a traditional convertible?
Jay Leno’s Garage has an episode with his ’65 Lincoln, where he is with “the guy” who is the expert on these Ford retractable roof mechanisms.
It’s on Youtube, it’s a fun watch, but it might make you think twice about buying such a car….
True – some years back I got a personal close-up demonstration of the mechanism on a pristine ’59 Skyliner at a show. Truly fascinating to look at but it’s bound to be a complete nightmare once something goes wrong.
And if anyone thinks that massive trunk offers lots of cubic capacity; well think again once the top goes down…!
I’ve watched one of these tops in action, and while they are complicated, they’re not hard to understand conceptually. I think the problem would be getting parts if any of the motors or limit switches were missing or bad.
The motors can probably be rebuilt? The switches are a another matter. It would take someone with a bit of electrical knowhow? To fix one up when something goes inoperable. One thing I have never seen or heard of is one being stuck in mid air. As long as you are down or maybe raised it is not any worse than any other convertible with a top problem?
Never been a fan of the Skyliner , mainly because of the long trunk area – like the old business coupes , it just seems out of proportion to me . The 59 Galaxie with the Skyliner styled roofline is one of my favorite designs from the 50’s ; I’m still kicking myself for passing on a turquoise 2 door hardtop over 30 years ago !
We had one when I was a kid, I’m not sure of the year. All I remember was the top being up, like this one, and not working. We drove it like that and never could get the top to budge
A quick search of ’59 Skyliner dashes show some with “Fairlane” on the glove box only. Some show both with the Galaxie badge just below on the dash like this one for sale. Others show just the Galaxie badge with an absent Fairlane script. Perhaps this is the trasitional identifier.
Nice looking car and not in too bad of shape. I love the dashboard!
Considering how few were made and unique they are I hope someone snags it up and does a full restoration. I love old iron of all types and hate to see any of it lost and sent to the scrap yard. I think this car has the potential.
Piros1; you can be 100% sure this one will not be sent to scrapping. A Skyliner need be in really, really bad condition before it’s deemed not worthy to preserve
Hi, I did buy this 59 Ford Skyliner,Unique Classics, was selling it, I paid 8,500., the car has new ties, new gas tank and fuel pump, the box in the back seat is a new headliner, the brakes master cylinder cap broken off the car is now in West Allis WI., in my garage.
Are you looking to sell it?
I can remember when the cars came out you could drive by the local Ford dealer on Sunday and see these cars in various top up or down positions. This ended up as being another Edsel. The trunk space was deceiving, it was about the size of a small suitcase.
Typo? 600 feet of wiring? More likely 60 feet i would think.
Though what is the condition of those wires ater 60+ years?
& does the roof system actually work on this car?
I would imagine plenty of water leaks even when new.
& I suppose no manual raise/lower failsafe backup here.
Not a typo, there is actually just over 600 feet of wiring in one of these things. Lots of primitive, non solid state parts, and switches in one of these, and therefore lots of wiring running back and forth. They are quite sturdy and water tight when in good shape. I’m sure the wiring and top in this one would need plenty of work. There is a crankable failsafe if the top fails while going up or down.
I’m willing to bet the author was being a bit sarcastic about the 600 feet… cool cars but certainly not for everyone.
Not a typo. It actually has a bit over 600 feet of wiring.
Worked on one of these back in 1970 working in a Ford shop, definitely 100’s of feet of wiring. Took me and another tech about 4 days to get everything to work correctly. He was a tech that worked on these when new.
Used to work with a guy that at one time worked at a Ford garage. One day he told me a story about drawing the short straw when one of these came in with a problem. Even with all the manuals and test equipment he said it took him weeks to get it working right. Apparently all the switches etc had to be exact or the top was at risk of twisting or getting damaged. He said it was a real horror story, for after he got the first one working he got every one after that to fix right up to the day he quit.
Before I got retired ( not by choice) I worked with a woman that has a Mitsubishi with that retractable hardtop. She was having some issues with the top retracting. Seems there’s only one known guy that works on them and he’s several states away. That’s bad, I’m sure the Ford would be worse.
By the way, isn’t that hood ornament something else?
These have always been one of my favorite cars. The rear deck on these differ from other 59 Ford Fairlane/Galaxies in that the rear end of the trunk lid is on top on these models and all others it drops down to near the bumper. They usually have a plastic basket in the trunk for storage purposes when top down. Nice ones are going for $50k or more, so there is room for some restoration work on this one. There was a butt load of options available on these cars. This one doesn’t appear to very well loaded with options.
I still want one of these but this is not the one for me.
God bless America
Joe, 600 feet of wire is not a typo. There may be a little bit less than 600 feet, but not much. There are limit switches all over the place to tell the relay system which motor should run at what time.
My Dad had a 57 in his junkyard back in the day, so I poked around it a few times. It was a parts car, but it eventually found its’ way to a collector in the Pittsburgh area.
As far as I know, you are right about no backup plan if it doesn’t work or sticks half way. The seller says that they have not tried to put the top down, likely for that reason.
