The Top Works: 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner
The retracting roofs on these Skyliners are not as troublesome as most people think. There is a complex system of motors, relays, lift jacks, limit switches, and locks but they all play well together. The roof doesn’t leave much trunk space, of course. The roof on this Skyliner, listed on Craigslist in Fort Collins, Colorado, works and it is said to run and drive. It has the desirable combination of a 3-speed manual with overdrive and a 352 V8. The $9,000 asking is typical of Skyliners needing restoration, although here’s one for $6,000. This Skyliner has been sitting for 34 years, so perhaps it might have fared better than cars that were on the road for more than 25 years. There are several other Skyliners for sale and they provide some interesting choices. Thanks to Michael for finding this interesting listing.
This is the only glimpse provided inside the car. It looks like it’s all there, including the ashtray and the cigarette lighter. Except for the cracks in the steering wheel rim and the missing horn button, it all looks complete and original.
The rust over the rear wheel appears to be typical of these Skyliners. They appear to rust from the inside under the trim. It’s likely there is extensive rust in the quarter panels and they will need to be replaced. The quarter panels on these Skyliners are longer than the standard sedans and are said to be the same as the station wagon quarters. If that is true, it would make finding replacements easier.
It’s nice to know the headlights and spotlights work, but a picture of the engine and interior would have been more helpful. There will be rust repair necessary on this droptop, but the question is how much rust is there besides the quarter panels. The interior needs lots of work no doubt. The question, once again, when you consider the cost, is it worth fixing? All of these Skyliners seem to have rust in the same place, in the rear wheel arches. There are nice driver quality Skyliners available for $25,000 or a bit less. They likely have had the same rust repairs and hopefully, the work was done well. This one at least has most of the trim and it’s a manual transmission car with overdrive and a 352 V8. One would need to carefully compare the various cars for sale and then closely inspect any viable candidates. One might wonder why there are so many Skyliners for sale if they are so rare. Could it be the amount of work necessary to restore them?
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Comments
Every time I see one of these I think it would be a cool addition to my collection, then I remember my dads 66 T-Bird & my uncles 65 Continental & all the issues they had with motors to run the tops, & dad saying after he sold his; roll up windows & manual tops from now on! Good advice IMO.
The fact that the roof still works after sitting 30 years says a lot. In the 90’s I found one with a non functional top, had it working two days later. You just need a complete wiring diagram and some electrical skills.
I’ve had a fascination with these since I first saw one.
Dual Exterior Spot Lights!!!! So cool!
Somebody please save this car.
I know a gentlemen in Menomonie WI. that has two of these. They are in a lot of parts, but there all inside. He is 84 years old and wants to sell them. He will be back from Texas mid April. Last I new he wanted 5000.00 for everything. If anyone has interest, I will do my best to get you connected with him when he gets home. ( when I looked at the cars, I don’t remember rusted wheel openings like this.)
Let him know that I exist, even though I live in Sweden!
Thank you
Stefan
(and send me a lot of pictures)
High, I would like to see the cars, I live in West Allis WI. I could pay cash. my phone no. 414-517-9619 my name is bill sweet ,my [email protected], thanks so much.
Can it be manual? I never heard of one.
Of course……3 speed was standard, Automatic Transmission was extra cost.
Given the slush boxes available at the time, a 3-speed with an extra cost Over Drive was better performance AND fuel economy.
3 plus O/D in ’59 gave you a 4-speed that soon became available in the early
part of the 60’s….but still on the tree.
It is a bit unusual this has a stick. Just shows, automatics, even in the late 50’s, were slow to catch on for some. I mean, this was the top of the line Ford, and somebody still preferred to row through the gears.
Full size Ford, Chevy, and Plymouth cars had 3 speed on the tree as standard equipment well into the late 60’s at least.
would love to add an Skyliner… plus the possible rust free texas skyliner’s ?? oh yes would love to have please email [email protected] or text 2705190588 thanks so much Andrew
I talked to his son today. He is flying out tomorrow and help drive them back in a few days. I will give them your info. so they can send pictures and you guys can talk. I will stay out after that. GP
Hi I am still waiting for the pics, I gave you my e-mail [email protected] or call Bill at 414-517-9619 I can pay you cash,hope to hear from you soon, Bill
Here is my one word for this car.
Scary.
the 59 is the one that sold the least, tho it is great that this survived it looks to need more work than the seller is letting on .. the 3 spd OD got me thinking too, why buy top of the line car and have manual shift? .. Me? I would leave it for someone who really loves the car and wants to show it
In a word, performance.
If the car has the same 352 c.i. with the 4-barrel carb that the ’59 T-Bird
had, it was rated at a (rather conservative I think) 300 horsepower. That’s
a lot of horsepower for a 1959 American Iron anything, especially for a production car. The reason for the popularity of the 3-speed with overdrive is simple. It would out-drag and outrun the automatic transmission equipped cars. One could use overdrive in either 2nd or 3rd gear on the manual transmission, thus essentially giving one a 5-speed transmission.
I loved these cars, especially after seeing this ad from I Love Lucy, late 50’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJS8L5Cnsms
Whenever I get to a car show, I’m always looking for one of these. It always surprises me how willing they are to show how it work, as I would be..
I had at 66 T-bird convertible (similar working soft top) these tops are very cool and very very problematic, very hard to keep working.
Even though my car was 35 years old when I owned it.
The Ford mechanic I always took it to told me he work at the ford dealership when theses cars were new and they alaways had issues, even in the first year under warranty. Still loved the car though!!
They were ahead of there time…..to far for the available technology for durability needed for that time.
One of Dads co workers owned a Skyliner back then and what I was told it spent more time in the dealership garage than on the road,which year it was I don’t know but as far as I know it was top related issues,don’t think the rear fender rust issues were exclusive to the Skyliners though,my cousin built his first stock car from a ’59 Fairlane and most of the junkers he would drag home for body parts were similar as far as rust issues and this was late sixties/early seventies
59 FORD’S better looking than 59 chev, in fact I think this year Ford’s outsold Chevy.
Was near 57 and 58 of these type and both owners , original, after 20+ years never mentioned any real trouble with tops.
352 was Ford’s F E series same as 390 and up block and those of 352 were ponies not horse power figures.
I had a rusty 57 when I was in HS in the 60’s. The top worked if we stuck a soda can in one spot on its way down. I’ve looked at a 59 locally for sale for $9000, but it needs a lot of work also. Supposedly everything works, but it’s not running, so who knows?
no Title
Here’s the saved ad http://www.craigslistadsaver.com/view.php?name=1959FordGalaxie
1959: the culmination of everything horrid about American automobile design. I think even Billy Idol would say that “too much is too much.” That said, this Skyliner really “needs” to be restored.