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»
Skyliner
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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»
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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»
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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»
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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»
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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»
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Retractable Canopy: 1957 Ford Skyliner
The 1950s produced several automobiles that had their share of gimmicks. And perhaps the king of gadgetry was probably the 1957-59 Ford Skyliner, a Fairlane 500 with a retractable hardtop. They weren’t terribly practical because when you had the… more»
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Hide-Away Hardtop! 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner
Automotive designers and marketers worked overtime in the 1950s and 1960s, coming up with new and interesting products. One of the most “far-out” may have been the retractable hardtop, a Ford innovation of 1957-59. With the press of a… more»
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Stunning Drop-Top: 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner
Winter may be on our doorstep, but that doesn’t mean enthusiasts should ignore drop-top classics when choosing something to park in their garage. They may not gain immediate motoring enjoyment, but squirreling one away until the sun shows its… more»
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Parts Car Included! 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner
Before there was a Ford with a retractable hardtop, there was a Ford with an acrylic panel on the roof to help let the sunshine in. From 1954 through 1956 it would be the Skyliner, as either a Crestline… more»
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Solid and Original: 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
You will often read articles by motoring journalists where they wax lyrical about modern convertibles with folding metal or retractable tops, marveling about this recent and groundbreaking development. In fact, the opposite is true, and this 1957 Ford Fairlane… more»
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Retractable Hardtop: 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
Ford introduced its “Hide-Away Hardtop” in 1957 and it was exclusive to the Fairlane 500 and not offered by Mercury, Lincoln, Continental, or even the upcoming new brand, the Edsel. Over three production years, nearly 50,000 copies were built,… more»
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352 Equipped Hide-Away Hardtop! 1958 Ford Skyliner
The Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner is not a car I’ve come across very often in my travels, in fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one in person! The car had a short run, with production beginning in 1957… more»
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10k Original Miles? 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
While many current manufacturers emphasize the technology that allows their convertibles to feature electrically retractable hardtops, Ford beat them to the punch with their 1957 Fairlane 500 Skyliner. It offered owners the luxury and convenience of a classic convertible,… more»
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Forgotten Shed Find: 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
Imagine buying a piece of property and finding an old car tucked away inside a shed. That’s what happened here, only the old auto turned out to be a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner, aka retractable hardtop. The seller… more»
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Top Works! 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner Retractable
I’ve been watching Season One of Perry Mason, and its star, Raymond Burr, can be seen tooling around late-50s L.A. in a car like this: a solid black 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner. Now here’s your chance to pretend… more»
