1957 Ford Skyliner Retractable Convertible (LHD)

Description

Amongst the most collectible American cars of the 1950s, Ford's Skyliner series was the first mass-produced car offered with a fully retractable hardtop roof, following on from the Crown Victoria Skyliner's of 1955-1956 with their innovative clear roof panels. Introduced mid-season in 1957, the Skyliner was based on Ford's popular Sunliner, itself a convertible version of the Fairlane 500. Costing $2,942 when new, the Skyliner was Ford's most expensive offering in 1957 aside from the Thunderbird, but the high price proved little deterrent to the car buying public, with 20,766 leaving showrooms across America. Ford restyled the Fairlane in 1957, with a wheelbase stretched by two and a half inches and was five inches lower than the previous model and the general appearance was much sleeker than in previous years. Sold in both base and more upmarket 500 models, the Fairlane was available with both six-cylinder and V8s but the Skyliner was only sold with the larger motors, including the 292-cid and 312-cid Thunderbird Special units (with the supercharged version optional) with a choice of three-speed manual or Ford-O-Matic transmissions. The Skyliner's amazing retractable roof mechanism involved a complex system comprising three roof drive motors operating four lift jacks, four door-lock motors, ten solenoids and four locking mechanisms, involving no less than 610 feet of wiring! The transformation from hardtop to full convertible took less than a minute and was guaranteed to draw a crowd each time the roof was raised or lowered. Although reliable, the retractable roof did use a good deal of boot space and the fuel tank was relocated to underneath the rear seat. The "Luxury Lounge" seats were trimmed in vinyl colour-matched to the exterior, itself normally finished in striking 1950s two-tone combinations. Although Ford handily outsold its rival Chevrolet for the first time in years, the survival rate of Skyliners extremely low, finding a good example in this country isn't easy. A unique cruiser and perfect for club events, the Skyliner would be the centrepiece of any Ford collection.