Looking for a competitive advantage, Ford redesigned its cars in 1957 and added a product that the competition did not have. That was a “Hideaway Hardtop” aka retractable hardtop (part sedan/part convertible). Skyliner was the branded name and was… more»
Skyliner
• For Sale • 21 Comments
Rare Glass-Top Cruiser: 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner
It sounds goofy, but I’ve always felt a bit sorry for cars of the 1954 model year. So much hoopla (and deservedly so) is heaped on the 1955 model year because of the new styling, flashy colors, upgraded V8’s… more»
• For Sale • 15 Comments
1957 Ford Skyliner Conversion: A Unique Edsel Retractable
With it being Halloween season, how appropriate it is to feature a Frankenstein “creation” of sorts that’s straight out of a mad scientist’s garage/laboratory in Edselvania. When introduced for the 1958 model year, Edsel didn’t offer a retractable hardtop,… more»
• For Sale • 12 Comments
Beautifully Restored: 1959 Ford Skyliner Retractable
I’ve joked in the past about how some sellers are extremely skimpy in word count when it comes to advertising their classic car or truck. Even basic information (and photos such as the engine bay) are omitted for some… more»
• For Sale • 14 Comments
Pair of Hide-Away Hardtops: 1959 Ford Skyliner
1950s automobiles were sometimes known for their gimmicks. Perhaps the most famous was the 1957-59 Ford Skyliner with a retractable roof marketed as the Hide-Away Hardtop. It used a complicated series of wires and gadgets to make the top… more»
• For Sale • 18 Comments
40k Original Miles: 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
Vehicle manufacturers in the early 2000s made a song and dance about producing cars with retractable metal roofs. However, Ford beat them to the punch by decades with cars like this 1958 Fairlane 500 Skyliner. It offered buyers a… more»
• For Sale • 12 Comments
Hideaway Roof! 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
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… more»
• For Sale • 27 Comments
Beautiful Convertible: 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner
Consumer confidence was sky-high during the late 1950s, and nowhere was this better demonstrated than in the new car market. Manufacturers produced vehicles that pushed the boundaries of luxury, style, and cutting-edge engineering as they sought to liberate potential… more»
• For Sale • 14 Comments
Driver Quality: 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner
When is the best time to buy a Convertible? The obvious answer would seem to be on a warm day when the sun is shining and the birds are singing. However, that may not necessarily be accurate. Take this… more»
• For Sale • 18 Comments
Glass Top Vicky: 1955 Ford Crown Victoria
Between 1954 and 1956, Ford offered a 2-door hardtop with a transparent top as part of the Crown Victoria series. In 1954 and 1956 they called it the Skyliner, but didn’t do so in 1955. Just shy of 2,000… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
Stored For 35 Years: 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner
Hiding in this barn is one of the more interesting cars from the 1950s. Ford wanted to create a light and airy vehicle, releasing the Skyliner in 1954. Our feature car has spent the last thirty-five years in this… more»
• For Sale • 13 Comments
One Year Only: 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria “Transparent Top”
Although often (mistakenly) referred to as a Skyliner, Ford’s official Sales Literature gave this 1955 Fairlane Crown Victoria a model designation of “Transparent Top.” Quite why it chose to do so is unclear, but it reverted to the more… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
See-Thru Roof Project: 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner
Most folks recall the Ford Skyliner as the quirky retractable hardtop they sold between 1957 and 1959. But before that, it was used to describe a 2-door hardtop with a transparent section of the roof in 1954 and 1956…. more»
• Auctions • 23 Comments
Glass Roof Barn Find! 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner
The restyled 1955 Ford gets a lot more attention than the 1954 Ford and rightfully so. But, the 54’s, which represented the last year of the ’52-’54 Shoebox 2.0 styling, are good-looking cars that offered a glimpse of what… more»
• For Sale • 15 Comments
Hideaway Hardtop Project: 1958 Ford Fairlane Skyliner
One of the most interesting cars of the late 1950s was the Ford Skyliner. It was the first mass-produced, U.S.-built automobile to have a retractable roof which Ford marketed as the “Hideaway Hardtop.” It was technically complicated but sold… more»
• For Sale • 25 Comments
Rad Retractable: 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
Since the start of the 21st century, vehicle manufacturers have become increasingly excited about their ability to create Convertibles with a folding metal roof. They have often trumpeted the technological advances required to produce this feature, and the result… more»
