The late Peter Allen penned a song many years ago entitled “Everything Old is New Again.” The automotive industry has encapsulated that theme on many occasions. In the early 2000s, several European and Japanese manufacturers introduced Convertibles with a metal folding roof, trumpeting the development as a triumph of engineering. However, Ford beat them to the punch by over forty years with classics like this 1959 Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner. It presents superbly, and with the range-topping V8 under the hood, it is more than a pretty face. The only thing it needs is a new home, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pnuts for spotting the Skyliner listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Bardstown, Kentucky. The seller set their price for this fabulous Ford at $34,500.
Ford introduced the Skyliner to its Fairlane in 1957, but expanded the model name to the Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner early in the 1959 production run. It would also mark the end of the line for a car featuring what Ford marketed as its “Hide-Away Hardtop.” Featuring an ingenious combination of electric motors, switches, and relays, the entire top folded flat into the trunk. The system provided owners with the weather protection of a Hardtop, but the luxurious feel of a Convertible. However, the feature came at a cost: the Skyliner offers relatively little trunk space with the top retracted. Our featured car is a gem, looking stunning in Inca Gold. The seller doesn’t mention a restoration history, although the presentation suggests it may have undergone a cosmetic refresh at some point. The paint shines beautifully, the panels are laser-straight, and the trim and glass are excellent. The seller doesn’t mention rust, but this underside shot appears to show what might be a developing hole near the upper edge of the image. I could be wrong, and I hope that I am. The narrow whitewalls, spotlight, and chrome fender skirts give this car a classy appearance.
The exterior paint shade sets the theme for this Skyliner’s interior. Trimmed in cloth and vinyl, the Gold, Black, and White upholstered surfaces look excellent. There is no visible wear, suggesting a possible recent retrim. The paint is spotless, and there is no appreciable wheel wear. Lowering the top won’t embarrass the buyer because the overall appearance is first-rate. Adding to the luxurious feel are power windows, a clock, and a pushbutton radio.
It is disappointing that the seller provides no engine bay shots, but they do supply plenty of information about the car’s mechanical specifications. Its first owner went straight for the top shelf, ordering the Skyliner with the most potent V8 available. The 352ci powerplant churns out an official 300hp and 380 ft/lbs of torque. A three-speed automatic transmission handles shifting duties, with this classic also featuring power steering and power brakes. The power and torque figures are quite impressive for a vehicle of this vintage, delivering an effortless motoring experience. Although not stated explicitly, I see nothing to suggest that this Ford is anything but a turnkey proposition.
Although I consider myself primarily a classic car enthusiast, I have never hidden my love for cars wearing a Blue Oval badge. The fact that I was raised in a household where classic Fords often occupied the garage made that almost inevitable. Therefore, I freely admit that I am smitten by this 1959 Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner. Its presentation is superb, and its V8 should provide excellent performance in a 1959 context. The seller’s price looks realistic for a Skyliner of this caliber, and with Ford producing only 12,915 of these classics in 1959, this is your chance to own a relatively rare vehicle. Are you tempted?
Aw man, what a sweetheart, and no corny continental kit, YAY!, even though the retractable had a big caboose too, not like the continental kits. Again, someones sweetheart, and I’m always disappointed seeing wonderful cars like this, with a storage complex in the background. I bet half the doors have classic cars behind them. The Skyliner, by rights, should have been just what folks in northern climates asked for. Open top for the 9 nice days, and a hardtop for the rest. So wha’ happened? Our good friend price, my friends. The Skyliner was almost $3600, the most expensive Ford in ’59 or $400 more than a soft top, and almost a grand more than a regular Galaxie. I know, $400, pfft, we spend that at the grocery store every week, but in ’59, I believe a recession was ending, but that was still a lot of money, for a frivolous feature. They were such beautiful cars, and even has the “Ford rear end sag”, due to inferior rear leaf springs. Ford had such great designers,,,after ’58, that is.
to Howard, not so much a money thing with my relatives, when I was a boy they talked about this car & disliked the trunk bin/space. I never did the math but it looks like half of a regular Ford trunk!
to Howard, I don’t think a retractable is frivolous; but true it’s a pricey feature back then. I own one & it’s just what a northern guy like me wants! I use it in the winter occasionally & it’s warmer inside than my Impala ragtop & cleaning snow off the roof & scraping the rear window is a breeze!
