Ford was on a roll in the 1950s. Sales were good and that provided money for research and development. Those efforts produced interesting cars like the retractable hardtop/convertible, known in marketing circles as the “Hide-Away Hardtop.” It was initially intended for the Lincoln Continental, but when it was determined it would push the price of an already expensive car into the stratosphere, it was shifted to the Ford product line instead. This first-year example from 1957 looks as though it’s been sitting outside for some time and is in rough condition. Located in Dudley, Missouri, it’s likely to be a challenge to restore but the bidding here on eBay has only reached $1,184.
Sold as the Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner (not to be confused with the Sunliner convertible), the retractable hardtop would see the light of day between 1957-59. While it was not a runaway sales sensation, the fact that nearly 50,000 were built during those three years provided a base for Ford to recoup at least some of the cost of putting a car like this into production. It was only the second time a volume car of this type was built (Peugeot tried it 20 years earlier) and the only one to reach annual assemblies in the five-digit range.
Though the execution of the retractable hardtop was mechanically complicated, some say it was remarkably reliable in its day. And it consumed a lot of trunk space, so it was difficult to carry both passengers and luggage at the same time. The marvel of 1950s technology began with the flick of a switch that folded down the front of the roof and retracted it under the rear decklid. The Skyliner used six or seven (depending on the model year) reversible electric motors, four lift jacks, a series of relays, ten limit switches, and solenoids, four locking mechanisms for the roof and two locking mechanisms for the trunk lid. Also, 610 feet of wiring tucked away into every nook and cranny.
The seller’s car is one of 20,766 built-in 1957, the best sales year the car would enjoy, helping Ford to beat Chevrolet in market dominance that year. This car was listed on eBay on behalf of a friend, so limited information is provided. It’s said to be mostly complete, but we don’t know what the missing part entails (other than the rear bumper) and if any of it is key to the retractable portion of the automobile. Not do we get a good look at anything to determine the amount of rust or damage, but what we do see of the interior does not exude optimism.
The car doesn’t run but has a V8 engine with a 3-speed manual transmission. Ford offered several motors for the Fairlane 500 series that year, so it could be either a 272, 292, and 312 cubic inch powerplant capable of between 190 and 245 hp. The design of the car added more weight than a conventional Fairlane 500 would carry, so hopefully one of the larger V8s is in this car. The Skyliner helped bring folks into Ford showrooms in 1957 and — as a result — Ford sold 10% more cars than Chevy did. People wanted to see this engineering marvel in action, whether they bought one is another matter. Along with the Thunderbird, the first-year retractable helped give Ford a “dream car” kind of image. Even TV lawyer Perry Mason and then-President Dwight Eisenhower drove one!
One correction: Although Eisenhower was given production Skyliner #1 by
HF II, it was said he never drove it to anyone’s knowledge and it was sold before he even left office 1/61.
Ike was always a Chrysler man, and a personal friend with Lynn A. Townsend, president of Chrysler Corp. I have copies of the original records of all the white house garage “inhabitants”, and there is no mention of a 1957 Ford convertible. So I doubt Ike or the government actually took delivery.
The moment Ike was elected, Chrysler’s Special Products Div began making arrangements for 2 special Crown Imperial limousines to be completed by the coachbuilder Derham in Rosemont PA. I’m familiar with both cars, I owned car #2, and I’ve driven #1, the limo with the opening sunroof in the rear seating area. That car is now on display at the Eisenhower farm’s garage, in Gettysburg, PA.
In the late 1980s I made arrangements for David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon Eisenhower to ride in Ike’s actual car, I drove them to a fundraising event at the Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center. They loved the experience. I have a photo of both of them standing up thru the sunroof.
Here are original photos of the cars, taken by Derham prior to delivery to the White House: http://www.web.imperialclub.info/Yr/1955/Limo/Eisenhower/index.htm
Is this still for sale? How do I find out?
Could you send me an email lisa@uniscreen.co.nz
Love The 57 Ford, Just Not This One. The roof is a nightmare and the BIG “B” Pillar looks outta place. $$$$$$ To Fix and $$$$ To Keep It Working. Hardtop or Coupe anyday over this.
Used to work with a guy that at one time was a Ford Mechanic. At one time we talked about the Skyliners and the roof mechanism. Apparently he was low man on the totem pole and drew the first one to repair. To paraphrase him “It was a horror story” to finally get it working correctly but he eventually did. After that, he drew every one that came into that shop.
IMO they were neat to watch go up and down, when they worked but keeping them working was potentially expensive.
shows how much you know sam. the roof looks like a chopped custom and the roof can be repaired with some patients. they are awesome cars. i have 2 of them.
There’s a simple reason the ’57 Ford outsold the ’57 Chevy by a wide margin: They looked better. They still do today, no matter that collectors are paying crazy prices for the Chevies.
I agree and that also goes for ’55 and ’56 as well!
