50 Years Ahead of its Time! Exploring the Retractable Hardtop Ford Skyliner.

[@rongendron8705]

I'm 78 & was 11 in 1957, when this innovative improvement happened, in the auto industry! Ford was always "ahead of its time' with its styling & this addition to 'convertibles, should have greatly increased their amount, but didn't!/ p.s. Lucy & Desi, at the height of their popularity, were perfect & this commercial almost made it seem like it was a 'skit' on "I Love Lucy"!

[@winggullseagull1230]

The Skyliner retractable hardtop /convertible was a very advanced engineering concept in 1957. Even today it's still amazing Ford was so far ahead of GM. I had a '59 Skyliner retract in 1980 I bought it over a '59 Impala hardtop & convertible. I already had 2 '59 Impala's in the late 70's & I wanted to experience the Skyliner. It was exciting but high maintenance I had to find relay switches in a wrecking yard to operate the engineering marvel. The Skyliner's never caught on with the public when they were new because they were so expensive & that kept sales down.

[@markosborne9558]

Over visiting in Kentucky around1970, Folks we visited had bulldozed some junk under to keep the creek from eroding. Bulldozed underground but with side visible, was a white 1958 skyliner, which I recognized by the fold joint in the front end of the top. I guess thats why they're so valuable now.

[@SMSAutoFabrics]

Wow, that’s a wild story! Such a shame.

[@opera93]

I must admit I was impressed at age 10-11 when they come out….Still interestingly, classic: but, MAINTENANCE.

[@michaelwhite2823]

I have a question. I have a 76 Coupe DeVille. It needs new upholstery. What I would really love is getting the plaid Calais interior of the era. Is that possible?

[@SMSAutoFabrics]

Absolutely! Check out our website and shoot us an email/fill out a contact form, and we’ll make it happen!

[@glennso47]

You can get a retractable hardtop by going under a low bridge. 😂

[@davidprosser7278]

didn't JFK have a Skyliner?