300 HP pulling 5000 lbs. . This thing must get terrible gas mileage. It’s nice though.
my 66 t-bird ragtop that weighed 5k got 12 mpg with a 390 engine, I think 315 Horse. My friend had a 64 Galaxie ragtop which weighed less & had a 352 & he used to get 14 or better on the highway.
What a Wonderful car!! As Adam says it should be a turnkey purchase that the new owner can show with pride, while enjoying a fine ride.. I would have to check with Hagerty as to the price range, but this car looks like a great top level entry into the classic car hobby.
It is no secret what Ford can do, they build fine cars and pickups too. The 59 Retractable (fully loaded) is my favorite all time car. I don’t see factory a/c on this one but vintage a/c can take care of that little problem. I would like to park this one in my driveway, but alas! That’s not going to happen.
God Bless America
The AC on Fords from the late fifties to early sixties was all under dash. This is all I remember since not many around.
really should have pics of the roof in action. this might have been bought at a mecum auction at some point and could now be a flip.
NOT FOR ME! Even though the 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie is on my short list of the world’s most beautiful cars. Even though Ford accomplished an amazing (if a bit impractical) engineering feat, with their “retractible hardtop”. They did so at the cost of the flowing proportionalty of the car, and there is no way to UNsee the ungainly awkwardness of this from either the sides or the rear. But I would indeed LOVE to have a 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Fordor hardtop wirh all of the “toys” including factory A/C and “long distance” AM radio. But I would not want the gas-guzzler big V-8, however. I would want whichever of the more modest V-8 powerplants still could cruise effortlessly up an incline at any full legal highway speed with the air-conditioning on, and without straining. I do not like an under-powered car that sends me into the “slower traffic” lane on the far right whenever I get a stretch of uphill highway; but neither do I wish for one that is overpowered and can burn rubber on command. I drive at reasonable speeds for to-day’s roads, and that is enough for me. Besides, I don’t seek to get taken to the cleaners on gasoline! But a fully-loaded 1959 Galaxie sedan would work for me. Or, a 1960 Edsel.
292 Y block was the smallest cu in., next the 332 FE which had a 2 barrel. I’ve seen a few nice 59 four doors recently on Facebook & ebay, and at reasonable prices, they might still be listed!
This is a much nicer – and earlier – version of the 1959 Skyliner than the later mid model year flat rear window “Thunderbird” styling.
The “Fairlane 500” are even better than the “Galaxie” versions and are even rarer.
352 was, by far, the best engine available in this car. If you want fuel economy, buy a new peanut wagon. If you want style, it’s gonna cost you.
Beautiful car, but I prefer these in two tone.
