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»
Skyliner
Jan 16, 2025 • 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»
Dec 23, 2024 • 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»
Dec 13, 2024 • 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»
Nov 8, 2024 • For Sale • 10 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»
Oct 18, 2024 • 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»
Oct 9, 2024 • 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»
May 26, 2024 • 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»
Apr 17, 2024 • 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»
Mar 7, 2024 • 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»
Jan 12, 2024 • For Sale • 17 Comments
Original Paint! 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner
Always looking to one-up each other, Ford, GM, and Chrysler were all working overtime in the gadget-conscious 1950s (and since I suppose). One of Ford’s more interesting engineering feats and marketing ploys was the retractable headliner, dubbed the Skyliner,… more»
Dec 12, 2023 • For Sale • 15 Comments
Flip-Top Hardtop! 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner
U.S. automakers were into gadgetry in the 1950s and no automobile probably exemplifies that more than the 1957-59 Ford Skyliner, aka Hide-Away Hardtop. Using a complex set of hardware and wiring, the hardtop roof would disappear completely into the… more»
Oct 24, 2023 • For Sale • 29 Comments
Working Retractable Hardtop: 1959 Ford Skyliner
The fifties decade was an era where automotive designers and engineers embraced technology to come up with new ideas they thought would lure buyers to their products, and Ford was certainly no exception when they introduced their Skyliner for… more»
Oct 6, 2023 • For Sale • 16 Comments
Disappearing Top! 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
As the 1950s wore on, U.S. automakers were on a path to make their products more “futuristic”. The 1957-59 Chryslers and their “Forward Look” styling is one example. Another is the retractable hardtop sold by Ford during those same… more»
Feb 13, 2023 • For Sale • 36 Comments
Hide-Away Hardtop! 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner
The Skyliner retractable hardtop was part of the 1957-59 Ford product lines. Marketed as the “Hide-Away Hardtop” the metal roof retracted into a space that would normally be allocated to the trunk. Though it saw more than 48,000 copies… more»
Dec 30, 2022 • For Sale • 19 Comments
Needs Finishing: 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
There are many reasons why a restoration project can stall, but one of the saddest is when advancing years make it physically impossible for an owner to complete their work. That is the case with this 1957 Ford Fairlane… more»
