1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Retractable Hardtop – now that’s quite a name!
The Retractable, developed by Ford, was the world’s only true hardtop convertible. At the flick of a switch the automatic folding mechanism lifted the roof and folded it into the trunk. It was a complex operation involving solenoids, micro-switches and motors. One of the downsides of this mechanism is that it left little room for luggage when the top was down.
The Skyliner only ran for three years. In 1957 and 1958 it was in the Fairlane 500 line-up and then in 1959 became a Galaxie car when Galaxie became the top-of-the-line series (although towards the end of 1958 some of the 1959 models were still badged as Fairlane 500’s). Its first year sales reached nearly 21,000, 1958 saw under 15,000 sold with less than 13,000 in its final year.
Imagine, Ford mass produced this 40 odd years before it then became popular in smaller European and Japanese models. We still know which one we’d choose – the Ford Retractable hands down.
Watching the top in operation is a marvel and always draws a crowd.
Enjoy the video below
I thought it was a great Idea & do not know why they quit making them,,,,
They never operated twice the same way! They would get jammed about half way up. They were tough to sync up.
Not good for a sudden downpour!
Going down a highway in the pouring rain with the top half up would quickly cure any good feelings about that car. I had a 59 for 8 months. That was long enough. I moved on to a Mercury convertible.
Make them again,,,,great Idea….
Was then & still is today a thing of beauty. I own a 57 Ford Country Sedan station wagon.
I had a beautiful 1959 Ford Galaxy Skyliner. I wish that I still had it.
I have a 59 skyline that I am ready to sell, it has 33,000 miles, a frame off restoration, a AACA Senior, if you have a interest let me know.
They were only made because they were intended to go on the 56 Lincoln which by its finished date was the most expencive car Ford made at $10.000 wholesale.And as the guy who guided the retractable through development went to Chrysler Ford thought he would give the idea to them.So rather than drop it which they should have as it cost Ford $20 million to develop they put it onto the upcoming Fairlane model .As you can see buy other peoples coments the sales wern’t brisk and in an attempt to help offset the cost Lee Accola walked past a 2 door station wagon and thought about making a utility out of it. WE IN AUSTRALIA HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 1934 . So thats how you got your Ranchero and to make things even better the UTE cost nothing to make as it was allready there. And i dont want to dampen your lust for the car but they were the most useless car to come from Ford. Yours Mick George from AUSTRALIA.
My first Ford was a ’57 Ranchero. Followed closely by a ’57 ragtop. I’m presently building a ’57 Ranch Wagon.
I had a ’59 T-Bird ragtop, in which the top folded into the trunk. The trunk was useless too !!
Thanks for sharing Dean. Those fifties Fords certainly are nice!
One of the most beautiful cars ever built in my opinion. Never owned one, although my uncle offered me one when a 17 year old kid. Been sorry ever since for not getting it from him , it was two tone green, never cared for the color back then . kick kick.
The mechanism for the roof was 100% electro-mechanical – no hydraulics involved.
a friend has 2 59 rusting away out side his barn and 2 61 moonliners
Like the 57 the best, would still like to have one ‘mate’ !
I had a white one. $4000 off the Dallas show room floor. Should have kept it.
Frank Haley
my first car was a ’57 Fairlane, but it was just a hardtop. No one in my family could have afforded the model shown. My next was a ’60 Chevy Impala
The Ford Skyliners were manufactured in 1957, 1958 and 1959. They were discontinued for the many malfunctions with the retractable hardtop. Ford introduced the luxurious version of the 1960 model known as the Starliner but was not a retractable.
With todays technical know how it could & in my opinion should be redeveloped for market to the public by any company NOT in the luxury business.
Don’t use it in motion as that is just stupid & very dangerous. Regards from a Ford family brat all grown up whose first car was a Falcon.
My husband bought a 1959 Galaxie retractable hardtop in 1963. The top worked fine. The car was red and white and a real beauty. Then he decided to change the transmission from an automatic to a standard shift… because he was a teenager and needed that standard shift so he could smoke the tires. Needless to say, he ruined the car. He never switched a transmission again.
My first car was a 1960 Nomad SW copper under a white roof
Need instructions on how to install window glass in left door of 1957 retractable
I had a ’66 Lincoln Continental 4 door convertible. It was big, road great and was really just a 4 seater car but I loved it from 1998 till 2001. The one thing about though was every time you used it you would just know you were going to write a check to the repair shop! So many relays to operate the windows and top. Many times I got stuck with the top up or down, even so I miss that car.
I have a 1958 Retractable that is red and white.. White on top, red in he middle and white on the bottom.. It was a very pretty car when I purchased it in about 1964 and it is still a head turner in 2020. We take it out in the summer and go get some ice cream cones and also give the neighbor kids rides with the top down.. It is a fun car to drive and have fun with. It is especially fun when there is a group of people around and I put the top down…
I was working for a Ford store in 1975 and there was a 2 tone green 58 Skyliner sitting in the back of the shop for months. It was in great condition and had no signs of abuse or rust. I found out the owner had passed away and had no family or will. The repairs totalled $85.00 and the car had a mechanics lein against it. I could have been an owner for paying off the mechanics lein but passed. True story.