Bunky, with all due respect, the base 283, 2-barrel, would easily power any Chevrolet in 1957. My point was, there is a “sweet spot” where the power is fully adequate to drive an inclined uphill grade at highway speed, without struggling, with the A/C on fully — and that is ALL of the power I would want. I would not want less, where anemic performance would force me into the “slower traffic” lane on lengthy Interstate inclines. And I don’t need enough power to “show-off” what my car can do “off the line” from zero to sixty, or how much rubber I can lay-down on the pavement when the light turns green. I want a comfortable, sedate cruiser that does what a car needs to do without strain: that’s IT. And that usually is one of the smaller to mid-level V-8s available that’s not the “muscle” one. In a passenger car, I would never need 300 or 350 horsepower or “quad” carburators, simply to roll along the Interstate for hours at about 70 or even 80 m.p.h., or to pass a slow-moving vehicle on a two lane. I like a motor that is smooth and quiet (no “powerful V-8 rumble”, please), and with a reputation for long-lasting reliable service. If you are a teenager at the local “drag-strip” of the later 1960s (in your own mind), being your own “grease-monkey”; then think of me in that same situation as your Dad, who uses his car to commute to the office in a suit-and-tie and return home in time for dinner, and not one of you testosterone-fired hot-rodders. This might make it clearer to those here who see my posts, as to why I prefer four-door sedans or station wagons on the luxury side, bench seats, shift on the column (or on the floor if we are talking 1938 and earlier), and never “sport” or “muscle” cars, or custom wheels. If this were “Happy Days”, I would be Mr. Cunningham, and not Ritchie or Fonzie. GET it now?
Sounds like a Toyota Camry TRD is right up your alley. It’ll do all the things you want & legitimately blow a lot of so-called 60s musclecar legends in the weeds.
Thanks for your input, Mr. Reed.
Now, back to that gorgeous Skyliner.
This is to acemobilesrq: You may be right; HOWEVER, I also want a classic American car, and not an anonymous “jelly bean”. And I intensely dislike steering so low in ratio that it is like driving a bicycle, and that rock-stiff suspension choppy ride which transmits every stone on the road directly into your lower spine! I despise sitting on the end of my spine, with my feet out in front of me, instead of underneath me. I hate that modern build that is especially stubby in the rear, with a “swept-up” line from the front to the back and a deeply sloping windshield: that whole “designed it in a wind-tunnel” architecture is revolting to me. I want a ride that resembles floating on a proverbial cloud and is nearly impervious to rough road conditions. And I like a body-on-frame luxury V-8 rear-wheel-drive “boxy” four door sedan, which I also find attractive to look at. And I do NOT want any of these plastic-lensed headlights moulded to conform to the rounded form of the car, which cloud-up, and replacements of which cost a fortune! Give me a standard glass sealed beam on anything newer than 1939, thank you!
Ford had a 332 with a 2 barrel carb in this year, same block as 352.
It is a beauty……….but $34,500.00? ? ? ?
For a turn-key example with a top & switches that’s fully sorted, it’s a no-brainer good price. The top & all the associated motors/switches is what gets expensive with these. Wish I had a stall for it.
nice
Peugeot Eclipse series of the 30’s pioneered retractable steel hardtops.
I remember the neighbor had a new red one. Everyone was in awe when he demonstrated the hideaway roof. Nice memories of the old neighborhood in my childhood
The retractable convertible was not only a sweet looking car but an engineering marvel. Sure it was costly and delt with the profile appearance and usable trunk space, but wow, what a party trick it could do. At very least this one was spared the Continental kit, which may not have been compatible with the rear opening deck lid.
A grade school friend’s parents had a 1959 Fairlane 500 Galaxie in two tone red and white. He had attended my birthday party on one particular occasion and when his mom came to pick him up after the party, he wanted to show off the top’s operation. It got stuck in mid cycle!! Thank goodness my parents owned the local Ford dealership and Dad sent one of his mechanics to get it operating again. It was soon traded for a 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix with those fabulous 8 lug wheels (Plum Mist I think was the color with black vinyl top and interior). Another great and beautiful car.
IIRC, Ford began investigating a retractable hardtop as a possible option for the 1955-’56 Continental luxury automobile. It’s been reported Ford was losing $1,000 for every copy that rolled out the door, and since Continental was marketed through its own division, what better place to write off the development costs as a tax loss. And Ford further amortized development costs by using the same basic roof design in Thunderbird and Lincoln convertibles, though using canvass tops through the Sixties.
It’s a shame not to have at least three photos of the roof in various positions: closed (okay, we have that one!), half-open, and retracted. You can clearly see the rear panel opening—since the inside of the trunk is visible—but that’s about it.