Convertible cars have been with us since the car was invented. The first car had no top whatsoever, then in the 1920s, cloth or leather was used. The retractable hard top was invented about 100 years ago, but it was an idea that never reached production. (Tell us in the comments if you know who invented it, for what car, and for bonus points, find an illustration of it. *Jim A mostly won this quiz; here is the illustration.) That top used a series of springs; later, in 1935, Peugeot introduced its 402 Eclipse Decapotable. Chrysler trailed in 1941 with its Thunderbolt concept car, and then of course the Playboy arrived on the scene in 1947. But it took Ford to popularize the retractable hard top, with its Skyliner in 1957. Here on eBay is a two-owner 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Retractable, bid to $10,100 with no reserve. This Skyliner is located in Surprise, Arizona.
The retractable top uses solenoids, lifts, motors, relays, and many linear feet of wire to tuck the top into the trunk while the driver remains at the wheel (ideally). This one works! The Coral Sand paint is original except for the driver’s side fender and passenger’s side rear quarter where the seller says poor repairs were conducted at some point. Though it has numerous dents, dings, scratches, and thin spots, the car has clearly been waxed to within an inch of its life by a caring owner. Only one area of rust is noted, in the lower passenger’s fender. The floors and trunk are excellent, and both still have some original paint. The undercarriage is said to be dirty but solid.
The interior was apparently too shy for photos, but a glimpse can be seen here (and the seller will send photos if you want). The seats were originally brown, recovered in cream, and now are barred from baring themselves, hidden by loose animal-print covers. These seats are electric; no word on whether they still work. The headliner and carpets are MIA. Suffice it to say, this portion of the car may require a do-over. The seller notes that the windows work, but a few handles and knobs are missing.
Apparently, the seller has owned this car for many years without realizing that the motor is a 312 cu. in. Y-block. He was told by the prior owner that the motor was replaced with a 292 V8 but according to the casting number, it’s a 312. In any case, the seller says the carburetor is a two-barrel, while the VIN indicates it should be a four-barrel. The transmission is a three-speed Ford-O-Matic. The car runs well, shifting neatly through all the gears. The brakes have been refreshed, the fuel pump is new, and the radiator has been re-cored. The power steering unit leaks and the seller advises replacing the suspension bushings, and while you’re under there, you can install the new shocks that come with the car. The odometer reads 96,000. Here’s a comparable high-mileage driver/project Skyliner that’s less original than our subject car, with an asking price of $27,995. I know which one I would rather have; how about you?
What a awesome find I don’t have the money to give her what she needs I would just drive and enjoy her as she is then pass her on to someone else for restoration
It looks like a child’s attempt at drawing a 1957 Bel Air
funny, it outsold the ’57 chevy, ha aha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha …….oh geez…….
Coral Sand and Colonial White. Great ’50s colors for sure. My grandmother had a ’57 Fairlane 500 4-door hardtop in Willow Green and Colonial White. It had the 312 also. Beautiful car that she cared for very well, but East Coast salt got the better of it and it was gone by 1975.
In 1922, Ben P. Ellerbeck invented the first manual retractable hardtop system for a Hudson Coupe that never went into production
But his son Vic changed their last name to Edelbrock and the rest is history.
I’ve seem one of the Peugeots; there’s a hole in the side where you put a handle in and wind it to raise/lower the roof. If there’s an older one, I wonder whether it was coachbuilt on something like a Delahaye or Hispano-Suiza chassis?
Yes! I have the image, I will see if we can attach it. I am not very good at that yet….
For word nerds to note, these have a hard top but, with no B pillar, they’re also a hardtop.
Most excellent! It’s a double entendre!
Wow! Would love to have this one!
Wow, it going to need a complete restoration, but what a solid car to work with ! I dont think Ive ever seen a Skyliner in those colors before ; its possible one of only a few built this color
Potential, potential, potential, this car has it in spades. My good friend John C. up in Gun Barrel City has a 58 fully optioned. He bought it at a Mecum auction and won’t tell me how much he paid for it. These cars are fabulous, as Lucy used to say in her commercial when these were new. I tried to buy a real nice 59 last year but someone else beat me out. Any way I’m about as far into this hobby as I’m ever going to get. It’s now time to start getting my things in order.
God Bless America
I always found these to be an engineering wonder for the time. A buddy of mine had a black 57 flip top when we were in high school. That was really a cool ride.
My Grandma had a 1957 Ford Fairlane 2 door hardtop in Grey and Colonial white with grey interior. She bought it in December 1956 off the lot at Santa Monica Ford after her1950 Ford got broadsided and total. She lived through the depression and although the car had a 312 V8 there were no other options. Other than a heater, it did not have P/S, P/B, or even a radio. She loved that car! She drove it until 1964 when she had a stroke and had to give up driving. She was one of those who spent money on everyone but herself.
I’m not really into the overall style, but there are two things about this car I really like: The hard drop-top (in fact, a battery-operated toy also existed around that time, based on this car; I had one as a tiny kid…of course, it didn’t survive me), and the reverse-hinged hood.
Extra cool points granted to the first responder who correctly gives the history of the short-lived hard drop-top, namely what car it was originally meant for, and what happened to it after the ’57 Fairlane.
Tony, I also had the battery powered one as a kid. Also long gone.
1956 continental 1958 and 1959
That’s right. Cool points for you! In addition, the same basic mechanism was carried on with Lincolns into 1967, albeit in a soft-top configuration, which was also the case from ’58.
Originally it was supposed to be ofor the Lincoln
Love the colors. I like them minus the Continental kit and spotlights.
My boss at a body shop had one in 1963.Cool cars.If I remember right,there are 13 electric motors to operate the top.Had big screws to lock in place.