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1959 Ford Skyliner
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| Address: , California, | |
Car Class: COLLECTOR | |
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"Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale August 16th- 18th, 2012 at Russo and Steele's 12th Annual Monterey California Auction. Please contact us for more information., For 1957 Ford offered two convertibles: the usual cloth-roof Sunliner and the first ""hardtop convertible"" that really did convert -- the 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner. What's more, all '57 Fords were all new -- dramatically longer, lower, and wider, with ""dream car"" styling that looked like something from another brand. With all this, Ford exceeded its 1955 sales record while outproducing rival Chevrolet for the first time in decades., The new ""retractable hardtop"" was called Skyliner, a name borrowed from Ford's 1954-56 plexi-roof hardtop. Offered like the Sunliner in a new top-line Fairline 500 series, it was the sort of technical wonder Americans expected as the ""space age"" beckoned. At the touch of a button, a bevy of motors, relays, and wires raised a rear-hinged panel on an elongated deck, slid the top into a deep well, then closed the deck over it. Though quite complex and far from foolproof, this system was more reliable than was once reported, and the top's stately passage up or down was a surefire crowd-pleaser., Luggage space was limited to a small box in the ""trunk,"" and the added hardware made the Skyliner pricey for a Ford at $2942- -- $437 more than the Sunliner. Even so, the '57 Skyliner sold reasonably well at 20,766, though that was well down on the conventional convertible's 77,726., Sales then tapered off, so the Skyliner was dropped after 1959 as a costly indulgence by money-conscious Ford execs. Today, though, a ""retrac"" still pulls crowds like nothing else., The operation of the top was a mechanicial marvel. A steering column switch activated three switches to start the deck motor, which lifted the long lid via twin shafts at each edge. As the deck locked into full-open position, it tripped the switch for another motor that raised the package shelf to deck level. That started another motor for unlocking the top, after which two more motors (one on the 1959) moved it up and back into the open trunk cavity. A separate servo folded the ""flipper."", This process could be reversed at any point. However, because the system was sequential, it was rendered totally inoperable if any one part failed. In that event, the point at which the sequence stopped told a mechanic or owner where the trouble was. A hand-cranked emergency manual override was provided so you wouldn't have to drive with the top at half-mast., Considering its complexity, this system proved remarkably trouble-free -- so much so that it inspired the soft-top mechanisms on the 1958-1966 Thunderbird and 1961-1967 Lincoln Continental convertibles. Of course, everyone wanted to see it work: in some places, the Skyliner's ""disappearing act"" was the biggest attraction since the circus left town. Ford advertising helped stimulate public curiosity by asking a legitimate question: ""How can it be a hardtop convertible if the top doesn't go down?"", This 1959 Ford Skyliner was restored in 2010 by Jerry Miller and it is a frame on restoration. Every mechanical part of the car has been rebuilt. The only option on this car is power steering but it has a lot of hard to find accessories including twin spot lights, bumper guards, hood ornament and padded dash. It also has plastic seat covers, Ford floor mats, AM radio, rocker moldings and luggage tub. It is fitted with a continental kit, tinted and etched glass and exhaust deflectors. All the inside chrome is new.",, Auction
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