These a fail safe crank mechanism is the top sticks going up or down.
Quote: “The earliest ’59s produced were referred to as the “Fairlane 500 Skyliner” but the name was quickly changed to “Galaxie 500 Skyliner.”
No it wasn’t. There were no Galaxie 500s of any kind until 1962. These would have been “Galaxie Skyliners” once Galaxie became the new top trim level partway through the model year. They still had Fairlane 500 badging on the rear deck but had Galaxie badging on the rear quarter panels. Prior to that, “Fairlane 500” was used on the rear quarters as well as the rear deck.
Quote: “There is an automatic transmission present but it could be either a two-speed “Fordomatic” or a three-speed “Cruise-O-Matic”.
No, it would be either a 3-speed Fordomatic or 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic. The new 2-speed Fordomatic introduced in ’59 was not used with the V8s and the original Ford-O that was used is erroneously thought to be a 2 speed because it starts off in second gear in normal driving (Dr selector position). The Cruise-O-Matic was basically the same transmission but would start in first gear, not second, though there was an additional selector position where it would start in second if so desired.
One addition: the 2 speed auto was used with the new small block V8 for a while, beginning with the 1962 intermediate-sized Fairlane, but was not used with the FE series engines like the one in this car. So it would not have had the 2-speed.
Was there anything to prevent 1 from operating the roof while moving or when the car was shut off(kill the battery!)?
The switch should have had a protective “flip” cover over it, so 1 did not accidentaly or mistakenly press it.
I wonder how much modern tech could simplify/reduce the # components & wiring – wireless?
Camaro Joe…..
You mentioned what a nightmare it would be if it got stuck halfway. That’s exactly what happened to me. I was 17, didn’t know too much mechanically about cars. I was more into style. I had a 1962 Lincoln Continental convertible. Beautiful car, white, white top, blue leather interior. Any way, I was putting the top down and literally, right in the middle of operation, it stopped. Trunk open, top half folded sticking up in the air. My father, who was a mechanic, spent two hours with a friend of his trying to figure out what was wrong. I was so upset I thought the car would never work again. Finally, they got it working. The operation of one of these tops is, you pull a T-lever under the dash. The trunk opens and a flap flips out. Then the windshield screws automatically unscrew and the top starts it’s decend into the trunk. Once folded completely in the trunk the trunk lid drops and you have a clean roofless vehicle. To raise the top, same thing, just in reverse. Pull the T-lever and watch the whole operation in reverse. Fun to watch. Fun to have, but, you really need to have good mechanical knowledge if you plan on owning one of these. I forget the guys name who was on Jay Leno, but he is very knowledgeable and VERY expensive.
Brings back memories. I was a little tyke and always begged my father to go see the “new” models each fall. We were at the Ford dealer and I think it was either the new 1958 or 1959 models that just arrived. The salesman showed my dad a retractable and drove a new one into the service area that was closed for the day and proceeded to demonstrate how neat the top worked, trying to sell my father on the merits of a hard top convertible vs the vinyl topped convertible.
I was so excited that he even was looking at at convertible. Demonstration underway, the top stopped midway, almost vertical. The salesman kept saying “it will work, it will work” of course it never moved past that vertical position. My father said nothing, grabbed my hand, turned on his heels and walked away.
I was crushed. He never did buy a convertible, so of course, I now own a convertible and have owned several over my lifetime.
Funny how we are affected by these childhood experiences.
I can still clearly see that poor Ford with its’ top stuck in the up position.
I remember visiting the local Ford dealer in 1957 when the first model was released. Our dealer had the first one around. It had just arrived off the truck. I was with my dad. He walked around the car and finally settled his gaze on the window sticker. I will always remember his comment. $2900 for a Ford! Who knew that would be one heck of a deal?
My dad had a 57 new, there are 26 motors and switches wired in series. We had the non completed cycle issue with the top down caused by one of the motors in the cycle burned out. There was no fail safe, if one component failed in the sequence thats where it all stopped (either) in the up or down cycle. The fail safe was you could reverse the cycle and go back to the up or down position til you got to the dealer for hopefully a warranty repair. Only happened once. Dad paid 2800 for a 5600 listed car in Feb of 58, bought 2 flipped 1. I begged him not to sell it 6yrs later for 850. Had a 245hp 4bbl tbird v8, dual exhaust with the PNDLR 2 spd fordomatic trans and ps, pb, am pushbutton radio. 1960 and later tbirds and continentals used the same mechanics/electrix for the soft tops and had less problems cause the ragtops were lighter. The trunk: small metal box for 2 suitcases with top down, entire trunk available with top up.
My family had a 59 Galaxie when I was a kid. The one we had was a loaded sedan with ford-o-matic and 352 v8 very good car had it for 7 years, sold it to a friend who drove it for a number of years longer.
A set of 1964 Ford/Tbird wheelcovers inside??!! I’m sold!
My first car was a 59 Ford SUNliner, purchased with newspaper route money for $50. Far less of a hassle to disable a power convertible top to manually put it up or down. Just a few hoses and motors.
Are you looking to sell it?