This is uglier than what my dogs leave in the yard. UGH!
Never did like the the big boxy backend with a slight tilt towards the middle.
don’t look in the mirror skorzeny.
I came across this one on Highway 220 in Oak Level,VA
last week.
Future Barn Find.
I had one in 64 or 65 love the car High school squealing tires cop chase me go around corrner put top down never new it was me
I like all 1957 Fords for the styling, but the rag top is my dream car. White on white with blue or black interior, 312 2bbl 3 on the tree with overdrive.
I’m not surprised at the lack of bidding for this retractable. Repair of the roof would be nearly impossible due to the scarcity of parts and the investment that would be needed. It would probably be a good parts donor for another Skyliner.
I’m in the group that loves these cars. The 59 is my favorite though. Why people leave these old cars (any model) out to deteriorate is beyond my understanding. In this condition it would probably be best to use this one as a parts car. I met a fellow in Provo Utah back in the early 80’s that had one sitting in his back yard that was his wife’s car when they married some years before, I asked him if he would sell it, but no he was going to restore “someday”.
God bless America
I’ll take the ’66 Imperial!
The Imperial has the glass over the headlights.
There’s a bunch of interesting cars there,& I think that
they’re all for sale.
The best part is that they’re NOT on my property!
Please
1 Some body explain that interior shot. Looks like a big hole in the tranny hump – and I cannot locate anything that might cast such a shadow. Blame it on my 85+ yo eyes.
Cut out for aftermarket Hurst Indy floor shifter for the Borg Warner manual three speed?
Russ: You look old enough you should remember the top was engineered for the CONTINENTAL, not to be confused with Lincoln. Ford even created a stand alone division for their ultimate luxury car line.
David, I saw the hole in the transmission tunnel as well. I agree with other comments this is probably a parts car donation vehicle
Ford motor company actually created an entire dept to work on service and repair these retractible roofs cars from 57-59. 6 motors, 6 relays and 600ft of wiring. Trying to get anyone who knows what they’re doing resroring one of these, these days would be a big challenge. When they work theyre great. Oh boy.
HC,
I was working at a Ford dealer in 1971 and I was “selected” to go to the Retract/Tbird/Contimental convertible top factory course. I still have all the manuals.
These cars are actually very easy to repair and maintain, provided you have the manuals [easy to find repros], and someone else has not screwed with it already. The entire mechanism and electrical system is designed to go from step to step to step until it’s either up or down. Where ever it stops, is where the problem lies.
And trunk access [if it’s not working] is easy, all you need is a 9/16 socket on a 6″ extension with a socket wrench. Up inside the wheel arches can be found a 9/16 bolt head for each side of the trunk lid. Removing the bolts allows the trunk lid to be raised up a couple of inches, allowing the 2 main lifting screw jacks to be disconnected from the trunk lid. Then the lid can be opened up fully, allowing full access to everything. .
I owned a black 57. So sad that I had to get rid of it as I couldn’t afford it. Was such a fun vehicle and the girls just loved it. Once in awhile the top would overshoot the windshield but that really never bothered us much. Couple girls would get out and lift it back
I found one sitting derelict in a driveway in Poinciana, Florida (near Orlando). That was mid 90’s, and a friend wanted me to switch gears and dump my MGB project and get an American car. Car was really cool – had pinstriping on the dashboard and traces of a 50’s custom. I knew to run away, and did. All that wiring was exposed with no insulation present.
Friend has a restored one. Sounds really cool with glass packs, top works, but needs to be exercised to keep it working, at least that is his theory. But, what my father would call a “rattle trap”, noting that many ’50’s cars were as well, put together in a hurry, nuts, bolts and screws not tightened, or missing completely, and even one “restored” to “better than new”, rattles and squeaks in a way that would not be acceptable to today’s buyers of new cars.
Like many cars offered here, you can buy a better one for what it would cost to fix this one.
We used to watch Dragnet with B. Crawford(?) “driving” down the road in the squad car, hands steering left & right, my dad said, to show the car was bring driven. Enter my 55 & 57 TBirds which I invited Pop to drive. I believe the car was showing him who was the driver and who was the drivee, the way his hands were going left & right.
Broderick Crawford starred in, “Highway Patrol”. Jack Webb starred in, “Dragnet”.
i had the pleasure ofmeeting the man who was responsible for the design and wiring of the skyliner, ben smith, when i was an acountant for g.w. motors in winchester, viriginia. this was in the 1980’s.
I was either 12 or 13 when the 1959 Skyliner came out. I went with my dad to the local Ford dealer they had it featured on the floor in black. I ended up pleading with my dad to buy it but he told me that it was too expensive so he bought the the 2 door hardtop as his first new car.
All of the new cars that I personally bought were always convertibles through 1974.
I know where there’s one of these that is on a small stack of pallets. Both ends are touching the ground…