Skyliner
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
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»
